Behind the Mic: Management Essentials

posted in: Features

As an upcoming artist, you can only go so far on your own. Sooner or later, you’ll need a manager to assist you in your career.

Generally, you should consider getting a manager once you’ve developed a solid following and are starting to profit off of your merch and ticket sales. Though you may be more inclined to hire a professional, a relatively inexperienced band need not look any further than good friends, family members or fans. In the early stages, a manager is mostly used to help book shows, manage finances, send out music/press kits and help with promotion. There are three key qualities that we think every manager should have.

Passion

Passion is key for a manager at any stage in the game. If you know someone outside the band who is extremely passionate about your music and willing to help out, they may be worth a shot for this position. Think of it this way: if your manager isn’t in love with your music, then they won’t have much real motivation to help your career. Your ideal manager is a fan first and foremost, with the motivation to help your career take off.

Personality

Your manager should be a “people” person. They should be friendly, kind and understanding. You want to feel like you can trust your manager and treat them as if they’re another band member. You wouldn’t allow just anyone off the street into your band, and you shouldn’t allow an inexperienced stranger to be your manager, either. They need to be comfortable with approaching people they probably have never met before, like other managers, booking agents, promoters and more. They need to be willing to reach out to anyone who may be able to help your career. In this way, they’ll be able to build a network of connections that can be used at anytime to help your band with new opportunities.

Professionalism

This is an especially important quality for people working in the music industry. Your manager should know how to construct a well-written email, with accurate grammar and spelling, and have a “work” email address set up solely for management work. They should be comfortable with managing your Web site and promoting online through Facebook, Twitter, etc. They should know how to carry on conversations with other music industry professionals in a polite and sincere way, both in person and on the phone. They should be organized, responsible and well put-together.

Don’t forget, your manager is a representation of YOU. If your manager has a sloppy, unprofessional appearance, is irresponsible with band decisions or doesn’t work to their full potential, your band could miss out on great opportunities.

Already have a great manager? What made you decide to hire him/her? Let us know in the comments!