On agents who demand payment up front

Whenever an artist tells me that an agency wants to sign him or her but expects to be paid for their services, I have given the best advice available in these circumstances: don’t go near them.

An agent who demands money up-front from artist is an agent who has failed to make money by legitimate means.

VAN magazine today publishes an important exposé about a lone agent who makes promises to artists and takes their money.

Without talking to others, a musician might think she was the only person who didn’t get a single concert in a year. “On a very basic level, you have to ask how ‘desperate’ some of the musicians were to sign a contract that requires a deposit of trust, belief, and money,” said a performer. “It’s a sign that young musicians, who are highly specialized and educated, often find themselves in uncertain economic straits, and fall for things.” 

This is a higely prevalent problem of which VAN has bravely uncovered just the visible tip.

Read on here and weep.