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A question that has bugged me about consulting: Why aren't there (afaik) consulting agents in the same way comedians/actors/musicians have agents? Find me a g

by blhack 9y ago

A question that has bugged me about consulting: Why aren't there (afaik) consulting agents in the same way comedians/actors/musicians have agents? Find me a gig, negotiate the payment, accept the payment, and pay me. Also interface with the client for me. Ultimately the agent works for me doing all of the work I'm bad at. Does this exist? How do I hire somebody to do this sort of thing for me?

tw04 9y ago
Because, generally speaking, those people make enough per-gig to support an agent making a living taking a small cut. Furthermore the amount of time required for the comedian/actor/musician to complete the work is pretty small. If you can start charging 6 figures for projects you can complete in a couple days, I'm sure an agent would be happy to work for you. If not...
hullsean 9y ago
yes. they are head shops. but one key detail. you are working for them. not the reverse. the relationship with the customer is very valuable
gist 9y ago
> in the same way comedians/actors/musicians have agents? Many reasons for this. One reason though is simple logistics in terms of how the world has changed since that system was in place. And for what reasons. In the 'olden' days there was no internet. So if you were a performer you needed an agent for one thing you probably had little business or negotiation skills and no source of information to figure it out (nor the knack or desire). And also there was no easy way for 'customers' to get in contact with you. (Now it's trivial to go direct to a developer by email). Also with performing the product is pretty much always the same. If you are going to book a comedian for a certain night at a certain rate you know the product. With programming it's all over the map in terms of length and deliverables. Above just a few reasons. That said it's not a bad idea not to mention it is almost certainly being done but maybe not on a major known scale.
CyanLite2 9y ago
Actors, musicians, athletes, etc... are all making so much money that an agent taking a 2% cut can still be very wealthy. There are firms out there, like recruiting firms, but they will take much more than 2%. Probably close to 25% and you work for them.
mgkimsal 9y ago
Besides the other reply here (good info), there's also complexity. Determining if you've "completed" the work - they want specified results, which you probably want to negotiate on - that's far more nuanced than "I showed up at this club and did my 2 hour set". There are tech recruiters that will do short term contract/placements, which may be close, but they're not an 'agent' in the same way as a music/actor/sports agent might be, who may know you for years and understand your career/strengths/skills/etc. The tech recruiter will still more be a body-shop sort of thing.
dboreham 9y ago
>Does this exist? How do I hire somebody to do this sort of thing for me? It does exist, but they hire _you_ not the other way around, because you would be their employee.
sn9 9y ago
> Does this exist? Yup: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8616952 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8616952

by blhack 9y ago

tw04 9y ago

Because, generally speaking, those people make enough per-gig to support an agent making a living taking a small cut. Furthermore the amount of time required for the comedian/actor/musician to complete the work is pretty small. If you can start charging 6 figures for projects you can complete in a couple days, I'm sure an agent would be happy to work for you. If not...

hullsean 9y ago

yes. they are head shops. but one key detail. you are working for them. not the reverse. the relationship with the customer is very valuable

gist 9y ago

> in the same way comedians/actors/musicians have agents? Many reasons for this. One reason though is simple logistics in terms of how the world has changed since that system was in place. And for what reasons. In the 'olden' days there was no internet. So if you were a performer you needed an agent for one thing you probably had little business or negotiation skills and no source of information to figure it out (nor the knack or desire). And also there was no easy way for 'customers' to get in contact with you. (Now it's trivial to go direct to a developer by email). Also with performing the product is pretty much always the same. If you are going to book a comedian for a certain night at a certain rate you know the product. With programming it's all over the map in terms of length and deliverables. Above just a few reasons. That said it's not a bad idea not to mention it is almost certainly being done but maybe not on a major known scale.

CyanLite2 9y ago

Actors, musicians, athletes, etc... are all making so much money that an agent taking a 2% cut can still be very wealthy. There are firms out there, like recruiting firms, but they will take much more than 2%. Probably close to 25% and you work for them.

mgkimsal 9y ago

Besides the other reply here (good info), there's also complexity. Determining if you've "completed" the work - they want specified results, which you probably want to negotiate on - that's far more nuanced than "I showed up at this club and did my 2 hour set". There are tech recruiters that will do short term contract/placements, which may be close, but they're not an 'agent' in the same way as a music/actor/sports agent might be, who may know you for years and understand your career/strengths/skills/etc. The tech recruiter will still more be a body-shop sort of thing.

dboreham 9y ago

>Does this exist? How do I hire somebody to do this sort of thing for me? It does exist, but they hire _you_ not the other way around, because you would be their employee.

sn9 9y ago

> Does this exist? Yup: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8616952 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8616952