Artist Management Basics

There seems to be a lot to being an Artist Manager. Some of the duties would include but are not limited to: promoting, building a fan base, booking shows, determining career moves, business deals and recording contracts. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Artist Managers do so much more. They make sure things run smoothly when the artist is on the road, on tour. Making sure the backstage rider is in place and the artist is comfortable and happy. They are the ones who make sure everything runs smoothly.

Artist Managers might have an accounting or business background, as they are usually the ones who work the business side of deals for the artist. It is recommended that the prospective Artist Manager consider taking college courses to be up to date on accounting and business practices.

Getting along with the artist is paramount to a good relationship. Some people consider the artist/manager relationship to function as closely as a marriage would. There has to be a basic groundwork of trust and respect to make it work. If either person breaks that trust, it would be very hard to reestablish the function of the working relationship. Both parties should go into a management contract understanding how important this relationship will be.

Before an artist hires a manager, they should work together informally for a time period agreed upon in order to get to know each other well. Without knowing your manager and his/her style, it would be hard to know whether you could trust this person completely. The manager should be willing and able to produce past references and be open about anything the artist would want to know before signing a contract.

Last and not least, the artist should hire legal counsel before signing any contract. He or she should invest in the legal consultation, as this will affect his or her ability to make money in the future. Going into contracts blindly can have very negative effects on the artist’s career, so this is a must.