Meet Barbara Rey | Talent Career Counselor

Barbara has been Owner/Director of Creative Talent Development since she founded it in 1992. Over the last 30 years, Barbara has been an actress, model, singer, producer/production manager and agent. She is also the parent of a successful talent. Her professional experience includes...

Barbara Rey specializes for all ages in:

Actors NW Interviews Barbara Rey

Padma Krish and Rebecca Cameron of NW ACTORS STUDIO spent an afternoon with Barbara to learn about her background and how she develops and launches talent.

1. Barbara, Tell us about your career in the entertainment business…

I wanted to be a singer. That was my passion. To be specific, I wanted to be Barbara Streisand. My parents came home with a Funny Girl album and it changed my life. I sang in a trio with my sisters, and later I became the lead singer of a folk group out of high school with Conrad Denke, who is now the owner of American Production Services . After that I sang my first jingle for You & I Sugar in a three track recording studio and didn't make any money. It ran for 6 years while I travelled up and down the west coast as lead singer with a group called The Summer Winds. I had been at the University of Washington and was going to be a schoolteacher like my mother. But I quit school when I auditioned for this band. Eventually we went down to LA and got a manager and agent. The manager had been the Beach Boys manager. We started working out of Tahoe, Reno, Vegas and we opened for Duke Ellington and Don Rickles' shows. I was the lead singer and I was doing what I loved. It was fabulous! I have never regretted it.

I was singing and that's all that mattered to me, as I was just 20 years old. Seven years later, I came back to Seattle. Where does a singer get a job? I got a job in the top recording studio at the time, which was called Kaye Smith Productions. This was where Bachman Turner Overdrive and The Steve Miller Band were recording their albums. I became the production coordinator for KSP's jingles. I ended up singing 15 jingles and never got paid for them since I was on staff. Finally, I got my big break and I sang the national jingle for Golden Grain. I was asked to audition for their TV commercial, probably because I was a blonde. (They were looking for a Golden Grain girl.) The point is that I hadn't really focused on acting, but I tried out anyway. They auditioned a bunch of girls up here, then a bunch in LA. They booked me for Noodle Roni and Susanne Somers for Rice-A-Roni. I did my first television commercial in Los Angeles. Talk about scared to death!

That was my big break into television, but I don't recommend doing it this way. This is just the way I fell into it. But, the main idea is that I had the guts to go do it. I started to get training and learning more about what I was doing and that's when I was hired to be the Sears spokeswoman for 6 years on their NW regional radio and television commercials. So, now I had a regular gig on TV and radio for several years and THEN I got an agent. So, you can see how backwards that is. I was gaining experience and it was fun and I loved it. I even did food styling in my home for 3 years. I did all the set-ups that you see on TV for Safeway during this time. I learned lots of things mainly because I had the guts and said, "sure". It's not so easy nowadays; they spend a lot of time on one food set-up. Whereas, we did sometimes 20 and I would have every corner of my house covered with props. Mainly my focus was radio, TV, commercial print and some modeling . I just wanted it and did this full-time for 6 years. It doesn't matter what your passion is, it's what you do with it! Now, don't bury your passion, you've got to go out and follow it. But, you've got to be smart. I met a lot of people in the industry from all the different opportunities that I took.

After freelancing, I had to get a "real job" and I went back to Kaye Smith Productions for 6 years. I helped produce Rainier Beer television commercials. They were hysterical and low budget but a big hit in the NW. I had to wear many, many hats. That was a gift because I learned a lot about the industry. (I even rode the motorcycle in a Rainier Beer commercial.) I worked my way up to be a corporate video producer. One of the things that I believe is you need to put yourself in a position where you want to work. And I wanted to be in this field, so I got a job at a recording studio, or wherever things were happening.

