Art and Entertainment

“Art is a lie that makes us realize truth. ”- Pablo Picasso

What kind of lie does contemporary art support today?

What kind of truth are we realizing through the contemporary art?

Contemporary scene of visual art resembles the space filled with broken mirrors, where images reflect each other in the multidimensional sphere of media circus. The technique of cataloguing and classification, creation of categories, could serve as the key to the mapping and understanding of complexity of the multitude of approaches and streams that exists in today’s global art scene. Criteria for both, the creation and the selection are borrowed from random structures, and theoretically are questioning relevance of the evolution of art.

The initial categories for the whole system are those of matter and consciousness. They provide the trunk from which all the various branches of the other categories stem. All elements are so interconnected that, each can only be understood as an element of the whole. -Dialectical Materialism (A. Spirkin)

Determination of the significance of styles or tendencies, of the main art stream, groups or any other structures, will become irrelevant in near future. “Anything goes” was replaced by “And What?” With all the information and tools available today, everybody could become an artist. People of all professions are playing with new media. Does Garage Band make a musician, or graphic software a designer, or using digital camera a photographer? New technologies create a game where in competitive manner consequently everybody wants to win. Winning in art, means also experience “15 minutes of world-fame” and becoming a “superhero. ” Consumer society deals with superficial substitution for happiness. Who is going to watch the game if everybody plays. Fortunately we can not play at the same time. Audience varies from small groups (family members and friends) to large social groups. In larger social communities, like national structures, demand for “heroes-artists” diminishes and culture is broken into small pieces of individualized performances of regional character. Researching tendencies of art scene behavior in context of contemporary philosophy of art we tend to accept a concept, that everybody is or could be an artist. The meaning, importance and consequences of such mind stream are very profound and have a great impact on cultural and social live. Why? It requires dropping the concept of conceptual thinking.

My artistic approach is created on such foundations. Not that I would be able to perform non-dualistic processes, but I am trying to pronounce a little speculative futuristic prognoses of the era after the end of art. Sooner or later this trend will be labeled as some kind of Unthinkable Art. Historically, realization of such path becomes a paradox to common sense (especially on collective level); however, similar trends are reflected in the air of the post-postmodern rain, and will soon appear on the sky as a rainbow.

Today’s curators are looking for unique and interesting angles to make their point across when using selective techniques for art shows. The usage of traditional approaches secures the system of art cycle, from creation to the distribution, and protects the capital of cultural bureau. Even the most alternative scenes (Technologies vs. Art, or other forums of so called “new media”) are not resolving the issue of foundation of the role of art on the contemporary global cultural platform, because they are based on the traditional curatorial, selective and preconceived mechanisms. What do I mean by that? I refer to the study of the designation processes of mind in relationship to the definition of what we labeled: The Art. As a reference to dialectic philosophies is an example of demonstration the potential of the idea pronounced by A. Danto, about art becoming philosophy. Such Ideas would need to be adopted, not only by artist themselves, but especially reformulated by structures that officially support the larger cultural platforms.

What are results of the conference that took place in Teheran in 2001? Art is still presented to the public in the manner of presentation from early 20 century. Structures that support such static views certainly do not elevate the public consciousness and awareness of issues of modern art world. The Artist Mark Kostabi makes allusion to the idea, of the art being a servant of market. Some curators are trilled by this statements. In the global picture of westernization, M. Kostabi’s phenomenon is becoming a guide – a hero, who is ideal combination of qualities, that contemporary artist should posses. It is also the best demonstration of lie that helps us to realize the truth about art of today.

Like a flashes of neon sign, art is reflected, from the pieces of mirrors everywhere.

Looks like a new quality of question have arisen since Arthur Danto published his ideas in book called “After the end of art, 1998. “Over a decade ago, Arthur Danto announced that art ended in the sixties. Ever since this declaration, he has been at the forefront of a radical critique of the nature of art in our time. ” Art is becoming a philosophy.

I always believed in finding the answers in the space between, looking for the middle course. Neither postmodernism nor new media approaches are answers to the understanding of the positioning of the art of tomorrow. Postmodern world is a world of entertainment. It’s like an amusement park, where possibilities are endless and we feel overwhelmed for a while, but we have a need to relax from excess information and go back home.

Kostabi is one of those, who understood the art market, and because of his intelligence he penetrated the system, took advantage of it, so he can do whatever he wants. We pay for expensive tickets out of our pocket. I admire him because he realized the dream of every artist. Or is it not a dream of every artist to get recognized and sell art work all over the world?

