Dead Boy Productions

 

Finding A Booking Agent

Justin

Stormy Shepard is the booking agent for Leave Home Booking, a booking agent which handles numerous bands including the Offspring, Rancid, Pennywise as well as others. Stormy was nice enough to give some advice on how to get a booking agent.

I can't speak for other agencies and I don't know what their criteria is. As far as Leave Home Booking goes, we prefer that bands book their own tours first. This is the only way that you will understand this part of your career and know how to manage it on your own in the future if you do get an agent. It is also one of the best ways to build up your own fan base. When you book a tour, you usually end up staying with the kids who put on the show and become friends with locals in every city. Next time you play that city, chances are those you worked with before will come to the show and bring even more friends with them. Personally, I am completely turned off by managers or bands who think they need an agent before they have even toured the U.S. To me it shows a lack of motivation to promote your own band. Managers are completely unnecessary at this stage.

Best advice...If you aren't committed to what you are doing - no one else will be either. Always stay involved and NEVER turn the decision making over to anyone outside of the band...EVER! Retain as much control over everything as you possibly can. The fewer people you have involved, the better.