People assume titles that they don't understand, too often. Sometimes this is to avoid laws - for instance, some states require agencies to be licensed, but not managers. So someone wanting to play agent simply calls themselves a manager and plays agent without licensing. Note also that commission rates vary and are not always defined with a maximum. Many states, even where license is required, do not regulate the percent rate of commissions. An agency or manager could take any amount they want as long as it is defined with you in writing. Other states stipulate what it must not exceed. Agents book their talent for jobs. Managers help guide a career, make contacts, invest in their people (usually not more than a few, tops), make decisions, and help them get an agent. Often times managers are attorney's, and so they help in financial and legal aspects as well. Management companies vary in what they do simply because a lot of would-be-agencies use that term to avoid licensing requirements. Of these, you should not be paying upfront for things as a REQUIREMENT, period. A good manager does a lot for their clients and often covers costs and almost always has a very strictly binding exclusive agreement (due to the huge time and financial investment that they make).
There are lots of variables and such, but as Angelus suggests, newmodels.com seems to be pretty right on in all their advice in the articles there and reading them can enlighten you a lot. | 
03-25-2007, 08:17 PM
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