A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, musicians, models, and other people in various entertainment businesses. Agents make their money by making a percentage of the money that their client is paid. There are different regulations that govern different types of agents that are established by artist's unions and the legal jurisdiction in which the agent operates. There are also professional organizations that license talent agencies. Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... For the popular-music magazine, see Musician (magazine). ... A model is a person who poses or displays for purposes of art, fashion, or other products and advertising. ... A stilt-walker entertaining shoppers at a shopping centre in Swindon, England Entertainment is an activity designed to give pleasure or relaxation to an audience (although in the case of a computer game the audience may be only one person). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Acting and modeling agents

Actors may be interested in working theatrically (stage, film or television) as well as in commercials. Agents will handle all types of acting work while others may specialize in a particular area. There are agents who represent television, voice-overs, or just film and television. Typically, the larger the agency, the more specialized the agents. Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Look up Commercial in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A voice-over is a narration that is played on top of a video segment, usually with the audio for that segment muted or lowered. ...

An agent has two sets of clients: the "talent" (actors, models, voice-over artists, etc) and the "buyer". The buyer can be a casting director, advertising agency, production company, photographer, or direct client if the client has an "in-house" production staff. Agents promote talent to the buyers, submitting talent that have the appropriate age, race, sex, look, talent, etc. that the buyer is seeking for her project. Usually, an agent submits the actor's head shot or the model's composite card or portfolio to the buyer. After buyer make choices, the agent then arranges an audition (or for models, a "look-see" or open call). After the buyer has met the talent, the buyer will contact the agent if any of the talent will be hired. The agent will coordinate the details of wardrobe, directions, etc as well as negotiate the contract or pay. A Casting director is a person who is in charge of the casting of a film or other work requiring actors. ... An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising (and sometimes other forms of promotion) for its clients. ... A film studio is a controlled environment for the making of a film. ... A photographer at the Calgary Folk Music Festival Paparazzi at the Tribeca Film Festival A photographer is a person who takes a photograph using a camera. ... An example of a head shot A Head shot is a photographic technique where the focus of the photograph is a persons face. ... A comp card (also called composite card, zed card, often misspelled sed card and set card) is a marketing tool for actors and especially models. ... Look up portfolio in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Note that the agent's job is to get the talent auditions; the talent is the only one who can get the job. For their work, agents take a 10 to 20% commission of the gross, depending if the job is union (such as SAG-AFTRA) or not. Union jobs are paid per negotiated guidelines, but sometimes in non-union jobs the pay is delayed. Look up commission in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Union generally refers to two or more things joined into one, such as an organization of multiple people or organizations, multiple objects combined into one, and so on. ...

A well established agent will have a number of contacts. Also, agents have access to Breakdown Services.^{[citation needed]} Breakdown Services allows them to see many roles that casting directors are seeking, often on a national level. These are not available to the general public. A Casting director is a person who is in charge of the casting of a film or other work requiring actors. ...

Music agents

In the music world, booking agents are different from talent managers. Booking agents are the people that actually book shows for the artists they represent. They make all of the arrangements with the promoters of the shows. The booking agent presents the promoter or producer of the concert with a performance agreement, which stipulates the artist’s requirements. Items may include lighting, sound,meals, hotel accommodations, and transportation. For concert buyers, they work to find the right artist that will fit in the need and available budget. A talent manager, also known as a personal manager, is one who guides the career of artists in the entertainment business. ... Look up show in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An Entertainment Promoter is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting concerts, festivals, raves, nightclubs or other live events. ... For other uses, see Concert (disambiguation). ... A contract is a legally binding exchange of promises or agreement between parties that the law will enforce. ... This is a current Stagecraft collaboration! Please help improve it to good article standard. ... A meal is an instance of eating, specifically one that takes place at a specific time and includes specific, prepared foodstuffs. ... For other uses, see Hotel (disambiguation). ... For the movement of people or objects, see transport. ...

Many of the major booking agencies refuse to represent clients who are not already signed to a major record label and have national distribution of their music. Because of this, artists on independent record labels often seek representation with an independent booking agency. In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... The concept of an independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of one of the major record labels, which are generally defined to be the handful of media corporations which have recently dominated the recorded music industry in the West. ...

Bars and nightclubs that specialize in presenting live music on a regular basis often employ an individual to assemble the schedule of events. These people are the venue’s buyers, and should not be confused with the booking agent, who presents their roster of available acts to the buyer. Booking agents may also have contacts known as free-lance promoters. These are individuals that agree to produce a concert by locating a venue, providing a sound system and assembling a staff. Producing a show in this manner, at a location that is rented out for a single evening, is called “four-walling,” as it entails renting a venue and receiving no additional services or technical equipment other than the space itself. This has often been the only available option for underground musicians lacking enough popular appeal to gain access to more conventional performance venues (see: Punk Rock), but is also used among the genre of raves and various DJ-related events. Singles bar redirects here. ... Laser lights illuminate the dance floor at a Gatecrasher dance music event in Sheffield, England A nightclub (or night club or club) is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... For other uses, see Rave (disambiguation). ... DJ or dj may stand for Disc jockey, dinner jacket The DeadJournal website, or Djibouti. ...

The cost factor of having a booking agent has to be weighed against what they can do for clients and buyers alike. Some agents represent several different types of artists, while others represent artists in one main area/genre.

Writer's agents

Main article: Literary agent

A literary agent is an agent that represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. ...

Cruise ship industry

Booking agents are also used for the cruise ship industry where several different categories of entertainers are needed. These can include individual musicians to be part of the ship's orchestra, small bands and ensembles as well as variety entertainers such as singers, instrumentalists, magicians, comedians and acrobats. Artists looking to work on cruise ships will sign an employment contract with the cruise line and a separate commission contract with the booking agent. A cruise ship or a cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ships amenities are considered an essential part of the experience. ... A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. ...

Scam agents

Unfortunately, some people in the entertainment industry try to take advantage of newcomers. New talent is advised to research and find established agencies. No reputable agency charges for representation, but the agent may recommend steps that will cost money, especially when talent is starting out. An agency may suggest new photos or training, and may have good contacts for new talent. An advantage of having an agent is that agents will help choose the best photographers or shots to make into headshots, etc. When signing with an agency who also offer photography and workshops, talent is advised to see proof of past bookings, such as client lists and current models tearsheets from booked work. If an agency covers upfront costs, it is reimbursed for all expenses after the talent begins work.

Difference between agents and managers

• Agents have the authority to make deals for their clients. Managers usually can only informally establish connections with producers and studios, but do not have the ability to negotiate the contracts.
• Managers work more in a supportive role, giving advice for career moves.

References

• Passman, Donald S. All You Need To Know About the Music Business: 6th Edition
• Kerr, Judy, Acting Is Everything: An Actor's Guidebook for a Successful Career in Los Angeles
• Callen, K. The Los Angeles Agent Book