Working for agents - pay time scale

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

After a recent discussion in another thread, for those of you who have worked for or currently worked for agents, when do they pay you?

This is only for agent work, not for when you get paid from your own client.

[theoloyla]

I sort of instigated this thread and I have to say that I have often over the years worked for various agencies where they have been paid in full for the gig before it happens. In several of those occasions the agent has also sent me the cheque for the full fee in advance too. This is to be honest unusual.
I have also done work for agents where it is neccessary to invoice them after the gig in order to recieve the fee. In these cases it is neccessary that the agent is bone fide and trustworthy and working to a signed legitimate contract otherwise I will not work for them.

[Dragonfly]

its usually 30 days for me but the latest apparently the company concerned is pushing for 60 days. which actually suits me as the money will be very handy in sept as im not going to be giiging alot until december.

[Tony Scott]

I worked for an agent who was based in the Midlands for about 6 months doing a night for him in Nottingham, I was paid by the club/bar directly so this was not a problem.

This position came to end, I then started to do Wine bars, Weddings etc for him and was supposed to get paid monthly. This payment was a bit hit & miss and I had to go to see him to demand the money, I'm still owed about £400. :mad:

This was the only time in 23yrs I worked for agents and would not do it again on a regular basis.

A lot of the Midlanders on here will know this person/outfit, although I've not seen them on here, but I'm not a going to name them!!! Bad Karma and all that. :)

Been wanting to get that off my chest for 7 years!!! :) Me happy now! :) :)

[CRAZY K]

:eek:
its usually 30 days for me but the latest apparently the company concerned is pushing for 60 days. which actually suits me as the money will be very handy in sept as im not going to be giiging alot until december.

I dont normally work for agencies or events companies.

I did help an events company --through a friend--at late notice recently and they rewarded us by going back on an agreement to pay in cash on the night and then telling us there was a 30 days payment window--none of this agreed in advance--eventually the cheque arrived --and bounced :eek:

As I had laid off the gig I wasnt directly involved but a threat of court action sorted it out.

The mistake was the Caller should have been told to say--Can I have the cash now please--

If theres a problem--- ok im going home--have a nice evening:D

I have decided (apart from one reliable events company I know) that all gigs will be cash on night--AND I turn them down if the Contract says differently.

If you are receiving a decent level of work at decent prices from agencies then you take a more commercial approach.

My main website says clearly we dont want to deal with these type of people--but they keep ringing---and wasting my time as usual with enquiries that never materialise.

CRAZY K

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

A lot of the Midlanders on here will know this person/outfit, although I've not seen them on here, but I'm not a going to name them!!! Bad Karma and all that. :)



You could always mention it in the supporters area....;)

[Tony Scott]

You could always mention it in the supporters area....;)

Yeah might do that but I'm a bit concerned that because they are quite well known in the midlands they may be friends with some of the posters on here and I don't want things to get nasty.

As far as I know they may even be members, I've only been on here about 8 months myself. Although as I mentioned I've not seen them post.

I'll have a think about it :confused: Wouldn't want anyone else to have problems with them that's for sure! :)

[CRAZY K]

its usually 30 days for me but the latest apparently the company concerned is pushing for 60 days. which actually suits me as the money will be very handy in sept as im not going to be giiging alot until december.

As long as they dont go bust owing you money!

Keep any eye on them Dave--it can only be the "client" is stretching things--
and the client could go bust as well. Then no one gets paid.

I worry these days about these situations where they have your money---and interest rates are going up again and maybe again which will cause more bankruptcies of course:eek:

CRAZY K

[Tony Scott]

As long as they dont go bust owing you money!

Keep any eye on them Dave--it can only be the "client" is stretching things--
and the client could go bust as well. Then no one gets paid.

I worry these days about these situations where they have your money---and interest rates are going up again and maybe again which will cause more bankruptcies of course:eek:

CRAZY K

I would only work for an agent now if the dosh was up-front or paid by the client on the night! No exceptions!!

[Dragonfly]

dont think the company / client will be going bust its a national large cosmetcis / pharmacutical company lol it is them thats stretching things out ive worked for the agent before and they have been very good to me.

[Tony Scott]

dont think the company / client will be going bust its a national large cosmetcis / pharmacutical company lol it is them thats stretching things out ive worked for the agent before and they have been very good to me.

Alright for free mascara and lippy then Dave, see if you can get me some glittery green eye shadow and false eyelashes for those 70's nights! :D :D

[dj-jaym]

Agents i use either pay me upfront, Or within 7 days bacs , or pickup on night

Majority upfront though

[Penfold42]

Alright for free mascara and lippy then Dave, see if you can get me some glittery green eye shadow and false eyelashes for those 70's nights! :D :D

Good job you put 70's nights at the end.....was begining to think...:eek: :eek: :eek:

:D

[CRAZY K]

I worked for an agent who was based in the Midlands for about 6 months doing a night for him in Nottingham, I was paid by the club/bar directly so this was not a problem.

