What Is A Booking Agent?

When artists and bands start to get bigger they will eventually begin working with a booking agent that will find them even more gigs. It is a booking agents job to liaise with event promoters (like you!) and try and get the best deal possible in regards to payment for their artists.

I spoke to Chris Meredith, a booking agent from ATC live and asked him to give me a little more detail on the role...

"The primary responsibilities of the role are the identifying of talent and contacts, developing artists career in the world of live performance via routing and negotiating tours around the world outside of North America for my clients, securing support tours and festival performances and delivering the best live conditions possible for artists to grow their fanbases and develop meaningful, sustainable careers."

I also asked him what this meant in terms of work on a day to day basis....

"Creating, organising and delivering touring and live performance options for clients via promoters, festivals and brands in line with long term strategies to further an artist career and earnings. There is also a large amount of admin and legal aspects to deal with for all shows and most importantly ensuring that your artists are paid correctly and promptly for their work."

If you decide to start a career hosting live music events then you will have to work with lots of different booking agents in order to work with the best artist. They can often be a gateway to a higher class of musician but remember that the more the artist gets paid for a show, the more they do so it's within their best interest to keep the price up.