Booking Agent

What do Booking Agents do?

An Artist Booker, or Booking Agent, works in the music industry to book performers for concerts, gigs and other live music performances. They often schedule performances and negotiate with the artists directly or with booking representatives or producers to arrange terms of contract, dates, and fees. They may also audition new talent. Artist Bookers or Booking Agents may either be employed in-house or work independently. They may specialize in independent bookings in a particular musical genre such as cabaret, chamber music or rock or pop music. An Artist Booker or Booking Agent may even sponsor, manage and produce the whole event.

A Booking Agent is responsible for booking live performances including concerts, gigs, tours and radio and TV performances for artists, bands, DJs, choirs, orchestras and other musical ensembles. They are responsible for developing the musicians' or artists' career with regard to their live performance. A Booking Agent, or Artist Booker, will work closely with the artists' management, promoter and record company. Sometimes, especially with new and emerging artists the manager will combine their role with that of Booking Agent. They will usually work on a whole tour rather than just one gig. They will often require an exclusive contract on touring activity, especially if the artist is signed.

The Agent will be responsible for negotiating and issuing contracts, collecting deposits and sending out promotional material. They may work freelance, be part of the band, or work for a music company or agency. They may be responsible for one artist, band or musical ensemble, or for several. They will often work on a commission basis and usually get around 10 - 15% commission of the artist's fee.

Some Booking Agents will provide all styles of artists and musicians ranging from classical to dance music and cover a range of events including bars, clubs, local, corporate and trade events. Others provide entertainment for cruise ships, theaters, hotels and international venues. Some Booking Agents will specialize in musicians and producers working in particular genres, such as rock, pop, dance, urban or acoustic.

Many Booking Agents will offer a portfolio of services for their clients, including artist management services, or marketing, distribution and publicity campaigns for a variety of media.

Excellent knowledge of the music industry and keeping in touch with current music trends is essential, as is building up an excellent network of contacts in the music business. There are no specific professional qualifications required. Building up experience in the music industry is important. This can be done by working in different capacities — any work that brings you music business contacts and keeps you in touch with the industry will help. Many Booking Agents are musicians who have built up their expertise on the job working for themselves, their own ensembles, bands or for friends who are musicians.

There are 1803 music industry professionals with the job title Booking Agent on Music Jobs

Booking Agent jobs which have appeared on the Music Jobs jobs board:

Boston Entertainment Agent Boston, MA (non-paid or commission only)	02/06/12
Chicago Entertainment Agent Chicago, IL (non-paid or commission only)	02/06/12
Booking Agent South Florida	02/01/12

Job description sources include (but are not limited to) imdb.com, skillset.org and wikipedia.