What we do and what we don’t do
Different agencies offer different services. So when an artist joins an agency, whether it is for the first time or from another agency, it is really important that they understand what services the agency offers and what the artist and their management need to organise themselves.
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Pitching for a show
As an agent, you will frequently find yourself pitching to talent buyers. More often than not this will start with an email. In this post we look at good practice when it comes to writing pitch emails and how we can attract attention.
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Booking & settling a one-off show
In this post I’ll take you through the process of taking a one-off show through from its beginning to its end. It could be a festival, a ticketed show or a private event. It could also be a workshop.
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Show Deals – An Overview
What it says on the tin! In this post we go through the five most common types of deals that music booking agents strike with promoters. Agents need to know when to use each type of deal and understand what they mean for their artists’ income.
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Show Deals – VAT
In this post, I get under the bonnet of the dreaded VAT. There are not many people who are fascinated by the intricate workings of VAT - but booking agents need to have a reasonable understanding so they can quote their artists correctly and spot an incorrect settlement.
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Music Business Conferences
Music Business Conferences form an integral part of a typical booking agent’s calendar. They provide an opportunity for agents to meet talent buyers face to face, show-case artists, learn from industry leaders and generally have a good time away from home. Fun it may be, but it is still very...
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The Payment Schedule
When we make an agreement between the artists and the purchaser then both parties agree that a show will take place on a certain day in the future. If that show doesn’t happen, then a day is missed in the artists diary - this results in significant loss of potential...
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Routing A Tour – Part 1, Do your homework!
Booking a great tour can be a very satisfying achievement. A great tour will create shows that artists and audiences will remember. It will also raise the profile of the artist. A great tour will also work financially and minimise travelling. To get this right the agent needs to do...
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Routing a tour – Part 2, The ideal tour
Before we start writing emails and making calls, it's good practice to map out the best tour you could book in the tour window you have. A tour where you managed to hit all the cities you want. A tour with the most suitable venues and promoters. We call this...
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Routing a tour – Part 3, Getting down to it!
In Part 3 of routing a tour we get down to walking the walk and getting the job done. It takes a certain type of dogged and tenacious individual to route a tour - especially with emerging talent - do you have what it takes?
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Announcing a tour
Once the tour is routed and signed off, there's a lot to do before it gets announced. In this post, we dig into some of the things that need to be considered before it can be released into the big bad world!
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Taking on new talent, Part 1 Who to approach?
When an agent starts working with an artist it is a relationship that may continue for decades. It's super important that we make every effort to make the right decision in advance to avoid wasting a lot of time.
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Taking on new talent, Part 2 How to approach
Once you have identified who you want to work with. The agent will need to sell their services, it’s a big decision for any artist so be prepared. And be prepared for a grilling!
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A special type of employment agency
You don’t need a license to be a live music booking agent - anyone can set themselves up as one - but there are some rules that you must follow - One of these rules is very important and you have to do it before you are allowed to charge...
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The Terms Of Business
A booking agency must issue its artists with their Terms of Business (Terms And Conditions) before they can charge them a fee. This must be agreed in writing… There are some things that must be included and others that the agency may choose to include.
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How the money works in a small show
Sometimes it can be hard to swallow how little money is due to the artist when the ticket price is low, even tho the artist has sold a decent number of tickets. In this blog post I explore how that can very easily happen.
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The importance of advancing a show
Sometimes when a band get a new agent they automatically think everything will be advanced for them. It won't be, the band need to take responsibility for this or pay someone else to.
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Promoting a show and who should be doing it
An emerging band need to be great at self-promotion. It’s not enough to write great songs and deliver them. They also need to be great at drawing attention to themselves. They need to promote their shows because frankly, no one else is going to do it for them. Yet…
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Show contracts and why we always issue them
What is a contract? What constitutes a contract? When should promoters sign a contract? Why do we even need contracts?
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The deal memo is dead – Long live the contract!
In this post I go into what we deliver to the purchaser when we confirm a show. I’ll touch on the contract, the invoice and the artists rider. Furthermore, I discuss why a deal-memo is a total waste of time and if anything, lays the agent open to mistakes.
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Contracts must create clarity not confusion
The language used in show contracts needs to be precise yet also readily understandable. Our clients are more likely to sign our contracts if this is the case. Also our contracts are living documents which need to be updated from time to time.
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