If not, what is?

Is it still relevant to ask question, such as, what is Art? How do we deal with it? What is the nature of beauty? I would like to refere to the dialog between Einstein and Tagore from 1930.

EINSTEIN: There are two different conceptions about the nature of the universe – the world as a unity dependent on humanity, and the world as reality independent of the human factor.

TAGORE: When our universe is in harmony with man, the eternal, we know it as truth, we feel it as beauty. ”

E: If there were no human beings any more, the Apollo Belvedere no longer would be beautiful?

T: No!

E: I agree with this conception of beauty, but not with regard to truth.

T: Why not? Truth is realized through men.

E: I cannot prove my conception is right, but that is my religion.

T: Beauty is in the ideal of perfect harmony, which is in the universal being; truth is the perfect comprehension of the universal mind. We individuals approach it through our own mistakes and blunders, through our accumulated experience, through our illumined consciousness. How otherwise can we know truth?

- by Dmitri Marianoff, published in NewYork Times, August 10, 1930

“Contemporary artists would never approach new horizons. One of the reasons of this failure seems to be the separation of artistic activity from speculative thinking. “

2001 Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, International Conference on the Philosophy of Art.

What happened since the time of the conference? How to overcome speculative thinking, if it arises as a cultural result of values supported by society we live in?

How to identify or place individual art work into the world of already so complicated and diverse art scene, without compromising originality, respecting evolution in art? How do we deal with the fast passing, minute to minute changing tendencies of art? How the individual artist contributes to the art of its lifetime, and not just contributes to the 15 minutes type of history? What are the values, reasons of art of tomorrow? Is there analogy in art history to the situation of our era? What are the future forms of the visual exploration? What will the production of art going to be in near future, 10 years from now? What is the role of new media? Does artist have to be involved in the philosophy of art? Could individually created piece of art be created in isolation? If so, how are art processes structured on individual level and on the global level?

It is intriguing to think about becoming a pioneer of the new Era of Art. My motivation is to explore the field of possibilities. In have no interest in inherent aspect of art rather I am interested in the evolution of possibilities of artistic thinking. In 1999 I have graduated in Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, with installation inspired by I. Kabakov, where I exhibited my workspace with drawings and prints on floor and the white canvases, with intention to question the meaning of the art itself. White canvas was there to raise the question of reason for continuation of mark making and the End of art narratives. I have seen closed circle of possibilities. If anything was possible, and everything was an art; than nothing was an art anymore, so Art was Death. But as I realize today, that was just the beginning of my long journey to the realization of truth about art.

The Incredibles (2004) refreshed feelings about the End of Art.

“When everybody is a superhero than nobody is superhero”.

In order to continue in activities leading to product that is labeled as an art, I had to formulate and reconsider following facts:

1. Analysis of situation.

2. Underlying misconception of self and wrong motivations.

3. Formulating the solutions and strategies.

4. Continual fabrication and visual symbioses with reality.

1. ANALYSIS OF SITUATION

From the Teheran’s conference: Post-Modernism & Contemporary Art,

27 April – 1 May 2002

The Problems of Contemporary Art:

- Aesthetics in Contemporary Art

- The Fine Line between Artistic & Non-Artistic Work

- The Language & Expression of Contemporary Art

- Contemporary Literature & Art

- Contemporary Art & Technology

- Globalization & Contemporary Art

- Post-Modern Art: Features & Characteristics

- The End of Art

Post-Modernism & Trends of Contemporary Art:

- Minimalism

- Conceptual Art

- Land Art

- Video Art

- Body Art

- Anti-Art

- Local Art

- Feminism

- Post-Modern Architecture

Theoretical Origins of Post-Modern Art

Theoretical Principles of Modernism from the viewpoint of Modern Philosophers:

- Humanism

- Rationalism

- Subjectivism

- Nihilism

- Aesthetics

- Enlightenment

2. UNDERLYING MISCONCEPTION OF SELF AND MOTIVATION

I have slightly touched topics of traditional dilemmas of dualistic mind. The acceptation of dual aspect of things, leads to judgmental thinking, not only in art. Creation of categories is beginning of the tragedy of the era after the end of art. This is why Beauty and any other category could be defined, which leads to the continual labeling.

Definition of other reasons of misconception is based on juxtaposing Nietzche’s and Malraux’s models of art and processes of creation.

