Booking agents provide an essential service to artists/bands by helping to find gigs and venues. In essence they act as an agent through which the band or artist can find paid work. Their main function is to find the acts on their books as many gigs as possible, or those with the highest revenue. Some booking agents may help to put together a gigging strategy for the artist or band.
A booking agent has to be flexible and pro-active in their approach to the role. They may have to:
- Be in touch with other agents and promoters to exchange information. This can lead to swapping or sharing gigs and shows
- Negotiate and artist to either headline a show, open a show or play with a more established act
- Make decisions on whether an act can step in for a late cancellation by another act.
In terms of their own payment, a booking agent has two options, the outcome of which approach may determine the amount of profit they can make:
- Negotiate on the artist's behalf with the venue or promoter for a fee and charge the artist a commission for arranging the booking
- 'Buy' the band for a fee, and then 'sell' the band on to a venue for a higher fee.
