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Agent/Manager of Artists, Performers, or Athletes  What They Do

Just the Facts


Represents and promotes artists, performers and athletes to prospective employers. May handle contract negotiations and other business matters for clients.

This career is part of the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Performing Arts pathway.


A person in this career:

  • Collects fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
  • Confers with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
  • Develops contacts with individuals and organizations, and applies effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
  • Schedules promotional or performance engagements for clients.
  • Negotiates with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
  • Keeps informed of industry trends and deals.
  • Manages business and financial affairs for clients, such as arranging travel and lodging, selling tickets, and directing marketing and advertising activities.
  • Conducts auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
  • Arranges meetings concerning issues involving their clients.
  • Prepares periodic accounting statements for clients.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Overtime work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Band Manager -- Takes charge of the business side of being in a band: promotion, booking gigs, or negotiating deals.
  • Booking Agent -- Finds work for performers: negotiating when and where the band or artist will perform, as well as the financial terms of the contract.
  • Business Agent -- Works on behalf of performers or athletes to negotiate the best financial deal and speaks for the client to management and the public when necessary.
  • Literary Agent -- Represents authors in the publishing world by negotiating contracts regarding publishing rights, advances and royalties.
  • Modeling Agent -- Finds work for models, arbitrating job contracts and providing support as an employment agent.
  • Talent Agent -- Represents performing artists to prospective employers and arrange auditions and negotiate contracts on the performer’s behalf.
  • Talent Scout -- Recruits and tries to find work for people in the entertainment industry via their connections and expertise.