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Agents and Business Managers


At a Glance

  • Work with athletes, writers, or actors
  • Have good negotiation skills
  • Often are paid on a fee or commission basis
  • Have at least a bachelor's degree
  • Have years of work experience
  • May need a license

Career summary

Agents and business managers advise writers, performers, and athletes on business details.

#no corresponding wois occupation

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Agents promote clients, and business managers handle clients' business affairs. Some agents and business managers do both. The amount of work agents and business managers do for their clients varies. Some agents represent clients only when needed. Other agents may handle a client's career for many years.

To promote their clients, agents approach publishers, producers, or recruiters. Agents work to convince these people to hire or sign their clients to contracts. When a proposal is offered, agents negotiate the terms of the contract. This includes how much their client will be paid and the length of the contract. Agents also schedule promotional events, such as appearances on TV shows. In addition, agents create and distribute promotional materials about clients.

Agents must be able to recognize talent and know how to promote it. They continuously look for new clients and ways to help their current ones. Many agents specialize in a particular type of talent, such as athletes, writers, or actors. This specialty determines how agents seek new clients. Some agents review tapes of games, while others read manuscripts or audition talent. Agents may interview potential clients before agreeing to represent them.

Business managers handle all of a client's business affairs. This includes:

Business managers perform or arrange for services such as accounting, investing, and legal representation. They also prepare accounting statements for clients about their finances.

Some agents and business managers also perform many of the tasks of personal assistants. They accompany clients when they travel and act as companions. They also make reservations for dining and entertainment and give advice on performances.

One of the most important things an agent or business manager does is to collect fees, commissions, or other payments. For example, if an agent gets paid 15% of a client's book deal, the agent will collect that amount, withdraw taxes, keep records, and cut a check to the author.

Related careers

This career is part of the Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communications cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to agents and business managers.

Common work activities

Agents and business managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, agents and business managers:

Interpersonal relationships

Physical work conditions

Work performance

Hours/travel

Physical demands

Agents and business managers frequently:

It is important for agents and business managers to be able to:

It is not as important, but still necessary, for agents and business managers to be able to:

Skills and abilities

Agents and business managers need to:

Communicate

Reason and problem solve

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Work with people

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as an agent or business manager, you typically need to:

Education after high school

The education requirements vary with the talent area you specialize in. However, most agents and business managers have at least a bachelor's degree.

Some sports agents have law or advanced business degrees. College-level preparation in contract law, sports management, or labor relations is very valuable.

Talent and literary agents often have a bachelor's degree in English, literature, music, or journalism.

Work experience

While in college, participate in an internship with a talent, literary, or sports agency. Working at an agency will give you valuable experience and contacts in the industry.

In general, agents and business managers work for several years in another role within their chosen industry. Some sports agents are former athletes. However, athletic skills do not prepare you for this occupation. You need experience working with contracts, negotiations, and sports organizations.

For literary agents, experience editing books or in publishing is good preparation.

For talent agents, experience working in the theater or for movie companies is good preparation.

On-the-job training

Training after you are hired is usually informal and lasts a few months. You help experienced agents with routine tasks. For example, you help book appointments, read manuscripts, collect payments, or write promotional materials. As you gain experience, you work on more difficult tasks and have more independence.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Also take as many classes as you can in your area of interest, whether it is talent, literary, or sports.

Many agents and business managers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for applicants who have a college degree. Some employers prefer that the degree be in an area related to the type of clients the firm represents. Thus, a firm that represents writers might prefer applicants who have a degree in literature. Other firms might prefer applicants who have a degree in law or business because these applicants may negotiate well. Employers also look for work experience in a related field.

Communication is important for agents and business managers. Employers look for applicants who have strong written and verbal communication skills. They also look for applicants who are organized and motivated.

Costs to workers

Workers may need to buy professional attire.

Licensing/certification

Managers of boxers, wrestlers, and martial arts fighters must have a state license. An application, photo, and fee are required. Applicants for licensure also must be 18 years of age.

Managers of boxers, wrestlers, and martial arts fighters must pay a $65 annual licensing fee. They may also wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues.

For more information, contact:

Washington State Department of Licensing
Professional Athletics Program (external link)

PO Box 9026
Olympia, WA 98507-9026
360.664.6644

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Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link).

Wages

Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes (SOC 13-1011)

Location
Pay Period
10%
25%
Median
75%
90%
Washington Hourly $18.91 $21.68 $27.86 $35.85 $42.86
Monthly $3,277 $3,757 $4,828 $6,213 $7,428
Yearly $39,330 $45,100 $57,940 $74,560 $89,150
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Hourly $19.56 $22.39 $28.66 $36.34 $43.25
Monthly $3,390 $3,880 $4,967 $6,298 $7,495
Yearly $40,683 $46,557 $59,616 $75,579 $89,963
    Vancouver Hourly $17.53 $21.45 $33.47 $38.70 $60.23
Monthly $3,038 $3,717 $5,800 $6,707 $10,438
Yearly $36,469 $44,616 $69,602 $80,491 $125,293
United States Hourly $16.08 $21.80 $31.75 $51.79 $90.19
Monthly $2,787 $3,778 $5,502 $8,975 $15,630
Yearly $33,440 $45,340 $66,040 $107,720 $187,600

Most agents are paid on a fee or commission basis. The higher paid the client is, the higher the income of the agent.

Agents and business managers who work full time often receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Those who are self-employed must provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (SOC 13-1011)

Location Current employment Growth over 10 years Annual openings
This
occupation
All
occupations
Washington 75 -8.0% 16.1% 7
    King County 16 -6.3% 19.6% 2
    Pierce County 17 17.6% 15.2% 2
    Snohomish County 30 -23.3% 12.4% 1
United States 19,400 10.8% 5.2% 2,600

National employment

About 22% of agents and business managers are self-employed.

Major employers:

National outlook

The demand for entertainers is expected to increase over the next decade. As a result, more agents should be needed to represent the larger number of professional athletes and actors. However, this growth will not be in all states. California and New York are likely to add the most new jobs for agents and managers.

Competition for jobs will be strong. The glamour of this occupation and the lack of formal entry requirements attract many people. Only the most talented will represent famous clients.

Other resources

American Management Association (external link)
Music Publishers Association (external link)
National Basketball Players Association (external link)
1133 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10036
800.955.6272
212.655.0880
National Management Association (external link)
3055 Kettering Blvd, Suite 210
Dayton, OH 45439
937.294.0421
Showbizjobs.com (external link)

References

Career cluster

Career path

O*Net (external link) occupation

O*Net job zone (external link)

DOT occupations

Holland occupational cluster

COPSystem