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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 […]

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) […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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%? […]

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 […]

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 […]

The DJ as the Energy Architect When people think about DJs at independent showcases, they often picture someone just “playing music between sets.” But the DJ’s real role is far deeper — they are the architect of energy. At an independent showcase, there’s no massive production budget, no elaborate stage […]