manager AND agent?

L

light77

New member
I have just been approached by an agent who read my work and now wants to represent me. I already have a manager. I know it's not uncommon to have both but do I really need a manager AND an agent?
 
First thing, who is the agent? Notable? If he's a medium to big sized fish, I'd say go for it.

Ask your manager, he's there to help your career. Not that you have to take his advice (I certainly don't do everything my reps tell me), but if he's supporting the idea, that has some wait.

If you're only going to have one, it's strongly advised that you have an agent over a manager. They have a greater pull around town, typically. Get the agent and consider cutting the manager loose next time your contract's up.

If you're new to the game, having both can be a great help while you orient yourself to the business. A manager is going to handle the day to day stuff, including the monitoring of whether the agent is doing his job.

Feel free to PM me if you're looking for any advice considering the agent/manager specifically.

Hope that helps a bit!
 
I've always had the sneaking suspicion that literary managers are just producers who've figured out that if they call themselves managers, they can get writers to work for free.
 
HomerS3 said:
A bit confused by this statement Blaine. Mind elaborating?
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Maybe this would be helpful.
Q. What is literary management?
A. A literary manager is an industry representative who works with writers (as talent managers work with directors, actors, and actresses) to develop their careers, both creatively (through consulting on story development, time-management, and prioritizing) and financially (through marketing the client's products). Managers perform many of the same services as do agents, but aren't' allowed to secure employment for their clients. Managers are, however allowed to produce films (Eric Gold and Jimmy Miller, for example, produce films starring their client Jim Carrey), whereas agents until recently were not. Managers often work in tandem with agents, and, in general, provide writers with an array of consulting, advising, and marketing services that few agents have time for.

Q. What's the difference between a literary manager and a literary agent?
A. Agents focus on selling. Managers, although we also sell, focus on developing our clients’ projects and careers; and producing their films.
Click to expand...
 
Blaine said:
Maybe this would be helpful.
Click to expand...
I'm just a bit confused as to your saying that managers don't represent your work, when in essence that is a tremendous aspect of their job.

Having both, I rely upon my manager's shopping abilities just as much as my agents' in some cases. Both are an integral part of the strategy for getting my material to appropriate buyers. If you're giving him a standard 15%, he'd better be representing your material!
 
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