Gods & Monsters

As you read in a previous blog entry, an agent’s work negotiating contracts is only a small part of what we do.  Much of our ability to provide all those services comes from years of learning many skill sets as well as making contracts and friendships that stretch into decades.  Some artists have become the best of friends, godparents to my children, as close as family.

But it’s even more than artist relationships, this strange business of agenting.  It’s NOT just the work we put in a certain minute or hour or day to land a job, or even the hours and days spent shepherding a project through to completion.

A lot has to do with trust:  An artist’s trust in the agent’s knowledge and connections and abilities to develop, define, and maintain a career…and an agent’s trust in the artist’s talents and professionalism and loyalty.

I’m reminded of a joke:

One day, scientists find a way to speak to God and have him reply.  “We don’t need you anymore,” they tell God.  “WE can do everything you can do — we can travel space, we can terraform planets, we can create life, we can spawn a whole new planet out of a handful of dirt.”

“Fine,” says God.  “If you can create something as well as I can without my involvement, I will not be one  with humankind anymore. “

“Very well,” says the scientist.  “I’ll do something big and showy.  I’ll create a new planet.”  And the scientist reached down to grab a handful of dirt.

“Uh-uh,” says God.  “I created that.”