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Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.
Other titles employers use
Agent · Athlete Marketing Agent · Booker · Booking Agent · Entertainment Specialist · Literary Agent · Print Agent · Talent Agent
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
- Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
- Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
- Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
- Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
- Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, helping and organizing work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Persuasion
- Negotiation
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Fine Arts
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.7 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.8 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.8 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 41%
- High school or less 39%
- A master's degree 17%
- A certificate or some college 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Web page creation and editing software
- Electronic mail software
- Video conferencing software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Operating system software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 9,300
- Job openings each year
- 940
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 16.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,300 | 940 | 16.3% |
| New York | 4,340 | 70 | 18.3% |
| Tennessee | 2,490 | 240 | 2.9% |
| Florida | 1,910 | 200 | 17.9% |
| Virginia | 420 | 40 | 16.7% |
| North Carolina | 400 | 40 | 21.2% |
| Texas | 400 | 40 | 14.3% |
| Colorado | 300 | 30 | 11.1% |
| New Jersey | 270 | 30 | — |
| Georgia | 240 | 30 | 33.3% |
| Arizona | 230 | 20 | 15.0% |
| Illinois | 230 | 20 | 4.5% |
| Nevada | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| Indiana | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Maryland | 200 | 20 | 11.1% |
| Utah | 200 | 20 | 42.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Alabama | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Minnesota | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Washington | 100 | 10 | 25.0% |
| Connecticut | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Wisconsin | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Missouri | 80 | 10 | — |
| Ohio | 80 | 10 | — |
| Kentucky | 60 | 10 | — |
| Puerto Rico | 60 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Nebraska | 50 | 10 | — |
| Louisiana | 40 | 0 | — |
| Maine | 40 | 0 | — |
| Idaho | 20 | 0 | 100.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 6,179
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 2,505
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 2,134
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 2,042
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
San Jose State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,735
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Colorado Boulder
- Degrees each year
- 1,612
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 1,523
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 1,519
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
Compare every college offering arts, entertainment, and media management