| You can't throw a rock in any metropolis | | | | These may be reasons to get a |
| on Earth without hitting someone | | | | restraining order but certainly not |
| claiming to be a manager. Where | | | | reasons to make someone your manager. A |
| musicians go, managers follow. It's as | | | | band's manager knows every secret of |
| accepted and expected in the | | | | each musician, every person in each |
| entertainment industry as an | | | | member's personal life, where you keep |
| out-of-control cocaine habit or a | | | | your money, where you live, and who's in |
| failure to pay taxes. When you tell | | | | your fan/contact database. This is not |
| people you're a musician, one of the | | | | information that you want someone who |
| first things they're going to ask you | | | | has 450 cut-out pictures of you on their |
| is: Do you have a manager? However, | | | | bedroom ceiling having at his/her |
| those in the throws of the music | | | | disposal. Enough said? |
| business know to ask an even more | | | | 3.) Don't Sign A Contract Unless It's |
| accurate question: Do you have a good | | | | Worth It---Manager's like control. That |
| manager? | | | | why they choose to be managers and not |
| "What's the difference?" you may ask. | | | | people who macramé wall hangings with |
| Isn't any manager better than no manager | | | | the mane hair of ponies. Thus, most |
| at all? While it would seem that the | | | | managers will try and evoke you into |
| answer to that question is | | | | signing a contract. In the |
| unequivocally, "Yes", in reality it's a | | | | entertainment industry, contracts are |
| bit like asking, "Isn't having a | | | | like marriage certificates…before you |
| herpes-ridden prostitute for a | | | | sign one be sure your band wants to be |
| girlfriend better than being single?" | | | | tied to the same person for long time (a |
| In truth, bad representation is far | | | | year, two years, five years, etc.) |
| worse than a lack of representation. | | | | because they're much easier to get into |
| While, it's a fact, that there are | | | | than to get out of. For example, if you |
| things your band will probably never | | | | sign a contract with an efficient, but |
| achieve without the aid of a manager, | | | | somewhat green manager, who is helping |
| agent, entertainment attorney, etc., bad | | | | all he/she can to get you everything |
| representation can stagnate a | | | | possible from what little resources he |
| career…stop it dead in its hurling | | | | she has and then Gwen Stefani's |
| climb to the ranks of superstardom or | | | | management team approaches you after a |
| even worse…undo some of the hard work | | | | big gig and wants to put you on tour |
| the band has already done. | | | | with John Mayer. Do you think if you |
| Sad but true, a bad manager can take a | | | | tell them, "We love to take your tour |
| perfectly good band and turn them into a | | | | but we're under contract with someone |
| thing so foul that old gypsy women | | | | else for the next five years, can you |
| covering their faces with rags will spit | | | | hit us up then?" the offer will still |
| and give your band the evil eye as you | | | | stand? Not so much. So, if you must |
| pass. Ok, that may be a bit dramatic, | | | | sign contracts, keep them short and make |
| but seriously…all your band really has | | | | sure they give you room to act, think, |
| is its name and its reputation, so why | | | | play and communicate with others without |
| would take a chance on either of those | | | | getting clearance from your band warden |
| by putting the whole of your band into | | | | (manager). And make it includes an exit |
| the hands of someone that you're not | | | | clause. Read up on it. |
| 100% sure has your best interests at | | | | 4.) Sometimes Bigger Is Not |
| stake? | | | | Better---Although it's a huge ego stroke |
| The following are a few tips that will | | | | to brag to all of the other musicians |
| help you to decipher whether or not your | | | | backstage at the Whiskey A Go-Go that |
| manager can take you to the top or turn | | | | your manager works with Grammy |
| your band into a flop: | | | | award-winners and stadium sell-outs, |
| 1.) The Drummer's Girlfriend Is Not A | | | | sometimes an unsigned band can get lost |
| Manager---Sure, she may get names for | | | | in a huge management firm. While Mr. |
| your mailing list, invite her girl's | | | | Big Stud Manager is busy picking out |
| beach volleyball team to all of your | | | | Madonna's dress for the American Music |
| gigs and post your latest pictures on | | | | Awards, he may forget to ask Quincy |
| your website photo gallery, but she's | | | | Jones to attend your bass player's |
| not really your manager. She's a | | | | birthday gig at Billy-Bob Wang's Tofu |
| helper, she can be the president of your | | | | BBQ Shack. The problem with huge |
| fan club, the head of your street team | | | | managers is that their focus often goes |
| and the world's sexiest roadie but she | | | | the acts that are making them 15% of 100 |
| probably doesn't know how to put | | | | million dollars a year. Your 15% of |
| together a press package and make the | | | | $45.75 a year after expenses is |
| calls that will get you into an A&R | | | | probably not his highest priority now or |
| rep's office for a meeting. This also | | | | ever, and what good are his super |
| applies to: boyfriends, wives, husbands, | | | | amazing industry contacts if he never |
| booty calls, one night stands, moms, | | | | remembers to invite them to your gigs? |
| dads, cousins, aunts, uncles, neighbors, | | | | Having a manager is great but only if |
| nieces, nephews, grandparents, | | | | they provide more benefit to the band |
| grandchildren, pets and the homeless guy | | | | than the sum total of your band members |
| who roots through your trash at | | | | and band helpers can do for yourselves. |
| midnight. These people may all be | | | | If you find someone who can open doors, |
| well-meaning and you can accept their | | | | take your music places it cannot go on |
| aid in dozens of ways (it takes a | | | | its on and has your best intentions at |
| village to build a popular unsigned | | | | heart, then grab that contract, sign it |
| band) but don't give them the label or | | | | and enjoy the benefits. If not, you may |
| the powers of a manager. | | | | find yourself: conned, stalked, ignored |
| 2.) Treasure Your Fans But Don't Let | | | | and/or legally bound to someone that |
| Them Manage You---This should be a given | | | | puts their own agenda (well-meaning or |
| but you'd be surprised how many | | | | otherwise) and their own ego above |
| over-eager, slightly-obsessed fans move | | | | what's right for you band. And whatever |
| from semi-stalker to mega-manager in a | | | | you do, don't sit around waiting for Mr. |
| few simple weeks. I cannot stress how | | | | Ms. Right to wisk your band off its feet |
| simply wrong this entire concept is for | | | | and carry it off on his/her white horse |
| two dozen major reasons the most | | | | to the Fairyland where everyone gets a |
| important of which is: fans need to be | | | | record deal. You, as its members, know |
| kept at a distance. There is a reason | | | | more than anyone, how to do what's right |
| why that same person comes to all of | | | | for your band and nothing will attract |
| your shows no matter how many you play, | | | | the perfect manager faster than seeing |
| gets there early, sits up front | | | | musicians who are out there, doing their |
| seemingly paralyzed starring at you | | | | thing, and making headway in a very |
| enraptured. Either they're in love with | | | | difficult business with a great attitude |
| someone in the band or they're insane. | | | | and terrific music. |