A roster is a list, and it is also an argument. Promoters read it to work out what kind of agency they are dealing with.
What it tells you
- The genres the agency sells, as opposed to the ones on its website
- The level it works at, from 200 capacity clubs to arenas
- Whether an artist would be the biggest name there, or the smallest
Size
Rosters run from a handful of artists at a boutique agency to several hundred at the large European ones. Bigger is not better for every artist. On a 300 artist roster a mid-level artist competes for attention with the names that pay the rent.
Questions worth asking
- How many artists does the agent handle personally, rather than the agency
- Which of those are at a similar level
- How many shows did they play last year
- Who picks up the phone when the agent is away
The same test applies to a management roster. See Booking agent.