UK Agents any experience stories?

Subject: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: Deni-C
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 05:40 AM

I am interested in hearing of artists experience with agents. We have worked with lots of agents in the pop and rock fields and found them brilliant and worthwhile, but as to the folk and acoustic circuit we are completely ignorant. Do artists need them, is there any chance of getting on someone's books? Are there any new agencies who are looking for newish acts..?


any success or horror stories? just in a general way....

Cheers
Deni
Mad Rush

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 07:54 AM

Don't even go there, not as far as the folk scene is concerned. If you become big and successful enough, then they'll come to you.

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: harvey andrews
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 09:06 AM

Personally I've always had an agent.I see their job as taking all the rejections and passing on only the acceptances.If I had had to deal with it all myself I doubt I would have lasted 39 years. My skin's too thin. However, in the folk world if you do it yourself, stay with people and "network" successfully you'll probably get more bread and butter work than those who don't speak directly to organisers, don't stay over and are bad "networkers". You also have to be a negotiator of Cabinet to UN level, never lose your temper, suffer fools gladly,grow three extra skins,and learn never to ask "Why won't you ever book me?" in a loud voice.
For doing all that for me over the years my three agents (two now retired) have been worth every penny of their percentage. I'm convinced that without them I could never have had the fortunate working life I've enjoyed.
Blessings upon them and all agents.
There was a custom in Shropshire called "sin-eating". When someone died an indigent would come to the house and eat a meal that symbolised the taking on of all the sins of the dead person. I think this is the basic role of the agent towards the artist. They are the sin-eaters who, by taking on all the bad and difficult things on our behalf, allow us to concentrate on the important things like writing, singing, playing and travelling.
I think guest T boy is correct. If you're good enough you may well be approached, although the few agents there are in the folk field have full artists rosters anyway and are bombarded with demos all the time.
If you are approached weigh up the pros and cons.
Then go with the agent everytime. You can always leave if it doesn't work out.

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: Deni-C
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 09:35 AM

Well, judging by what you say Harvey, these agents deserve medals or sainthoods or whtever. However I suspect T boy is right. much better to see how it goes than to send out squillions of CDs which just end up gathering dust on an agents shelf.

I've been doing lots of publicity lately and it's a very humbling experience, but so enjoyable if you like a challenge.

Like my little boy wrote when referring to school,

'it brings me lots of happiness and much SADNESS'.

That's one for and one against. What about the rest of you??????

Cheers
Deni

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: bill\sables
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 02:26 PM

I worked with an agent who got us a lot of work in the "Irish Theme pubs" There were many times when he sent us off to a pub only to find that the pub we wanted was many miles from the town we had been sent to.. One more thing was that I found he sometimes charged the customer a booking fee which we never saw but he still charged us 16% on what we eventually got and so he got a double pay out. My advice would be for you to join an entertainment union like EQUITY or Musicians Union where their lawyers will protect your grievences against either venue operators or bent agents.
Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: CraigS
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 08:35 PM

A good agent earns his money by getting you the work and doing your publicity as well. Unfortunately, the money in the folk arena is not good, so a lot of nice agents have gone to the wall before they could make a break. The ones that are left will need you to make a little bit of impact before they can afford to look at you. Keep plugging, get that good reputation, then look for an agent.
On the continent, it is almost impossible to work without an agent. You need a recommendation from an existing artist or GB agent before you can get on their books. OTOH the money is good if you can get it.

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: Deni-C
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 03:07 AM

Hi CraigS
Plugging away is all I sometimes do all day. it's true what someone said, agents free you to get on with the music.....

Some established artists have offered to put us in touch with European agents, but we don't want to run before we can walk. Must say, with a few notable exceptions, other artists have been very supportive, often offering help we haven't asked for. Thank goodness for them It's all very encouraging.

Cheers
D

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 04:36 AM

In the past I have dealt with agents from both sides, as a club organiser and as an artist.

From the organiser's perspective a good agent can make life much easier. For one thing, they tend to be available at the end of a telephone, which (at least in the days pre mobiles) could not be said of the artists themselves. If an agent has a good portfolio of artists, it is often possible to sort out a number of gigs with one phone call and get all the information, glossies, press packs etc. in one mailing. I can't recall ever having a problem dealing with an agent in this respect, OK they are taking a cut, but they are giving a service. I seldom recall an artist asking to be booked direct for a subsequent gig, so they must have been reasonably happy, too.

As an artist, my experiences were somewhat mixed, but so long ago now that they are of little relevance. Few of them are still around and so, literally, "speak no ill of the dead"!

Having a little more time on my hands, I am beginning to look for gigs beyond the local appearances that I have made for the past twenty years, but have not yet considered approaching agents. I doubt whether there is any great interest in yet another middle-aged man with a guitar!

When I've made my CD, I'll send a copy to Paul Walters at the BBC - if he likes it, he can sell your records even when you're dead!

Alan

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: Deni-C
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 04:47 AM

Lanfranc...What the world needs right now is another middle-aged man with a guitar......it just doesn't realise it yet! I had some wonderful opporunities as a teenager, but I looked at the music scene and thought, there's too many other girls who sing and play, I'll never make it.

I have since reviewed that idea, and what's made the difference is finding music I really love. Instead of finding singing a drag, for the first time in my life I am thrilled by it.


Would Paul Walters be anything to do with the Eva Cassidy phenomenon, perchance?

Cheers
D


*********I like the PM links next to people's names. I thought for a sec, you were the Prime Minister*************

Subject: RE: UK Agents any experience stories?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 02:52 PM

Thank you Deni-C, for your kind words!

Yes, Paul Walters is Terry Wogan's producer and side-kick.

Alan