Ep. 46- Melissa Panton
Questions asked or topics discussed with the timestamp:
How did you know the Arts Administration program was the one for you? (02:40)
When would you recommended someone to start looking into getting an agent? (09:00)
What is the best way to introduce yourself to an agent or agency? (11:10)
Do you have a specific letter or email you’ve received that stood out to you? (12:45)
What is the best version of a dancer’s real that someone could submit to you? (13:55)
What do you wish more dancers would add to their special skills and/or what do people need to let go of? (15:35)
Do you see and trends this year with special skills? (17:05)
Does it matter when you’re younger, if your real is primarily dance competition videos? (19:00)
How much do you look at social media when you go to cast? (19:55)
When you go to look at social media, what are you looking at/for? (21:25)
What do you like to see when it comes to headshots? (23:00)
What are you looking for when you’re filling up your roster? (26:10)
What is the biggest misconception about agencies or working with an agent? (28:35)
What is the relationship and how does it sort itself out when clients get work on their own? (29:45)
What can dancers do to make your job easier? (31:35)
Do you have any stories or specific examples of mistakes that clients have done that make your job more difficult? (32:50)
What cause an end to your commitments with a client? (34:55)
If a dancer is looking to transition into becoming an agent, what would you recommend to them and what skills do they need to have? (37:15)
Knowing that every single job has a downfall to it, what is the trickiest part of your job? (39:00)
How much does it matter when you have people come to you with thin resumes? (43:15)
Melissa Panton’s passion for the performing arts led to a career as a performer, instructor, and choreographer. She began as a highland dancer at the age of three in her native Vancouver, B.C, and later moved on to jazz, lyrical, ballet, stage, and acting, with a specialization in hiphop and urban dance. Melissa’s professional career has enabled her to travel extensively across the world to perform and train. She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.
Although a performer at heart, Melissa has always had an interest in the business side of entertainment. While building credits as a choreographer in Toronto, she began studying Arts Administration at Humber College, and gathering experience in production, casting, and stage management. She soon joined the team at da Costa Talent Management, where she now consults for the Youth and Urban Dance Divisions. She is also the director of administration for Groove Street Productions national dance conventions, and a faculty member of their all-hiphop convention “Street Groove”. She enjoys teaching workshops and adjudicating internationally, and has worked on the panel for the Hiphop Dance Canada Championships, for Skate Canada, George Brown College, OIP Dance Centre in Toronto, and Harbour Dance in Vancouver. Melissa has established a solid reputation in Canada’s strong dance community, instilling her knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm in all of her work.
