Professional Entertainment Consultants offers an excellent opportunity for people in all areas of the entertainment industry. Booking and  Artist Management is certainly not a new concept, but PEC has over the years created a system that allows you to get started quickly growing a business that is suited to your abilities and interests. There is virtually no limit to the direction you may grow your business. The resources available through Professional Entertainment Consultants to you as an Licensed Agent are a key to getting you up and running quickly. This system allows you to step into the “game” and play ball with the major players because you will have at your immediate disposal more resources than most agents ever have, let alone what any individual can put together on their own.

Within three days of starting you can be up and rolling with everything you need to start booking entertainment, getting familiar with artist management and approaching potential clients about booking their events! With our nationwide system, you are part of a larger group that brings you all the support you need, yet you have the freedom to build your business locally and personally at your own pace and in the way that best suits you. You are supported by our extensive network and services that immediately make you look as if you have been in the business for many years, with experience right at your fingertips. PEC has been doing this successfully since 1983!

As an Licensed Agent you have no cap on the amount of income you’ll be able to generate. Some Associates are only able to devote part time to their business and others are building their business 100% full time. It is up to you how you build your business.

We do, of course, pre-qualify any associate before we will enter into a license agreement, after all, PEC will be committing substantial time and resources, particularly in the start-up phase with the new agent. It is important that we know you have the skills, desire, drive and background to do well as a professional consultant. We want you to be successful!

At PEC we are committed to your success. Many similar businesses charge a hefty one time licensing fee or franchise fee for any associate to even start. This can be anywhere from $1500.00 to $25,000.00, as a way to protect the company from an associate who may not be immediately successful. We are all in the business to make money of course, and we are committed enough to you, that we take the risks of start up, right along with you. If you don’t succeed, we don’t succeed. 

Unlike any other self-starting business you, as an Licensed Agent, will be able to hit the ground running. Why is that? ...Because we’ve done an amazing amount of the groundwork for you. You won’t be left feeling like you are lost in the dark. We’ve already lit the path for you by providing you with a totally interactive web site, an extensive, always growing roster of entertainers and methods for tracking and building a client base of active paying clients.

As you read on you may feel overwhelmed by the opportunities available to you through PEC! Don’t worry… one step at a time. You will not pursue every area at the beginning. Each associate builds their business in a different way, marketing tools that let you build and stay in touch with a client base.  Support is an e-mail or phone call away. We encourage you to:

1. Focus on your strengths and the area of the business that interest you

2. Build your business step by step focusing on repeat business and proven techniques

3. As you are getting started always make full use of the PEC system to assist you answering questions and providing the resources you need

Are You Ready?

Your Opportunity Starts Now!

Performers, Entertainers, DJ’s… Why Let Business Walk Out The Door?

If you are currently a performer, musician or entertainer, this opportunity will be an excellent way for you to simply take what you are already doing well and expand it into a successful business and income. How many times do you turn away business because your act may not be exactly what the client is looking for? Maybe you are already booked for the date the client would like to hire you. This perfectly good business goes marching right out the door, even though you have done everything to gain the business. Why not capitalize on what you are already doing well! You can provide a wonderful service for your client, even if your particular act is either unavailable or not right for the client. When the client asks if you are available to provide the kind of performance they are looking for, wouldn’t you ALWAYS like to be able to say yes? …And then get paid for it!

As you explore the resources PEC makes available to you as a Licensed Agent, think about some of the ways you can build your own business based on your skills, experience and interests. We think you will find some exciting opportunities in this rewarding career. As a Professional Entertainment Consultant Licensed Agent you will have new challenges every day and the thrill of knowing that, instead of waiting for someone else to call the shots, you are in charge of your future!

Market Area

Licensed Agents are not limited to any specific area or territory. PEC allows it's Licensed Agents to expand and grow their business without limitations of location. In the 21st century effective sales and marketing is rarely done by assigning territory. Since, while it is clearly to the advantage of the Licensed Agent to build a strong business in their market area where they will have the best chance to succeed it is not unusual, especially in the age of the information super-highway, to have client who may be in other area besides an Licensed Agent's home base.

