Question about booking agents commision.

planetjimi · Post by **planetjimi** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:36 pm

This is for all you experienced pro's.

I'm putting a new unknown cover band together.

I have a agent that is getting 15% commision. I thought it is on the high side of the scale but since he is willing to take the band from startup and get us out there thats fine. Now .... he brings up that he get's 20% for privates. I think this is too much. Am I wrong?

We have no contract it's all word of mouth. So I'm not stuck anywhere. Without getting specific, I definately have the upper hand here. But if this is normal I don't mind paying him what he is worth. Just wondering if this is common practice, or is he trying to pull one over on me.

THanks

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:02 pm

The booking agents for the bands Ive been in all handled the bigger 'acts' in this area, all had at least a dozen or more bands. So keep that in mind but I think none wanted more then 10% standard. I think 15% was considered max but I didnt handle the business end. 20% for privates sounds like their way of making money by booking a band that isnt likely to get high paying venues, at least for a while. But the standard way to start up with cover bands is to play the B or C clubs and open at A and B clubs. A would be the high paying concert/live music clubs, B the mid paying clubs and bars, and C shitty bars.

planetjimi · Post by **planetjimi** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:06 pm

Thanks Dan, I was thinking the same thing. Maybe when he said 15% he was expecting us to knock him down to 10, and he thought I was going to be aesy target. Oh well, I'm just going to tell him not to book privates for us then. He'll change his tune fast.