Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
Topic RSS
1:59 am
June 10, 2011
Offline
QuoteI'm just curious as to how many of you work with Booking Agents? Many years ago I got almost all of my gigs through agents, one in particular. He retired, I moved, and I started doing all my own booking. I do fairly well getting gigs, but now an agent has taken quite an interest and wants to start booking gigs for me. I know he has connections way beyond what I have, including some pretty major festivals, in the Pacific Northwest (where I live) and also in Austin, Texas and Southern California. So far he has not asked for any exclusive agreement, and will work for a 10% commission. It has been at least 15 years since I worked with an agent.......is 10% still the standard? Has anything else changed? How do you all feel about working with agents?
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
4:09 am
June 7, 2011
Offline
I haven't worked with an agent in a few years. Last I knew the going rate was 10%.
I would say absolutely go for it. Nothing to lose. Especially if he's coming after you. I have had 3 different agents over the years and all were pretty big. They were valuable to me for getting big gigs and opening spots on some big tours, but useless for setting up the consistent shows that most of us were looking for. But that's sort of the curse of the big companies... It's not worth it fro them to go after anything that doesn't pay thousands of dollars.
I think a smaller company that is excited to work with you sounds like a great thing. I'd definitely do it. Especially if you're free to keep booking your own gigs.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
6:59 am
June 10, 2011
Offline
Yeah, that is kind of my gut feeling too, John. I've had many "promises" in this biz, but this guy seems pretty genuine, especially after I offered to take him out to lunch the other day so we could get to know each other a little better. He suggested a very reasonably priced restaurant pretty close to his office, and then only ordered iced tea. We had about an hour and a half meeting, talked over some goals and ideas, and I came away with a pretty good feeling. I'll see how things go over the next few weeks
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
9:28 am
June 10, 2011
Offline
A band that I play in gets gigs from agents. I'm not the leader, but I do see the financial breakdowns. I just took a quick scan of a few of them, and they look like the 10% to even 15% range. If he's not asking for an exclusive, I can't think of a reason to turn that offer down! 
9:35 am
June 10, 2011
Offline
Thanks guys!
The last I talked with this agent, he told me he was getting several gigs lined up for December, including a casino for New Years Eve. If he does what he says he is going to do, this might work our pretty good!
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
4:28 pm
June 9, 2011
Offline
Very cool Greg!
Just make sure you don't slack on the things you have control over, like your marketing 😉 We know you won't though.
Sounds like it is worth considering. A lot of agents do work on a non-exclusive basis, which is something many artists don't realize. In such case, you can not only book your own gigs, but sometimes it means you are free to work with one or more other agents as well. Make sure you have a written agreement and that it reflects what you want as well as your understanding of what the relationship is supposed to be.
12:37 am
June 10, 2011
Offline
Yeah...here is a sound reason for not signing an exclusive agreement with an agent. This guy seemed really sincere, made all kinds of promises (which I have heard many times before!) and even returned a few phone calls. That was several weeks ago. During that time, I have booked several gigs on my own......he has booked ....none! Now he doesn't even answer his phone. Just another flake!
Kind of reminds me of the old joke about the music business being full of liars, thieves, con artists, backstabbers, wannabe's, jerks...... and a few bad people too!
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
8:18 pm
June 7, 2011
Offline
Greg Parke said:
Kind of reminds me of the old joke about the music business being full of liars, thieves, con artists, backstabbers, wannabe's, jerks...... and a few bad people too!
That's pretty funny. Sorry to hear it hasn't panned out with the guy.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
4:18 am
August 27, 2011
Offline
Hey Greg,
Sorry to hear the agent didn't pan out - but who knows, you may hear from him in the future - maybe something came up? Or I'm just the eternal optimist?
In the end, as long as you keep doing your own thing and not 'slackin' as Steve mentioned, you'll do well. The biggest problems seem to happen when bands get an agent or manager and then think that they don't have to do any 'work' anymore. Nothing ever good comes of that.
5:04 pm
June 10, 2011
Offline
I agree 101% with your last statement Mike! In all the years I have been doing this, I have only worked with one agent that I could really rely on, so now I almost always do my own booking. I can see it from an agents point of view too though, when you look at the financial end. If an agent books a single artist for a one night gig at $200, his commission would be about $20. If he books a 4 piece band for a one night gig at $500, he gets $50 for doing the pretty much same amount of work. Each band member gets paid less than the single act, but the agent gets twice as much, and it's probably easier to book a band for $500 than a single for $200, so who do you think he is going to concentrate on? Plus, the music industry is loaded with wannabes, and that includes agents!
The one really good agent I worked with was in a unique position. First, he was very wealthy from other business ventures he had done in the past, so he was a booking agent purely for the love of it, not for the money. He had been doing it for decades, had tons of rooms that booked exclusively through him, and kept a stable of quality musicians, mostly singles and duo's, to fill the rooms, and live music was very popular at that time in the Pacific Northwest. Most clubs had music 5 nights a week, and it was common to book a 2 week run at a club, often a year in advance. I got spoiled pretty quick! When that agent finally retired, I had to learn all over again about booking myself, as I never found another agent who was so focused.
So, sign an exsclusive and slack off? Well, I know the term "never say never", but in this case........!
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
1 Guest(s)