We have never had a problem with overlap or agents stumbling across one another in marketing efforts. Nonetheless PEC does maintain a "First Contact" policy, which is to say: The first Licensed Agent to work with a client on a personal basis has first right to work with that client. It is conceivable that a second Licensed Agent could contact that client at a later time but they must defer the client to the agent of first contact once they become aware of it. PEC, of course, after having employed all due diligence to discover who is the agent of first contact, has the final determination as to who the agent will be. From a practical standpoint this is a non-issue as there are far more clients available than any associate can effectively work with.   Putting them in the client database with the entry date is the best way to make a note of when you began working with a given client.

Getting The Most Out Your PEC Web Site

You have some of the most advanced tools in the business available to your and your clients to help match them up with the right entertainment.

It Works Hard... For You!

You'll want to include your web site address in any literature you send and tell anyone you know to visit YOUR site. Publicize it and use it. Even when you are talking to clients on the phone you can direct them to it so they can see the broad spectrum of all you offer. Let the CLIENT do the browsing to save your time and money on promo and questions when they can SEARCH themselves. Clients are most often happier when they can be closely involved in choosing their entertainment,  after all it is a very personalized matter of taste.  If you use this site to your advantage you will be amazed at the return it brings, and, by the way, it has a way of weeding out the unqualified clients as well. You’ll be dealing with educated clients who have a good idea of the services you offer and what you are able to do for them, often before the even contact you!  There are other interactive entertainment web sites but the highly functional ones, such as www.Gigmasters.com (take a look)  while they are very complete... do not have an option for human contact.   This is the difference between a simple web site and true full service agency.   If your client wants something that is not easily searchable on the web site, you will help them find it.  Lets face it, it is impossible for every web site to include every kind of entertainer or performer in every city and region.    If I want a mariachi band in Seattle, Gigmasters will return results, with the closest band being 670 miles away!  That won't help.  It might be nice to be in touch with someone who can actually help me find a band, or in this case 3o r 4 that are actually local and would be able to perform at a reasonable rate.

Your Web Site

PEC provides a unique web address for you, including all your contact information- interfaced with the powerful search functions of the PEC Database. This means you can drive clients to your own web site, either by advertising or by personally directing them there so they can search for the best entertainment for their event. The database, which has new acts, sound clips and pictures added on a daily basis has become one the most effective tools the PEC associates have available to them, and all this at no cost to the Licensed Agent or associate! Your clients can go to YOUR web site and have access to the entire site.... search for any kind of music or style... search by location... search for a specific act... whatever they may be looking for in entertainment, including DJ Services! When they are ready to book or would like more information they can fill out a convenient information request form on the web site and the request is e-mailed directly to you immediately so you can begin working with the client towards booking the right entertainment. This alone is literally worth thousands of dollars, and really would be impossible for an independent Licensed Agent to make available without the support and staffing of PEC. Our staff is updating the services every day and as soon as it is on-line, it is available at your web site!

Your Web Access includes Three Major Components

Tools For Your Clients

- Search For Entertainers by Style and/or Name and/or Location (where the act is based)

- Information on our exclusive PEC premium DJ services.

- Search For Services, such as facilities, caterers, and florists... any type of event or banquet service. You may wish to submit top service providers in your area as a service to those planning events. It is also an excellent way to promote your web site by trading a reciprocal link. If a non-competing business (Caterer, florist, hotel, etc.) places a link on their page, leading clients to your page, we can include them, along with their web site if available in the search engine for potential clients and drive customers to them.  Note: We'll talk about it more below but this is an excellent tool to build relationships with local vendors who can refer valuable business to you when you offer them a free listing on our fully searchable Event Resource Database.

Tools For Artists & Performers

- Search for Resources... any kind of artist resource, recording studio, books, classes and much more.

- Registration So Artists and Performers can provide complete and accurate information that will be made available to you, to clients through your business and on the PEC web Site.

