talkmagic.co.uk

daleshrimpton wrote:those that are unsure about the reliability of agents could become one, and represent me.. That way we both get what we want out if life, and everybodys happy.

Having a magician as an agent. That might work.
If you turn down a gig, your agent will do it instead and pay you 10% of any fee they get.

I've been with the same agent for twenty years and they are responsible for a good percentage of my work - they know what I can and can't do and trust me to do the job so it all works out well for me. Back then, though, it was probably the standard thing to have an agent (or more than one in different areas) where it may be less important today. I don't have 'sole representation' with them, so I can take work from other agents if they call, but they are my main agent.
They've held up their end of the bargain over the years by selling me into jobs that would otherwise probably not have booked a magician and by sorting out contracts, cancellation fees and so on for me, so for me it's a good system.
I'd suggest trying to find out how long an agency has been going first, but there's no harm being on any agent's books on the off chance they need a magician - it just takes a while to build up enough of a rapport to actually be an act they will actively sell.