Get a live agent
Introduction
Agents are one of the best ways to get regular PAs and raise your profile.
However it's hard to find an agent, usually they find you when you are good enough.
Read on for:
What agents do
How to find them
How to get taken on by them
Doing without them
Contracts
"Talent comes to us, or their label will recommend us, or we hear through word of mouth about a hot act, or we hear it on the radio!"
Tom Schroeder
Coda Agency
What They Do
Agents are in contact with the promoters, DJs, MCs, singers and most of the other major players in the scene including producers and record labels.
They will provide promoters of club events with the acts they need in return for a percentage of the booking fee - usually around 10-15%.
They'll also try and get their artists the best gigs and support them throughout their live career.
"We can basically get a name out to the right people and the right places. From there it's down to how well they are received as to how they would progress."
Nicky Jackson
Vital Edge Agency
How To Find Them
Try checking out music magazines, underground publications, record shops, the internet and any flyers you can get hold of.
Check out their roster and make sure they represent your type of music.
If you are at a stage where an agency would be of real benefit, it is more聽than likely that they will come and find you, not the other way round.
"Look for agencies in magazines, flyers, the internet and record shops."
DJ Dubplate Mex
Get Taken On
Agents find out about artists through word of mouth, contacts, and through other people - usually managers.
They are literally swamped with talented people wanting to be represented so it can be really hard to get taken on by them.
You need to be actively working for yourself.
You should have already built up some kind of name and work schedule (no bedroom DJs!) and have some kind of 'buzz' about your name.聽
Unfortunately it's not just about talent and there's no written formula for success - if there was agents would be rich!聽The scene is very fickle.
Doing Without Them
If you've tried to get on an agency's books without success then don't lose heart.
There's still a lot you can do for yourself to secure PAs.
If you specifically target your audience and really focus on building up the numbers of people who are coming to see you perform, you'll really start to generate interest in what you're doing.
Identifying who the promoters are and maintaining contact with them through a steady supply of your mix tapes/CDs and any hot new tracks you may have, should result in you getting your chance eventually.
Raise your profile by putting your mix tapes in the record shops and getting them played on radio.
If the agencies still don't get back to you, then maybe you need to raise the standard of your productions.
"Work hard, gain respect, blag gigs - if they are talented then it will lead somewhere when people want them back again and word begins to spread."
Tom Schroeder
Coda Agency
Contracts
Any contract you sign will be concerned with the percentage that the agency will take from your payment for performing on the night.
This will probably be in the region of 10 -15%. The contract is likely to vary from company to company.
Make sure you read what you sign and get professional legal advice.
"The main points are that the artist must fulfil their obligations to us and not bring any disrepute to our business name and visa versa."
Nicky Jackson
Vital Edge Agency
More... from How to...
Play London
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/londonp01.shtml
Set up your own PA
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/nightp01.shtml
Promote live PAs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/gigsp01.shtml
More... from the web
Radio 1 OneMusic: How to... Find a manager
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/management/findmanp01.shtml
(c) 大象传媒 1Xtra 1XMusic 2006