Tools For The Licensed Agent

All-Access to Performers Information:  As an associate or Licensed Agent you are given a user name and password that gives you the keys to "All-Access" for the database so you can contact any act available, research the right acts when working with clients and much more. In the Associates Area you will have access to everything on line with PEC. The search engine functions for clients and potential clients includes catalog information, the city where the act is based, whether photo or sound clips are available. In the Associates Area you have access to all that plus phone and address, e-mail, web address (if the artist has their own web site), pricing guidelines if provided and much, much more. This includes even information on acts that will not appear on the web to anyone except Licensed Agents.

All Access To Client Information: You are also given an online system which tracks and updates your current clients from First contact - Follow-up - Booking And Contracting - Performance - After event follow-up.   This comprehensive interface is really one of the most important parts of the system and you will easily master it and see the value.   You can do everything from making e-mail and hard copy letters and contracts for everything from producing promotional material to sending contracts.   You can add new artists you'd like to work with, enter new clients,  change and update anything and create dozens of useful forms, letters and e-mails based on your client information.   It is a system with 25 years of experience behind the design and function and it allows you to take your business with you anywhere you have web access.

You Have access to exclusive "In-House" acts such as:

"LIVE! Band"

"The Style Strings"

"The PEC Premium DJ Service"

These are groups, with whom we have exclusive booking arrangements and special pricing are available only to PEC Licensed Agents.

Promotional Material Request (PMR)*.   You put the packet together on line.. we send it out for you.. from you! Simply fill out the information and submit to have promotional material provided to your clients. *See rates for PMR "Hard Packet preparation

Contract Request. Simply fill out the requested information and the contract will be processed and in the mail  fax or e-mail within a few hours.

Web Access To E-Mail. You can reach your Pro-Ent.Com e-mail from any computer in the world with web access directly or through the Associates Page

Performer Registration for associates who would like to register a performer directly into the database

Services To Offer as Part Of Your Business

Live Entertainment Services

This is the core of our business whether you are booking entertainment for single night events, corporate parties and wedding receptions, working with clubs to book their entertainment, booking fairs and festivals or providing featured artist management.

It is quite easy to work with most performers, bands or entertainers, if you know where to find them. We can help you in locating the best talent in your area to include in your roster if they are not already in the Database and teach you methods of tracking down talent for buyers who may have a specific request for an act that you may not currently have.  We'll also assist you when you need specific talent for an event or performance that may not be currently available. We've put a lot of time into putting together a roster of professional acts, available in your market area.

If the act is new to you, always qualify the acts you are going to work with. Not every act matches each need. Depending on the client's needs and budget, you will become good at matching appropriate talent with your client's need.   As you become better and better at this, your repeat clients will come to rely on you for your expertise. By working with professionals you will eliminate many problems, while maximizing potential profit.

In order to qualify performers or acts you may see them live, request a complete promotional packet including DVD or CD, ask for references, check with others in the same field or style. You will also want to be sure they have information on file with the corporate office.  It will always be to your advantage to confirm to the best of your ability that any act you book will be able to live up to the clients expectation. While you may not be actually providing the entertainment services, your clients will not see it that way. Poor performance, unreliable acts and any unprofessional behavior on the performance will reflect on you. The real key to this is communication across the board so both the client and the performer understand what is possible and what is expected. 

Assisting Your Clients With Live Entertainment

We are happy to work with clients to find the type of live entertainment they'll enjoy the most. We strive to have as many styles and genres available so they can be assured we'll have just what they want. There is no additional cost to the client for hiring their entertainment through our service so if they need a live act of any kind they have no reason not to take advantage of your services. We take care of everything from presenting them with choices and options that allow them to select entertainment that will best fit their needs to confirming their booking with a professional agreement that will lock their choice in for the date. We can offer the client many choices from one source so they are not forced to do all the research starting from scratch. Many of your clients may have never booked any kind of entertainment before so your service will be an especially wonderful resource for them.  They will appreciate your impartial approach to simply helping them get what they want.  After all, as long as they get quality entertainment, you will get what you want as well!  Focus on the client's needs and building relationships because this will pay you over and over again in the long run.

