|
ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE INDEX
-
Music and
Bands
-
Playing Nightclubs
- Copyrights
- Licensing
- Agents / Agencies
- Managers
- Biography
Home
Alcoholic Beverage
Control Law
-
ABC Quiz
- ABC Violations
-
Compliance Checks
- Premise Liability
- License Transfers
- Important Forms
- Consultation
Municipal Court
-
DWI / DUI
- All Traffic Violations
- DMV Points & Fines
- Drugs in a MV
- Disorderly Persons
Personal Injury
-
Car
Accidents
- Slip & Falls
Entertainment Law
-
Music and
Bands
- Licensing
- Agents / Managers
Real
Estate
-
Residential
- Commercial |
|
Agents and Managers (Manager
section below)
Entertainment agents and managers are personal representatives of talent.
They both are often used in the music business to represent recording artists, performers
and songwriters. Before agents and managers will represent an artist, they usually require
signed contracts. These contracts, discussed below, are many times the cause of
controversy, hardship and law suits. Although both agents and managers are personal
representatives, they each serve distinct functions. Sometimes an artist may want a
combination manager/agent to pay a joint, and sometimes smaller, commission to one person
for performing both duties. However, in some states, it is illegal for a person to be both
a booking agent and a personal manager. Further, agents and managers may or may not be
required to be licensed depending on the state. For example, in New Jersey, both agents
and managers must be licensed.
Agents and managers play important roles in artist development. As such, they can be
vital to the success or failure of an artist. Therefore, you should look for a number of
things when signing anything with an agent or manager. The information contained below is
neither exhaustive nor does it address all the intricacies of agent and management
contracts. Rather, this information is to give artists a starting point or idea of what is
entailed when retaining the services of an entertainment agent or manager. Artists should
always consult an experienced attorney before entering into any contract or agreement.
See
also Agents.
Entertainment Managers and
Management Companies
There are different types of managers in the entertainment
business. The most common ones are personal managers, road managers and business managers.
Unlike agents, managers are unlikely to have a large stable of artists. This is because
managers tend to have more in depth involvement in the artist's career and day to day
activities. Managers counsel and advise the artist on virtually all aspects of the
artist's career. Personal managers work closer and on a more personal basis with the
artist than their counterpart, the agent, who hustles and fields the employment
opportunities. Depending on your State's laws, it may or may not be legal for a manager to
seek employment opportunities for you.
Personal Managers
Personal managers are usually paid a commission of the artist's gross receipts. This
commission, which many times may escalate depending on the artist's success, may be
anywhere from 10 to 25 percent and is in addition to reimbursement of the personal
manager's travel and outer out-of-pocket expenses.
The duties of a personal manager may include the following:
- Deal with the artist's publicity, public relations and advertising,
- Select material,
- Choose, secure and work with booking agents,
- Set up merchandising,
- Counsel the artist on what types of employment to accept,
- Develop a long range plan for the artist's development,
- Shield the artist from distracting and often bogus offers and solicitations,
- Offer financial advice,
- Work with the artist's accountant's and/or attorneys,
- In some instances, act as liaison with record companies,
- Hire and supervise a road manager to travel with touring artists.
Road Managers
Road managers travel with the artist and handle numerous business transactions and matters
that occur during an artist's tour. Although the personal manager may hire a road manager,
the artist pays the road manager separately from the personal manager. This pay varies but
usually is not done so on a commission basis. Where a personal manager an agent may set up
and plan an artist's routing or tour schedule, the road manager's job is to execute the
plan.
The duties of a road manager may include the following:
- Set up transportation,
- Book hotel rooms,
- Organize and supervise daily activities,
- Deal with last minute details and schedule changes,
- Set up the logistics of a tour including staging, sound and lights,
- Collect fees and/or percentages from venues.
Business Managers
Successful artists usually retain business managers. These managers are often accountants
and/or tax attorneys that are employed to deal with all of the artist's financial
undertakings. More specifically, a business manager will collect the artists earnings, pay
all the artist's employees (including managers) and manage the artist's financial
investments. Further, a business manager will monitor and document an artist's
transactions and counsel an artist as to the effects and tax consequences of an artist's
affairs. Business managers are compensated by way of flat fee, commission or salary. If
paid by commission, business managers receive anywhere from 2 to 6 percent of the artist's
gross receipts.
The Management Contract
Information coming soon
Back to Top
|
