If you have the burning desire to learn how to become a booking agent, you’ll need to realize that there is one apparently impossible bit of a paradox to work around before anything else can be worked out in this business. Now, what could this be? Well in truth, this is one of those lines of work that needs the wisdom and know-how that can only come from many years of experience in order to properly begin in this field. See the puzzle here? It’s highly important to note that there are very many things that can easily cause such a business to fly apart which must be avoided, and a great many opportunities which can be taken advantage of, that to any newbie in the field can remain otherwise unseen. So how might a newcomer to this line of work be able to benefit from experience when there is yet none accomplished?
Here is how to become a booking agent without having first acquired any experience of your own; learn from the years of experience that others who have risen to success before you can provide for you. Pretty darned simple, isn’t it? It sure seems so… but who in their right mind would mentor a growing source of competition? Who in this line of work would freely give out such invaluable data which was all hard-earned throughout many long years of trial and error?
Truth be told, there are many who have worked in this field for years, even decades, and have now moved on to guiding and mentoring anyone hoping to learn how to become a booking agent who have just begun to play this particular game. Such masters are the ones you need to be searching for, as the rich wisdom they wish to impart to you is nothing short of a treasure.
A good agent will hold the client list of artists to just small enough that they can manage it and keep everyone working. After all, they only make money if the artists and groups are working so it is in their best interest to make sure that happens.
The Music Booking Agent typically has staple clubs that are in his or her core of places and the agent simply tells everyone where to go because they know who does what and which clubs are looking for what type of music. In a perfect world that is great and that is the part where musicians tend to shut off. After all, the band is the one in the club working their tail off to make the 20 percent commission for the agent, right?
What about the countless hours that went into the networking with the clubs and the bands to build up his roster of both? What about the phone calls to find new clubs and the promotional material that had to be done?
What about the band that he had booked that breaks down on Sunday night in Hibbing, Minnesota that was supposed to open up on Tuesday night in Yuma, Arizona? Would you like to be in his shoes trying to route in another band or to call the club and say, “guess what”? I know I would not like to be in that position.
I personally have been on the road and have had both good and bad Music Booking Agents handling the tours. The bad ones we fired quickly and the good ones we would go out of our way for because they were smart. They didn’t route you in Minnesota one week and Arizona the next. They looked at the map and kept the between gig miles to a minimum.
Music site like myMusicCircle give you yet another avenue to locate the professionals that will make you life easier. Music Booking Agents are one of those enigmas that can make or break you when you are out there. So look hard and when you locate a great one, keep them happy and remember they truly earn the money they get.
Greg Wilson is a prominent creative writer and music veteran with over 20 years of music industry professional experience. His knowledge and expertise extends from all aspects of the music industry including production, audio and video, promotion, music business strategy, music industry philosophy and music industry economics.
www.AuthentikArtists.com In this episode, Scott discusses the role of Booking Agents and what emerging artists need to do in order to get their attention. About the show Breakdown with Scott Austin provides insight into the issues plaguing emerging artists in the modern music industry. This series provides answers and commentary on key music business topics affecting the independent musician. The show was created to provide current information and commentary straight from an industry insider who knows, Authentik Artists CEO and former A&R Executive for Maverick, Warner Bros and Capitol Records Scott Austin. Austin has additionally appeared as a special guest commentator on EXTRA, G4′s “Attack of The Show” and many other network shows and also hosts “The :90 Music Show with Scott Austin”.