Entertainment agent Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Entertainment agent

Hours

Variable
Starting salary

£15,000 + per year

Entertainment agents and managers, sometimes known as talent agents, promote the careers and manage the business affairs of performers and other professionals in the entertainment industry. If you've got good business sense and you can build close working relationships with people, this job could be perfect for you.

In this job you will need to be an excellent communicator and negotiator. You will also need to be persuasive, confident and persistent.

There are a number of different routes into this job, from working your way up from an assistant role to starting out by managing your performer friends' careers. In this industry your experience (paid or unpaid), enthusiasm and ability to make contacts are more important than academic qualifications.

The work

As an entertainment agent you could represent actors, singers, musicians, TV presenters, writers or speciality performers such as lookalikes or voiceover artists. Clients can range from new acts to major stars (who are usually handled by large international agencies).

As an agent, it would be your responsibility to secure the best work for your clients, for the best fee. You could also play a wider role and run all aspects of a client's business affairs, although the two roles can be combined.

Your job may include:

arranging auditions and bookings for clients
negotiating contracts and fees
organising tours and booking venues
helping artists make career decisions, such as advising actors which roles to audition for
arranging publicity and promotion
winning clients and scouting for new talent
handling media enquiries, fan mail and requests for personal appearances
dealing with travel arrangements and work permits
keeping records
staying in regular contact with clients.

You would be in contact with a range of people in the entertainment industry, including promoters, venue managers, TV executives, lawyers, PR managers and accountants.

Hours

Your working week may vary. You might generally work standard office hours although you may often need to be flexible, for example to attend performances or speak to international contacts in other time zones.

You would be office-based, but would often need to travel to meetings and events. If you represented major clients you could travel internationally. The work can be stressful, as there is keen competition to win and keep the best clients.

Income

Salaries in agencies can range between £15,000 and £30,000 a year, depending on experience and responsibility.

As an agent or manager, earnings would depend on the work you secure for your clients, as you would normally keep between 10% and 25% of the overall fee. Top agents of major clients can earn over £100,000 a year.

Entry requirements

You could take various routes to become an entertainment agent or manager. In this industry your experience (paid or unpaid), enthusiasm and ability to make contacts are more important than academic qualifications.

One way in could be to start as an administrator or assistant in an agency or artist management company, and work your way up as your experience grows. Contacting agencies directly to ask for a work placement is a good way of building experience and contacts in the industry.

You may find it useful to have a background in one or more of the following areas:

business management
accounting and administration
media or performing arts (particularly if you are applying to work in a larger agency)
public relations
event organising.

Foreign language skills and knowledge of contract law could also be helpful.

Alternatively, you could become an agent or manager after having been a performer yourself, or by managing friends’ careers – this is especially common in the music industry.

Training and development

At the start of your career you would learn on the job from established agents or managers, and develop your skills as your experience grows.

As an established agent or manager you could join an agents' trade association such as the Agents' Association (Great Britain) or the Personal Managers' Association. This would give you professional recognition and access to advice on areas like pay, contracts and running an agency.

As the manager of a band or solo music artist, you could join the Music Managers' Forum (UK) for training and networking opportunities.

Skills and knowledge

To be an entertainment agent you should have:

excellent communication and negotiation skills
a highly organised approach to work
good business sense
a persuasive manner
the ability to build contacts and close working relationships
confidence and persistence
attention to detail
computer and administrative skills
a keen interest in the entertainment industry.

More information

The Agents Association (Great Britain) (Opens new window)
54 Keyes House
Dolphin Square
London
SW1V 3NA
Tel: 020 7834 0515
www.agents-uk.com

Music Managers Forum (MMF) (Opens new window)
British Music House
26 Berners Street
London
W1T 3LR
Tel: 0207 306 4888
www.themmf.net

Equity (Opens new window)
Guild House
Upper St Martin’s Lane
London
WC2H 9EG
Tel: 020 7379 6000
www.equity.org.uk

Get Into Theatre (Opens new window)
www.getintotheatre.org

Opportunities

You could work for an agency or artist management company, or you could be self-employed or choose to set up your own agency.

Some jobs are advertised in the national press or The Stage, although most vacancies are filled by word of mouth or by approaching agencies directly. You can find contact details for agents in the members’ sections of agents’ trade associations.

The Stage

Your career would progress by building a strong reputation and attracting more top performers onto your books.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The performing arts industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: craft; cultural heritage; literature; design; music; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ 678,480, people, of which 24% are based in London. There are 74,640 businesses in the creative and cultural industries, of which 87% employ less than 10 people.

The performing arts comprises venues, employers, small businesses and freelancers in the theatre sector (including classical, contemporary, street arts, carnival arts, circus and physical theatre), dance, opera and the live music industry (including live performances of classical, pop, rock and all contemporary forms of music). The industry workforce includes performers, promoters and those who provide backstage technical input and administration.

Key facts:

There are 101,593 people working in the performing arts, of which:
- 34% are employed in onstage occupations, such as acting or dancing.
Employment grew by 20% between 2006/07 and 2008/09.
45% of the workforce is located in London and the South East.
There are 5,480 businesses, of which 92% employ less than 50 people.
The performing arts industry contributes £4.6 billion to the UK economy.
58% of the workforce is self‐employed.
Men and women are equally likely to have a level 4 or above qualification.
Men are likely to earn less money than women (87% of men earn less than £20,000 per year, compared to 58% of women).
73% of the performing arts workforce earns less than £20,000 a year.
40% of those working in performing arts have at least a level 4 qualification.

Jobs in the industry include: actor, agent, artistic director, choreographer, circus performer, dancer, entertainer, hair, makeup and wigs, props maker, puppeteer, rigger, sound technician, stage manager, studio manager, theatre director, wardrobe assistant.

National and regional data

Northern Ireland – There are 11,640 people working in the Northern Ireland creative and cultural sector. 2% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, it contributes £42 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the workforce is white and 86% of the workforce is male.

Scotland – There are 45,420 people working in the Scottish creative and cultural sector. 10% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Scotland. In Scotland, it contributes £143 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the workforce is white and 86% of the workforce is male.

Wales – There are 24,060 people working in the Welsh creative and cultural sector. 3% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Wales. The industry in Wales contributes £86 million to the UK economy. 99% of the workforce is white and 58% of the workforce is male.

[N.B. The data for the following regions are for the creative and cultural sector as a whole.]

East Midlands – There are 44,380 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are 3,950 creative businesses in the region, of which 92% employ less than 50 people. 35% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 54% are under 40 years.

East of England – There are 63,700 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 6,710 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 37% of the workforce is self-employed. 66% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

London – There are 164,690 people in the sector workforce in London, representing 24% of the UK sector workforce. There are 21,600 creative businesses, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 51% of the workforce is self-employed. 58% of the workforce is male. 84% of the sector workforce is white and 56% are under 40 years.

North East – There are 19,680 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 3% of the UK sector workforce. There are 1,330 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 38% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 96% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.

North West – There are 59,580 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 5,660 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 34% of the workforce is self-employed; the majority of who are in arts and music. 62% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 55% are under 40 years.

South East – There are 98,170 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 14% of the UK sector workforce. There are 12,300 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 43% of the workforce is self-employed. 59% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 47% are under 40 years.

South West – There are 60,690 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 47% of the workforce is self-employed in arts, design and music. 59% of the workforce is male. 98% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

West Midlands – There are 40,300 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 6% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 31% of the workforce is self-employed, which is the lowest regional figure. 58% of the workforce is male. 91% of the sector workforce is white and 49% are under 40 years.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 45,900 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are fewer than 4,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 40% of the workforce is self-employed. 60% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.