Are you looking for an agent?
Many artists I speak with, believe their first step to build their career, is to find a booking agent.
So let’s think about this from the perspective of the agent.
An agent is in the business of securing performance opportunities for their artists at appropriate venues. When they contract a date, they get paid a commission or percentage of the artist’s fee, once the date is completed.
Agents need to work with artists who will bring in reasonable fees to make money for their agency. Most artists who are just starting out, don’t realize what a dilemma this poses for the agent. How will that agent make money from your fee, if your fees are not large large enough? After all, 10% or 15% of $0 is still $0. Heck, 10% or 15% of $300 is only $30 or $45 respectively, and that’s not much if you are the agent.
So, what to do, what to do? Your main focus should be on developing a regional following. Book your own gigs until you can document at least $50,000 in income from performance fees. At that point, you will have something of value to present to an agent, something they can bank on.
Put your time and energy into booking yourself in a concentrated region, before you invest it in looking for an agent. Once you can document a history of substantial income, then you can begin thinking about working with an established agent.
And if you are ready to begin looking for an agent, check out The Booking Agent Directory by the Indie Bible creators. You might just find the right match for you. But, your experience will be much more rewarding if you follow the suggestions above and review the information in next week’s Biz Booster Hot Tip, first.
Next week, I’ll offer some suggestions on what to do as you build up to that level of performance income necessary to begin looking for an agent.
Have you considered looking for an agent? Are you really ready? Have you put together a meaningful pitch?
Leave me a comment below or on the Performingbiz Success Strategies Facebook page.
I can’t wait to hear about your success.
Thanks to Carol Ehrlich for this weeks graphic image. Check out her work at v360.com
Now, Thanks to the Band Curfew from the UK for providing the Biz Booster theme Music, “Future Dance.” Check them out at www.curfew.co.uk
And for more career boosting tips, articles, books, resources, tele-seminars and online courses, visit me at Performingbiz.com
Thanks Jeri! You gave us this same advice over a decade ago, and it worked like a charm. Only one thing. We did not have to go looking for agents, they came looking for us! We now gone from backyard parties to playing some of the biggest venues in the Southwest U.S. We have several go to agencies that keep returning gigs on our schedule, and a few smaller ones that fill in between the anchor gigs. Thanks again for all the years of support us indie bands!
Wow! How great to hear of your journey. Reality is, that when you apply the information and do the work of building your following, agents will eventually seek you out. Ticket sales don’t lie. Crowded rooms, festivals and demand from a loyal fan base tell, the true value story for you. Keep doing what you are doing and all the best for your much future success.
Jeri