Talent Management Agreements for Creators
A good manager can change a creator's career. A bad management contract can take a share of it long after the relationship is over.
Managers are often the first professionals a growing creator brings on, and the management agreement is often the first long-term contract a creator signs. It is also usually drafted by the manager. Here is what to look at before you sign.
The commission, and what it applies to
Commissions for creator managers commonly fall somewhere between 10 and 20 percent. The number matters less than the base it applies to. A commission on deals the manager brings in is very different from a commission on all of your income, including platform payouts, ad revenue, deals you sourced yourself, and businesses you build independently. Define commissionable income precisely, and decide whether it is calculated on gross or net.
The term, and the way out
Look for a defined term rather than an agreement that renews automatically forever. Ask for a right to terminate for cause, and consider a performance clause that lets you leave if the manager does not generate a minimum amount of work or income within a set period. A trial period before a longer commitment is a reasonable request.
Post-term commissions
This is the clause that follows you. A post-term or "sunset" clause lets the manager keep collecting commission after the agreement ends. A fair version applies only to deals the manager actually negotiated while the agreement was in effect, and it steps down or ends over a defined period. An unfair version applies to renewals and extensions forever, which can mean paying a former manager on your biggest partnership for years.
Who collects the money
Some managers ask brands to pay them, and then they pay you after taking their commission. If that is the arrangement, the contract should require prompt payment, itemized statements, a separate account for client funds, and your right to audit the books. Better still, have brands pay you directly and pay your manager's commission yourself.
Authority to sign
Be careful with any clause that lets the manager sign agreements on your behalf. You should approve every deal, and the agreement should say so. A power of attorney buried in a management contract gives someone else the ability to commit you to obligations you have never read.
Conflicts and licensing
Ask whether the manager also represents brands or competing creators, and how conflicts are handled. Also be aware that several states, including Florida and California, regulate talent agencies, and procuring work for talent can require a license. If your manager is booking deals, it is worth understanding how that is structured.
Have it reviewed before you sign
A management agreement shapes every brand deal that follows it, from the clauses you negotiate to whether you are signing as an individual or through a business entity. Reviewing and negotiating management and agency agreements is part of our creator economy practice.
Common questions
What percentage do talent managers take from creators?
Commissions for creator managers commonly range from about 10 to 20 percent, though the percentage alone tells you little. What matters is which income it applies to and how long it continues after the agreement ends.
What is a sunset clause in a management agreement?
A sunset or post-term commission clause lets a manager keep collecting commission on deals after the agreement ends. Reasonable versions are limited to deals the manager actually negotiated and step down over a short period.
Can I get out of a management contract?
It depends on the termination terms. Before signing, look for a defined term, a right to terminate for cause, and ideally a performance clause that lets you leave if the manager does not generate a minimum level of work.
Build a creator business that holds up.
Brand deals, sponsorship agreements, and disclosure compliance, handled by someone who knows the platforms.
