Should You Start Your Own Talent Booking Agency? – Prism.fm

The digital age has inherently quadrupled the ability to scout for talent, bringing recognition to new faces each and every day. Stumbling across the next skilled artist through social media platforms and online presence is easier than ever. Discovery is possible literally at the click of a button, and putting a meeting with an artist on your agenda can be done from anywhere in the world. 

You may be curious about how industry leaders continue to sign deals with uprising talent and adapt to the constant changes in media. The reality is that social media is the biggest marketing tool in the industry right now, and for the most part, it’s free to use. Even throughout the pandemic, artists have continued to gain popularity and top the charts by consistently using social media platforms to their advantage. 

Industry leaders have spent hours sourcing the best not-so-hidden talents online, negotiating contracts, and signing them as the next big influencer. So what happens when you find the talent you want to represent, and what can you offer them that others can’t? How do you know if you want to start your own talent booking agency or if you just want to represent a solo artist?

Related: What to Consider When Starting a Live Music Venue

Questions About Starting Your Own Talent Booking Agency

There are a lot of small details that go into running a talent booking agency. From deciding who your audience is to making connections in the industry, negotiating contracts, and more – it can be a lot to keep up with. When considering starting your own agency, it can be beneficial to have a plan that covers the basics and allows you to create action plans to reach all of your goals. 

You may want to work with talent that already has a management team, or you may want to work with brand new artists that are new to the industry. Regardless of your goals, you’ll need to narrow things down to the basics to get started. 

Common questions or concerns you may want to focus on include:

• What’s the primary focus of your agency?
• How many artists do you want to represent?
• What type of artists do you want to book?
• What kind of projects do you intend to work on?
• Do you need a primary location?
• What’s your budget, and do you need an assistant or additional staffing?
• What do you have to offer artists? This includes resources, network connections, industry experience, and more.
• How do you plan to promote artists to venues?

Once you’ve decided what your goals are and created a little bit of backbone for your brand/agency, you’ll want to scout artists and have a ready-to-pitch plan on why you’d like to work with them. With social media making it so easy to communicate, it’s possible that you won’t be the first agency to reach out to somebody on the rise, so what you have to offer as their potential representation matters. 

This includes scheduling appearances and performances, negotiating and reviewing contracts on their behalf, arranging flights and travel, and communicating with venues and promoters.

Related:  A Quick Guide for How to Promote a Concert on Social Media

How and Where to Source Talent

Finding artists you want to represent and work with is only a small portion of what goes into getting them to be a part of your team. With social media making it easier for anyone to break through as the next big thing, you have to consider what makes your agency stand out from others when scouting. Do you have connections within the industry that’ll get them in at certain venues? What’s your vision for them, and how can you benefit their dreams?

Connecting with an artist and having the perfect pitch to get the initial interest can help lead you towards negotiations. You may have to jump through some hurdles to get there, but when you work out a great deal with the talent you believe in, it’s all worth it. 

Staying Connected and Organized in a Fast-Paced Environment

Digital media is breaking barriers when it comes to accessibility. It’s propelling the industry towards the next big thing and creating an industry that seemingly never sleeps. Whether you’ve chosen to represent a few artists here and there, or plan to scale your agency up to the big leagues and work with a surplus of talented individuals, staying organized is a must.

In fact, one of the most important elements of starting a booking agency will be staying organized. It will be imperative that your clients see you as on top of things, ready to represent and get them some amazing results. Miss some dates, mix up some details, and you’ll be in a tailspin.

Considering the many ins and outs of each deal, those tiny details matter, and you need a reliable, technologically advanced system from the getgo. You can’t afford to have notes for a client on your computer that’s sitting in your office but not have access to them on your phone.

When you have meetings scheduled with venues, project management teams, or artists, integration and mobility are essential. Access to your calendar and all pertinent information at the click of a button can mean the difference between looking pro or lacking preparation, and that can make or break a deal. 

That said, look for a platform that offers accessibility from anywhere in the world. With live music management software, you’ll have access to everything you need right from any device. Forget outdated spreadsheets or flipping between multiple programs. 

Look for an industry-specific platform designed with management in mind, one that includes full-featured tools that you can utilize to stay on top of all of your deals and maximize your time and effort. Software like this should offer you the capability to:

• Manage holds, offers, and settlements
• Add and review events and meetings
• Organize marketing goals and plans
• Track revenue and expenses

Choose software that allows an all-in-one flow – access to every detail that goes into streamlining your operation and making that entire booking a beautiful work of live music art. 

Get Started Today

Headlining your own talent booking agency is an exciting feat. With access to customizable technology, there’s no reason it should feel like a constant battle to stay on top of things as you expand and grow within the industry. The key to success is having the right tools.

Prism software solutions were designed for critical thinkers like you who recognize talent. The purpose of our software is to securely bring you real-time access to everything you need as you balance between artists, venues, events, and more. 

Ready to improve productivity, optimize all of your need-to-know important details with clear and efficient organization in one place, and work with a system that is an all-in-one live music management solution? Request a demo today to get started. We can help you build your booking agency from the ground up and improve outdated processes through innovative solutions.