Making a Living as a Music Booking Agent

The internet and electronic press kits have made the job of booking agent easier than it was in the past.

In a recent post, I talked about making a living performing music. This post covers making a living in the music business – if you simply love music, but are not a performer.

If you feel strongly about music and have an inclination for business, the opportunities are virtually limitless. The music business has collapsed internally. This does not refer to the talent or the fans but is directed at the agents, managers, and record executives that make up the “business” of music.

Musicians are notoriously “un-business-like.” That certainly creates a great opportunity for people who not only tolerate the business side of music, but thrive on it.

Today, I’d like to focus on booking agents or booking agencies. An agent is someone who finds performance venues for musicians. In return, agents make 10% to 15% of the gross fees that they negotiate.

Back in the day, the expense of agency work was prohibitive. Phone bills, promo packages, office expenses, advertising and mailing expenses made it difficult to break into this business. But today, everything has changed. You can now call anywhere for $39.50 a month. There are no packages or mailing expenses since that’s handled on the internet through Electronic Press Kits or EPKs.

You can work at home in your pajamas if you like. The markets are accessible through the internet search engines. There is no shortage of talented musicians and singers looking for agents. The business has unlimited growth potential. Being an agent is sales and marketing 101. It’s simply the business part of the music business.

Amazingly, there is little competition, since the agents have virtually vanished. So if you’re inclined, start your home-based music agency business, pick your artist, and go to it!