Alive Network, the UK’s most successful live entertainment agency, offers some insight into how to make the right impression when signing up with an agency.
If you’re daunted by the thought of signing up, Recruitment Manager Jim Hodgkinson’s top tips will give you the tools to give your career the best start.
Private events can be a lucrative source of income for expert musicians – from wedding bands to saxophonists to pianists – and with entertainment agencies taking engagements for thousands of weddings and private parties every year, signing up is an obvious way to start.
Not only will a professional agency market you and provide the choice of clients, they’ll also take the legwork out of your gigs, offering secure contracts and assistance throughout.
Here’s how to shine:
1. Be a show off
Your agency will want to know that you can play, and play well, so show them your skills! Agencies only sign up the best artists to offer their clients, so when they finally do add you to their ‘books’, you can have that warm glow of knowing you’re among the best.
2. Provide professional promo
To be able to sell you to their customers, most agencies will require a range of brilliant promo, so if you have photos, videos, audio tracks that look professional, that will make you really ‘marketable’ to an agency – they will love you!

3. Shape your repertoire
Think about what your potential clients would like to hear. If you’re flexible with a wide repertoire, turning your hand from classical to jazz to modern chart hits – and everything in between – then you’re more likely to get lots of bookings, and more likely to be taken on by a reputable agency.
4. Be competitively priced
Do a little research into pianists offering similar repertoires, extras, and skills as you, and try to price yourself within a comfortable bracket. Take advice from your Recruitment Manager too – they know the market and will be able to ‘sell’ you at a competitive price that you’re happy with.
Getting the right mix can mean a happy and rewarding working relationship that can last years, so it’s worth putting your best foot forward from the start. Your agency will be impressed!
Established in 1999, Alive Network is the UK’s largest live entertainment agency supplying wedding entertainment, corporate entertainment & party entertainment for over 10,000 events a year.
This is a sponsored post. All information and images are supplied by Alive Network
Disclaimer: The Cross-Eyed Pianist does not necessarily endorse organisations that provide sponsored posts which link to external websites, and does not endorse products or services that such organisations may offer. In addition, The Cross-Eyed Pianist does not control or guarantee the currency, accuracy, relevance, or completeness of information found on linked, external websites. However, every effort is made to ensure such information contained on this site is accurate at the time of publication.