Agents??

Started by Stevie_Babe, June 09, 2008, 04:45:38 PM

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Stevie_Babe

Hello there everyone,

are any of you with an agent? If so, is it any good, & can you recommend him/her?

Steve

Thelma Levett

#1
Hi Steve
I just looked at this post and was surprised there was no reply to it yet.   I work in the Midlands.  I only work for one agent.  I met them when I was entertaning the children at a wedding reception.  Paul was playing the Saxaphone and I liked what he did and asked him for his card and he recipticated.  I didnt realise he was an agent as well as a performer till he rang and asked if I was interested in doing more entertaining at weddings and the like.  He and Juliet are really nice people.  They get the payment up front from the clients and within a couple of days the money is transferred into my account.  There is no long wait for payment.  I don't work for any other agents though.  I only work for this agency because they get me the sort of work I like.  In the general run of things people dont often think of getting a children's entertainer in at a wedding reception.  But when this agent arranges the days entertainment they point out how long the day is for the children and how nice it is for them to have some form of entertainment.  So the agent is a way for me to get work I otherwise would not come by but  thoroughly enjoy because I get to do tables and although I am there for the  children the adults enjoy the balloons as much if not more than the children.   I don't need an agent to get my party work.  

I also have a rather nice arrangement with a number of other entertainers whom I know are reliable and do a good job.  We have a sort of back up system.  If I cant do a job because I am booked I give the other entertainers numbers to the person, I know they will get a good party.  In return the other entertainers give my number to the clients they cant fit in.  So its a case of what goes around comes around.  We also have an agreement that is one of us has a disaster.  Car breaking down or illness etc we will be prepared to drop everything and cover each other if it is possible.  Its an arrangement that is good for all.  I know some entertainers who would never suggest another entertaiiner and who act very territorial but I think they end up worse off being like that.  If an agent phones me up asking me to do something then I will not say no of course but at the moment its just me and the one agent.  Very cosy.

Stevie_Babe

#2
Thanks very much Thelma for your input. I am surprised/dissapointed that know one else has posted a reply as well. Don't know why though.

YvonneH

#3
Well I didn't reply as I have nothing to add to this subject as I have done one balloon only job total and got that through a fp friend as she was painting at the same do.

With agents I know some (face painters and possibly twisters) can be cagey as it is like asking them to divulge their client list.  Obviously the more twisters any one agent has on their books the less work potentially there is for you iyswim?  ;)
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Roger

#4
Steve
I have had not really worked for an agent most of my work comes from word of mouth I do work for an events company but that is more they ask me to work an event they are running than advertise my services like an agent would.

I know this may not be the answer you were after but you may well find a lot of people on hear are like me and don't really use agents much.

Roger
When it comes to the day I arive at the pearly gates I hope to slide in sideways saying to st Peter WOW!!! what a ride.
http://www.iglobo.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/@iglobouk

Smiggle

#5
I don't use an agent for disco or balloon work - I haven't even advertised my disco for over three years - it's all word of mouth and venues handing out my card and it's getting to be the same way with twisting.

I do have a mentalism act which I want to develop and there is a local agent that gets me work for that but it's not an area I'm actually pushing.

I suppose I get on like that because I have a pretty good day job if I had to rely more on the entertainment things to earn a living I would be getting the name out there a lot more actively and would seriously look into using an agent.
C\'mon Let\'s twist again...

YvonneH

#6
Although I have no experience with agents for twisting I do have a lot of experience with them for face painting and to be honest it is not always a good one!

Some don't care who they send as long as you will work for way less than the going agents rate (some are not even bothered if you have insurance - which is necessary for painting - or even if you can paint to a half decent standard), others you have to threaten with legal action to get paid BUT others are a delight to work for, look after you and pay promptly.

Also - I'm not sure if it would be the same with twisting - with fp agents day rates are usually less than the normal day rate if you were booking for yourself to accommodate the agents fee.
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Stevie_Babe

#7
Yes I can understand about being cagey. I sort of thought that might have been the case. But thanks for your thoughts though, very helpfull

Steve

Lord Geoffrey

#8
Hi Steve,
Lots of different comments about agents good and bad. I myself do work for about 10 agents regularly throughout the year. One agent is not enough to keep you in work, unless you are the most fantastic balloon twister in the world. I can honestly say I have not had any problems with any of them. I tell them the minimum price I will work and most times I get more. But if they say it's only paying X can you do it for that say no. Always stay with the price you said.
How to find a good agent.

A good place to start the Agents Association of Great Britain the link is: http://www.agents-uk.com

I started going through the listed agents before I returned from the USA and sent my promo pack to the ones I thought could get me work. I've been kept comfortably busy ever since.

Good luck
Twisting is more fun with balloons
http://www.lordgeoffrey.co.uk

Stevie_Babe

#9
Lord Geoffrey,

you are a big star :D  thanks a lot. I will certainly do that.

I don't have a promor pack as I've only been doing it for a little over a year. Would you say it would be better to have a bit more experience 1st?

Thanks again me Lord ;)

Steve

Lord Geoffrey

#10
Not at all.
The best way to get experience is to go out and do it. That's how we all started. Just get some photos of you and your creations put it together  with a bit of BS about you (That's the hard part) and send it to as many as you can. The law of averages comes into play. For every 100 you send out, you hopefully will get a call maybe two. The one thing to remember is to follow up your mail out with a phone call about two weeks later. Checking that they got it and if they need any more info.

Good luck and keep us all posted.
Twisting is more fun with balloons
http://www.lordgeoffrey.co.uk

Graham Lee

#11
I dont actually work for many agents at all. Two that are good & I do work for them at the moment are;
Mike Bonfield, Hey Presto Entertainments   http://www.heyprestoentertainments.co.uk/
Mike Ingham, Funtime.   http://www.funtimeonline.co.uk/

A few years back I worked for an agent who was excellent, he always used to put on the contract what money he was getting so that all parties knew, if only I could remember his name
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

YvonneH

#12
Lol we can see you definately work for the 2nd one Graham as there is your infamous piccie on the home page  :D
Yx
<a href=\"mailto:yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk\">yvonne@loonyballoony.co.uk</a>
http://www.loonyballoony.co.uk

Stevie_Babe

#13
Thank you very much, much appreciated.

Danny the Idiot

#14
Agents - I work with them a lot.

I have to disagree with Lord Geoffry. Don't send out your stuff to hundreds of agents. It is a waste of everybody's time.

Do your research, use the internet, ask around. How many balloon twisters have they already got on their books? What makes you special/ different? Can you offer other things like magic, facepainting etc.
What market do they get gigs from? Is it the same as yours?

Have you got everything in place they might ask for? Public Liability Insurance, CRB, Risk Assessment, photos, description of each act/show, video, costumes list, past clients, quotes....
Ring them 1st and ask them are they taking new people on and what do they need from you to help to sell you.

good luck,

Danny
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot