Agents Vs. Managers. Which one do you need?

As you have been reading through this site, agent/artist makes a strong claim that you do not need an agent. Yes, this is true. You can have a very successful showbusiness career without ever having an agent or manager. However, there may come a time in your career that, like any other business, you will need to hire people to assist with the added workload. This means you will have to delegate tasks to other people. Hiring an agent and or manager is a good move.

Agents

The role an agent plays is typically going out into the marketplace and looking for work for the artist. It is not unusual for a big name act to have many agents finding them work.

agent/artist will be the first to tell you that if an agent wants to sign you this is a good thing. This means the agent believes they can make money off you. (If you think making money is bad, then stop here and leave business. The whole idea of business is to make money!) A quality agent will have many industry buyer contacts to sell your act too. However, not all agents work all markets. For example, you may have an agent that books casinos and another agent that books theaters. Hiring the right agent for your act is very important.

If I Am Hiring The Agent Then Why Am I Finding It So Hard To Get An Agent?

Agents work on commissions. If you don't have past shows, the agent will not have an opportunity to book the sweet easy rebooks and make some money. The agent won’t touch you.

But Those Were My Hard-Earned Clients. Why Do I Have To Give Them To The Agent?

There will come a time when you have to let go of some tasks and give them to another person. agent/artist hears this compliant all the time when an act finally has an agent interested in them. The fact is, yes, the agent will make money off shows you booked in the past. However, you will have past shows rebooked without dealing with the client and the agent will book you into venues that the agent has a great relationships with. agent/artist always tells the act that this is a win-win business relationship. Sign the agent contract!

Managers

The typical role of the manager is to create a career path for the artist. A manger takes a direct interest in the act far more than the agent. The manager most often runs the day to day business of the artist while the allowing the artist to strictly focus on their art. Some managers book shows. Though this is frowned upon within most states. The manger can, without impedance, solicit the act to agents, then the agents sell the act. A good manager will have great relationships with many agents throughout the entire show business industry. Thus, getting the act the most possible bookings. The manager also acts as the buffer between any business dealings and the act. A good manager will make sure that the act is protected from dealing with any business directly. This is because the act typically will ruin the deal. Many great show business careers were crushed due to a poor manager not protecting their client.

Fees

There are fees with being with an agent and or manager. The percentage can range from as low as 3% to as high as 49%. 49% is typical of a two person business partnership. Other fees are office expenses such as postage, copies and consulting advice. There are many expenses to running a business that include electric, rent, payroll, insurance and many more. The artist will be billed a monthly fee for the agents operating expenses.

That may seem like a lot for the artist to pay. Yet, look at it this way: if the agent has to pay all their business expenses to get you a $1000 gig and the agent only gets $100, the agent will be out of business even before you get 1 booking!

As an artist, you are a business. You the artist, are trying to sale your product (talent) to buyers. You have to run the business exactly like any other business. There are costs to running a business. And to be successful in any business a business must have great people working at the business.

As an artist must be prepared to pay about 30-35% of the yearly gross to the agent and manager. It is the cost of doing business.