Performer's skill is apparent at the end (6)
I believe the answer is:
artist
'performer's' is the definition.
(eg a musician)
'skill is apparent at the end' is the wordplay.
'skill' becomes 'art' (both can mean a talent).
'at the end' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'apparent' is 't'.
'art'+'is'+'t'='ARTIST'
(Other definitions for artist that I've seen before include "Bacon, for example?" , "Painter in dire strait" , "Old learned man" , "Creative or skilful person" , "Model employer, perhaps" .)