STOP BUSINESS CARDS AT EVENTS

By Bea Fogelman

For an artist to hand out his own business card at an event he has been booked by an agent is a serious violation and, in some contracts, agents have a clause that states that $X will be withheld in the event this happens.  

HOWEVER.... when an artist is exceptionally good, the audience requests a photo of him so, through the years I have suggested that artists have a card printed with just their photo, their name and who they perform in tribute to.

Note: when they ask for an autograph.... please write your own name and not the name of the celebrity you perform in tribute as. (Did I have to say that?) Autographing the celebrity's name is illegal.

OK.... What if someone in the audience wants to have the artist perform for his/her event? 

Should I assume that the agent is looking for business?  Should I assume that the agent has given a few of his own business cards to the artists to give to a person who is interested in the artist?

I know agents are very busy BUT the computer is a very valuable tool and it doesn't take a lot of time to have a card printed from your computer with the artist's photo, his name and his character...with YOUR company contact information on the card.  Believe me...the artist is happy to pass out a card like this. 

(In fact... this is the smallest investment an agent can make for himself... honest!!! It's and old and present Real Estate "business" method. When a person joins an office, the Broker orders 500 cards for him to distribute with his photo and name on the card...with the company contact information on it....and hopes to order another batch soon.)

For years I get complaints all the time about artists handing out their own business cards....but, if they don't have anything else to hand out when requested by their audience, I tend to blame the agent....

The agents should get more creative and tend to their own business by supplying photo cards the artists will distribute with the agent's contact information on it. 

In the meantime, I suggest the artists have cards printed with only their photo, name, and who they are performing in tribute to (No contact information on the card) and, if the person wants to book you, write the agent's name and phone number on the card who booked you for this event.

AGENTS... PLEASE NOTE: The artist is being paid to perform at this one gig you booked. That's all.

The artist is not your business partner so, as an agent, if you want the artist to create more business for your agency... and be happy to do it ... you must think of a way to have the artist do it at no expense by the artist.