I expect this has been discussed before, but I can't find it.

Folk Agencies, good or bad?

I'm sure the answer is yes, both, depending.

But two incidents:

A long while ago I wanted to book Cyril Tawney. I went through his agent who quoted a ridiculous fee for a folk club to pay. What this guy didn't know was Cyril was an old naval mate of mine.

I went to Cyril direct. Cyril was most put out. 'I've never earned that sorta money from his bookings. No wonder I haven't been working much lately!'

We negotiated a reasonable fee. Cyril sacked the agent and did his own bookings and promotion very successfully from then on.

On another occasion I wanted a local duo to sing at a charity gig for Yorks Air Ambulance.

I asked their agent, who responded 'Why should they do freebies when they can get paid elsewhere?' So I got someone else instead.

Later I told the artists what had happened. 'You should have come directly to us,' I was told. 'We would have done it for you!'

Then again, when I receive material from certain agents and promoters for the show I do sit up and take notice, because I know their acts are all excellent otherwise they wouldn't be handling them.

So, mixed blessings here.

It also seems that some promoters nowadays only take on artists who pay them to do so!

Any other points of view?