Nietzche

a. One seeks for oneself a less artistic public. The superstitious belief in the “genius”

b. One harangues the obscure instincts of the dissatisfied, ambitious, self-disguised spirits in a democratic age: importance of poses.

c. One transfers the procedures of one art to the other arts, confounds the objectives of art with those of knowledge or the church or racial interests (nationalism), or philosophy.

d. One flatters women, sufferers, the indignant, etc. False “intensification”.

Malraux Andre

Art is a display of universal creativity of individual. Through art work man was, and is, opposing and transcending limitations of his physique, his personal and social (historical) destiny. Malraux refuted to explain art works in relation to the biography of their creators, and was against this method in explaining motives and contents of art.

3. FORMULATING THE SOLUTION AND STRATEGY/ VISION-UTOPIA

a. Revival of Iconic Quality.

Because of the degenerated Era of Spiritual Values and the End of time of Old Gods; which migration and multicultural blend is responsible for, I am looking for Possibility of New Sacral Form. This is not a creation of transcendental art. It is a search for artistic form that allows the content to respect dialectic evolution of social wisdom, where an essence of sacral secrecy is highly respected. It is a new level of the sphere of new colors, shapes and structures. Renewal of art forms is based on reevaluation of sacral attributes from history and than elevating the forces of modern era which define motives and perspectives of redefined sacral forms. It is revival of existing symbols, on global level. It is not a creation of a new religion, but it is a new level of social consciousness. Form remains the same, mind is different. Technology, art and philosophy are integrated into continuous symbioses.

b. Role of the Artists, Galleries and Cultural Industry. Combination of Two Worlds. New Cultural Wisdom. Utopia.

This would be the end of “…marketing game governed by art dealers, Gallerists and publishers, who have to run the business of Cultural Industry. ”

The society on global level would be governed by New Cultural Wisdom. Creation of art is not considered anymore as the act of creation. “The art will be spontaneous as breathing. ” Artist is producing form, that is instantly and naturally blending into the environment, so the sub-consciousness is directed by wisdom that eliminates the dilemma of hierarchic model. Gallery space is no more required and the whole space is becoming a showcase. The whole space does not require the poses. It is an art of conscious depiction of picture plan, from retinal experience, or selection of the picture frame in consciousness and placing the required aesthetics upon it. Artists are fabricating art that is already blended into environment as natural portion of space and serves as perceptive potential for public depiction. Cultural Wisdom is defined by human consciousness that provides unlimited potential for defining the pictorial framing of reality, and its limits are limits of understanding the phenomenon of reality.

c. Clash of Civilizations. Global Culture. Meta-code, and New Artistic Religion.

We experience on global level formation of new cultural qualities that are based on cultural clashes. (Example: Global cultural experience is formed in LA house, with my Persian and Mexican friends listening to the Japanese techno music, eating Bulgarian cheese with Arabic bread, Russian pickles and drinking French wine while discussing Slovak culture, or latest fashion trends in London. ) East meets west or south meets north processes are not completed yet and it is hard to predict the results from the cultural clashes. But we need to look at the presence as the formation of the universal space, where cultural identities will be redefined. This will result in temporary crisis of individual identities but eventually will lead to the identity of global consciousness.

Americanization of world can serve as model of globalization of globe with its positive and negative aspects. Migration to caves is limited. S. J. Lewy

4. CONTINUAL FABRICATION AND VISUAL SYMBIOSES

I would like to scratch the surface beyond the point of A. Danto’s philosophical questions about the end of art. Not that I would have “the guts” to elaborate on his ideas from philosophical perspective, but I just want to reflect on some fragments and articulate them strictly as an artistic vision.

“A philosophical question arises whenever we have two objects which seem in every relevant particular to be alike, but which belong to importantly different philosophical categories.

…and this is no less the case when seeking to account for the differences between works of art and mere real things which happen exactly to resemble them.

…for example, regards paintings as very complex perceptual objects. So they are, but since objects can be imagined perfectly congruent with those which are not art works, these must have equivalent complexity at the level of perception. After all, the problem arose in the first place because no perceptual difference could be imagined finally relevant. But neither can possession of so-called “aesthetic qualities’ serve, since it would be strange if a work of art were beautiful but something exactly like it though not a work of art were not. In fact it has been a major effort of the philosophy of art to de-aestheticize the concept of art. It was Marcel Duchamp, a far deeper artist than Warhol, who presented as “readymades” objects chosen for their lack of aesthetic qualities – grooming combs, hat racks, and, notoriously, pieces of lavatory plumbing. “Aesthetic delectation is the danger to be avoided,” Duchamp wrote of his most controversial work, Fountain, of 1917. It was precisely Duchamp’s great effort to make it clear that art is an intellectual activity, a conceptual enterprise and not merely something to which the senses and the feelings come into play. And this must be true of all art, even that most bent upon gratifying the eye or ear, and not just for those works which are regarded as especially “philosophical,” like Raphael’s School of Athens or Mann’s The Magic Mountain. Were someone to choreograph Plato’s Republic, that would not, simply because of its exalted content, be more philosophical than Coppelia or Petrouchka. In fact these might be more philosophical, employing as they do real dancers imitating dancing dolls imitating real dancers!

