Music Booking Agents Education and Training
Book live music professionally with the right on-the-job training
If your ambition is to build your career as a tour booking agent, you will need a music booking agents education and training. The challenge is that for most successful agents who are booking music, self-education is key. Many do not enter the career with specific degrees – although some have studied business or sales. Most agents learn on the job.There are no specific formal degree programs that teach you how to be successful in live music booking, and there are not even vocational or continuing education programs for agents. Most agents learn the craft by working in the music industry and working their way up. There are no degree requirements or licensing requirements for concert booking agents or tour booking agents. However, there is a great deal of competition. To make yourself qualified for a successful career in this industry, consider:
- Seek out one of the few training programs available.
- Find internships that provide hands-on training and let you make contacts at music booking agencies and other companies.
- Get practical education and training with jobs in the music industry.
Look for singer booking agents programs that offer specialized training
There are very few training programs available for those looking for music booking agents education and training. However, a few programs exist and are well worth seeking out, since they generally offer more practical training and more prestige than internships.
Try: Job That Works sometimes offers links to training programs aimed at booking agents for music acts. The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance Booking Agent Training School is one of the very few well-established training programs for booking agents. The program focuses on developing a roster of acts, developing business skills, learning how to negotiate and book a tour, and developing other skills necessary in music booking management. Artists House Music offers a number of online videos and presentations for those interested in the booking industry.
Seek out an internship designed for booking agents for musicians
Internships for music booking agents are also not abundant, but are worth seeking out. These unpaid internship programs allow candidates to work with booking agents, often as assistants. Internships offer practical on-site training and also provide good contacts and references that can be used when applying for paid positions.
Try: Tru Images posts music booking agent internships and volunteer opportunities as well as related internship opportunities in the music field. Vault lists internships for music booking agents.
Find work as a music booking agent to get on-the-job training
While it is a bit of a paradox, most music booking agents get their actual qualifications and work experience after being hired for the first time. On-the-job training is a big part of this career path, so if you have any music experience or training, apply for jobs as often as you can. Many employers are willing to train after they hire.
Try: Simply Hired has many jobs for booking agents and for those interested in breaking into the industry. Get Music Jobs offers an array of jobs for music booking agents across the country.
- Consider networking with agencies, promoters and club managers. A concert booking agency or singer booking agency will likely be more impressed with your contacts than with training programs. Learning what promoters and club owners want from acts and what live acts are looking for from jobs can help you learn how to keep both parties happy, and that makes you most valuable as a booking agent.
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