Re: Booking Agents... (Kinda Rant)
Hello:
I used to gig in a band in the 80's/90's that was lead by the female vocalist. She was convinced that having a booking agent was "big time". Aside for a wedding or two all we got from the agent was low paying bar gigs over five years.
Agents only like bands that can make them $... Once your band stops making $ for the agent you are out...no matter how much you made for the agent in the past. There is very little loyalty..
When I switched over to classical music for weddings and my ensemble became the first call in my area, the local wedding agents contacted me to see if they could book us. My reply "we're already booked solid...what more can you do for us..?
That was 15 years ago and we still gig regularly (with no agent involved). One of my ensemble's sellling points is that there is no markup/agency fee and the clients deal directly with me with no "go-between".
Agents at the local level are not "bigtime". If your band is good and you can draw a crowd you are best to approach a club owner and negotiate for yourself. If the clubowner refers you to an agent that books the room you should approach him your group's info including your price. If the agent says that he usually get a fee for booking the room it's simple: your price + his fee, not your price minus his fee.
Do not sell yourself short.
Mike M
