#tbh - An Agent Will Not Save Your Career

To be honest, I had a meeting recently that reminded me of a conversation I’ve had many times over the years.

The idea that finding an agency or management will somehow unlock your career.

It still surprises people when I don’t agree with that goal. And I understand why. Representation feels like a milestone. Like proof that you’re on the right path.

But I need to be very clear about something.

Unless you have already built your own path, your own concept, and a clear artist identity, no form of representation is a guarantee of moving in the right direction. In many cases, the opposite happens.

I’m saying this from experience.

I work with artists who tick all the boxes.

Strong releases.

Support from well-known artists.

Good reviews.

Podcast appearances.

Good connections.

Presence, charisma, mindset.

Solid performances.

Everything looks right.

And still: no gigs.

I pitch hard.

I follow up.

I try different angles.

Nothing.

Then, sometimes, a booking comes in from a random promoter I wouldn’t have thought of. Someone I never pitched. While the places I carefully targeted don’t respond at all.

It’s confusing. And honestly, it can be devastating.

There are moments where I have to stop being overly proactive, because it’s not only emotionally draining, it’s also not effective. As harsh as that sounds.

Think of it like this.

If you’re looking for a job and send out 100 applications, get two replies saying no, and the rest never answer, what does that do to you?

It doesn’t make you happier.

It doesn’t make you more confident.

It’s the same on my side.

So sometimes I need to step back. I still pitch to people we already have relationships with. I still reach out where I truly believe there’s a fit. But I can’t stay in a constant loop of trying to force a career to work.

And this is the part that’s important for artists to understand.

The goal of your career should never be representation itself.

The goal should be to present yourself as clearly, honestly, and effectively as you can. Your sound, your idea, your story, your presence.

Once visibility and real interest start to build, agents will notice.

All agents I know are constantly watching. They check profiles. They follow artists quietly. They observe how things evolve over time. They don’t need a banner waved in front of them.

If they see you, they see you.

And if they don’t, waving the banner harder usually doesn’t change that.

Representation works best when it meets something that already exists and is moving. When an agent can amplify direction, not invent it.

I know this isn’t always easy to hear. But I’d rather be honest about it than sell a false promise.

An agent can support a career.

They can’t create one from nothing.

And understanding that early can save a lot of frustration on both sides.

alma x