But twelve months down the track when you've managed to get up to twelve or more minutes, you've done open mic and gone onto comedy clubs and even make a bit of money now and then, maybe you should get an agent. That said, it's not so easy to get one.
Don't forget that an agent takes a percentage of your fees for himself, so how much are you making? Can you do everything that he does, for yourself? Can you keep one ear to the ground to find more gigs, organize the bookings and travel details and do everything else an agent does? If so, you still may not need one.
You might be better off with a manager. A manager will 'manage' your career in comedy by getting the best gigs for you. He or she will see to it that you go where your skills are most appreciated, that the venue and the audience are suited to your act and generally make sure everything is a good match and that everyone is satisfied. A manager will be more likely to get you a better deal - in other words more pay.
An agent will probably just grab the first gig that comes along and shove it in your direction, whether it's a place that would suit you or not. Hey, you're getting a gig so don't complain. Stage time is important in the life of a comedian.
Many comedians get by without an agent or a manager, but when you start to rise to the top, it may be the time to get an agent, a manager - or both. It may be that an agent will seek you out, rather than you having to go and find one. If you have an agent, it is easier for them to sing your praises than for you to do it yourself, which often sounds conceited.
Most employers will go to an agent when they want to hire a comedian because that saves them time. The agent will know of several comedians that they can sift through. This saves them from making several phone calls and watching several CDs to see which would be suitable. So to answer the question - getting an agent will probably help your career more than hinder it, even if you do have to pay them.
Landing gigs is of prime importance to a comedian. Without working gigs, there is no job and no chance of getting known. There are several ways to get gigs. It's a good idea to get an agent who will help you to get bookings (gigs). What you need to do is have one or more videos of yourself doing your routines. Whether these are taken live - while you are doing a real gig - or whether you have them done on a false stage, will depend on you.
If you've never done a gig, then you'll have to fake it till you make it. That is, set up a false stage somewhere and go through your routine with someone there to do the videotaping. Anyone with a digital camera can record a small segment of your routine, then you can burn it to CD and there you have it! Make plenty of copies and send them out to various comedy clubs.
Also make posters, brochures and flyers about yourself and your act and send them to everyone you can think of who might need someone to entertain them. Put them up on billboards, community notice boards or shop windows.
Look through the paper until you see something is on that you could perform at. Colleges are often ripe playing fields for comedians. There they have the money and the need for entertainment and there are heaps of them to choose from, so sending out your ads is sure to bring in some gigs, especially if you are prepared to travel. If you are just starting out, try for an open mic night somewhere.
You could start at any small gathering such as your local pub, youth night, or high school presentation. If you are confident of your abilities and not nervous, you could opt for a bigger gig. Send that video out to a cruise ship to see if you can get a gig with them for a night or a few weeks. The Manager of Entertainment is the person you should contact. Basically, if they like your routine, they'll hire you for a gig or three.
Another way to get a gig is to simply advertise in the newspaper. An inch column is not too expensive and you may be surprised at the offers you get. Be sure to have a CD ready to send out in reply to those queries. A CD will give the person who is looking for an entertainer an idea of what you are like much better than any advertising brochure would do. You need not give away all of your act, of course, but do enough so that they can have a fair idea what you are like. Then make sure they know how long your act goes for.