Agents - what are they good for?

If actors and athletes all negotiated their own deals most would end up w/ much less $ that what they are getting.

A good agent is a professional that knows how to sell the benefits his client can provide for the outfit/ team/ production that wants him and to get the entire amount of $ he is worth.

I'm a professional sales person and I can just about always walk into any business and pay less than my friends for products or services, and I sell my products and services for more than most. And I do it w/o lying or tricking anyone. It's about showing where the value is in it for everyone involved.

The 80/20 rule still applies however so there are a lot of bad agents out there.

As for young Pros that forget what their parents did for them that's not the agents fault. Any young Pro should realize that his parents literally invested a retirement and then some into his racing career and that the parents realistically deserve a 6 figure bank account plumping to offset the retirement fund damage if they get those big contracts.

dbch wrote:
I know what I am talking about - I'm not saying that all agents out there are bad, but let's face it, they're there for one reason - a paycheck! If your child signs with him, he gets paid. Where is the paycheck to you for all the blood, sweat and tears that went into getting your child to where he is today. Not to mention, the sacrifice his brothers and sisters made along the way to see to it that he gets THE RIDE that will make him a forturne.



Is this your child or your "investment"? What were you expecting, to live off your your kids ability? That's pathetic and personally I think this is what is wrong with and why we have such Jackasses in Amateur sports today. Don't come on here and raging against agents because your kid can't stand you or worse yet doesn't value your opinion. Start by asking yourself why does he feel that way? Most likely because your kid sees you for what you are: the next person in line with your hand out, a bad attitude and a sense of entitlement.

Aint this sport great!

And just think, ten years ago, the TOP factory pros were working out of a box van and driving to and from each race. Now days, top Loretta riders get 20 bikes, endorsement money, 40 Ft buses and freight liner toy haulers etc.

Don't take it wrong that Im complaining, just posting some points on how the soul of the sport, mom and dad did this as family fun. Today mom and dad do this so little Jimmy has an option opposed to college to make money. In my experience its across the states. Also I gather its this way because mom and dad barely gradumeated from High School, so not wanting their own child to deal with the real world they fill his head with crap.

Who said it? If the parents did a good job of raising their child there wouldn't be these problems?

Whats wrong with being a marketer, salesperson or doctor these days?

This is already the case. Most agents get a bigger % for bringing in outside dollars, even team deals. A gear/helmet/goggle contract does not do much for an agent,it's the salary and outside help they can dig up.

Puttin up a rider web site thats actually worth a shit requires more negotiating than signing him to a factory ride. Look who owns the rights to everything in SX. You can't use anything that Live Nation had their hands on, same with the AMA and on down the line. Thats why most rider sites are either real boring, or not even there.