# My Daughters agent takes 40%. Is this normal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughters-agent-takes-40-is-this-normal/283165 "2005-01-05T06:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trailer\_Park\_Casanova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Trailer\_Park\_Casanova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trailer_Park_Casanova)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughters-agent-takes-40-is-this-normal/283165/1 "2005-01-05T06:29:59Z")
My daughter has appeared in several movies, TV series and commercials. Her booking agent takes 40% off the top of hr pay before taxes or Coogan account deposit. Is this a normal, or a fair average amount? I called SAG and their reply was it’s between us and the agent. ---
**Author:** ![NoPretentiousCodename](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/82dd89/32.png) [@NoPretentiousCodename](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoPretentiousCodename)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughters-agent-takes-40-is-this-normal/283165/2 "2005-01-05T06:42:56Z")
When I was with an agency, they only asked for 15%. Of course, all I ever got called for was extra work and the like… Some folks swear by their agents and some have great success flying solo. Seems like something to shop around for. With a solid resume, somebody out there will make a good deal for you. The most important question is are you satisfied with the arrangement? Also, is your agent justified in charging the 40% rate? Do you see more work than you would with a cheaper agent? Try and find out as much as you can about agent rates in your area, and then use that info to try and negotiate a better deal. Since you are getting work, the agent is likely to want to keep you. If she doesn’t somebody else will. ---
**Author:** ![DarRRva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/53a042/32.png) [@DarRRva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarRRva)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughters-agent-takes-40-is-this-normal/283165/3 "2005-01-05T06:48:04Z")
hmmm… My agent takes 10%… so this seems a little steep… This depends on how much your daughter is makeing though… If she has been in a lot of things, and making a lot of money, her agent should be satisfied taking a smaller cut. If she is not making so much, then 40% maybe what your daughter’s agent needs to cover her costs. I think 40% is pushing it though. Maybe your daughter should call around a few other agents and see what they would be taking. it’s a tricky one, but in the end i think it really is betwenn her and her agent… Maybe she should look at renegotiating her contract, esp. if it was signed before she was getting any work at all. If she is getting a substantial amount now, she should have grounds for negotiation ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughters-agent-takes-40-is-this-normal/283165/4 "2005-01-05T09:44:34Z")
If your daughter is in SAG and you called asking for advice it’s quite disappointing to hear that they were not more helpful. Of course, the answer they gave you was correct- fair or unfair, once you contractually agree upon a rate it is between you (your daughter) and the agent. Although, Industry standard is 10%. I think any SAG representative ought to be alarmed to hear of a union member paying her agent 4 times the Industry standard. 4 times the standard ought to trip some alarms. In fact, I was under the impression that an agency could not receive approval from the Union if the agents asked for anything more than 10%. (I don’t beleive there are any such regulations regarding Managers- we are talking about your daughter’s _agent_ correct? not a manager?) Personally, I’d advise reviewing the contract to find out how to legally terminate it. Again, even if it is a completely sucky contract, it is the contract you signed and must abide to. But there has to be some way to get out of it. Either my agent or I can terminate our contract if I, at any point, do not book work over a four month period. Of course, my agent only takes 10%- I dread to think what your dughter’s agent may have in the contract. O.K. I’ve just checked the SAG website. From their [FAQs](http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/application?origin=faq_template.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=FAQs&templateType=faq&portletTitle=null&contentType=null&contentSubType=Getting+Started+as+an+Actor&ln_idx=4): > [@](#): > > Excerpt from answer to Question #3 > Legitimate talent agencies do not charge a fee payable in advance for registering you, for resumes, for public relations services, for screen tests, for photographs, for acting lessons, or for many other services used to separate you from your money. If you are signed as a client by a legitimate talent agency, you will pay that agency nothing until you work and then **10 percent of your earnings** as a performer – but nothing in advance. (Bolding Mine) The same rules are applied by AFTRA. On [this page](http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/application?origin=page1.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=AgentInformation) you can search Agents approved by the Union. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughters-agent-takes-40-is-this-normal/283165/5 "2005-01-05T09:56:36Z")
> [@DarRRva](#): > > This depends on how much your daughter is makeing though… If she has been in a lot of things, and making a lot of money, her agent should be satisfied taking a smaller cut. If she is not making so much, then 40% maybe what your daughter’s agent needs to cover her costs. I’d also run from any agent who present you with this logic. Once actor Georgie becomes very successful, the work comes looking for _him_. When successful actor Georgie books work he gets paid scores of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or maybe _millions_ of dollars. And, again, because of his success the work comes looking for _him_. Successful actor Georgie’s agent has a very easy job at this point. When Georgie books a Million dollar paycheck, his agent gets $100,000! Why does the agent get $100,000 from a job that came _looking for_ his client? It’s because of all the grueling work he put into helping Georgie establish a career, all the while earning very little in return. It’s a long term investment. (Or this is how it’s _supposed_ to be, anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughters-agent-takes-40-is-this-normal/283165/6 "2005-01-05T13:22:50Z")
I don’t know showbiz, but in other areas, that is an unconscionalbly high fee. I don’t know of a legitimate literary agent that takes more than 15%. I’d immediately start looking for another agent. Also, have someone familiar with showbiz contracts take a look at any contract she’s signed. It’s likely to be filled with all sorts of nasties.