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Aedryan Methyus New user 94 Posts |
Wow, I haven't been to the Café in a long time. It's great to see that it is still very much alive and doing well!
Anyway, I have found myself getting too many client inquiries for shows around the United States that I am unable to fulfill, mainly because their budgets do not allow, due to travel time and expenses, etc. So, any of you that would be interested in being contacted when shows arise in your area, please send an email to aedryan@methyus.com and be sure to include a resume, bio, contact information and let me know how far you are willing to travel and I will be happy to send some shows your way. If you have a website that has this info on it, you can just send me a link to your site if you would like. I will sell the shows for you and I will only charge a standard 20% commission fee. Presently, I have some shows available in Florida, Oklahoma, Minnesota, North Carolina and a few other areas. Hope to hear from you soon! Yours In The Art, Aedryan http://www.methyus.com |
oagwood Veteran user Pleasant Hill, CA 392 Posts |
Are you a licensed agent?
oliver |
Aedryan Methyus New user 94 Posts |
No Oliver, I am not a "licensed" agent. Are you a "licensed" magician? As stated in my post, I am a magician/illusionist and I am trying to salvage "something" from a lot of clients and shows that are being generated, which are not lucrative enough for me to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to do, that would otherwise fall to the wayside and at the same time help out some fellow magicians.
Many thanks to those of you guys who have sent me an email. Hopefully we can help each other out. I would still like to get a lot more of you from as many states as possible in my database, so if any more of you are interested in getting some shows, please feel free to send me an email. In the not too distant future I will be putting another site together that is more formal for booking anything from models to bands, variety acts and magicians, etc. and even more possabilities will be out there for all of us. Till next time.... Yours in the art, Aedryan http://www.methyus.com http://www.strangehappenings.methyus.com |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Aedryan, some states have certain legal requirements for someone to present themselves as an agent. In some states, taking a commission is part of the legal definition of being an agent, so the question, IMHO, was not all that over-the-top.
However, as you are representing yourself as someone who is simply passing along an occasional gig and want what amounts to a finder's fee, one shouldn't be too worried, IMHO. Which is why I sent you that e-mail! Just a clarification so no one gets too ruffled in the feather department. Lee Darrow, C.Ht. http://www.leedarrow.com
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
oagwood Veteran user Pleasant Hill, CA 392 Posts |
Aedryan,
I have no doubt that your intentions are noble, but there are some things you should know. Generally, anyone booking live engagements must be an agent. An agent is a person who is licensed, bonded, and has passed a character test. Further agents cannot collect more than 10% of a live engagement fee. I am not a lawyer but I do have experience with some of this stuff as a Minister. You might then say, consider me a manager of talent. You run into the same problems since managers are not allowed to book live engagements. Problems usually arise from the talent who don't want to pay any finders fees for the gigs, then the house of cards comes a crumbling. oliver |
Joshua Lozoff Inner circle Chapel Hill, NC 1332 Posts |
Oagwood,
Actually, all that info is incorrect in most states. California is more strict, of course, but in most states, anyone can help book work for anyone else and take whatever percentage the two parties agree upon beforehand. There is no licensing or bonding even if you wanted to. Quote: On 2004-01-17 02:58, oagwood wrote: |
RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Quote:
Oliver: Generally, anyone booking live engagements must be an agent. An agent is a person who is licensed, bonded, and has passed a character test. I book my own live engagements regularly. I'm not an agent. Not licensed. Not bonded. Have no character. Well, okay, I am a person of character but you get the idea. Quote:
Oliver: Further agents cannot collect more than 10% of a live engagement fee. That also varies state to state. The average in New Mexico is actualy about 18%. Although one agent told me face to face she charges a 75% comission (that may be criminal). That said, back on topic... Methyus is looking to help out some other performers and asking for a 20% "bird dog" fee. I have no problem with that. It's simple math. Here's why: If he gets me a gig in my region that pays $2,000, I go do it, walk away with a check for $2,000, cut him a check for $400. He's made money without having to travel, do the show, lose other gigs during travel time etc. And I walk away with $1,600 for a gig that I didn't have to do the 'leg work' for. And the best part? His clients get a fantastic show and next time they have a special event, contact Methyus without hesitation to book another (or the same) entertainer. Those are just example numbers and by no means reflect what either of us may charge a client. But I'd say it looks like a really fair deal to me. Wouldn't you agree, Methyus? Robert Bloor
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
oagwood Veteran user Pleasant Hill, CA 392 Posts |
Joshua and all others:
You are right. I am incorrect in my broad generalization of the United States. Everything I stated applies to California and New York for sure and possibly a few other states. Therefore, good luck to you Aedryan in this endeavor and sorry for the pious lecture. oliver |
Joshua Lozoff Inner circle Chapel Hill, NC 1332 Posts |
I had an agent for 7 years in Hollywood. You are absolutely correct about the regulations there. It's a good thing and a bad thing that it's unregulated elsewhere. Pros and cons to it.
