subject: The Music Booking Agent, Friend Or Foe? [print this page] 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 didnt 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.
