In the high-intensity world of media,
sports and entertainment,
agents and business managers
negotiate contracts to secure
the best deals and opportunities
for artists, athletes, and other performers.
Agents and business managers
represent their clients
to current or prospective employers,
they handle contract negotiations,
schedule appearances and performances,
and may also manage travel arrangements,
ticket sales, and advertising.
Many provide legal and financial advice.
A major responsibility
for agents and business managers
is staying on top of industry trends
and potential opportunities.
Getting a meeting set with decision makers
and having a positive interaction
often determines whether or not
deals go through,
from authors landing a book contract,
to actors signing on to a film,
to a baseball player joining a new team.
Agents and business agents
also need to build strong relationships
to retain their clients, discussing plans,
sharing a vision of possible career directions,
and explaining how the agent’s efforts
will benefit the client.
Agents are usually paid a percentage
of their client’s salary or contract.
Agents and business managers
typically need a bachelor’s degree
as well as a considerable amount
of work experience to build skills and contacts,
although some have an exceptional
ability to build connections,
and bypass typical requirements.