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Aedryan Methyus New user 94 Posts |
It's cool Oliver. No hard feelings, bro. But yeah, 20% has pretty much been the standard with any agent I have ever done shows for, with one exception. (I was going to say their name, but I'll be nice.)
I am totally embarassed to say how little I did a show for them for once, so I won't (LOL). I had done it on the promise that they would keep me busy, so I more or less did it as a foot in the door/favor type of thing. The show was about 5 hours away and the client gave me the check after the show, in which I then sent it to the booking agent. Here they had made 100% commission off of me. In other words, the check was actually 4 X more than what I got paid. Did they keep me busy as promised? Nope! I may get 3 or 4 calls from them a year, wanting me to travel 8 hours to do a kids show for $150.00. I also do shows occassionally for this other online booking agent and he charges 20% and you have to pay a rather hefty monthly/yearly fee per area you want to receive leads from, most of which turn out to be duds. Fortunately, I did a good job for him the few times I did shows for him while trying out his free trial, so he'll still slide me an occasional show close to my area even though I refused to pay for his service. The hell of his service is he only sends you the leads and you are responsible for making all the long distance calls and selling the shows yourself, so he has absolutely nothing invested. Kind of smart really, but yet greedy. But anyway, yes my intentions are good. It's a win/win/win situation. Unfortunately, only maybe 2 - 3 out of 10 inquiries I get are really worth my while to pursue for myself though. So, I figure if I can pass those gigs off to someone close to their area and make the client and a fellow magician happy, while making a few bucks for myself, it's a good thing. I feel that the hundreds upon hundreds of hours I spend on web development, a long distance call or two to sell the gigs, sending a few emails back and forth and postage for contracts, etc. is well worth 20%. Anyway, thanks for all of your input on this subject. Looks like we have a topic going here. Yours In The Art, Aedryan http://www.methyus.com |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-01-17 02:58, oagwood wrote: This may be true in California, but it isn't true in some other states. For example, in Texas there is no LEGAL requirement for a booking agent. And commissions can be higher than that. Commissions and booking licenses are also regulated by the various unions. Since much of California's income is from the entertainment industry, it is understandable that the State government has placed some controls on booking agents, but these concerns simply do not exist in many other states.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Yogibear0925 New user Florida 20 Posts |
I think what you are doing is great, thanks.
Its not the magic that you do, but the way you do the magic.
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Texas Worker New user Kerrville Texas 55 Posts |
My bio resume will be there in a few days. My website is under reconstruction. Thanks.
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Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
Illinois requires agents to be registered as employment agencies. This means several things, that work to the talent's benefit:
1 - The Agency MUST list anyone who comes to them. No discrimination is allowed, under law. 2 - The Agency is not allowed to "double-book," which means that they cannot tell Talent that they are charging one rate (commissioning the talent based on that rate) and actually charge a client a higher rate, allowing the Agent to pocket the difference. This is called skimming and it is, IIRC, a felony. 3 - Because of the laws here, exclusive representation contracts are against the law. Talent can list with as many Agents as they like. 4 - There are regulations regarding the amount an Agent may take in commission for booking talent. There IS a loophole, however, that allows Agents to charge for extras, like advertising the act, producing promotional materials, etc. So Watch Your Back on that one! 5 - Legitimate Agents are supposed to be licensed as Employment agencies by the State of Illinois. If someone claims to be an Agent and is NOT registered, you are not dealing with a licensed Agent and you are on your own. All of the above information is second hand. I am not a lawyer. In any situation where you are dealing with contracts and agreements regarding your employment through an Agency, it is wise to have an entertainment attorney review any documents before you sign them. Hope this helps. Lee Darrow, C.Ht. http://www.leedarrow.com
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
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