A Booking agent doesn’t have an easy job. Their apparently simple objective is “booking shows” but agents try to get the best possible deal for each show so they can maximize the artist’s tour earnings at minimum costs.
To understand better what qualities a good booking agent needs to have we have Corina Malpica an expert in booking, who has years in the latin music industry working with artist such as: Maluma, Carlos Vives, CNCO, Wisin, Silvestre Dangond and others, she explain a booking agent needs the following features:
1.Promoter relationships
If a booking agent can prove he or she has a large number of connections with promoters around the world (Latam, US and Europe), that’s a great place to start because with the right relationships we can do anything,
- Creativity
It’s the job of the booking agent to be there to save the day. With this in mind, creativity is a key attribute for booking agents to have because in the wild industry that is the music business, you can never predict what will go wrong on the night of the show. Creativity and resourcefulness is needed when something goes wrong, figuring out a way to fix it should come before any sort of panic attack, and that’s when the talent of a booking agent comes into play.
- Organization
Organization is an important attribute in any job, but it’s especially important to have as a booking agent due to the nature of the position. When working with multiple artists simultaneously, things can get confusing very quickly if an organized calendar isn’t up to date.
Right from the first step of contacting booking agents, pay close attention to their communication methods. Timing is everything when it comes to booking shows, so you need to make sure your booking agent is on top of things at all times.
- Experience
While there are plenty of successful young booking agents, it’s important to work with someone who has at least a decent amount of experience. Booking can be really hard and putting an artist in the hands of a rookie booking agent is a really risky decision. Experience can come in many different shapes and forms, so be sure to inquire into the background of potential candidates.
- Negotiation skills
For a job that requires constant communication with musicians, managers, talent buyers being a skilled negotiator is another desirable trait for a booking agent to have.
As per Corina Malpica, there 5 qualities are the most important when choosing the right booking agent.
