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Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

1. What is the difference between a Manager and an Agent? 

2. What is the industry standard commission for a Manager and an Agent?

3. Should I register my material with WGA?

4. Why should I have a Manager and/or Agent submit my material?

5. What are the duties of a personal manager?

6. What are Entertainment Managers and Management Companies?

7. What are Entertainment Agents and Agencies?

What is the difference between a Manager and an Agent? 

Entertainment agents and managers are personal representatives of talent. Before agents and managers will represent an artist, they usually require signed contracts.

Although both agents and managers are personal representatives, they each serve distinct functions. Sometimes an artist may want a combination manager/agent to pay a joint, and sometimes smaller, commission to one person for performing both duties. However, in some states, it is illegal for a person to be both an agent and a personal manager. Further, agents and managers may or may not be required to be licensed depending on the state. For example, in New Jersey, both agents and managers must be licensed. 

Agents and managers play important roles in artist development. As such, they can be vital to the success or failure of an artist. Therefore, you should look for a number of things when signing anything with an agent or manager.

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What is the industry standard commission for a Manager and an Agent?

Managers are usually paid a commission of the artist's gross receipts. This commission, which many times may escalate depending on the artist's success, may be anywhere from 10 to 20 percent.  As compensation for these services, an agent usually receives between 10 and 15 percent of the artist's gross earnings earned from employment secured by the agent. This percentage rate may vary depending on many factors including, the state law, type of work, length of time and/or the ability of the artist to favorably negotiate the contract with the agent. For example, under New York law, agents can only charge performing artists a maximum of ten percent commission for securing engagements.

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Should I register my material with the WGA?

Writers should register all of their material (Coverage/Synopsis, Writing Treatments, Screenplays, Teleplays) with the WGA even if it is already registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. 

The registration process places preventative measures against plagiarism or unauthorized use of an author's material. While someone else may have the same storyline or idea in his or her material, your evidence lies in your presentation of your work.  Registering your work does not disallow others from having a similar storyline or theme. Rather, registering your work would potentially discourage others from using your work without your permission.

Though the Registry cannot prevent plagiarism, it can produce the registered material as well as confirm the date of registration. Registering your work creates legal evidence for the material that establishes a date for the material's existence. The WGA Registry, as a neutral third party, can testify for that evidence.

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Why should I have a Manager and/or Agent submit my material?

This is considered an industry standard.  Your query letter, writing treatment, or script will be respected when it comes from a manager and/or agent. 

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What are the duties of a personal manager?

Duties of a personal manager may include the following:

• Deal with the artist's publicity, public relations and advertising,

• Choose, secure and work with agents,

• Set up merchandising opportunities,

• Counsel the artist on what types of employment to accept,

• Develop a long range plan for the artist's development,

• Shield the artist from distracting solicitations,

• Offer financial advice,

• Work with the artist's accountants and attorneys,

• Act as liaison with studios and/or production companies,

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What are Entertainment Managers and Management Companies?

There are different types of managers in the entertainment business. The most common ones are personal and business managers. Unlike agents, personal managers are unlikely to have a large stable of artists. This is because managers often have more in depth involvement in the artist's career and daily activities. Managers counsel and advise the artist on virtually all aspects of the artist's career. Personal managers work closer and on a more personal basis with the artist than their counterpart, the agent, who hustles and fields the employment opportunities. Depending on your State's laws, it may or may not be legal for a manager to seek employment opportunities for you.

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What are Entertainment Agents and Agencies?

State employment agency statutes and laws govern agents and agencies because they are employment agencies.  The job or function of an agent is to pursue employment opportunities and/or fields offers of employment for the artist.  Once employment is secured, the agent will negotiate the deals and set up a calendar for the artist's employment engagements.

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