Let me begin this post with an ad that I paid to have produced. I could have done it myself and saved a few bucks but hiring someone to do this layout was a smart move. There are phrases that come into play... "You get what you pay for." , comes to mind.

A new business operating on a shoestring might grab a tiny digital camera and take some shots for their new website. They would be smarter to hire me for a cheap rate and get some "partnership" on the marketing mission.

And now on to the talent agency...

It's time to lay a few cards on the table. TeamEffort Talent has just passed our one year anniversary. Please notice that I do not say we celebrated anything.

The great news is that we survived the first year. The fantastic news is that I know a lot more now than I did then and that TeamEffort will survive and thrive.

It always was a slow growth plan. I have some previous experience in the ad industry as I spent a few decades writing radio copy and voicing spots from Florida to Oregon. I probably had a commercial running in Honolulu but I don't recall it at this time.

Let me be very clear about what makes me so sure that TeamEffort is here to stay. The new promo piece above features Kayla, a model that signed up with TeamEffort about six months ago. Kayla is a perfect example of what we need and what we should be looking for as we add more talents. She is a true team player and has never shown any sign of what I call excessive model attitude. The phrase I have used often on Facebook is "Pretty is easy ... talent ain't."

The promo piece that I produced with Kayla's shots depict her across the top in a ghosted image that gets more solid and clear. It takes time and work. I tell new talents that playing softball takes practice so why would I expect a new model to step in front of my camera and be perfect in their very first photo shoot? Kayla's smile was more credible in her sixth photo shoot than it was in her first. Who is taking the time to work that long and hard to develop that talent? TeamEffort Talent Agency.

We've survived the first year. It will still take time to build this business. I am thrilled to be able to say that many ad producers are sharing their needs with us. I now get emails that say something like, "John, I am going to need a redhead that can show frustration and anger and then smile after we have solved her problem."

There are other ad producers that know we exist but have been totally silent. I understand that and I plan to simply court their business over time. And we do plan to solicit business in other cities but that growth will have to be slower than I had hoped. Memphis is our largest target market for many reasons and we have not yet said hello to anyone in that city. We will soon enough, but it will be when we are more experienced and have stronger talents to offer the ad agencies in Memphis, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

So, I am not celebrating our first year. It has been rough. My time was often abused and that will keep happening. But I am smarter now and I will guard my time investments and focus on growing TeamEffort so Kayla will always be happy to be part of who we are.

Ad people....

I know you will not need talent every day for every client. You may even be stuck using the clients niece in a production. Keep the communication with TeamEffort open and honest and you will benefit.