Eventually, I became the Talent Director at The Lola Hallowell Talent Agency for 2 years. That's where I really got to know about talent's needs. That was not quite 10 years ago. The only way to keep the agency open is to get your actors work. That's when Brendan Fraser came into the agency. He was flat broke. He brought in a passport picture for his headshot. But, he was very focused on his passion for acting, studying at Cornish and he was good. I don't know if you want to hear about Brendan Fraser's "Joysuckers", but he got turned down by one of the top modeling agencies here in Seattle. He went back to ABC in New York to try out for a soap opera, and he didn't get it. He finally got his SAG card when he shot Dogfight here. I spent a half day in my office making a videotape for him to take to LA. He was smart, had his SAG card and his confidence and then went down to LA.

A "Joysucker" is an obstacle to your dream, the things that stop us from doing what we love. I found this quote: "Those who abandon their dreams will discourage yours". Clients hear "You're never going to make money", "Are you crazy, you're never going to succeed as an actor", "You're going to be a waiter for the rest of your life", "You're too old", "You're too fat", or you're too this, you're too that. The worst Joysuckers are from ourselves. A Joysucker is a flat out lie. Read my article about them on my website . I wrote it because I have experienced them myself. Most of us have. They are truly obstacles to our dreams.

I also want to mention my kids because that is another aspect of my knowledge of the business. My daughter started when she was 5, did TV commercials and voice-overs for 20 years and is now married and living in France. She was highly successful and had a top agent here. That was her passion and she put herself through college on this work. My son is a professional snowboarder. His passion was skateboarding and I was the mother who let him put the 15-foot skateboard ramp in the backyard. That was his passion. When I'm talking about kids, it's the same thing as the adults. The kids have to be begging their parents to do this. I mention the kids because I work with parents who want to get their kids started .

2. How did you get started in talent development?

When I was an agent, you just care about getting the actors work. I did not have time when the phone rang to explain how to get started. And I knew that people were getting out there and getting mislead very easily. And, so when I quit the agency, I wanted to tell people about this business and how to do it appropriately. So, I just went out to Shoreline Community College and sold them a workshop. I called it, "So, you Wanna be in Pictures?" I started this in 1992, taught at every community college, every recreational center and everywhere someone would listen to me. I didn't make much money, but I got started . I realized that the workshop can give them only so much information when there is a bunch of people and I had big workshops. So, I began doing private consultations.

There is a ton of information out there and on the web for actors. The point is what you DO with that information that makes the difference. That's where I come in. I am the one that can take all this information and your passion, and develop a plan just for you. In the consultation, I want to know who you are, what you've been doing, what you want to do, so you bring your old job resume and recent pictures or snapshots. I have you fill out my questionnaire so I can know everything about you. If I don't know everything about you I won't be able to give you good guidance. I want to know what makes your heart sing!

3. So, in other words, you're not a miracle worker...

I couldn't guarantee Brendan Fraser or anyone now, but I can guarantee one thing: if you want this bad enough, you can do this. If you are passionate, persistent, willing to work hard , and not jump out there too fast, that's the bottom line. Also it takes talent that you have or you are willing to develop. The frustrating thing is that people want it all NOW. Everybody is in such a big hurry. You can have it all, but you can't have it all today. It's great to know what you want to do, but don't go out too fast and make a bad first impression.

4. What do you have to offer actors that he/she cannot find elsewhere?

Because of my 30 years of experience, I know what people need to get started and reach their goals. I'd fallen into some of the same mistakes. I wished that there was somebody like me when I was out there twenty years ago. I am a career consultant specializing in the entertainment/media industry. My business is called Creative Talent Development. I develop talent. I launch talent. I launch actors or singers or whatever it is you want to do. And if I don't have the information, I will tell you where to go and give you lots of options.

5. What takes place during a consultation?

When you come to meet with me in a consultation, I want to see what you have done, or what you would like to do. (Bring your videos or voice-tapes if you have them.) I want you to talk about yourself, so I can help you focas and give you an action plan. It is according to your timing, your finances and your availability. We look at the whole picture and come up with a reasonable plan to start with. I have people say to me, "I can't afford to take any acting classes." Then they go out and buy a brand new truck and now they've got $500 payments a month. Where's the priority here? You have to think about that. You can make wise choices but you need to be really committed to the process. No one is going to work with you out there unless you are committed. There are a lot of people that say, "I just want to be an extra." Well, if you want to be an extra, don't come see me. I don't work with people who just want to be an extra. I work with people that really want this and are willing to work hard.

