What does a Music Agent do?
For up-and-coming clients, this may mean working the phones to book a string of club dates or secure an opening slot with a more established act. For bigger artists, it could mean planning national or world tours, scheduling radio and television appearances, and securing advertising deals or sponsorships. Working as an agent is a bit like piecing together a puzzle: coordinating nights, towns, and venues while competing for bookings against all the other acts on the road at the same time, and being careful to create a manageable itinerary.
At a Glance
This is often described as a "mail room career," meaning that agents might start in low-level positions (the proverbial mail room) and work their way up by demonstrating talent and hard work. Whether or not this is the path for everyone, it's certainly true that getting one's foot in the door—as an intern or assistant in the agency—is perhaps the most important part of becoming a music agent. Some large agencies also have in-house agent training programs.
Breaking into this career is not easy. Usually, it requires getting a lower-level position at an agency—such as an internship or assistantship—and learning on the job while waiting for the big break: the opportunity to manage one's own client.
Knowledge of music venues; marketing and promotion; contracts and negotiation; making and maintaining professional connections; written and verbal communication; organization; multitasking
In this relationship-driven field, communication skills are a must, along with the confidence and assertiveness to be a sharp negotiator on behalf of one's client. Working in an exceptionally fast-paced environment, the most successful agents are skilled multitaskers who remain cool under pressure.
Agents work around the clock, often spending daylight hours behind a desk alternately fielding and pitching offers, and nights and weekends networking and attending shows with current and prospective clients. It's a demanding field that rewards those who can stay active and engaged while switching between different goals and modes.
