I’ve never been a guy who felt a need to belong to any type of larger collective. Perhaps it was a deep-seated desire to break free from my childhood and growing up as part of a large family, or maybe I was just destined to be one of those lone wolves. Whatever the case may be, as I grew older, wiser and began to climb the corporate ladder, I quickly realized that there was something really appealing about belonging to a group of like-minded professionals. Sure, at first it may have been the mega conferences with their open bars, complimentary alcohol suites and gift bags, but I soon discovered that trade associations bring far more to the table.
The Association of Talent Agents (ATA) is the largest trade association for talent agents. ATA promotes a two-fold mission. While protecting and promoting the creative endeavors of artists, ATA members benefit from a wide array of services to include “negotiation of franchise agreements with industry guilds, interpretation of agency/guild and state regulations, professional development resources and seminars, dispute resolution expertise, a residual tracking system, and discounts on legal services (http://www.agentassociation.com/frontdoor/faq.cfm).” They also bring to light the legal differences between a manager and an ATA agent? In most states, agents must be licensed by the state; city or appropriate governing body, while managers are not regulated and are not required to be licensed. This could have dire consequences as invalidated contracts and relinquished commissions can result from rendering agent services without a license.
In addition, with an every changing regulatory and financial landscape in the entertainment industry, ATA offers members a way to stay informed and engaged in the future of their industry. It also gives agents validity and resources at a time when potential clients are expecting more services and results in a highly competitive talent market.
As I look to the future of BLBC, the ATA has a lot to offer my agents and I as we forge our place within the industry. The benefits of belonging to an association such as the ATA will aid us in better serving our clients and ultimately help us create a wholly successful environment for our company and our clients.
Who knows, there may even be a sweet swag bag in it for me somewhere along the way. For more information on the ATA visit: http://www.agentassociation.com.
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