I do some agency work for a band who perform quite regularly. I work as thier agent, becuase i like them - as musicians and as people and saw that they needed some help in that area, and I had some related experience. Although they had been offered representation by 'mainline' agents, their preference was not to go down that avanue. They don't gig at folk clubs or pubs, but do work at theatres, art centres, private concert series, festivals and the like.

I have found that many art centre programmers will stick to using just a couple of agents - partly, I'm sure, out of being 'safe', 'easy' and, it has to be said, possibly a bit of laziness on their part. The artistic director of The Lowry, on Salford Quays admitted this to me. They get inundated with promo material for music across all sorts of styles and, quite possibly, have no personal interest or knowledge in fields beyond their own musical tastes. All entirely understandable, but not terribly helpful. But then, it isn't their job to be helpful to us - it's thier job to run their venue successfully, according to thier artistic policy.

Greg mentioned the need for them to have an 'antennae' beyond their own experience, and this is a very good point. It's a long slog, as an agent, making a personal contact, sending packs out, following up (usually several times, as people are never available when you ring the first time) I often find that those who are independant promoters are far more prepared to work with independent bands and have a more genuine and wider interest - because it is their hobby, not their job.