[Stacie Overman is the founder of the talent agency Take2 Productions.  She has been in the business for years as a model.  She is well-known in Lane County for her work, and was nominated for an award of excellence.  She runs the business with her husband Larry.]

Mike Harris (interviewer): Did you found Take2?  How did you come about that process?

Stacy Overman (interviewee):  From my early 20s I did start modeling and a little bit of acting – mostly modeling – and some friends of mine had an agent and I wanted to have an agent. It prompted me to do it on my own. I got my own gigs and was an independent freelance artist. And I worked really hard at it, and I didn’t get as many as I wanted. But I did get very well known in the Lane county area. I was at every photo opportunity for events at every fashion show. In fact, stores started hiring me instead of telling me what to do. Then I had a friend who was a TV producer. He said, “Who do you know? I need help. Talent didn’t show up.” The photographer I worked with said, “You know, you’d be really good as a talent agent.” There was no one in Eugene doing it at the time. He said, “You’re already doing that. You’re a natural.” So that prompted me to look into it. I did research for close to 6 months. I interviewed people and was sure everyone was on board, so it would be successful and people got jobs. Then I formed Moonlight Talent.

MH: And what year was that?

SO: That was in 2006. Two years later we reformed to create Take2.

MH: What areas does Take2 serve?

SO:  The entire Pacific Northwest. Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

MH: How diverse is the talent? Model, actor, voice actor?

SO:  Most of our make-up is predominately actors, and then the other part is lifestyle models. We also have voice-over talent. Then we represent an electric band called Adrinum.

MH: How much of your talent is new talent? How do you help them with how unsure their marketability is?

SO: That’s one of the things that set me apart from my competition, and I’m willing to take a chance. So I would say ¼ is brand new, just getting started.

MH: What’s rewarding about being a talent agent?

SO: It’s funny, it doesn’t make as much one as other jobs. And I don’t have super set hours. There’s a lot of downfalls to being a talent agent. I put a lot of money out to make very little back. And I work all hours of the day, and I never really have a day off. But the upswing of that is it’s rewarding to me. It’s the paycheck of the heart. It’s my way of giving back, coaching, giving and helping other people succeed. And I’m proud someone gets an audition and sees part of their dream come true.