Choosing The Best Live Entertainment

How does a client go about deciding which performer or group will be best for their event? If they are working with you the answer is easy. You should have promotional material for many, many groups, bands, performers and acts available in most cases. You can happily provide them with prices and promo on line.   Many clients are happy to buy this way, but if they would like a hard packet with CD's and/or DVDs this is a proven way of setting yourself apart from the competition and is usually well worth the added expense of sending the packet to a qualified and motivated client.

Of course the easiest and least expensive way to provide good information and promotional material is via the web. With thousands of choices and all the information at their fingertips, there is no way any single promotional packet could be as complete! Many of our clients have no idea where to find a wide variety of choices and when they find out we can provide all the services to help them find the best choice for their event- at no additional cost for our service- they are thrilled. Your clients can explore the many options available and if they prefer, you are happy to mail a complete information packet to review at their leisure.

How involved Are the Performers In Booking The Event?

Our performers are the heart of our success and we find that getting them involved from the start, at least with qualified motivated clients will be a real help in giving the client a comfort level with the artists and your service.   Sometimes just chatting with them on the phone is enough to move the engagement to the contracting phase.   Sometimes a clients may prefer to see a potential act live at an actual performance. You can set this up by checking with the leader of the act to find appropriate places or venues where the client may see a performance. You should always let the performer know who you are sending and be sure they understand that they should send this client back to you for booking and contracting if the client decides they would like to hire them. The performers will be happy to do this as their future business from you depends on it. It would not be in an act's best interest to book directly with your client. You may or may not want to discuss price with the act or performer prior to sending the client to see them, depending on the specific situation. The performers should refer the client back to you for booking and pricing on the performance once the client has had a chance to see the act live and wants to move ahead with booking. You should have already in advance established a relationship with the performer or act and made clear to them your position. You should also have established that the act your client will be going to see is currently available for the date or dates they have in mind.  We don't want to get them excited about an act that ultimately you will not be able to book for them.

DJ Services

PEC offers a premium DJ service at a very reasonable price out under the name PEC Premium DJ Service. Our DJ entertainers have an exclusive agreement with PEC to go out under this name at a predetermined price that allows you to have an automatic profit built into any booking.  In fact, in most cases the price we offer is sometimes just a bit under the price that our fine DJ performers would offer if booking directly with the client.  By booking them on a regular basis we can get a price that allows us, even when adding our commission to book the service at a price that is somewhat below market in most cases.   Is it the cheapest DJ service?  No of course not,  there is always someone willing to undersell for one reason or another, but we remain very competitive because it is a great price for and experienced DJ.  We don't hire amateurs, kids or beginners.   We are much more concerned with providing a reasonably priced quality service *and thus getting referral) than offering a very low budget service that, even so, cannot live up to the expectations of your clients.  After all, in a wedding for instance, there really are no "Do-Overs".  Each market has it's own DJ's and you will become well acquainted with them and how they, like our live performers, can assist you in closing the sale and making your clients comfortable with the services you offer.

Exclusive Featured Acts

We have a program that allows you to have your own Featured Exclusive Acts.  That is to say,  you will not be providing full artist management services,  But you will be involved (and paid) in every performance that the act does.   To get an idea how the program works take a look at:

http://www.pro-ent.com/featured-exclusive.htm

When you consider working a potential exclusive featured act please consider the following:

Is this an act which will generate income for your business and for the act?   

Is this an established and stable act which will warrant your investment in time?

Is this an act that needs booking management or are they just looking for a way to jump to the front of the "Booking Line" ... do they really have any business existing to manage and if not, how long can you effectively work for them if they don't generate income? It will not do you any good at all to sign an act that really doesn't have much going on.   Conversely,  acts with very little will often want you to make them a featured Act as a way to go to the head of the line but there is rarely a case where this would be feasible.

