Relevent to part of this thread is this: Jacey Bedford: You don't need an agent

The gist of it: the only reason you need an agent is because you have already got so popular you haven't time for the paperwork anymore.
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There's another side to booking anyone for less than they are really worth, and acts underpricing themselves "to get the gig": it devalues the market for artists who make their living out of it. This advice came to me from Pete Coe, who is a good example of a full time folk musician who can be adversely affected by such practices.

Somebody said:
"I know of artists who have taken a list of every folk club/festival organiser/arts centre booker they know of, pulled a day aside, and rang/emailed each of them, detailing their act, their availability and their rates. Within the week, they had a 20 day tour at £500 per gig, up and down the country."

Yes, if you want that kind of work, that's what you have to do for it, and you need a thick skin because most of them will say no.