Where are the components for a theory of art to be found? I think a first step may be made in recognizing that works of art are representations, not necessarily in the old sense of resembling their subjects, but in the more extended sense that it is always legitimate to ask what they are about.

Now of course not all representational things are works of art, so the definition has only begun. I shall not take the next steps here. All I have wished to show is the way that the philosophy of art has deep questions to consider, questions of representation and reality, of structure, truth, and meaning. In considering these things, it moves from the periphery to the center of philosophy, and in so doing it curiously incorporates the two things that give rise to it. For when art attains the level of self-consciousness it has come to attain in our era, the distinction between art and philosophy becomes as problematic as the distinction between reality and art. And the degree to which the appreciation of art becomes a matter of applied philosophy can hardly be overestimated. ” – A. DANTO

I believe that art should reach the level, where its own representation would be representation of the pure existence. What do I mean by pure existence? Ii is purification on the level of non creation. All creation is pregnant by its causes. Consequently purifying the causes of creation will purify the act of creation itself.

Global consciousness on the level of cultural wisdom will create the platform, where all representational things will become work of art. It would be consciousness and its possibility to frame the fragment of reality and apply the aesthetic quality upon it. The reality in cultural wisdom level is ultimately de-aestheticized. Marcel Duchamp’s idea of the danger of aesthetic delectation would be eliminated and his vision completed.

Every aspect of reality could become art, but Wisdom Culture does not allow the reality in dualistic (judgmental) sense to become the art neither on collective level, nor on any regional level. It would only exist as a potential view, on the level of one’s consciousness. However in later stages of development of wisdom culture, in the stage of ultimate equanimity, the nonjudgmental aesthetic experience of reality as ultimate art could be realized simultaneously in more than one person. Evolution of collective experience could follow. The result of such parallel experience manifests the evolution of human kind toward the subtle spiritual qualities and realization of inseparable quality of beauty from the existence itself. It is experience of highest aesthetics. This will lead to the formation of new social structure, where “shamans” will protect the global Sanctum.

The essence of the Sanctum is present in every aspect of reality, which holds the door to the potential creation, where the seed of the nature of beauty could be found.

Life has nowadays become so hectic that everybody needs entertainment. It refreshes your mind and helps to change your moods. Entertainment boosts your energy level when your moods are in low. There are many effective ways to entertain yourself online. It depends on your taste and likings as to what sort of entertainment you prefer. I find entertainment by online videos most effective to refresh myself. There are funny videos, video clippings of your favorite songs, music albums and pictures which are readily available online

There are lots of places which are for entertainment purpose, depending on your needs according to various ages. Separate entertainment places are available for kids and adults. Various packages are now offered as entertainment according to your needs. Online entertainment is the most preferable almost by all age groups. Irrespective of their age kids and adults browse on internet to get entertainment of their choice. After a long day’s work you need a little entertainment to recharge your self. Watching performances of musical videos and albums by your favorite stars are most effective way to entertain yourself. Most of the teenagers indulge themselves in watching these videos which removes their stress. People look for entertainment online which refreshes them and keeps their worries off at bay.

Every living being needs to entertain itself by some way or the other. Entertainment is the most essential link of our human life. We cannot lead our life without entertainment. Sports, trips, travels and tours and dining outside are some of the most common and easy ways of entertainment. Traveling can be made more informative and entertaining with online information available. The places of destination can be easily located and can be chosen according to our choice without much effort. More knowledge can be gained through internet to entertain you effectively. Cheap and valuable information available online can be used to entertain yourself easily. Adventure trips can also be planned in more effective way with the use of internet

Finally I would like to conclude that every entertainment video contains a moral or a message for its viewers, it need not me wildlife or entertainment in particular. But yes, wild life videos carry a much significant or important message because of which I like to entertain myself by watching cute and cuddly baby animals jumping and hoping in the jungles. All these videos tell us what we can actually do to protect our animals, save our forests and most importantly, why at all they are important to us in our life. It doesn’t matter how the photography has been done, or how beautiful the location is. All that matters is what message the entertainment video carries which in turn determines the popularity of the video.

