Final answer:
Yes, a personal manager in California who books gigs and negotiates contracts for artists needs to obtain a talent agent's license to operate within the law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a personal manager in California needs to obtain a talent agent's license to stay within the law, book gigs, and remain in the management profession is True. In California, the activities of talent agents are regulated, and individuals or entities who desire to engage in the occupation of procuring, offering, promising, or attempting to procure employment or engagements for an artist must be licensed as talent agents under the Labor Code. This includes not just booking gigs but also negotiating employment contracts for artists. Personal managers in California who perform these functions and are not specifically exempt may need a talent agent's license to operate legally.