-Hey guys! It's Elessa here for Pursebuzz. I'm here with Danny Rodriguez, a beauty agent. We're gonna pick his brain, ask him some questions that you guys have been wondering for the longest time. So here you have Danny. How are you doing today?
-Good. How are you?
-I'm doing great.
-So we just finished the LCC, you know, make-up application back here; and I have a lot of viewers and readers who always ask like, "How do I get an agent?" So, I have you here. Please. I guess like just tell me about it.
-You know, it's all about networking.
You'll find someone that's always looking for someone, so go out there. Go to events. Meet people. Make appointments. Stop by. Show your book, but always be ready because you never know when someone is just gonna be looking for someone. That's how I've found all of my artists. I've gone somewhere, I've met someone, and the-- we've exchanged information and then we meet and that's how it happened. So, just be ready 'coz it's gonna happen any moment, but be patient, but you know, go out there. Expose yourself, but definitely be ready.
-So, when you-- they have their book, their portfolio, what do you look at like what-- Do you just pick it up, open it up, what do you do?
-Well, you know, it's funny. Books? I mean I-- To be honest with you, I don't see books on a regular basis. I take links. Send me an e-mail. If you don't convince me within the first 30 seconds, then maybe you're not the right person. But you what's going on right now? It's the iPad. Just pop it out. Show me a preview of what you've got and then we'll set up an appointment and we'll meet.
-So, what do you look for in representing somebody?
-You know, it's-- it's all about how hungry the person is for it. You have to be passionate about it and you have to trust that person blindly. So, if you're willing to do that, maybe I'm willing to sign you up.
-How many people are you working with right now?
-We represent 5 artists. So, the agency is called Top 5 Management. It's a boutique agency. We represent 3 hairstylists
and 2 make-up artists.
-So, if I signed up, what can you do for me?
-Well, you know, I think a lot of people-- they think when they sign up with an agency that there's this file cabinet full of jobs that are ready to be given out and it's more of, you know, you join an agency and you work with your agent as partners. Yes, there is a lot, you know, that your agent will do for you, but at the same time, as an artist, you have to be responsible, for,
you know, what you want from your agent. So, it's all about communication. It's all about goals. It's all about, you know, working as a team. So, as an agent, I might become, you know, your publicist/manager, not your friend, but I'll become publicist/manager/agent and take over the business side of the relationship, so expect that and more, but nothing less.
-So, if I was looking for an agent and there's like hundreds and thousands of people who say like "yeah, I'll represent you", what kind of questions should I ask of the agent?
-Well, I think something really important that people don't ask that you should ask is "what happened to the people that you were representing" or "who do you currently represent" and then just do your research. Are they happy at the agency? Is the-- Is the agency reputable?
And find out, you know what happened to the people that are no longer at the agency. You always wanna do your research. You just wanna make sure that you're going into the right agency because what you don't want is someone, you know, hopping from agency to agency. So, do your research. Just make sure that it's the right fit and, you know, don't go with the first person because some people will, you know, just take you and spend only, you know, 6 weeks, 6 months into,
you know, you being part of the agency. You're like "Hmmm... this isn't for me" or "this is what-- I wasn't expecting this" or "I was like expecting more" and then suddenly you're back to square one looking for another agent. So, you have-- It's like a marriage, you know. You have to picture that it's the right fit, but do your research. That's my suggestion.
-I have 2 kinds of personal, intimate questions, not too intimate, but do you have to pay upfront or not?
-You know, it's funny. I've heard about paying upfront, which I-- I'm a little scared and it is. It is weird. I wouldn't suggest it. So, I would say-- I would say maybe that's a red flag if someone's asking you and-- You know, if they convinced you that is the right thing to do, then go ahead, but I wouldn't. I don't do it. I don't charge.
-What about contracts? Like how long does the typical contract for an artist to sign up with your agency?
-Well, you know, the way we run the agency is my client is the artist, so I work for them.
They can fire me at any point and I make it very clear because a lot times they just do-- do it backwards. You know, the artist is walking on eggshells because they don't wanna make the agent upset because they're scared that they're gonna be let go of and it's the other way around. You know, it's the agent who works for the artist. So, contracts? What I do is I do an agreement. I don't call it a contract. It's an agreement for a year
so that when the contract is-- or sorry-- when agreement is over, we sit down and we go "okay, let's go over the past year and then let's go over the-- you know, the next year" and that's when the artist says "yes, let's go ahead and, you know, let's sign up for another year" or they're gonna say "you know what, I'm gonna take some time off" whatever it is, but there is that commitment to sit down at least once a year to review where they're at.
-Well, thank you so much, Danny Rodriguez, for your information. I mean, this is very valuable information because I get the question
all the time, but straight from you means so much more. Thanks again and we'll see you guys later. Buh-bye!
