Meet Selena Schoups | Talent Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Selena Schoups and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Selena, what do you attribute your success to?
Over my 20+ years in the business, I have been fortunate enough to carve out a pretty unique career for myself by being the small shop who really takes the time to get to know and care about my talent as individuals. Having a knowledge of who my clients are as people helps me to see them in a way where I know exactly what their strengths and weaknesses are and what capabilities they have, and what jobs they’re best suited for. I often get the auditions and projects that clients have the best chance at booking, because I don’t see them as a number and a type but as a complete and full human.

I started off my career in Entertainment at some incredibly successful and well known companies, and when I first went off on my own to start my own company, I was terrified that being away from those influential companies would cause people to disregard and not take me seriously. Early on, I was taking meetings at coffee shops, because as a new business with no investors, and no financial backing, I had to. And back then, few were doing that. I had an agent friend say to me, “well you’re never going to get clients meeting them at Starbucks (I never met at Starbucks, haha) but it was something that was burned into my mind and filled me with constant dread and insecurity. Shortly after, I remember taking a potential client and her mother (she was in her 20’s, not sure why her mother needed to be there, but that’s how it happened) to the Chateau Marmont on Sunset for a meeting, where they proceeded to order a very full lunch with wine, etc and I was so worried that my credit card wasn’t going to go through. And I called the agent after what I THOUGHT was a very successful (and expensive) meeting, and she said to me that the acting coach had advised the client against signing with me because I didn’t have any clients on series at that point. And it was devastating because I had given that same agent a client who booked a lead in a HUGE big budget pilot, that didn;t end up getting picked up. So I only didn’t have someone on series at that point because of bad luck. It later came full circle and that same acting coach has told several clients over the years that I’m great at what I do and to sign with me (LOVE a full circle moment!!!!)

And that was the last meeting I ever took trying to impress a potential client with anything but who I am and what I can offer. I am and have always been a small shop, and I used to believe it was a weakness, but once I learned to use it as my strength, I really started finding success. I love what I do. I put my whole heart and soul into what I do, or I don’t do it. I am honest, to a fault sometimes, but when I take on a client, I am taking on a commitment to their career in its entirety. As a manager, I tend to fill so many roles, from therapist, to accountant, to security, to publicist etc etc. That 10% commission I charge comes with my time, my full effort and my caring; and that is something that the bigger companies can’t provide, or rarely can. I have signed people who came from big companies, where they never spoke to their manager, and in some cases were essentially verbally abused. And I’m proud to have the ability to provide something different. The clients’ wins are mine, their losses; mine too. It’s a true team effort.

