Hey everybody-
What kind of agent would a person get for magic and what would the agent do for the magician? I don't imagine they would get the same agent actors would have.
- James

That's a good question.

If you were to read previous threads you would know a fair amount about the agents that magicians get. To repeat, generally magicians will have more than one variety agent. These agents will find work for their artistes and take a 10-15% cut. If you are starting in the business then agents are generally not very interested in you but feel free to send your details to all of them and when they get desperate they might call. Also try entering showcases and talent contests where agents attend.

For a long while your best source of work will be self-promotion and other local entertainers so make sure you are on good terms with all of them.

Nigel

Actually, the typical agent in the U.S. takes a commission of between 15 and 25%, with the average being 20%. You can send information directly to an agency without their requesting it, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll take much notice. (A lot of people submit materials to agents.)

I would recommend contacting the agency and asking them about their interest before submitting to them. It takes more time that way but at least they know the material is on its way and will be somewhat familiar with you.

Agents rarely represent you exclusively. They have files full of entertainers they represent and they submit the ones they are most comfortable with and are within the buyer's price range.

The good news is that an agent can typically request more money for you than you can get yourself because the buyer often looks to them as an advisor rather than a salesman. "Is he really good," they'll ask and, assuming the agent is reliable, they'll accept his answer.

I recommend finding out as much about an agency as you can before submitting material, as some agents are not worth working with.

As Nigel said, search the forum and you'll find a lot of information on agents.

Michael

Another point to remember is that agents should already have steady clients that already buy your type of commercial talent. Many agents specialize by venue (hotel, casino, night club, TV commercials, trade shows, fairs, etc.). This may be very seasonal. That is another reason for having more than one agent.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

With the internet, there is no excuse NOT to have a lot of knowledge about the agency before calling them. Who else is on their roster? What companies do they work with? What do they specialize in? Etc... The more educated you sound about their agency, the better.

Eric,

You already sound like an agent! LOL

Bob
Magic By Sander

Most of my experience with agencies is, I get a call from a man or woman who tells me they got my number from the stilt walker, or the palm reader, and am I available on a certain date and how much would it cost. What I'm saying is, when they are hunting for you is the only time they care, so cultivate relationships with as many agents, and stilt walkers as possible.

Al

Al,

This is too true. They are only interested in solving their problems. The hard part is being thought of as the first solution.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

You do not necessarily need an agent if you do your homework.

I had four agents in my career. The first two were great, but did not pay well. The last two were awful cutthroat sharks who booked me into any venue they could, to make a buck. One took a 50% commission. Most of the venues were totally wrong for magic. I fired them and have been representing myself since then.

I am not saying all agents are "the devil" but I swear most have been spawned directly from the bowels of hell, right next to the place where they make lawyers.

I am a full-time professional magician and make an excellent living from magic, surpassing most of my "gainfullly employed" friends in salary. I have done shows from Hawaii to Japan to Europe and this is without an agent. I use a lawyer (also from hell) to help me write my contracts, especially the casino or big illusion show contracts. I also have a business manager and stage manager. But no agent.

It might be good to talk to a few agents, but keep in mind that they often do not have your best interests at heart. Most are simply interested in making money for themselves and rarely care if they book your stage show into terrible venues that do nothing but make you look bad as a performer.

Beware of signing a contract with an agent as your exclusive representative! There are horror stories of agents who "sign you on" for 5 years, then sit back and wait for YOU to book YOUR OWN shows! It is like free money for them. You still have to pay them the full 15%.

Always have an entertainment lawyer look at the contract if you are even thinking about signing. It is WELL worth the money.

Wow agents........now THAT is a subject!!!!

you probably won't get one till you don't need one!!!

research research research.....that is the key....at least I read that somewhere.

if YOU can find an agency looking to EXPAND into what YOU do .....then ya got something.......they will use you to build the business.....that was what I did anyhow and it worked pretty well.......they didn't have 100s of guys....just me! so it worked pretty well and they worked hard to cultivate new clients!

THEN other agents will see you and you will just find them by mistake.

Party planners are another good place to start, not agents spacific....

Let me make another suggestion which nobody will like........find what is called a STAFFING SERVICE.......this is someone who specialises in providing Bartenders and Servers for private parties.....they are tough to find sometimes so do some research.....

Rich people have parties and need servers......often they will need entertainment too and since they have the person on the phone anyhow, BANG it works and suddenly you are working for pretty high paid shows.....

If the person can afford to spend $1000 to help clean up they can certianly afford a well paid magician, juggler,stilt walker. Get close to the owner and work the contact from there........just a left field suggestion if you want to start working the higher priced parties and are not sure where to start.

I would needless to say HAVE A DECENT ACT first.....but that goes without saying!

Itshim wrote: Also try entering showcases and talent contests where agents attend.

Does anyone know of any specific variety talent showcases, etc. where magicians could perform or enter? Many showcases I have heard of seem to be only for dancers or singers or musicians.

-Michael

I have never heard of one for magicians and agents.......would be cool for guys looking though

There is a show held annually in toronto ont canada at the royal york where as performers can showcase for agents and fair board purchasers the name of the particular event I cannot recall
John

When I started I entered a few showcases. In the UK they were advertised in 'The Stage' really I was interested in the feedback rather than getting work but anyway...

The people who are putting on the showcases want to put on a varied show so if you have a variety act there is a fair chance they will let you perform (at least I had no problems even when I was young and inexperienced). The agents are generally totally bored of watching girl singers in black dresses singing the theme to Titanic (or whatever the in ballad is) so your show will look good in comparison. The people I was performing to were looking to book acts for ferries (like cruises but cheaper) and there was work for kids entertainers available. I didn't do it because they pay turned out to be lower than I wanted but it is a good starting point if you are prepared to travel.

Nigel

Thanks for the info guys-
Itshim I haven't heard of anything like that in the US but maybe I need to look more. Anyone know of any specific events. I'm not saying this needs to be strictly magic, but variety acts in general. Thanks!
-Michael

Michael,

They do exist but not in the numbers they once did. Ohio is not the place to be to find one. In the 40s-70s the top booking agencies had offices in New York, LA, and, of course for the recording industry, Tennessee and Alabama. When I owned my agency we had offices in Alabama and New York. Today you are more likely to find an agent in Oklahoma City than New York. (Ask Jeff McBride.) Location of an agency office near entertainment production facilities is not important for making early contact anymore. I would suggest that you take a look at Variety and Billboard from time to time. Events show up there in news articles and the classified ads.

Smart agents have learned that they do not have to tolerate bad weather, high density populations, slow and/or dangerous transportation or high taxes any more. They can live in comfort and do business by phone or computer from Texas, Florida or the Carolinas. Agents sell their contacts, not location. It is not a walk-in business.

Good Luck!

I hear good things about you.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Mr. Sanders-
Thanks for all the info! Are Variety and Billboard websites or magazines? I have been researching informations on agencies lately, and am trying to decide if this would be a good idea or not. Do you recommend working with an agent? Do performers go in search of agencies or do agencies invite performers to work with them? Any help is certainly appreciated!
Magically,
Michael

Variety and Billboard are magazines.

Good thing I've grown some thick skin. That might have hurt.
What type of venues were you booked into that made you look bad?
Did the agent misunderstand your type of act?