Manage Your Manager Initially

Following on from my basic overview on the roles of the manager of an independent rock band, there are some finer points that I feel should point out in the hope that they are taken on-board (or at least considered) prior to launching off into your brave new world as a band with a manager.



Firstly, congratulations!....but hold your horses. After all of the documents and details have been agreed upon and signed off, I highly suggest that your manager attend at least three of your live performances to check out things like audience type and reaction and how the band manages their crowds. Any half-decent independent rock band can knock together a passable video of a live performance and demo tape. These should have been run past your new manager in the meeting mentioned in the previous blog entry.


In order for your new manager to gain an entire different dimension into your band 'in full-flight,' they should see you perform at a small, medium sized and larger performance. This can sort the wheat from the chaff. Additionally (and to my mind, more importantly), the manager should be present to witness how band members conduct themselves before and after gigs. This will really sort the wheat from the chaff. The well-behaved that were present during the initial meeting with the prospective manager may well turn out to be drunken, drug-soaked pretenders with outlandish requests from the venue at which they're performing. I would suspect that this sort of behavior would well and truly nullify any contract.



Remember, folks, just because you have enlisted a manager doesn't automatically turn you into Motley Crue. What it does do, however, is display to the manager that you are unlikely to be financially viable for them and that you will more than likely tarnish their reputation and credibility.


Now for the up-side. If you are serious about your career as an independent musician, you will continue to conduct yourself as you did at that initial meeting with your manager. This in turn will see your your musical career and creativity continue up that huge hill.....But hey; it's better than being stranded, drunk and stoned at the bottom of it.

Your Bands Manager

A band manager is the person in charge of a musical group’s business activities. They may be involved in all aspects of their music industry affairs or handle only a few specified areas. Depending on the success of the band, the manager may be required to travel or they may perform their job in only one location.



If a band is effectively unknown, their job generally entails more responsibilities than if the group is popular. To promote a new band and ensure maximum exposure, the manager is commonly in charge of everything from marketing and public relations to keeping the accounting records in order and arranging transportation to different venues. If the band has already made a name for itself, the manager’s job typically focuses more on booking them and negotiating profitable contracts.


A good band manager is often credited with a band’s success. They are frequently required to be overzealous in their presentation of the bands talent to prospective employers in order to generate interest and excitement. Her press package normally includes demo recordings, photographs of the band in concert, performance reviews and promotional materials such as posters, tee shirts or caps. To get a signed contract for the band generally requires repeated pitches to clubs and tour promoters.


Contract negotiations are customarily the job of a band manager. The first contract they settle is normally between the band members and themselves. Before the band is signed to perform, the manager and band typically find it prudent to establish their mutual goals. The interests covered in the agreement generally detail monetary distribution terms for the band members and the manager as well as traveling limitations, appearance guarantees and the moral and legal responsibilities of all signers of the contract.


When the band is contracted to publicly perform, the band manager is generally expected to negotiate the terms of the pact in the best interests of the band. Knowledge of contract terminology is customarily required of the band manager to ensure complications or misunderstandings are avoided. If the manager and the band members are in the early stages of their careers, the first few contracts may be discussed and negotiated by all of them. 


Once the band is established and the manager has gained their trust, they are often expected to independently negotiate terms and conditions for the band
.


This position normally requires no formal education. Since a band manager deals with finances and contracts, education in business administration or finance may be desirable. Communications or public relations experience can also be a plus for an aspiring band manager. 


Tenacity and likability often significantly contribute to a band manager’s success.

Manage Your Music

Once your band has gone past the "we'll play anywhere just for the sake of it" phase, it's time for a band meeting.....or more appropriately,
meetings. 


At this point, the buzz of performing is still very strong. To continue down this road without any guidance, direction an organisation will see things disintegrate into double-bookings, financial disagreements, repertoire and your once staunch rehearsal timetable.


Like it or not you are going to need a manager. I can hear many independent musicians shaking at this prospect. The vast majority of those who may be somewhat reluctant in this area are reluctant because they're never worked with a manager and only have stories of scams and scandals to go by. Whilst such tales do occur, they occur no more or less than any other business.


When the decision has been made to employ a manager your band must have an initial meeting to do a 'stock-take.' This entails an inventory of all of your recorded music, any video footage that you may have of live performances, press articles, radio interviews, photographs, 'major' appearances, regular venues, type and size of crowds that you attract. Your promotional resources personal/family commitments. With regard to all of these factors, do not lie! It will bite you on the backside further on down the road harder than you can ever imagine.

By this time, your band has been in the game long enough to be able to contact prospective managers. Give yourselves options. You are about to become employers and you want the best candidate to take your career to the next level.


Once you have decided on possibilities, contact them. Contacting them in person is ideal but not always possible. Prospective managers will appreciate your goodwill.


The next step in the process is to organise meetings with each of them. It may be necessary to schedule the meetings over something of a protracted period. This is not a bad thing. There are a few rules that are imperative when each meeting occurs.


Ensure that each band member is not under the influence of alcohol or any other mind-altering substance. Nominate one member to be spokesman. That spokesman should express the bands wishes as far as what they desire from a manager. Only selective material should be presented. Managers are not fond of bands who reel off only their major achievements. Emphasise commitment. Combined with your track record this indicates that the manager can, as previously mentioned, take you to the next level and earn money himself whilst at it. 


When the prospective manager has his say, be on the lookout for 'big-noters' and a blaze' attitude. For the astute musician, these traits will be detected during the initial stage of the meeting.


As your band progress through meetings you will begin to get the knack of what a managers role is and the variety of tactics employed in order to achieve the same desired result. More of that in a future entry.


In the meantime, get yourself some "Redemption." Discount code: lusty