I was at a panel recently, and I had a fellow rep say something BRILLIANT that I believe really encompasses the full scope of just how brutal our business can be. She said “This is the only business where we lose clients for being great at what we do.” And that struck me deeply, because it’s one of the things that still really hurts my heart. When I put someone on a popular series, or a feature, it’s more often than not, that the years of belief, effort and handholding are all forgotten, and it somehow becomes their accomplishment alone. We are often erased from the success. It’s such a painful part of this process, and there were times I was so hurt, so disillusioned that I didn’t want to keep giving all of myself to help artists who would inevitably become unappreciative, but the joy of helping someone deserving accomplish their dreams always seems to overshadow the hurt and disappointment. So I’m working on embracing all the parts of it; the highs, the lows and managing the expectations.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The entertainment industry can be so difficult to navigate because it is unlike any other “business”. The rules don’t apply, there are always exceptions, and you have to be able to navigate the plethora of unwritten and unspoken rules while trying to accurately read people and their motivations. I think really not being afraid of hard work, asking questions, and being up for ALL parts of the job, not just the fun and easy; were what gave me the most full education and experience in this business. I learned by making mistakes, working for free (internships are the absolute best way to learn, and I held many internship positions and appreciated them as invaluable) and not shying away from owning up to those mistakes I think earned me respect as a no bullshit type of person, which I do think can be a rarity in Hollywood.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a creature of habit, I often frequent the same spots, and really only venture out of my comfort zone if it’s something of interest to the people I have visiting; especially if it’s not a client event or business function. Over the years, I’ve actually learned that there sometimes some gems that we take for granted because they seem basic or touristy. I took my sister on one of those Hollywood bus tours randomly on one of her visits years ago (I think she found a Groupon for it) and it started off as an ironic/silly outing at first and ended up being SUCH a fun time! I went to the Getty for the first-time last summer when my cousin from Europe visited, and I really enjoyed that experience much more than I would have ever expected to. I think LA is great because there’s SUCH a wealth of outings and options for various interests, so I would first try to gauge the experience they were seeking and then suggest options that would fit. I will say some of the best outings and experiences are the ones that happen spontaneously. I worked promoting nightclubs in Hollywood while I was still attending UCLA early in my LA experience, so I have had SO many random and fun experiences over the years…. many visits to the Playboy mansion, New Years in Miami with a famous R&B singer and his band who I worked with at the time, accompanying my friend who won a trip to New York for a network opening and taking a ferry to Ellis Island with Uncle Luke from the rap group 2 Live Crew and having incredibly poignant conversations, My life and career has been a mishmosh of strange and beautiful moments. So now that I’ve been here over 2 decades, I really enjoy the quieter side of things. I have some favorite restaurants in the Valley where I live, The Village, Granville, Katsuya, Daichan (the best Japanese/Pan Asian Soul Food you’ll ever have in your liiiiife!!!), Pace (Laurel Canyon legend) Black Marquet Liquor, Teru Sushi etc, and then there’s also some spots I used to frequent that I haven’t revisited since before the pandemic, so I’m not sure if the vibe is the same but probably still as wonderful as they were pre-pandemic! I loved The Virgil in East Hollywood, great bar with live music, comedy and a big ol‘ dance floor. I’ve had many an adventure there. The Rockwell Table and Stage is always fun, Jeff Golblum’s band used to play there (may still?), and they’ve got great food, a great brunch, and it’s always a good people watch. The Dresden & The Derby in Silverlake, both featured in the 90’s film Swingers, and always a fun “unique to LA” experience. I also really love The One Up, a 80s themed bar with Arcades and old school games in the Sherman Oaks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many people I love and appreciate who have guided me along the way. I feel like in past features, I’ve spoken on all the industry mentors who were instrumental in helping me accomplish my goals, but there were also so many friends and loved ones who supported me as well. One of my dearest friends, Aja, was actually a client at one of the companies I worked at for years. She has known me for 20+years and believed in me before I believed in myself. She along with of my other best friends, Terry, pushed me to take the leap of faith to go out on my own, and I thanked them on almost every booking, every milestone, every win for years. It’s so rare to have people believe in you and support you so completely. I appreciate and feel the support from those who have filled this role in my life, both past and present, every day. My late mother, Antonia, also supported my every dream, every whim, every exploration from day one. Didn’t matter how silly, how unlikely, how far out. She never questioned my capabilities. She saw so many things in me that I think I’m only just now starting to see and understand. I am wholly grateful for my life here in The City of Angels and all the people who have affected my journey. 

Website: www.marqueent.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marqueentgroup/#

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selena-schoups-316b07b/

Image Credits
First 2 images: Celeste Canino: Photographer Estelle Descard: Hair & Makeup Jon Pavlovsky: Producer 3rd image: with client Linsey Godfrey and her daughter, by Mark Edwards for Lifestyle Magazine Show 4th image: Hollywood event, Personal Photos with Rapper/Actor Sticky Fingaz and friends Ariana Bryant and Aja Longino. 5th & 6th image: Personal Photos at The Playboy Mansion with friends. 7th image: Lifetime Holiday event with my client George Stults and his co-lead Soleil Moon Frye 8th image: Personal Photo from my birthday party 9th image: My client Nishi Munshi & I at an awards show, also a personal photo