Tarique,
It is interesting to hear how you negotiate your hourly rate
but I'm not sure that this would go over so well in the Portrait Biz
For starters, I think that for every artist that is being represented, there are a hundred others standing in line for the privilege of paying 40% to get that job.
Also, a Rep. really does deserve to make a living for the work that they do to keep an artist employed. Many artists prefer to focus all their time and energy at the easel and have no interest in marketing. Quite simply, they would not have the work if the rep. did not seek it out and choose to send it their way.
Over the years many artists and reps. develop deep personal friendships based on mutual trust and respect.
If working directly with a rep. and paying a percentage holds no appeal for you, Cynthia Daniel's "Stroke of Genius" is an excellent marketing tool for a professional artist who wants to go solo and keep 100% of his fee.
For a mere $600 (or so) per year, SOG gives you a 24 hour a day, 7 days per week, online portfolio available to any potential customer (anywhere in the world) who has internet access.
Not bad, eh?