• Craft winning game plans
• See the big picture
• Be strong advocates for artist
• Encourage artist through rough times
• Help out with workloads
• Act as filters/buffers to protect artist
• Help bring credibility to artist in negotiations
Now that we have recapped the duties of the artist manager lets take a look at common myths about managers:
• No one will ever take you seriously without a manager
• Only a well connected manager can do a good job for you
• Your manager should tell you what to do
• You don’t have to run things by your manager
We’ve all heard the sayings about the industry not taking artist/bands serious when they do not have a manager. A manager is important because they free you up to focus on the creative side of business, says Heather McDonald. This however is not true especially in the early stages of a artist/bands career. Having a friend play the role of a manager may work for local gigs but if they aren’t taking your career serious and good with negotiating you will have to eventually get a real manager. I remember when I started out trying to manage artist I was told only well connected managers could get artist to the next level. I later figured out this was not true when I began to educate myself on the business. By attending networking events and building your network you can become connected while you build your artist/bands career.
Managers should be great leaders and great leaders are great networkers, great networkers become greatly connected. In most careers your manager tells you what to do, however in the entertainment industry your manager act more as a consultant. The artist and manager work together in the entertainment industry to grow both parties careers. Without the proper teamwork both parties will fail. Once you have a manger that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to look for opportunities, however you should run all of them by your manager. Communication is the key to success in this business. If you score even just a small gig run it past your manager so that they can secure the best possible outcome for you both.
