Booking Agent?

Vanceman · #1 02-15-2007, 04:55 PM

Hi everybody, new guy here.

We're playing a small bar(for the second time) this Saturday that charges a $5 cover. We had to go through this person to get the gig, and she sits at the door collecting the cash. She is not affiliated with the bar, and supposely used to be a big booking agent on the Sunset Strip in the 80's and 90's.

She keeps the first 15 people, plus 1/2 of everybody else. I'm new to this game, and while being pretty comfortable in the garage or backyard situation, I really need some stage time to get over being nervous playing in public.

With 6 people in the band, and $4 beers, I don't stand a chance of making any money, not even gas money. Is this normal?

gkbass13 · #2 02-15-2007, 05:03 PM

sounds like shes taking way too big of a cut. my band is sort of workign with two booking agents, but only for gigs we cant get ourselves...bigger local festivals and big clubs, etc... the lesson to be learned is, try to get the 5 dollar a head gigs for yourself and rely on booking agents for bigger venues and shows, otherwise you wont make any money off of the gigs...my personal feelign si that any gig ona free night that you couldnt have gotten yourself is worth doing , especially early on for exposure and such, but even so, shes takign abotu 0% roughly, which is way too much imo.

invader3k · #3 02-15-2007, 05:14 PM

Sounds like you guys are getting shafted. Big rep or not, you shouldn't have to give her the cut from the first 15 people, and then 50% of everything else. She should be getting 10-20% TOTAL.

Vanceman · #4 02-15-2007, 06:07 PM

This is only our 4th gig, so we do need the exposure. If she asks us to play there again, I will press for different arragements. Thanks

Ricky Daion · #5 02-15-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanceman

Hi everybody, new guy here.

We're playing a small bar(for the second time) this Saturday that charges a $5 cover. We had to go through this person to get the gig, and she sits at the door collecting the cash. She is not affiliated with the bar, and supposely used to be a big booking agent on the Sunset Strip in the 80's and 90's.

She keeps the first 15 people, plus 1/2 of everybody else. I'm new to this game, and while being pretty comfortable in the garage or backyard situation, I really need some stage time to get over being nervous playing in public.

With 6 people in the band, and $4 beers, I don't stand a chance of making any money, not even gas money. Is this normal?

I'm not sure I'm getting this. She has NO affiliation with the bar and she USED to be a big time booking agent but the bar let's her sit out front and collect money from the customers wanting to get in the bar she has no affilliation with. I can't believe the bar isn't getting a kickback. A legit booking agent takes 15% MAYBE 20% if it's a big paying gig. Ours takes 15% at $500.00 or more and 10% if it's under $500.00. You're getting ripped big time inho. Talk to the bar manager. If he thinks it's cool what she does find another venue to play at. I know you're just starting out and all but you don't deserve to be used like that. If you're good enough that the bar wants you there you're good enough to be payed a reasonable amount.

Phalex · #6 02-16-2007, 07:42 AM

We dumped our agent over his 17% rate.

You guys are getting hosed!

kjones · #7 02-16-2007, 10:17 AM

This is absolutely absurd. What is she bringing to the table? 15% of the whole thing IF SHE'S DOING THE BOOKING or got you into the gig in the first place is more than enough for her. No way should it be any more than that.

jive1 · #8 02-16-2007, 10:18 AM

She's not a booking agent. She's a well paid bouncer.

I've dealt with booking agents for years and never had one work the door to get cover charges. That's what a bouncer does.

Quite frankly, I rarely have even seen booking agents at a gig. If she's a legit booking agent, then why is she working the door at the bar? She should be working for several venues and several bands, and I doubt that any booking agent worth their salt would ever be caught working the door, let alone one that was "big time". They have other venues and bands to work with, and bigger fish to fry.

Most of the time, when the booking agent gets us a gig, we mail them their commision after we get paid from the gig.

This situation isn't legit. The cut the "agent" takes is too much and she's doing a work an agent wouldn't normally do. My BS meter just shot through the roof when reading this.

You can do it for the exposure, but beware this is NOT common practice for booking agents. Not even close.

slackdaddy · #9 02-16-2007, 10:26 AM

BOHICA!!!!!!!!