While start-up acts may in some cases seem to be an attractive client, for the most part an established act with growth potential will provide a far better return and a more rewarding relationship for all parties. Simply because you don't have an exclusive with an act, it does not mean you will not be able to book them, however, by taking on the role of the exclusive booking, you will also take on a great deal of responsibility. Most performers or groups WILL NOT qualify under the criteria you should judge them in order to have an exclusive relationship with them.

Since the Exclusive Featured Act Agreement must be signed through the corporate office you will most certainly want to seek guidance from PEC if you are considering whether an act may or may not be appropriate. Deciding if you should work with an act on an exclusive basis should be a decision based on whether or not it makes sense from a business standpoint. It will do you no good to take on an act just because they are nice or you want to help them out. Remember, we rarely dictate the market and demand.   You'll only want to work with acts where there is a very good chance of success on all sides.  We are here to help you with that in all cases so you can avoid the pitfalls as you build your business.

When you have an act that is qualified to sign to An Exclusive Featured Act Agreement, PEC will put together a contract which will outline the details of an exclusive relationship with any type of artist. This will name you as the primary agent of record and shall remain in force for the term of the agreement while you are a PEC Licensed Agent.

What is provided for Exclusive Featured Acts:

Image Boost
Representation by a national agency that follows up on every element for the artist, venue and client is not only protection, it adds the necessary detailed communication services that make each gig run seamlessly.
National Profile
The act is listed higher in the search functions on-line for Featured Exclusive Acts in all searches in any market and category in which the act is able to reasonably perform.
Credit Card Payment
The act can accept payments and deposits by credit card, another proven way of getting extra bookings which may have otherwise been lost.
Personalized Mailing Lists
The act's mailing list can be maintained and sent out to their fan base with Personal notes, up to twice per month.
A High-Profile, Well Marketed Web Presence
If the acts does not have a web site, they will have one with PEC including your their own domain.
Always Presented To Any Potential Clients
We make the option of featured acts available to any potential purchaser who requests information on the styles or services that you provide. The "Go To The Head of The Line" policy results in many more opportunities for booking.
Schedule, Availability and Prices available to clients during Business Hours
It is always a benefit to have a live, informed representative of the act available to answer questions for clients interested in booking. We stay ahead of the competition by responding promptly and professionally to ALL inquiries with hours... or moments... of the request. It simply makes sense and it always results in more bookings.
Top Billing on Featured Artist Pages
Featured exclusive groups are listed in alphabetical order above Featured and registered acts in their primary market(s) for added exposure
Follow-Up
Follow-up with past or potential repeat clients to maximize booking and re-booking potential
Expertise
We are available if requested to advise and counsel the act as needed with respect to decisions concerning performance, booking, employment, publicity, selection of literary, artistic and musical material, wardrobe, public relations and advertising, and all other matters pertaining to professional activities and career in the entertainment, amusement, and musical fields.
Professional Contracting
We contract all performance including those by clients of the act and those booked on behalf of clients of Professional Entertainment Consultants and or Licensed Agents. With time tested legal entertainment contracts the act can be assured that to the greatest degree possible their bookings will be solid without legal cancellation except with specific agreement once an engagement is contracted.
Showcase Features
Nothing sells  an act like seeing it live and we work with clients to get them out to see you in showcase situation. The percentage of clients who close the deal are always significantly higher when they see a quality act live as opposed to through even exceptional promotional material.
Costs:
Exclusive contracting through PEC at a 10% commission rate when the client is artist generated. When the client is produced by the agency our normal fee policy would apply.

Who Are Your Clients?

The list is really endless but just to give you a little taste of where you'll want to market yourself, think of ...

Communication with your Clients

Repeat and referral clients are the basis of your business. Your communication and assistance from start to finish will raise your closing rate of sales bringing back satisfied customers and generating referrals from those same customers. If you have to start from scratch with every client your business cannot grow. You must retain your base of business and let it continue to grow with new clients. The best way to do this is by providing a better service than your competition. This competition might include booking agencies, individual performers and in some cases the local union... all of whom are pursuing the same clients on one level or another. In order to set yourself apart you must know the competition and whatever they do.. whatever it takes... make sure you are as good or better.

