Although there are several types of booking agents, the most well-known is also referred to as a talent agent. A talent or booking agent helps live performers, such as musicians, find work. When an artist performs, he or she receives a portion of the ticket sales made by a venue such as a club or stadium. The amount an artist will earn for a performance is negotiated between booking agents and the venue owner. For each performance gig, the agent takes a percentage of the artist’s fee, which the artist agrees on ahead of time.
Because contracts are such an important part of the job, talent booking agents must be familiar with them. He or she must also know where to look for gigs for the particular type of performer they represent. They must also be persuasive, as venue owners are frequently bombarded with agents attempting to sign artists to perform. A booking agent will usually have a demo tape, which is a recording of the performer that he or she will show to potential clients in order to secure performance opportunities. The gig could be at a club or a concert hall, or it could be at an event like a fundraiser or a festival.
Theater managers hire movie booking agents. They track down and rent films from distributors for the theater to show. A contract specifies the percentage of ticket sales that the film company will receive from the theater’s ticket sales to moviegoers. Box office sales are the sales of theater tickets. The box office sales contract must be negotiated by a movie booking agent in order for the theater to make money.
It’s been said that movie theaters make more money selling snacks like popcorn and soda than they do selling movie tickets. This may be true because studios may try to negotiate up to 90% of box office receipts. A film booking agent tries to keep this figure as low as possible so that the theater owner can profit from the tickets sold.
Clients hire travel booking agents to book airline flights, hotels, and attractions. They assist clients in planning trips and working within a time frame to find accommodations and transportation. A travel booking agent can put together a “package deal” with airfare, hotel accommodations, and some attractions. Package deals offer clients a lower price, but they must travel within the dates specified by the agent in his or her advertisement. Booking fees and commissions from hotels and other businesses are how a travel booking agent makes money.