Does an artist need a booking agent?

It has been the common thought that in order to become a successful artist, one needs a booking agent. A booking agent, through their connections and knowledge of the industry, will propel your career forward and take you places you might not be able to go on your own. But is this common knowledge really true? Many very successful artists are known to be self-managed, and let’s face it, most of the booking agents you see these days have something dark about them. As with anything, there are pros and cons to using a booking agent to further your career.

A booking agent, usually referred to as a “talent agent”, is the person in charge of booking your shows, appearances, and managing your promotion and marketing. Whether you’re a band or a solo act, a booking agent can help by taking care of some administrative and paperwork for you, leaving you with more time to focus on yourself and your product. Like any service you receive, the services of an agent are certainly not free; Typically, the agent will take a portion of the income you generate, whether it’s from a live show, a guest appearance, or something else. Experienced agents can certainly have connections in the industry that can help you, they have people that owe them favors that can turn into a favor for you, indirectly. Agents can certainly be useful, from a time management point of view. Without having to deal with management, promotion, marketing, booking, and scheduling, you have all the time in the world to polish your songs, work on your music, and develop as an artist.

While the idea of ​​being managed sounds ideal, for many bands and artists looking to start their careers, the services of an agent can seem like an expense they can do without. Booking agents don’t do anything you can’t do yourself; Anyone can easily book shows, persevering self-promotion can go a long way, and you’ll feel better about not having to split your salary with your ‘manager’. Most successful artists never get an agent before signing with their label, which then starts handling all of the above tasks. It goes without saying that any band or artist can survive and start a healthy music career without necessarily needing the services of an agent.

The last word is up to you. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of hiring an agent for yourself or your group, and then decide which solution is best for you, your interests, your music, and your budget.