In gloomy times, talent agencies bring smiles

The partly cloudy economy continues to translate into a mostly sunny outlook at area talent booking agencies.

Entertainment bookings may be down at casinos, but spirits remain high at private parties, for which hosts continue to hire servers and bartenders, says Victoria Taber, owner of Nitch Productions, a Reno-based talent agency.

But customers who once ordered up a staff of five to service their social might now cut back to three, she adds.

Entertainment budgets are down 20 percent at casinos, says Ted Files, owner and president of Integrity Casting, which fills orders for production shows and cabaret acts that range from rock 'n roll to jazz to country.

"Casinos that formerly booked lounge acts in the cabaret five or six nights a week have cut back to two to three nights a week," he says.

John McDaniel, owner and president of Concepts West Agency, adds, "Several casinos in the area have closed, which lessens demand."

Meanwhile, he says, some national acts are canceling concert dates due to the credit squeeze in an era when airfares are up while ticket sales are down.

But McDaniel doesn't put the full blame on the current economy.

He points to a 10-year slide, which began when people took to partying at home in response to campaigns against drunk driving. The trend toward home entertainment is satisfied by cable TV, DVDs, and satellite broadcasts of concerts by major acts.

On the bright side, adds McDaniel, the corporate market for conventions remains steady, with requests for celebrity impersonators, specialty acts and live bands.

A difficult economy isn't all bad for the talent biz, says Juli Green, president and owner of Nevada Casting.

"In tough times casinos and restaurants spend more on advertising to get people in," she says.

But in bad times, Green adds, it's important that people look good.

Nevada Casting provides casinos with fashion show models, Internet infomercial producers with spokespersons, and toy commercials with kids. One thread unites those disparate demands: "They always want people to look affluent, happy."

Nitch specializes in pretty people, says Taber. "That sets my company apart."

The company provides casinos with specialty acts, models and showgirls for special occasions such as when liquor distributors like Southern Wine and Spirits call for eye candy to staff special promotions.

While the showy hostess is always in demand to greet customers at company conventions, says Taber, at private parties the calls remain strong for cirque-type performers. Popular this entire decade, they cavort on springy poles in spacious backyards, keeping company with acrobats and contortionists.

Talent is a tight network, says Taber who, like Green, formerly filled the performer role. She also serves the Las Vegas market from her home office in Reno, tapping into the personal network built during those years.

"As a performer and model, I knew a lot of people," she says. "It's a tight network. I have a database of 400 to 500 models."

On the other end, to line up new business, she leans on membership in a chamber of commerce, a bit of direct mail and lots of word of mouth.

No job is too small, says Taber, who can staff for a 10-minute stint to greet an arriving dignitary at the airport or for a quick warbling of "Happy Birthday" at someone's doorway.