Timely Rapport

NEVER wait to contact a new client.  If they have requested information simply establishing contact with them right away will get the ball rolling.   In the internet age, people communicate by e mail and as it becomes less personal, we see it as an advantage. How?  Simple... NEVER E-MAIL WHEN YOU CAN CALL ON THE PHONE.   Make this your mantra!   once you have begun to establish real rapport with your client, it becomes much easier to personally connect with them and help them get what they want.  Never be afraid to spend the time on the phone just chatting with them.   E mail is efficient, but cold.  Nobody can ignore you, at least not easily, when you are talking to them on the phone.  Making that personal connection will put you ahead of everyone else.   E-mail is fine for a follow-up or as a way to provide nice solid information, availability, pricing, web sites, etc.   But if E-mail is your primary means of communication you will give up a huge advantage.  E mail is easy to send, but it is also easy to ignore.   Building the rapport and connection with your client always pays.  It is such a simple thin g and, now that most people rely on e-mail as their primary means of communication, simply picking up the phone and connecting puts you in the front of the line

Confirmations of Bookings

One way PEC helps with good client relations is to automatically send confirmation material to all of your clients and performers who have upcoming bookings. This will confirm all the details of the engagement, let them know balances due, what to expect from their performers, what they need to provide etc.  Licensed Agents don't even need to do anything.  The Confirmations are sent out via e-mail 7-10 days in advance of any performance booked to both the performers and the client

Follow-Up

We also send a comment form so they can give us feedback, good or bad on the performance and how you as an agent were able to assist them. In this piece we promote your business by letting them know we appreciate any referrals they may make to friends and associates. Facility Relations: We send a confirmation to the facility where the engagement will be taking place so they are aware of the performance and can contact you if they have any questions. We also, incidentally, include in this a little general promotional material since facility managers and coordinators will be some of your very best contacts.

The Power Of Many

PEC and all  Licensed Agents are happy to share resource of service providers, entertainers, performers and suppliers with you. We all register acts and service providers in the national PEC databases so we have access to pertinent information, contacts and resources.  This is convenient both for contracting purposes when you are booking an act as well as contributing to a wonderful resource for your clients.

Since the Value of Professional Entertainment Consultants lies in our reputation and name, it is in the best interest of all Licensed Agents to at all times represent both their business as well as all PEC Licensed Agents and The PEC Company in a manner that will foster goodwill towards all clients and potential clients. This always includes honesty and fairness in all business dealing with purchaser, performers, suppliers and service providers.  Deceptive or questionable business practices simply are not tolerated because it hurts the group as a whole.

Knowledge and expertise in the areas of the business in which all Licensed Agents operate is the key to our services. This may require education, research or other preparation in order to be able to provide a client complete and reliable service. PEC is ready to assist you in many ways to improve your ability to offer exceptional service to your clients. Many of our clients rely on our experience to guide them towards choices which will make sense for the type of event they are planning. While we do not try to dictate taste, we do want to give complete, unbiased and useful information to our clients so they can make an informed choice. Ultimately our philosophy is that by helping the client get what they want rather than trying to sell them something, everyone will be happier with the result. The client will get the best entertainment or services and you will begin building a client base founded on repeat and referral business.

Assistance when possible and reasonable to fellow Licensed Agents is in the best interest of all. Sharing of resources of performers, suppliers and service providers will help all Licensed Agents as we grow together.

