A booking agent is a person who helps musicians get live shows. Artists hire booking agents to find places for them to perform.

The main job of a booking agent is sales. They want to get their client booked for shows. Here are the key things they do:

The most important part of the job is talking to people. A booking agent spends a lot of time on email and phone calls.

If you’re here because you are considering hiring a booking agent, read our article: When to Consider Hiring a Booking Agent for Your Band

What Does a Booking Agent NOT Do?

A booking agent does not:

Those jobs belong to the artist manager or public relations team.

How Does a Booking Agent Find Shows?

Being a booking agent is like being a salesperson. The agent must know many people in the music business. Here is a practical breakdown of how a booking agent goes about getting their clients booked.

Step 1: Find the Right Venues

The agent looks for venues that fit the artist’s style. They think about:

Many artists try to book their own shows and get rejected. This often happens because they contact venues that are not a good fit. A good booking agent understands where you fit in.

Step 2: Reach Out to Decision Makers

The agent contacts talent buyers. Talent buyers are the people who decide who performs at a venue. The agent reaches out to people they already know first.

Step 3: Build Relationships

Good booking agents maintain good relationships with many people in the music business including:

Even if an agent knows everyone in town, they must keep building new relationships. There is a high churn rate in music industry jobs.

Skills Needed to Be a Booking Agent

Here are the main skills a booking agent needs:

By John Filippone