January 2024 - Profiles: Peter K. Yanke of Phirgun Mair
Peter Yanke, the founder and primary talent agent at Phirgun Mair Worldwide, a SAG-AFTRA franchised agency, has 25 years of industry experience. His expertise spans various domains such as film, television, music, literature, publishing, production, and artist management. Peter's unwavering commitment to growth has led him to expand the company, ensuring a wide range of talents are on their roster. Above all, Peter remains focused on propelling creatives to new heights in their careers. Yanke takes a moment to share how he began and what advice he can provide to those looking for an agent.
What was your drive to become an agent? How did it begin?
My philosophy has always been that helping people get what they want would translate to my success. In 2017, I put my 20+ years of related industry experience under one roof, and Phirgun Mair Worldwide was the result. The agency's name is from the old Hebrew word 'Firgun,' which loosely means to 'take delight in the success of others.' It was right before Netflix moved into Albuquerque, and the film industry here began to grow exponentially, so the timing was a bit unexpected looking back on it.
What have been some of your rewards?
I love to see people growing and succeeding in their careers, and being able to help in some way and be a part of that process is the biggest reward for me. There are awards shows, premieres, and other industry events that I get to attend with our talent that are a fun perk, but also being invited to teach up-and-coming talent at industry conferences and showcases.
What are some challenges you had to face?
You have to unlearn some things that have worked for a long time when starting a new career at almost 50 like I did. It came with its own unique set of challenges, which were sometimes of my own making, but persistence pays off, and I'm thankful for a supportive community that allowed me to grow into the job. This industry is constantly changing, and you must have a mindset of always learning, adapting and striving to do better and keep up.
What do those interested in entertainment need to know to start their career?
Experience and training are everything, and it should never stop. There are things you can learn in the beginning by winging it. But your quickest way forward is through training, working, making mistakes, training more, and doing better. It may look like others get through with minimal training. It might work for various reasons, but career longevity is in becoming the best at your job. Like any career, this also might require some adjustments in your personal life to set yourself up for long-term success. The timing of that success is not within your control, but consistently good work and attitude will get you there a lot sooner. Your support circle should focus on your growth and be excited when you start winning. One last thing is to be patient and mindful. Everyone's journey is different and will take different amounts of time.
What is the best piece of advice you can give to performers looking for an agent?
Be prepared to work as a team and to work your butt off. When you get a talent agent, it is no longer just your career - your team is there to help you get where you want to be as quickly as possible, but you have to communicate and work together. Find someone you can trust. Your agent (or manager) essentially becomes like your family. You will talk with them more than your actual family in some cases, so it should be someone with the same vision for your career as you have but also someone who can give you a kick in the butt when you need it.