Promoting Your Business On The Web

It is always a challenge to decide where to spend advertising Dollars.   We are always getting hit with advertisers (especially these days)  Looking for advertising dollars.  The Number of web sites alone is staggering… so How do you decide?  Well… a start that you should NOT miss are the places to put a link to your site for FREE!  Please find following a list of web sites,  For wedding and party planning resources.   Marked in the first column are the ones that have a free listing available (27 here and growing) You definitely Need to Put your unique listing on the Free Ones (yes… They may generate a few junk e mails looking to “Upgrade” you to the next (paid) level, but usually it is not required.   Make sure you sign up on all the sites, using YOUR phone number and YOUR direct web domain  so you can drive clients onto your site to request information on our services directly from you. It’s FREE so why not take advantage.  By the way,  don’t forget, if you can get anyone in the industry to put a link on their site to your page, you can add offer them a free listing in our searchable database of service provider (http://www.pro-ent.com/search_services.asp   and click on the link “click here to list your services”)… No charge, no strings!

Office & Equipment

All Licensed Agents should plan to have the following available

An Office or dedicated work area, which may be located in a home, but which is dedicated toward the Licensed Agent's entertainment business and is maintained in a professional manner.

A dedicated phone line available specifically for this business. A home phone number should be provided for PEC to reach you in an emergency but it is not ideal to use for the primary business line.  You'll appreciate this, especially as your business grows and you have more control over the hours in which you will do business.   The easiest solution for this business is often a second cell phone with it's own number which may be part of your current cell plan.  By doing this you have everything you need in a neat portable package.

Computer with appropriate software and broadband web access for all business functions and correspondence including Microsoft Office Programs as a standard. A printer which can provide everything from letters to promotional items when you occasionally may need to print them.   The presentation of any printed material is important and will make a difference in your bookings.

At some point in the future you may consider professional office space. At the point it becomes economically feasible*, a professional office will generally pay for itself if used for a meeting place and base of operations. Clients are more likely to book entertainment from a reliable source and in some cases an office will give that assurance to clients. It only takes 2-3 average clients per month to pay the extra expense for a reasonable office space. This does not have to be retail type space as the costs are much more prohibitive without an appreciable return on the investment. Since meeting with clients also will maintain a much higher closing rate, an office will give you an advantage over competitors who may only be able to meet with potential clients in their home, at the client's place of business... or not at all.    Please note: The additional overhead may not be prudent in the start-up phase and in fact, with the way that marketing and buying is done these days, an office space may not always be to your advantage, even when income may justify the expense.

Taxes

Associates may wish to work with a tax consultant if they are unfamiliar with business taxes. Simple business taxes for a sole proprietorship are not necessarily complicated and many people would be competent to do them without assistance. An important note: Taxes should be based on the gross for your business services, not on the gross for the amount of entertainment booked. The associate Licensed Agent's business is that of arranging entertainment or services for a fee. That fee which you collect is the gross income for your business, not the amount for which another service provider, namely an entertainer, is paid.

Contract Requests

In most cases any request in by 4:00 Pacific Time Monday to Friday will be out the same day. Please double check to see that all the information is filled in correctly. When finished either e-mail or call and let the office know it is ready to go and we will double check all details and mail, e-mail or fax the agreement along with any appropriate planning sheets, credit card slip as well as invoice or W-9 if requested by corporate clients.

Fees & Commissions

We have suggested guidelines for how you charge commission but, as an independent associate Licensed Agent you have a great deal of latitude in how you set up a commission structure on any given performance. While clearly we are in business to make money one must balance the charge for services with two things in mind:

1) What price will the market support and will adding too much cost, in fact, mean that you will not get the booking.

2) At what level of income is it not feasible to book a performance. In other words, at what level would the commission be too low to justify the amount of work required in making the booking.

A general rule of thumb is 20-25% above the net price to the performer.  This is certainly flexible of course, since if you are booking a pianist at $300.00 you may want to charge a minimum fee in order to cover your time  and effort in the booking.   At 20% $60.00 may not be adequate so you may want to get suggestions on how to price accordingly.   Conversely,  on a $10,000 booking, you may find that, if charging 15% gets the job booked, it will be the best policy to take it at that price and get it contracted.

