7 Steps to Getting a Booking Agent in the Music Industry

Whether you are starting out in the entertainment industry, or you are a seasoned pro, finding a booking agent can be crucial to your success! The following article provides some great pointers on how to go about it.

STEP 1 – WORD OF MOUTH IS KING

Like many other areas of the music industry, having a buzz is a sure way to generate interest and booking agents are no exception. While not impossible, it is rare for booking agents to take on an artist purely from a cold call or first listen.

STEP 2 – GO YOUR OWN WAY

It’s best that you do it yourself for as long as you can before you enlist the services of a booking agent. You will have a greater appreciation of what your booking agent can do for you and will be better placed to ensure they are represent your interests in the right way.

STEP 3 – BE INFORMED

If you don’t know an agent’s roster before you approach them and there’s a complete mismatch in styles, then you’re wasting their time and yours.

STEP 4 – TEAM SPORT

Agents like to see that there are other players in the mix looking after your interests so that they can focus on what they do best which is to get shows that are aligned with an overall strategy. So having a combination of one or more of the following makes a difference: management, plugger, publicist, label, publisher, tour management, sound engineer.

STEP 5 – STREAMING, SALES & SOCIALS

You’ve got to have a footprint!! If you have an audience and that is reflected in streaming numbers, merch sales and socials activity, then this will be a pretty good indicator that they can earn their commission for the shows and also will help them determine what size shows you can be booked for.

STEP 6 – TRACK RECORD

You’ve got to have form on stage and on the road not only because tickets need to sell but working with the uninitiated can be a complete punish from a booking agents’ perspective.

STEP 7 – BE A GOOD HUMAN

Being a good person to work with makes it much easier to work with you. Agents will grow tired of people who are difficult to work with as its their reputation that will suffer as well as your own.

Author: Stu Watters – MD @ Morph Consulting

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