Meet Kimberly Taylor-Fagan: Owner, KTA Talent Group

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimberly Taylor-Fagan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I raised two child actors and managed them both. We relocated from MS to Studio City , CA around 2008, When parents of other youth actors saw the success that I was having with securing representation for my children and audition coaching my son Jake and daughter, Jaycie, they wanted to get my advice and eventually wanted me to manage their children as well. I soon found myself forming KTA Talent Management Company and I began managing adults as well and joined the TMA (Talent Management Association) in Los Angeles which is a honor because there is a interview process as well as having to have references from agencies who I worked with in Los Angeles. Later, SAG was on strike when my son was about 14 and my daughter was 10 so we moved back to the SE where we lived and my son Jake (Jake Austin Walker/ Rectify and Star Girl Series Regular “Brainwave Jr” ) had his big break in booking his first series regular in the Sundance award winning series Rectify. (Jared Talbot).

That was very exciting because he and I taped a scene between a son and mother and he booked the job off of tape! Our plan was to have Jake go back to highschool (which he did go back his Freshman Year and was able to experience prom, showchoir, and “normal life, ” that is, until we got the call that he booked his first series regular and he would begin working on this series in GA. We had to relocate and live in GA for four years. My daughter stayed back with her father in MS and wanted to go to school, so we chose to allow her to do so, although she did visit set and is actually in a great scene on Rectify that was the highest rated episode of the show (“The Baptism ” scene where she and the star of the series get baptised).

My daughter had much success as a commercial actress and grew bored of the audition process so she decided to lead a more “normal life” away from showbiz. I stopped representing my own children and began representing other parents children along with adults. KTA Talent Group represents ages 3-80 currently with a few babies on roster. I keep a very small roster of less than 300 actors. I refer to my roster as the “KTA Family” and plan to keep it this way and enjoy being a boutique agency. Long story short, when I saw how much work was being filmed in the SE I decided to switch gears and switched from managing to agenting and “KTA Talent Group” was formed.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was first introduced to the business of “showbiz” as a aspiring print model and commercial actress in NY. After I graduated from college I moved to NY to “live my dream.” Later I decided a family life is what I wanted and the rest is history.

My background is in sales and I feel that my determination and perseverance is what makes me a good talent agent. I’m not afraid to hear the word “no” and I known to work outside the box when it comes to submitting, marketing and managing my clients. I think my journey has been easy in terms of starting my business because I have the educational background (MBA) that has helped me to understand how to create a business plan and how to market my product, which is my clients. However, I always remember that my “products” are my “family” as well and I treat my KTA family with respect, integrity and most important loyalty. I’m HUGE on loyalty! This has been a fairly easy journey because I love this industry and I love what I do. The absolute most difficult aspect of this business is investing time into a actor, booking him/her, giving them their big break only to have a “bigger agency” start to pursue them and tell them that they can do more for them.

It really is very hard to lose a family member. I’m lucky however, because most of my clients have been with me for over 5 years. Most are very loyal, and those who leave, usually ask to come back because they realize that I am very hands on, I communicate well, and they aren’t treated as a number but as a person. I am a good listener. I do not typecast them, I am confident enough in my clients to submit them for the big roles and I don’t give up on them when they are not booking! I think most of my clients would tell you that they really get the feeling that “we are in this together.”

I want the world to know that my brand of being a top boutique agency will not change. I am very involved in running my business, I submit all of my clients, I negotiate deals, I do it all and I do not plan for this to change any time soon. I am also a writer and filmmaker when I have the time which is more of a “weekend warrior” type of situation for me because I dedicate Monday through Friday 24/7 to my agency (the weekends usually as well if I’m honest). My goal is to keep my roster small and everyone is working! My motto is “Do YOU” because there is only ONE of “you” and noone can do you like you can!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really enjoy watching a Braves game. I love Five Points and the Buckhead area as well. I love the street dining pre-Covid and really enjoy the more eccentric areas. I also love road trips!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give this shout out to my son Jake Austin Walker because he’s really the reason I decided to base my agency out of ATL. He and I lived there, and I was his guardian on set and this opened up many opportunities for me to meet some of the top producers, directors, actors and casting directors in the business. Most of Jake’s success has been filming productions that film in GA (Rectify and Star Girl “Brainwave Jr”- his first series regular opportunities) and my talent agency was born out of me managing his career and learning more about the business through our journey together from age 8-18. I’d also like to dedicate my success to all of the amazing southeast casting directors who continue to give my talent chances and opportunities to live their dreams on sets of the most amazing productions filming in the business! I’m extremely proud of the southeast and the film/tv industry here!

Website: https://ktatalentgroup.wixsite.com/

Instagram: kta_talent_group

Facebook: KTA Talent Group