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How an Entertainment Agency worksIn addition to writing contracts, making phone calls, sending emails (sometimes 50 a day) an entertainment agent will in the first instance obtain the work, which is in fact, their main role. This has never been so difficult since the post war period. There are occasions when an entertainment agent spends the whole day searching for the right act. Using the example of a sole trader, an entertainment agent’s typical week 40 hr week comprises of:40%-60% promoting the agency (front page of Google etc) 16-24 hrs10%-30% dealing with bookings/issues 4-12 hrs20% responding to enquiries (weeding out time wasters etc) 8 hrs5% artist registration/maintaining a large artist database 2 hrs5% Searching for that elusive act 2 hrsEntertainment Agent OverheadsAn entertainment agent has overheads like any business. Here is a list of some of the entertainment agent’s overheads totalling (typically £2000+/year:• Streamline
• PayPal
• Bank charges
• General office costs – lighting heating stationary PC telephone etc
• Rent/rates
• Broadband costs
• Hosting service/domain name rental/SEO/AdWords
• Petrol – checking out artists/venues
• Membership of FSB etc
• Insurance
• Advertising – yellow pages etc
• Tax return and accounting (no cash for the entertainment agent)Submitting your Details to an Entertainment AgentWhen you submit material do it via post AND email AND text message – that will ensure that your details can be accessed at all times. When submitting pictures/recordings to the entertainment agent supply as many as possible, up to 10 examples is okay, and let the agent make the final choice regarding representation. Most recordings are unusable, so if you are serious about your work leave it to the expert. A weekly/fortnightly date sheet is a good idea (It gets quieter towards the end of the week) as is a gig list on your website. An entertainment agent may use an internet pseudonym to avoid supplying key words to the public domain. There is no such thing as an agent friendly website.The First Gig for an Entertainment AgentGetting gigs is hard work so make an impression and don’t rely on the agent to keep getting you through the door. Don’t turn up at the gig without a wad of cards. Arrive early – it looks professional and it’s a good opportunity to break the ice. A Satnav is worth its weight in gold. Entertainment agents don’t like unnecessary phone calls in the evening, especially when their job has already been done. They may rebook because they like you rather than product.Always discuss the requirement directly well before the booking date, it’s reassuring for the client and allows any fine detail to be buttoned down, E.g. special song, local gags etc. If two sets are required checking with client after first set is a good idea. Adopt a flexible approach. An entertainment agent can’t get work for everyone and will always have their favourite artists and they are not necessarily the most talented but could be the most flexible.Also remember that the first entertainment agency gig is very important but high risk, so it may not be a big earner. However if all goes well you have initiated what could be a fruitful relationship. If the agent comes along to see the act ask for feedback- he is the only one who will tell you the truth when you in the “zone”. When was the last time your product was reviewed?Pat Testing of equipment and Public Liability InsuranceThis is a requirement mandatory by law and a requirement of all bookings by any entertainment agency, so don’t get caught out. It also looks professional if you can forward the relevant certificates.How to get on with Entertainment AgentsAsk yourself why you use an estate agent and avoid outmoded clichés like, just one phone call.The industry is becoming polarised. Established artists are working with established agents, new artists working with the newer “post internet” agents. The entertainment agent wants the service at wholesale prices with a view to competitive retail. If an agent charges:• 15% commission – you will be one of a 1000
• 20% commission – you will be one of a 100
• 25% commission – you will be one of 10.Treat every gig as a promotion opportunity. Not getting rebooked on the night is okay. Not getting any enquiries is questionable. It is advisable to have more than one product. E.g. a comedian can be a hypnotism, or magician/clown, an 80s band/soul, Elvis/Ratpack and so on. Make sure your product is commercial and clearly defined. No one will be looking for 6 different tribute acts in one show. Be responsive, agents don’t like answer machines or email responses more than 1 day old. Email on the move is a must have.In ConclusionEach gig costs an entertainment agent around £100 to obtain and it generally takes longer to get the gig than to do the show. An agent does not get paid for just brokering the deal; it’s also for marketing the product, establishing hundreds of connections and dealing with interminable dialogues. Technology has changed the industry. Some entertainment agencies are venue led others are internet led. When the recession is over we will be in a new economy with entertainment moving into line with other industries and work slowly migrating towards the more progressive internet driven entertainment agencies.

Almost any business these days has a Facebook or a Twitter account, and the public is accustomed to accessing information just about anyone or anything, including businesses, through their social media accounts. But with the advantages of social media also come disadvantages –this is particularly true in the case of making investment decisions.In a recent Reuters interview, the FBI expressed its concern with fraudulent stockbroker’s use of social media to attract potential investment victims. Like a business or person tweets or gives status updates, it provides the platform for fraudulent stockbrokers to taut the high earnings and low risk of their investment opportunities. While these tweets or updates can be completely false, the savvy way that the stockbrokers use social media helps provide an official front to the investment scam. And the constant reminders of how good an investment opportunity is and how much other people “like” it (including other involved in the scam who leave false positive feedback about the scam) can eventually mount the pressure on a potential investor to take the plunge.Investors should be wary of following investment trends on Facebook and Twitter, especially if the one tweeting is an investment professional. Integrity Research Associates reports that half of surveyed investment advisement firms who are registered with the SEC have established written policies that forbid their advisors from using social media for business purposes. While other firms have increased their use of social media, investors should still not make investment decisions based on information gathered from it.The high pressure, immediate need to invest created by social media is usually bad news for investors, and can be a sign of potential investment fraud. Investors should always take their time when deciding how to invest their money.There are several overall tips to safe investing when it comes to social media:• Don’t fall for hype. Just because an investment is widely talked about or liked doesn’t mean it’s a good investment for you. The hype surrounding an investment might also make you feel pressured to invest quickly, but the life of your investment will outlast how popular it is one day on twitter. Take your time deciding on how to invest your money.• Don’t be wooed by an online investment advisor. Even the most simply investments take some time for potential investors to understand and for advisors to explain. This explanation is best done in person, so that you can review terms together and ask questions. Questions the advisor can’t help you with should be reviewed with your lawyer or other investment professional.• Know that online credentials can be faked. While an investment professional may have an active and legitimate looking firm online, the reality may be much different. The best way to know if your investment advisor is a good fit for you is to check their professional credentials. You can do this on FINRA’s BrokerCheck, available for free on their website. BrokerCheck will let you know if and how your advisor is accredited, and if they are in good standing with regulatory boards.While investments touted on social media may seem like good options for your investment portfolio, investments should always be carefully researched to ensure you don’t give over your hard-earned money to an investment scam.