What are the duties of a booking agent?

BOOKING AGENT : The person who makes it possible for an artist or band to perform at a club or concert venue is generally the Booking Agent. This person is responsible for establishing a relationship with a venue where live music is performed and getting the band that he or she is working with an appearance at that venue. In connection with planning a tour, a booking agent must work to plan a route that is physically and financially sensible to take. Also, agents will often secure opening slots for developing bands to give them exposure to the audiences of more established bands. Generally, a contract is not signed with a booking agency until there is sufficient demand for the artist to tour. Even most of the smaller agencies do not sign acts that lack the financial support of a significant recording company. Booking agents take a percentage of the artist's revenue from a performance, so they mostly will work only with acts that can already draw an audience. Sometimes, an agency will sign an act that they believe in -- whom they think has the potential to eventually draw big crowds -- although taking such a big risk is rare.