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Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes

SOC 13-1011.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full practice context of artist, performer, and athlete representation — from entry-level administrative and support functions within talent agencies through executive-level client strategy, deal-making, and agency leadership in entertainment, sports, and media industries.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Client contract terms and payment schedules — review and track under supervisor guidance within an established talent agency environment.
  2. Promotional materials and work samples — compile and distribute to potential employers following established agency protocols for audition submissions.
  3. Industry news, trade publications, and deal announcements — monitor regularly to build foundational awareness of entertainment and sports market trends.
  4. Candidate intake interviews — assist in coordinating and observing under senior agent direction during initial client evaluation sessions.
  5. Negotiation correspondence and meeting notes — document and organize under supervision to support senior agents in contract discussions with promoters and managers.
  6. Client career goals and agency actions — communicate updates clearly in scheduled check-in meetings under the guidance of a supervising agent.
  7. Professional contact databases using CRM software — enter, maintain, and retrieve records to support network-building efforts within the agency.
  8. Client performance and promotional engagements — assist in scheduling by coordinating logistics and confirming dates using calendar and email tools.
  9. Spreadsheet and accounting software — use to track commission payments, fees, and client financial records under direct oversight.
  10. Written correspondence including emails and client summaries — draft accurately and professionally using standard agency templates and style guides.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Commission fees and contractual payments — calculate, collect, and reconcile with reduced oversight using agency accounting software and contract terms.
  2. Work sample packages and promotional media — independently prepare and submit to targeted employers and sponsors to secure auditions and endorsement opportunities.
  3. Emerging industry trends and competitive deal structures — analyze and synthesize to inform client strategy recommendations in routine advisory meetings.
  4. Prospective client auditions and portfolio reviews — conduct independently using established evaluation criteria to assess talent fit and commercial viability.
  5. Contract terms and union obligations — negotiate directly with promoters and representatives in familiar deal contexts, escalating complex issues as needed.
  6. Client career development strategies — formulate and present in structured consultations, adapting recommendations to each client's goals and current market position.
  7. Professional networks across talent, media, and sponsorship sectors — cultivate proactively by applying relationship-building techniques in industry events and digital outreach.
  8. Performance and promotional booking calendars — manage end-to-end for multiple clients simultaneously, coordinating venues, media appearances, and contractual deadlines.
  9. Web page creation and video editing tools — use to develop and update digital promotional assets that enhance client visibility across relevant platforms.
  10. Complex client disputes or scheduling conflicts — assess, prioritize, and resolve by applying critical thinking and time management skills in a fast-paced agency setting.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Multi-party payment structures and royalty arrangements — negotiate and administer across complex contracts autonomously, ensuring full compliance with agreed terms.
  2. Comprehensive client promotional campaigns — design and execute independently, integrating work samples, digital media, and targeted outreach to secure high-value sponsorship and endorsement deals.
  3. Macro-level shifts in entertainment, sports, and media markets — evaluate continuously and translate into proactive, forward-looking strategic adjustments for client portfolios.
  4. Talent identification and evaluation — lead audition and interview processes for diverse candidate pools, applying nuanced judgment to assess long-term commercial and artistic potential.
  5. High-stakes contract negotiations with major studios, leagues, unions, and corporate sponsors — conduct autonomously, protecting clients' rights and maximizing deal value across non-routine situations.
  6. Long-term career architecture for clients at various career stages — develop and refine collaboratively, integrating market intelligence, personal branding, and financial planning considerations.
  7. Cross-sector professional relationships with executives, media buyers, and brand managers — leverage strategically to create tailored opportunities that align with each client's career trajectory.
  8. Full engagement booking operations for a diverse client roster — oversee end-to-end, resolving scheduling conflicts and contractual complications with minimal escalation.
  9. CRM and information retrieval systems — leverage at an advanced level to analyze relationship data, identify pipeline opportunities, and optimize outreach strategies across the client book.
  10. Ethical and legal dilemmas involving client representation, conflicts of interest, or contractual breaches — evaluate independently and resolve using sound judgment and industry best practice.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Agency-wide commission and revenue frameworks — design and implement to ensure sustainable business performance, aligning pricing structures with market benchmarks and client value tiers.
  2. Organizational promotional strategy and brand positioning — direct at the agency level, setting standards for how client work is packaged and presented to industry decision-makers.
  3. Industry trend intelligence programs — establish and lead, institutionalizing knowledge-sharing systems that keep the entire agency ahead of market disruptions and emerging opportunities.
  4. Talent acquisition and client roster strategy — define selection criteria and oversee evaluation processes to build a diversified, high-potential client portfolio aligned with agency growth goals.
  5. Complex, precedent-setting negotiations with major industry stakeholders — lead personally while coaching junior agents, establishing the agency's reputation as a formidable deal-making force.
  6. Agency-client relationship philosophy and career management doctrine — articulate and champion organizationally, ensuring all agents deliver consistent, strategic counsel across the client base.
  7. Strategic alliance and partnership development — initiate and sustain at the executive level with studios, leagues, brands, and media conglomerates to generate exclusive opportunities for agency clients.
  8. Agency booking operations and scheduling infrastructure — architect and govern, implementing systems and staffing models that support high-volume, multi-client engagement management at scale.
  9. Technology adoption and digital capability roadmap — lead for the agency, evaluating and deploying CRM, analytics, and media production tools that enhance competitive intelligence and client service.
  10. Organizational culture, talent development, and succession planning — drive agency-wide, mentoring emerging and developing agents and establishing performance standards that elevate the profession.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Acquisition Agent · Advance Agent · Agent · Artist Manager · Artist Representative · Artist's Manager · Artist's Representative · Athlete Manager · Athlete Marketing Agent · Athletic Agent · Author's Agent · Band Manager
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
PersuasionActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionNegotiationSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationCritical ThinkingTime ManagementWritingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingService Orientation
Knowledge domains
Customer and Personal ServiceSales and MarketingEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementFine ArtsCommunications and MediaAdministrativePersonnel and Human Resources
Abilities
Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionProblem SensitivitySpeech RecognitionSpeech ClarityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningWritten ExpressionNear Vision
Work styles
Social OrientationSelf-ConfidencePerseveranceLeadership OrientationDependabilityAchievement Orientation
Technology
Graphics or photo imaging softwareOperating system softwareVideo creation and editing softwareCustomer relationship management CRM softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareAccounting softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareSpreadsheet software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
  2. Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
  3. Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
  4. Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
  5. Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
  6. Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
  7. Develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
  8. Schedule promotional or performance engagements for clients.
CIP education codes
09.090650.100150.100250.109952.0202

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.