This position came to end, I then started to do Wine bars, Weddings etc for him and was supposed to get paid monthly. This payment was a bit hit & miss and I had to go to see him to demand the money, I'm still owed about £400. :mad:

This was the only time in 23yrs I worked for agents and would not do it again on a regular basis.

A lot of the Midlanders on here will know this person/outfit, although I've not seen them on here, but I'm not a going to name them!!! Bad Karma and all that. :)

Been wanting to get that off my chest for 7 years!!! :) Me happy now! :) :)

Is that £400 from 7 years ago?:eek:

CRAZY K

[jamesh]

This position came to end, I then started to do Wine bars, Weddings etc for him and was supposed to get paid monthly. This payment was a bit hit & miss and I had to go to see him to demand the money, I'm still owed about £400. :mad:


hmmm bit worried now i've recently been in contact with a number of midland based people regarding passing and receiving work over the past few weeks.... Done a few jobs for a couple too that are payment within 30 days.... any clue as to which guy/company or at least an area that they operate from???

[Tony Scott]

Is that £400 from 7 years ago?:eek:

CRAZY K

Yeah, I got about £800 out of him left the rest and just got out of it. I had plans to deal with him another way but just let it go for my own sanity! I'm a much calmer person now! :)


hmmm bit worried now i've recently been in contact with a number of midland based people regarding passing and receiving work over the past few weeks.... Done a few jobs for a couple too that are payment within 30 days.... any clue as to which guy/company or at least an area that they operate from???

Solihull area!

[jamesh]

oh im ok then.... dont deal with people in solihull :D:D:D wasn't a***s was it or is he another part of brum?

[theoloyla]

Listen when it comes to dealing with agents you have a choice. You either do or you dont. I have worked for a Peter Johnson since the 60's. He gets the gigs, I pick up the fee and HE trusts me to send him his comission. Sometimes He gets paid and I trust him to pay me. At the end of the day it is a matter of trust. Various agents have offered me work and I have looked at their contracts and terms and I have turned down the bookings. It is no different to dealing directly with a client who wants credit terms. We all prefer payment in advance or cash on the night but there may be times when you feel comfortable doing a job on credit terms. If you havent got a decent legal contract ans you feel you cannot trust the agent for whatever reason - dont do it.

[rob1963]

I sometimes work for a couple of agents, although they are also friends of mine. I usually get paid on the night (at the beginning of the evening) or occasionally by cheque in advance...exactly the same as with my own direct bookings.

I'm used to getting paid in advance or on the night...but there is no way I'd work for an agent if I had to wait 30 to 60 days to get paid.

[Tony Scott]

oh im ok then.... dont deal with people in solihull :D:D:D wasn't a***s was it or is he another part of brum?

Do not know who a***s is but the name/company I dealt with is nothing remotely like that.


Listen when it comes to dealing with agents you have a choice. You either do or you dont. I have worked for a Peter Johnson since the 60's. He gets the gigs, I pick up the fee and HE trusts me to send him his comission. Sometimes He gets paid and I trust him to pay me. At the end of the day it is a matter of trust. Various agents have offered me work and I have looked at their contracts and terms and I have turned down the bookings. It is no different to dealing directly with a client who wants credit terms. We all prefer payment in advance or cash on the night but there may be times when you feel comfortable doing a job on credit terms. If you havent got a decent legal contract ans you feel you cannot trust the agent for whatever reason - dont do it.

Agreed, if you have trust then great, if you don't then it can lead to a bad working relationship, nobody wants that!

I had a bad experience but wouldn't suggest for a second that all agents are like this, they clearly are not. :)

[Corabar Steve]

its usually 30 days for me but the latest apparently the company concerned is pushing for 60 days. which actually suits me as the money will be very handy in sept as im not going to be giiging alot until december.

But you don't have to spend it straight away & it could be earning interest if you'd been payed on time.

[colinm345]

[quote=Tony Scott;122497]Yeah, I got about £800 out of him left the rest and just got out of it. I had plans to deal with him another way but just let it go for my own sanity! I'm a much calmer person now! :)



Solihull area![/quote
If Im thinking right and they are based in Solihull I do a lot of work for them:)

[CRAZY K]

I sometimes work for a couple of agents, although they are also friends of mine. I usually get paid on the night (at the beginning of the evening) or occasionally by cheque in advance...exactly the same as with my own direct bookings.

I'm used to getting paid in advance or on the night...but there is no way I'd work for an agent if I had to wait 30 to 60 days to get paid.

There has to be a trade off--either you get standard money and paid quickly or if you have to wait for ages you need to be paid more because theres loss of interest and a risk you wont get paid ever.

If you know the agency well, get a reasonable amount of work from them and have confidence--thats ok-- if they phone up once a year ( as they do) and ask a one off " favour" for bad money the answer is --- sorry we cant help.

Its like that saying Theo posted not so long ago in connection with prices--if you pay the lowest price you run a risk--so you really need to pay more as a sort of insurance against the risks of failure and poor product--same applies in this situation in my opinion.

CRAZY K