Working With An Agent

Developing and maintaining a good professional relationship with entertainment agents in your area can provide a boost to your bookings.  As in any business relationship, there are ethics, expectations, and etiquette that are necessary for success.  I asked Bonnie Piedmont with Incredible Productions (www.incredibleproductions.com ) to share some of her wisdom on this topic.   Bonnie sent some great advice:

 As an entertainment production company / talent agency, we would...


1.  Expect the musician or act to provide proper materials with which we can sell  them...photo, song list, bio, few clients and/or references, cd, mp3 files, etc...  Also, talent would need to provide a W-9 form for tax purposes.


2.  Expect that the musician will act professionally when on a job and serve as

a positive representative of the agency...don't eat or drink unless specifically invited at the event, deal courteously with client or  representatives’ on-site requests (if reasonable, of course), and if asked for contact information, provide that of the booking agency....not 

their personal information or that of another agency.

Musician should consider the following when dealing with an agency / production company...


1.  Expect that the agency will charge a reasonable commission (above  talent's "net" fee) and will provide all necessary paperwork (contracts  / agreements) with musician as well as with the client.   

Terms should be stated as to when payment can be expected as well as 

providing all necessary event details (on-site contact, cell number, 

exact location, directions to the venue, and what is expected of the performer.)

2.   Expect that the agency will pay in a prompt manner and for tax purposes  provide the performer with the necessary tax forms for reporting income.

3.   Expect that agency will indicate to the performer whether they consider   

them to be exclusive (“non-compete”) to their agency or if it  

is possible that talent may be represented by other agencies as well.