Online Entertainment video provider means that type of sites who provide online videos contain all types of videos like entertainment, funny, sports, news etc. So, you can find easily videos related to your choice. If you are there for entertain your self then you would choose entertainment related videos sure because now you know importance of entertainment videos.

Do you want to enjoy your life with maximum online entertainment? An online entertainment directory is the best solution for you to obtain all sorts of information relating to entertainment. If you are a fan of a celebrity, you can get the latest celebrity news to know everything about your favorite hero. Entertainment websites also provide you all information relating to latest fashion trends. They tell you what is going on in the minds of active socialites. An online entertainment directory offers links to different celebrity websites giving you information about the movie stars or the entertainment news makers. With the help of entertainment websites, you can watch movies or enjoy the music videos round the clock without any interruption.

The online entertainment directory has best traffic partners and conducts regular traffic trade with entertainment webmasters. All the entertainment websites in the entertainment directory do not follow a uniform pattern. However, the entertainment directory combines all the types of websites under a unifying central theme of entertainment. Some entertainment websites offer latest entertainment news and provide discussion forums/ groups dedicated to the subject of entertainment. Many websites have feedback section to listen to the comments and opinions posted by visitors. The discussion groups and forums allow the people to voice their views and also to express their opinion on current entertainment events.

Many entertainment websites have reported heavy traffic and website development due to their presence in the entertainment directory. The online directory guides the entertainment websites to make a fruitful internet presence. The entertainment directory serves to promote the entertainment websites and helps the internet surfers to quickly find their choice of entertainment, entertainers, event services, supplies, musicians etc.

In addition to the movie reviews and entertainment news, the entertainment websites also present latest gossip about celebrities and newsmakers. The internet based entertainment directory specializes in leisure and tourism, event industry and music related contacts. The objective of the entertainment directory is to bring together all the entertainers and entertainment bookers together and present a complete source of leisure industry information and entertainment news.

Are your ready for some action?

Among all the remarkable action/martial arts movie stars over the last 20 years or so, several of them truly stand out such as Jackie Chan, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, probably Jean-Claude Van Damme.
(Maybe you have your own favorites that haven’t been mentioned here. Let me know by sending in your comments. )

There are movie performers most people remember and who are quite frankly household names.

One such martial artist and movie performer I am always impressed with is Li Lianjie.

“Who the heck is that?”, you ask.

I admit I also only knew him by his stage name, Jet Li.

For many years, Jet Li has worked extremely hard to get where he is now in his career.

And obviously his hard work and determination have paid off for him and his family.

Especially if you consider that his mother had to somehow pull him, his bother and two sisters through as a widow in Beijing during the Sixties.

As a teenager, Jet Li rigorously trained in Wushu for several years, winning countless titles and national gold medals.

Jet Li became a member of the high-acclaimed national Wushu team that even performed for then-U. S. President Nixon in the United States.

In those days it was an extraordinary honor and opportunity for Chinese to be able to travel overseas and even more so to perform in front of “the leader of the free world”. Jet Li was still just a teenager at the time!

His abilities and achievements as a Wushu forms practitioner paved the way for Jet Li’s acting in martial arts movies that started in China, then Hong Kong and ultimately the United States. He has become a global superstar throughout the years.

You might have seen him in some of his movies such as:

Shaolin Temple
Once Upon A Time In China

Lethal Weapon 4(This was the first time I had ever seen Jet Li and I was impressed!)

Romeo Must Die
Hero
Cradle 2 The Grave
Fearless
War (with Jason Statham)
The Forbidden Kingdom (with fellow superstar Jackie Chan)

I have learned that Jet Li is a cast member along with Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Staham, Arnold Schwarzenegger to star in  “The Expendables” which is scheduled to be released in 2010. More on that at a later date.

But there is also another side to Jet Li such as his charitable activities, notably after his near-death experience in 2004 in the Maldives during a tsunami.

Reportedly, Jet Li’s “The One Foundation” supports international disaster relief efforts with the Red Cross and other efforts, such as recovery in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Jet Li continues to impress on and off the big screen.

