Commission is why an agent's interest and the artist's interest mostly line up. Nobody gets paid until a show confirms and the fee lands.
Usual rates
- Booking agents: 10 percent across most of Europe, 15 percent at some agencies and in some territories
- Managers: 15 to 20 percent, often on all income rather than live work alone
- Some agencies charge on the whole fee, some on the fee after production costs
Gross or net
This is the detail that changes the number. 10 percent of a 10.000 euro fee is 1.000 euro. If the artist pays 3.000 euro of production out of that fee, commission on the net would be 700 euro. Say which applies, in the agency agreement.
How it is collected
The agency invoices the promoter, takes its commission from the deposit and forwards the rest. Ask for a statement per show, listing the fee, the commission and anything deducted. See Booking agent.