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