Agents for magicians, should they stay or go poof?
Agents for magicians, should they stay or go poof?
Some magicians hate agents, while some like them. What is better: having an agent or not having one? Which is which? Believe it or not, the decision actually depends on you. For some, getting agents is a very touchy subject. Usually it is because some find it very hard to accept that their agents get more money and earn more than the actual performing magicians. So some magicians can not help but think: it is a trick! To help you decide better about whether you should get an agent or not, the following are some details and information which could help you decide whether to have an agent or to get rid of the one you already have.
One thing good about having an agent is that you save yourself from the trouble of having to negotiate yourself. Usually, there are instances wherein you can get higher talent fees if it is not you who are doing the haggling. If there is an agent involved, he or she would usually say that your services could only be gotten if the fee is such and such. Doing so usually means you would not create for yourself an unfriendly image.
Also, every time an agent makes money, so do you! The many bookings an agent gets for you, the more money you would get from all those gigs. This and minus so much of the hassle of you having to schedule all your performances, collecting your talent fees, practicing for your act, etc.
When you have an agent, all you need to do is show up and give the best performance of your life.
Agents also invest money on advertisements that are all about you. So you also save on the expenses and the stress of having to think of where your name should be placed, what size should your marquee be and all that jazz.
Another advantage of having an agent is that you look and are considered more as a professional than if you do not have one. It is so convenient to just show up for your performance and let your agent do the dirty work.
Still confused? If you already have an agent and you are still considering dropping him like a bad habit, maybe the following details would assist you to better decide if you should do so or not.
It is best that you talk with your agent and make an agreement with him or her on how much you would want to receive for your particular performance or engagement. Do not rack your brain thinking how much your agent would get out of this. It is more productive to think how much you would get out of that gig. If your agent earns a little more than you do, so be it. As long as you are getting the fee you want, that is okay. A good gig is a good gig. Imagine who they will be getting in the future for any more gigs. If they think of your agent, it is just the same way that they will be probably thinking of you too.
It is also highly advisable for you to get a contract. A contract makes your relationship with your agent more efficient, straightforward and clear. Thanks to a contract, your agent will not be able to hide how much they are getting. Have your agent fax you a copy of the contract.
Let us face it, just like in any profession there are agents that are good in what they do and there are those that are bad in what they do. There are also those who are unethical. There have been instances where agents and agencies merely concentrate on money more than in anything else. Avoid having to do anything with them. An agent or agency that does not call you even if a client specifically requests for your services is bad news. There are also agents that will get you to lower your price but then still charge a customer with a large fee. Do not let this happen to you. Stick with the price you think you deserve.
You should also try to avoid agents who give you various reasons and excuses about this client being unable to pay because of such and such reasons. This is a trick, and you as a magician should know this better than the others.