Amateur/Professional

> It ain't necessarily so.A good idea for a song?I agree - In nearly every case when I deal with agents, I try to negotiate the licence fee - it works sometimes!.They are responsive and helpfull, if you tell them the whole story - that is if they don't hang up. - so send a letter.I came on the tail end of a production, being performed at a Performing Arts Centre (800 seats), where the club stopped the box office from selling the balcony seats, because they had a licence only for 400 in the stalls - crazy.I tried to inform them that at the end of the day the Agent would not sue them!But they restricted the house and made less sales. If I was the agent, I would have sued them for stupidity. When it all comes to the wash-up they would not mind the extra dollars in the least!.If you have seen advertised "by Public Demand", besides the usual reasons of ensuring they dress the house by restricting it's sales and undoubtbly other reasons. There is also the one of rights, in some contracts they can have a reduced percentage if it is a extended, beyond the original dates, as a re-run season.There are lots of things you can do - try holding the agent to a fixed rate of exchange when your dealing overseas, it's a gamble, but at least you know what your up for. Another one is to negotiate on the capacity of the venue and reduced fee mattinee or they are counted in with night show.Give it a go - good money is always in tune!But what ever you do - ensure you are licenced to do it - because someone will be licenced to do you'Don't try the excuses 'but we are only ....amatuer...charity' - it's no excuse/Joe 'hav a go' McCabe