Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Horan.
Shannon, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started out as a child actor but one that hated the audition process. Needless to say that career barely got off the ground when I realized I had to do something else. I moved to Los Angeles and was attending college & got a job at Vicki Lawrence’s new talk show. Across the hall was the Tonight Show With Jay Leno. His staff was always laughing & having a great time while working and I knew I HAD to get on that show.
So, I did. I got hired & worked there for five years. I was an incredible show to work on & I loved every minute! Working on a lot at NBC every day & being part of getting a show on the air each night is something magic. I always loved television but getting to MAKE television is something so special. Jay was a wonderful boss!
I decided to move back to Texas when I wanted to start a family. At that point, I came to work for The Campbell Agency in the Adult Broadcast Department. Nancy Tasker Johnson who is a bit of an agent legend here in Texas was my mentor. I was very fortunate to learn from the best of the best.
After my 3rd child, I stopped working to be a full-time Mom not realizing that as fate would have it, I would never be far from this business. My brother Kevin McHale was booking non-stop here in Dallas. I took him to LA & got him a manager & an agent & he hit the ground running. By the time he was 15, he had a record deal with Ron Fair/Interscope Records.
By the time he was 18, he was a series regular on the Fox Tv series “GLEE” which ran for six amazing seasons. The show was more than a normal show it became a phenomenon. My children were pretty much raised around this business. In turn, two of my kids also began acting very much by accident and still are acting to this day.
I spent half the year in Los Angeles with my own children working and auditioning for the better part of 11 years. We have been very lucky & because of this, it gives me insight that most agents simply do not have. The market has greatly changed & so much is booked off of tape that is has allowed us to be based in Dallas now.
I also wanted my children to have that normal middle school & high school experience so being able to tape for projects is a huge game changer for us! With my kids all in school all day & older I was ready to dive back into working. I love Nancy Campbell & she knows me so well, so we met for lunch & here I am now running the Children’s Broadcast Division.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Deciding to leave The Tonight Show was very hard. They hired two people to replace me, and they fired them both within six weeks & asked me to please come back to work. That was hard. I missed the show terribly.
Going from a stay at home to working full time again was an adjustment for my kids, but I am so glad they see me doing something each day I am so passionate about!
THE CAMPBELL AGENCY – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We have been in business for over 28 years! We are a full-service talent & modeling agency. I handle all things children! We book them on films, television & commercials!
I think our children’s division is really getting noticed in a big way this year- we have tripled our bookings & we are going non stop! There is so much more on the horizon for Campbell Kids Department!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
In an industry that breeds disloyalty, I would say success is having clients who are loyal, I value that more than anything. It is all about relationships for me.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3838 Oak Lawn Ave Suite 900
Dallas, TX 75219 - Website: www.thecampbellagency.com
- Phone: 214-522-8991
- Email: shannon@thecampbellagency.com
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