I want you to think of yourself as the producer of your own show. What I mean by that is you're in charge. I am a guide, but you are in charge. You're the one who makes the choices and so I give you lots of options regarding training, photographers, agents, and strategy. This is about you being smart. This is about you being informed. This is about timing.

A good way to get to know me and is to take one of my workshops. Then afterwards, you can sit down with me and do a private consultation to get down to specifics . I also have started hiring some instructors to teach exclusively for my clients, which is really exciting. I used to hire Heidi Walker, to teach ten of my clients each month, before she began casting for "The Fugitive". I would go to the workshops. I talked to both Jodi (Rothfield) and Heidi and they recommended Tony Doupe to instruct my clients in camera training. He is the top actor in town. Tony is excellent, fun and he works! That's important because you want to be learning from someone who is getting the work. Not only are you getting good training, but you are learning about being in the loop. I go to the first and last workshop. It's a seven week workshop. He and I sit down and we strategize about your next career move. . . whether we're ready to launch you in the Seattle market or go to LA yet and how are we going to get that to happen.

6. What do you say to people who say, "Your fee is $105 an hour?" How should they view it?

What are they paying for? They are paying for my experience, connections knowledge. And you know what they're saving? They're saving money and they're saving time. What I do is different from anybody else in this market. I give you a plan, an action plan and a strategy. I think of the whole picture and what is it that you want - then we step back and take all the little steps on how you are going to get there. The problem with people is that they are in such a hurry they're not willing to go through the steps. I am not here to say, "good I can get 8 consultations out of this person," that is not my point. I am here to move people, to launch people, to get them to be working actors and start to fulfill their dreams!

These are the three different kinds of clients that I typically work with:

People that are absolutely new, they have no knowledge of how to get started. Maybe they've already been ripped off. They are new to the acting field and they want to know how to get started and who to trust.

They are new to the Seattle market. They've done this before. They're from LA or some other city and they're an experienced actor, but they don't know what's appropriate here and what's going on in this city. They can call certain places, but they still need to be rightly connected, knowing the "A players" with an action plan.

The other kind of person is someone who is stuck. Nothing is happening. That person may need a jump start with a whole new strategy plan. I base alot of my ideas on what's happening in the industry right now and my good intuitive instincts.

I build my business on my integrity, my credibility, and former clients who have become successful. I am here as your advocate. I am a mentor. Sometimes you only need one consultation and sometimes you need several. Bianca Kajlich (Boston Public, Bring it On) met with me over an 18 month period. She thought I was a good investment. I can't guarantee Bianca that she is going to be a star. . . but she is on contract now in LA with 3 movies with Miramax. All I can guarantee is if you are willing to work hard and be persistent and develop your talent, then anything can happen. I've gotten people work. I had one casting director call me recently and say she was looking for a classic nerd so I called up one of my clients and got him an audition. And he landed that commercial.

I am trying to strategize to get something happening for you. You never leave a consultation without homework. I give you tons of stuff to do. A lot of people just don't do it. That's the problem. I give them some really good guidance. I tell them you need to go here, and there's an open house over there. I just want you to get out there. Actors are artists. A lot of them don't like to network. You have to show up to industry events, even after you have an agent. The actors need to understand that it is a process. It's a never ending process. You never quit training and learning. There are false promises of fame out there and I won't ever do that. I'll try to open up opportunities for you.

7. When should an actor seek representation?

When you are ready, confident and have something to sell to an agent. You need to know your unique talent, your niche, your age range. You've got to have some experience, a current picture, a strong resume and a monologue or two under your belt. When I was an agent, I used to throw tons of submitted resumes and headshots in the garbage. People didn't know what they were doing and weren't ready. I didn't have time to tell them what to do. I wanted people ready to work so I could keep the agency doors open. When you are ready to get an agent, you must be available with a flexible job and you need to uphold standards of professionalism to succeed.

MEET BARBARA REY - Talent Career Consultant

Actors NW Interviews Barbara Rey