Booking Agent Information
The entertainment industry is a dynamic industry which promises fame, wealth, prestige and the adoration of millions of fans. Booking agents work behind the scenes to assist bands, artists and specialized acts succeed by booking live venues for existing and potential fans to see their favorite act perform. Becoming a booking agent takes a lot of work but if successful, the career can be lucrative and rewarding.
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Booking Venues for Live Performances
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Booking agents conduct negotiations with venues on behalf of an artist, band or act or the acts' manager to reserve concert dates for a venue. The booking agent contacts the venue and arranges for concessions for the act to perform. The agent negotiates the bands fees through a percentage of the ticket sales and a fee for using the booking agent. The booking agent also works closely with the venue manager or management team to ensure equipment (sound system, stage lighting, and stage preparation) is adequate for performance.
Communicates with Entertainment Industry Representatives
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A booking agent must be able to communicate with promoters, entertainment managers, club owners, venue representatives and artists. A good booking agent establishes a network or hub to communicate with these entities concerning acts, scheduling and miscellaneous as far as a year in advance. Booking agents also market their services to industry representatives through various marketing channels (Internet, email, phone calls or word of mouth campaigns).
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Independent Booking Agents vs. Talent Agency Booking Agents
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Booking agents can operate as independent contractors or work for a talent agency. Most independent booking agents establish their business on a regional level or circuit and book acts within their geographical location. They also examine their territory for new acts to perform. Talent agency booking agents can be assigned to a region by a talent firm which has the financial resources to employ agents in various parts of the world. A booking agent for a talent agency can concentrate on securing the venue contract while the independent agent has to wear many hats.
Licensing Requirements for Booking Agents
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Most states require booking agents to have a special or general business license. The states of California and New York have the strictest regulations regarding booking agent activities. In most states, a booking agent cannot charge more than 20 percent of the gross ticket sales. There states which require bonding if a license is obtained by a booking agent.
Education and Salary
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There is no formal degree program for a booking agent. However, courses in business finance, business law and business accounting can help a booking agent understand certain business terms and contracts. Most booking agents receive their training through on-the-job experience. Booking agents usually make money from proceeds of a live performance and depending on the venue, funds can fluctuate wildly. Booking agents are not entitled to royalties from recorded music, publishing or songwriting. Booking agents are required to keep funds from a venue performance in a trust account to be held for 30 days for distribution to all parties involved which participated in securing the venue.
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