Vanceman · #10 02-19-2007, 12:17 PM

I met the lady Saturday night and she was very nice to us. She's older, probably over 60. Hardly the bouncer type.

Talking to the bar management was questionable, they barely spoke english. I believe they are of Thai origin. It was tough just getting a Coors beer!

4 dolla. 4 dolla.

For a domestic beer? We did bring enough people so the band made $60 though. I don't think I want to play there again.

Ricky Daion · #11 02-19-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanceman

I met the lady Saturday night and she was very nice to us. She's older, probably over 60. Hardly the bouncer type.

Talking to the bar management was questionable, they barely spoke english. I believe they are of Thai origin. It was tough just getting a Coors beer!

4 dolla. 4 dolla.

For a domestic beer? We did bring enough people so the band made $60 though. I don't think I want to play there again.

Is that a $60.00 profit before or after the $4.00 beer.

roger winkler · #12 02-19-2007, 07:38 PM

Our agent gets 15% off the top. Nice thing is he doesn't book us at places where you play for the door. We play by contract only. Our next show is for $2000.00 for 2 nights at a casino. And he gets $300.00 of that just for doing the leg work. I think I'm in the wrong business.

Spoiled Grape · #13 02-20-2007, 01:48 AM

What you are dealing with is the "promoter" of the bar, not the booking agent.

What probably happens, is the bar owners don't want to deal with the entertainment. A promoter works out a deal with the bar owners "$$ for the use of the bar." The promoter than tries to recover the cash she is already out for using the bar.

justabass · #14 02-20-2007, 10:27 AM

Do you have a contract with this "agent"?

Vanceman · #15 02-20-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoiled Grape

What you are dealing with is the "promoter" of the bar, not the booking agent.

What probably happens, is the bar owners don't want to deal with the entertainment. A promoter works out a deal with the bar owners "$$ for the use of the bar." The promoter than tries to recover the cash she is already out for using the bar.

No contract. I think "promoter" is probably what the situation is. I looked at her personal website, where she appears to be a booking agent. Others in the band think she may try to get us bigger and better things.

At least we didn't have to pay to play!

Just joking....

Spoiled Grape · #16 02-20-2007, 11:51 AM

If this is one of your first gigs, I wouldn't worry too much. As a cover band in L.A., I know it can be pretty tough to survive. As any band in L.A., it's tough to survive.

What type of covers are you playing? Where was the venue at? I've played the circuit before, and know a bunch of people who are still in it.

jive1 · #17 02-20-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spoiled Grape

What you are dealing with is the "promoter" of the bar, not the booking agent.

What probably happens, is the bar owners don't want to deal with the entertainment. A promoter works out a deal with the bar owners "$$ for the use of the bar." The promoter than tries to recover the cash she is already out for using the bar.

A promoter is probably a better term. Even though I've never seen a promoter collect cash at the door.

Spoiled Grape · #18 02-20-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

A promoter is probably a better term. Even though I've never seen a promoter collect cash at the door.

I've seen it happen before. I think she's just removing the middle man (the bouncer) from the scenario. If it's not a really rough club, than it shouldn't be a big deal as long as one security staff is somewhere in the club itself.

To the OP: If you like the club/show, than I'd try and work out a better deal with her. Most promoters are very flexible once you develop a working relationship with them. If you can develop a better deal, where she collects a certain sum up front, and than from than on it's your cash (instead of 50%), than that might be better.

Keep it up. Like I mentioned before, L.A. is pretty tough in my opinion. There are a few bands which have the scene on lockdown, and any band trying to get in is going to have to bust their balls. Hopefully you'll start seeing gaurentees.

Vanceman · #19 02-20-2007, 01:55 PM

We are just starting out, so I shouldn't worry. The venue was a small bar in Burbank called Que's Riverbottom. We play a mix of pop, funk, disco, rock, oldies, rap, raggie, you name it.

So far, well, the 3 times we have played out, people are diggin it, because we're different.

Steve · #20 02-20-2007, 08:28 PM

50% + ?????

I'd knock that nice old lady right off her barstool.

But then, I'm cranky.