For DJ Performances

Since we provide our services for DJ's "in house"  with the "PEC Premium DJ Service", the standard rate at which we buy a self contained DJ is $450.00 for the first 4 hours and $125.00 per hour after that.   We charge a standard $695.00 for 4 hours ($245.00 commission)   and $150.00 per hour after the first 4  hours ($25.00 per hour commission).   You can access the DJ sites through your own web site or directly from www.PECDJ.com.

For String Trio Performance

In most cities we have a version of the Style Strings.   In Chicago for instance,  the group is "The Chicago Style Strings" (www.ChicagoStyleStrings.com).  It is a trio (and in most cases available also as a quartet).   For a trio we pay $300.00 for the first hour,   $150.00 for the next half hour  and $75.00 for any half hour after that.  We charge  $395.00 for the first hour,   $200.00 for the next half hour  and $100.00 for any half hour after that.

The LIVE! Band

In most cities we have a version of the LIVE! Band.   In San Francisco for instance,  the group is "The San Francisco LIVE! Band" (www.SFliveBand.com) which makes it a very good choice for search engine placement  (after all, what will you find if You Look For "San Francisco Live Band").  There are a number of packages available for the LIVE! Bands but the basic package is usually similar to: The 5 Piece Band, Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Drums, 4 Hours of Music including Background Music (where appropriate on break), Commercial Sound System and Production, Emcee Services Provided by the Band, $2295.00, All-Inclusive for up to 4 Hours!  We buy that particular package at $1500.00 so there is a $795.00 commission.  Check with the PEC office for the specific options available in your market.

Commission Payments

Commission checks are processed the 10th and the 25th of each month following completion of the booking agreement by all parties (completion of signing). Please bear in mind ample funds must be held in escrow by the agent in the event of legal cancellation or default by the performer. This is your fiduciary, legal responsibility as the agent for the performance. A situation where a return of deposit is required almost never occurs.

With each commission check you receive you are provided with an ongoing statement which will detail both the performances or services for which you are receiving commission as well as your Year-To-Date totals for tax planning purposes. You will also be supplied with an IRS form 1099 following each calendar year.

As in any business you should keep careful records of your legitimate business expenses so you can take any available deduction on your income tax. While PEC is not allowed to give tax advice in any way, you should be aware that there are a number of advantages to being self employed regarding allowable deductions. (Please consult a tax professional for specific details)

Optional Items Which PEC Can Provide For Your Business:

These apply only to services provided at your request by the PEC office. These items are intended to be at or near our cost to produce or supply them for you.

General promotional packet with color brochure and "Music Planner CD ROM" prepared and mailed:  $3.00

Promotional Packets for live performers with cover letter, bound booklet Audio CD(s) and up to 4 groups prepared and mailed: $10.50

Additional CD $2.00 per CD with accompanying printed material

Promotional packets for live performers with  DVD(s) and up to 4 groups $12.50

Promotional packet for DJ services including cover letter, bound booklet and postage, "DJ Music CD ROM" prepared and mailed: $6.00

Personalized promotional post cards $499.00 per 5000 (shipping to your location at cost). No charge for personalized design.

Promotional full color brochures (non personalized)  $0.40 each. or $0.82 mailed to the address you designate.

For personalized full color brochures check with us on minimum quantity and cost.

Business cards $59.00 per 1000 prepared and mailed to you.  (we suggest you keep a small supply in the corporate office as well so we can include them in promo packets if you'd like)

Custom Website URL   (example: YourNameEntertainment.com)    $25.00 per year with all PEC content. No charge for a   “www.pro-ent.com/YourName  site”

Office assistant time (special tasks) outside of normal clerical duties (such as typing special letters, or other similar tasks) $16.00 per hour.

Postage, at cost, where not included

Credit Card Processing Fee,  4% of transaction split 50/50 between PEC/Agent  (2% to Agent)  where clients choose to use MasterCard, Visa, Discover (no Amex currently).   Accepting cards for your clients is OPTIONAL but we suggest it since you will on average do more business and complete bookings faster.  We know that some clients book with us because they can pay by credit card.

Other goods or services at cost. Please ask, we often know where to buy goods or services at discounted prices.