Agent appreciation

September 7, 2006 12:33 PM

How can I appropriately go the extra mile to show my literary agent (and his assistant) how much I appreciate their hard work?

Besides the obvious answer: by making them money. So far I've been with my agent for two and a half years, and only recently has my career begun to take off. Up until now I've only made the agency a few thousand dollars total in commission, but in a couple months it looks like (due to a couple upcoming script sales) I will finally be making their decision to represent me financially worthwhile.

Here's the thing: I really like my agent and his assistant, and I'm always good at verbally expressing my appreciation for the constant work they are doing on my behalf. But I'm wondering whether I should be doing anything gift-wise to thank them, (besides just the standard 10%.) For example, when they wrap up the sales on these scripts, should I send them a nice bottle of wine, or would that be too little/too much?

One last thing: last year my agent submitted me for a fellowship that I would never have thought to apply to, and when I won it I got a -substantial- amount of money, which he didn't take a commission out of since it was a grant. In thanks I bought him a very thoughtful present in the $200 range, but I don't know whether I should have done more, or should do more in the future. I'm really not sure what is expected of a writer by their agent and what is or is not appropriate. If it makes any difference, he and I speak almost every day and he does a tremendous amount of work on my behalf, but our relationship is very formal in a way. It would be really uncomfortable for me to ask him this question straight out.

posted by np312 to human relations (4 comments total)

I think you should take them out for a very nice dinner. a personal connection is so important ...
posted by krautland at 12:37 PM on September 7, 2006

Send them a box of steaks. I know a former professional literary agent who sent steaks to an editor who bought a client's MS. When I think of agents I think of steak.
posted by mattbucher at 12:53 PM on September 7, 2006

I totally get the impulse, but really, your agent is supposed to buy you stuff. (Okay, not really, but....) From you, a handwritten note, a dinner, and continuing to be your lovely self--that's the stuff. When you're super-rich, buy your agent a car. Heh. But your agent's job is to get you paid so that they can get paid. Most good agents don't want you to spend your money on them.

After all, they know how much you make.

Art dealers don't get gifts from their artists--except sometimes art. Now, scripts don't make great gifts. But if you can think up something along those lines, that's the idea.

(Also I'm surprised they're not taking 15%!)
posted by RJ Reynolds at 1:28 PM on September 7, 2006

Something crystal, perhaps a paperweight or a pen cup, that will go on their desks. They will remember you pretty much every time they see it.
posted by nj_subgenius at 3:25 PM on September 7, 2006