If you enjoy watching Jet Li either at age 14 performing Wushu form for his first championship or as the bad guy in Lethal Weapon 4, stop by TheMartialArtsReporter. com

Via Entertainment Sites

Gigs

It is important for a band to have experience performing in front of crowds. Birthday parties, free shows (like basement shows), and talent shows are good sources of experience and do not require a lot of commitment (in terms of fan pull) on the part of the artist. If an artist wants a gig in a bar or nightclub venue, the manager expects several conditions. The following is a list of some questions frequently asked by bar owners/managers

Interactive agencies

Interactive agencies may differentiate themselves by offering a mix of web design/development, search engine marketing, internet advertising/marketing, or e-business/e-commerce consulting. Interactive agencies rose to prominence before the traditional advertising agencies fully embraced the Internet. Offering a wide range of services, some of the interactive agencies grew very rapidly, although some have downsized just as rapidly due to changing market conditions. Today, the most successful interactive agencies are defined as companies that provide specialized advertising and marketing services for the digital space.

Via Models Info :Responsibilities of a business manager are often divided among many who manage various aspects of a musical career. With an unsigned act, music managers have to assume multiple roles: booking agent, graphic designer, publicist, promoter, and accountant. [1]. As an artist’s career develops, responsibilities grow. A music manager becomes important to managing the many different pieces that make up a career in music. The manager can assist singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists in molding a career, finding music producers, and developing relationships with record companies, publishers, agents, and the music-loving public. The duties of an active music manager will focus on a developing a reputation for the musician(s) and building a fan base, which may include mastering and launching a demo CD, developing and releasing press kits, planning promotional activities, and booking shows. A music manager will gain access to a recording studio, photographers, and promotions. He or she will see that CD labels, posters, and promotional materials appropriately represent the band or artist, and that press kits are released in a timely manner to appropriate media. Launching a CD with complementary venues and dates is also a music manager’s responsibility.

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Note that the agent’s job is to get the talent auditions; the talent is the only one who can get the job. For their work, agents take a 10 to 20% commission of the gross, depending if the job is union (such as SAG-AFTRA) or not. Union jobs are paid per negotiated guidelines, but sometimes in non-union jobs the pay is delayed.

A well established agent will have a number of contacts. Also, agents have access to Breakdown Services. Breakdown Services allows them to see many roles that casting directors are seeking, often on a national level. These are not available to the general public.

Well-known current and former talent agents include Ari Emanuel, Lew Wasserman, Johnny Hyde, Sue Mengers, Freddie Fields, David Begelman, and Irving “Swifty” Lazar.

Am I too young , too old, too heavy, too light, too this or too that?
Via Entertainment represents talent from 2 years and up. Via embraces a wide range of diversity, color, age, and sizes. Please remember that for the commercial and film industry talent should reflect “real life” people, thus, incorporating a wide variety of diversity, color, age and sizes.

Via Models & Entertainment Sites : Music managers

A music manager may be hired by a musician or band, or the manager may discover the band, and the relationship is usually contractually bound with mutual assurances, warranties, performances guarantees, and so forth. The manager’s main job is to help with determining decisions related to career moves, bookings, promotion, business deals, recording contracts, etc.

Via Models & Entertainment Info Many of the major booking agencies refuse to represent clients who are not already signed to a major record label and have national distribution of their music. Because of this, artists on independent record labels often seek representation with an independent booking agency.

Bars and nightclubs that specialize in presenting live music on a regular basis often employ an individual to assemble the schedule of events. These people are the venue’s buyers, and should not be confused with the booking agent, who presents their roster of available acts to the buyer. Booking agents may also have contacts known as free-lance promoters. These are individuals that agree to produce a concert by locating a venue, providing a sound system and assembling a staff. Producing a show in this manner, at a location that is rented out for a single evening, is called “four-walling,” as it entails renting a venue and receiving no additional services or technical equipment other than the space itself. This has often been the only available option for underground musicians lacking enough popular appeal to gain access to more conventional performance venues (see: Punk rock), but is also used among the genre of raves and various DJ-related events.

Via Models & Entertainment Sites Note that the agent’s job is to get the talent auditions; the talent is the only one who can get the job. For their work, agents take a 10 to 20% commission of the gross, depending if the job is union (such as SAG-AFTRA) or not. Union jobs are paid per negotiated guidelines, but sometimes in non-union jobs the pay is delayed.

A well established agent will have a number of contacts. Also, agents have access to Breakdown Services. Breakdown Services allows them to see many roles that casting directors are seeking, often on a national level. These are not available to the general public.

Well-known current and former talent agents include Ari Emanuel, Lew Wasserman, Johnny Hyde, Sue Mengers, Freddie Fields, David Begelman, and Irving “Swifty” Lazar.

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