Day 10: Expense Transparency: What’s Being Deducted?

The Fine Print: Understanding Commissionable Gross The Fine Print: Understanding Commissionable Gross An agent is obligated to be transparent about what they commission. Usually, they take their 10% from the Gross Guarantee. however, sophisticated agents help negotiate “Net Deals” where expenses (sound, lights, catering) are deducted before the split is […]

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Day 9: The Settlement Process: Auditing the “Hard Tickets”

Don’t Get Shortchanged: How Agents Audit the Door Don’t Get Shortchanged: How Agents Audit the Door If your deal includes a “backend” (a percentage of ticket sales), you are at the mercy of the venue’s math. This is where “Settlement” comes in. Your agency (or a tour manager they’ve vetted) […]

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Day 8: Securing the Deposit: Your Financial Safety Net

Paid Before You Play: The Power of the 50% Deposit In the music business, a handshake is a liability. One of the primary obligations of a talent agency is to secure a non-refundable deposit (typically 50% of the guarantee) before you ever leave your house. Why? Because venues go out […]

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Day 7: Weekly Recap: The Three Pillars of Protection

Day 7: Weekly Recap: The Three Pillars of Protection Week 1 Review: Your Representation Checklist We’ve covered the basics. Before you move on to the “money and rights” section next week, audit your current situation with these three pillars: The Bottom Line: You are a business. Your agency is your […]

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Day 6: The Trust Account: Keeping Your Money Safe

Where is My Money? The Importance of Escrow Where is My Money? The Importance of Escrow When a promoter pays a $5,000 deposit for your show, that money doesn’t go into the agent’s personal pocket. By law, agencies must maintain Client Trust Accounts. This is a separate bank account where […]

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Day 4: The 10% Standard: Why It Matters

Day 4: The 10% Standard: Why It Matters Headline: Protecting Your Profit: Why You Shouldn’t Overpay The industry standard commission for a talent agent is 10%. Some boutique agencies or specialized “niche” agents might push for 15%, but anything higher should be a massive red flag. Why is it 10%? […]

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Day 3: Agent vs. Manager: Who Does What?

Day 3: Agent vs. Manager: Who Does What? Clearing the Confusion: Who Gets the 10%? It’s a common mistake: “My manager handles my bookings.” While a manager might advise on your tour strategy, the Agent is the one who actually negotiates the contract, issues the “deal memo,” and handles the […]

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Day 2: The “F-Word” Every Artist Should Know: Fiduciary

Day 2: The Fiduciary Duty: Your Best Interest, Always The “F-Word” Every Artist Should Know: Fiduciary What is a “Fiduciary Duty”? It sounds like dry legal jargon, but it’s actually your greatest protection. By law, a talent agent has a fiduciary relationship with their artist. This means they are legally […]

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