We recently connected with Kat Agner and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kat thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I have been a singer for the majority of my life. It has been something I could always fall back on or could pick up a gig when money was tight. I noticed early on that I was always pretty strong in negotiating contracts/pay for my band and that it may have come a little easier for me than my fellow musician friends. I spent most of my 20s/30s working in business management and real estate but it always left me feeling depleted and without passion. It seemed like I was always expanding someone else’s dream and idea and never following my own. So when I was let go from my “big” development job during the pandemic, I decided it was time to make a change. I took an Executive Director position at a local non profit venue called LKLD Live. I was hooked. We were putting on 3 shows a week, giving a platform for musicians from all walks of life, in every genre. I knew that I was on the right path. I eventually took a sales manager job at The Historic Polk Theatre of Lakeland and gathered even more knowledge of just how the music industry worked on a grander scale. It also showed me how underrepresented most artists are and that industry itself doesn’t always work in their favor. Artists should be able to just be artists. They should be able to create and be themselves without having to worry about being taken advantage of at every turn. It was like all of my experience in the business world and my life as a musician became one. I decided to open up my talent agency in 2021, to advocate for the musicians and promote the art that I hold in such high regard and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My brand is simple, representation by a musician for musicians. With almost 30 years of experience in performance, I have seen every bad deal you can think of. I have seen musicians being taken advantage of, being paid so little when the profit was very high and not given the respect or environment they deserve. Music has been in my blood from very early on. It is what feeds my soul and makes me hopeful for the future. I just want to create a safe haven for artists to thrive in. It brings me joy to promote music and to create a space for the audience to feel that same healing energy that music brings to me and the artists.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think my reputation was built on the back of my singing career. I have been singing since middle school. I did a U.K. choir tour around the age of 11 and it opened my eyes that my voice could take me places. After graduating from Harrison Performing Arts center with a focus on vocal performance, I figured out that I could make a decent income playing gigs. Being on stage and singing to thousands of people was the only time I ever really felt fully alive. I made a name for myself within my community and it really gave me a leg up to become a talent agent/promoter.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I live and breathe music! I try and see new bands and artists regularly. I am always on the lookout for a unique sound or voice. To give an example, I was walking through my cities downtown park and I heard this beautiful voice being carried by the wind. It stopped me in my tracks. This young man was singing his heart out, no PA, just him and his guitar. It was so polished, so needing to be heard by others that I immediately gave him my information. He is now one of my most requested artists and it brings me such happiness that his voice is being heard.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theagneragency.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kat_agner
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theagneragency

Image Credits

@ryanconelyfilmco
Ryan Conley