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Glite Dictionary
🎤 Performer organizer 💻 Reservation software
booking agent

booking agent

3 3.7
A person or company that arranges performances for people like musicians and actors
  • noun
  • /ˈbʊkɪŋ ˈeɪdʒənt/
  • Jargon
translation icon : agente de reservas
  • The band hired a booking agent to secure performances at various music festivals throughout the summer.

Examples

  • That is how we booked a lot of our earlier tours before we got a booking agent.

    Blog text (20)

  • Our booking agent handles a lot of death-metal bands.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • I will also try to forward the letter to the band booking agent and possibly the band management.

    Blog text (32)

  • Before looking for a booking agent, make sure that you are ready first.

    Blog text (7)

  • Check out Music Think Tank for more on finding a booking agent.

    Blog text (7)

  • What's the best way to choose and pitch to a booking agent?

    Blog text (7)

  • We had the cell phone number to Merle's booking agent, Lance.

  • He had the rodeo's booking agent working on it.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • When Hal started worrying about money again, he called the booking agent who'd arranged most of his and Bonnie's engagements.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • After months of auditions, she finally found a booking agent who believes in her talent.

Synonyms

talent agent
vsbooking agent
8 3.4

A person who helps actors or musicians find work

focuses specifically on arranging and securing engagements rather than full representation
booker
vsbooking agent
  • Jargon
6 5.6

A person who arranges shows and appearances for artists

is responsible for both arranging events and securing the actual engagements
theatrical agent
vsbooking agent
2 4.4

A person or company who finds work for actors in plays, films, and television

applies across performer types and venues, not limited to stage or screen
actor's agent
vsbooking agent
3.7

A person who represents actors, finds them work, negotiates contracts, and manages their careers

focuses on arranging engagements and securing dates rather than long term career management

Surface Forms

booking agent singular
booking agents plural

Morphology

booking + agent

The compound is compositional: 'booking' (making reservations or securing engagements) plus 'agent' (one who acts or arranges) yields the predictable meaning 'an agent that arranges bookings/reservations'. This relation is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning (even if the agent may be human or software).

Etymology

Booking agent comes from the old practice of writing show dates in a 'book', so the person who 'booked' the shows was the booking person and an agent who arranged them. That's why the term means 'someone who arranges shows and performances'.