GISELLE PHELPS

Talent Agent
Grand Rising Talent

Interview

• Where are you originally from?
  Ontario, Canada

• Where do you currently reside?
  Los Angeles

• What prompted you to get into the sports/entertainment industry?
  A passion for television news

• What type of clients do you typically represent? What factors do you consider when deciding which clients to take on?
  Grand Rising Talent currently represents a growing roster of talent including national talk show hosts, news anchors, cable news contributors, on-camera food experts, health & wellness experts, business experts, and more. We look for diverse talents with a unique value proposition that goes beyond skill set.

• Please outline the services you provide for clients and any specialties.
  Grand Rising Talent is a Los Angeles-based licensed talent agency & media strategy firm connecting diverse television talents and on-camera experts to impactful opportunities. Grand Rising Talent specializes in advocating for talent from diverse, intersectional backgrounds, including communities of color and LGBTQ+ identities.

• What is one thing people would be surprised to know about your profession? What is one of the biggest misconceptions?
  People are always surprised to learn the difference between an agent and a manager and don't realize that agents need a license in California. One of the biggest misconceptions is that agents and managers do the same thing. Agents broker and negotiate deals for clients, whereas managers handle day-to-day logistics of a career.

• What are some challenges or obstacles you have faced as an African-American in this profession?
  Being the first of its kind. Grand Rising Talent is the first Black-owned, woman-owned & LGBTQ+ owned agency solely focused on representing broadcasters. We're navigating new territory in a space that has been historically dominated by larger corporate agencies. Getting in front of executives to let them know what we're doing is really key right now.

• What do you think can be done to improve diversity with regards to representation?
  Creating more options for representation, which is exactly what we're doing. This means not only do we need diverse agents, but we need agencies themselves that are owned & operated by people of diverse backgrounds. Talents are looking for agents who are partners in creating opportunities that are authentic to who they are. They need agents who bring diversity of relationships, ideas, and experiences to the table.

• What advice would you have for other African-Americans looking to enter this profession?
  Get as much experience across the industry as possible when you're first starting out. My career has ranged from producing, to news reporting & anchoring, to publicity. I'm now using all those skills and experiences combined in my capacity as an agent. What you choose to specialize in may come as a result of all those experiences. It will also give you the opportunity to network with a wide range of people. Having relationships across different sectors and demographics is invaluable.

• What is the best way for people to get in touch with you?
  www.grandrisingtalent.com
  
  

• Is there any other information you would like to share?
  You can also follow us on Instagram at @GRTAgency