Generally, becoming a music booking agent necessitates a high level of self-motivation and charisma. A college diploma or even a high school diploma are not required for becoming a booking agent. He won’t even require any training to begin this career. He will, however, require strong communication and business skills, as well as the ability to persuade bands to give him a chance. A person with good musical taste can also help him succeed in this field, as he will need to select the best musical acts available.
Learning about the music business can help someone who wants to work as a music booking agent. A person interested in this field should learn the specifics of what his job entails. A music booking agent, for example, will typically spend a significant amount of time contacting promoters and venue managers to request performance dates for his bands. He might also work out deals with promoters and venues. Reading about the music business or even securing an internship with a promoter, venue, or record label can help an aspiring agent prepare for this position.
Before contracting with bands and other musical clients, a person who wants to become a music booking agent will usually need to learn some business skills. It is not necessary for him to take a business course to learn the ins and outs of running his own company. To learn how to draft contracts, one can consult books and websites. He might also benefit from speaking with a lawyer about the kinds of clauses he should include in his contracts. Books and videos that provide negotiation tips and tricks may also be beneficial to someone working in this field.
Getting your first contract with a band or musical act may be one of the most difficult aspects of becoming a music booking agent. A person who wants to become a music booking agent may have to do a lot of convincing to get a band to sign on with him if he doesn’t have a good reputation. An aspiring booking agent may begin by persuading friends or family members who are members of bands to let him book local gigs for them. Starting in this manner, a person can establish contacts and gain experience, eventually expanding to assist other bands and book shows at different venues.
If you want to work as a music booking agent but don’t know anyone in the industry, you can advertise your services on bulletin boards at music schools and stores. He might approach bands at local events and offer to assist them in getting more gigs. Some new booking agents may reach out to groups via their websites, explaining how they can assist them in securing more gigs and gaining more exposure.