How to Be a Music Booking Agent
Music booking agents make live music happen. A good agent masters matching the band with the right venue and the right audience. The booking agent takes care of the negotiation with the promoter and works closely with record labels to ensure the band gets the right exposure and pay. Some agents start with a friend's band and start booking shows for them, in turn building relationships with promoters. Another way to get a foot in the door is to seek an internship at an established booking agency.
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Things You'll Need
- Business cards
- Contacts
- Cell phone
- Press kits
- Printer
- Fax machine
- Computer
- Internet access
- Promoter listings
Instructions
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The Process
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Recruit bands or solo acts. You will have to show the musicians what you can do to help them in order to build a relationship, notes Jeri Goldstein, author of How To Be Your Own Booking Agent. Let them know you have contacts that will lead to bookings.
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Get everything in writing to determine how you will work together. This will also be somewhat of a defense against the competition should they try to steal your musicians.
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Use every opportunity to network, recommends Jr. Xavier M. Frasocgna, author of The Business of Artist Management. No matter where you are, you're on the clock. Keep business cards on you and pass them out when appropriate. Build a database of agencies, promoters and managers. Visit venues and introduce yourself. Even consider joining local or national associations that will provide networking opportunities with promoters and managers. These people will fill your musicians' schedules.
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Utilize email and phone calls to keep in contact with your connections. Keep detailed records of all dealings. Be smart about your dealings. Not every show will pan out. Allow two or three days between the initial contact with a promoter and the follow-up. Promoters have several deals to negotiate and acts to book so give them a few days to respond.
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Match musicians with the venue. This will show your musicians that you care about them---not just the money. Showing the musicians that you work for them, not just yourself, will be very important in your relationship in the long run. This should keep them from cutting side deals or bad mouthing you or your agency behind your back.
The Show
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Map out the show. Pay attention to the logistics; venue capacity, who else will perform, and the route---as suggested by Andy Reynolds, author of The Tour Book.
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Negotiate the terms and pay of each show. For rookie musicians the exposure means more than the money so there will not be much to negotiate. Know how to read the person you are negotiating with and decide what tactics will work best. This becomes easier with each experience.
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Pitch your musicians to larger promoters and management companies as the act grows in popularity. Don't let a promoter walk over you and take money out of your pocket. If a deal doesn't make sense, (i.e. doesn't give your group enough exposure in lieu of cash) don't take it. You and your client will only get what you negotiate.
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References
- Photo Credit music image by peter Hires Images from Fotolia.com
