An artist manager, also known as a "band manager", is in charge of the business side of being in a band. Often, band members are great at the creative side of things, but aren't so great at promoting themselves, booking their own gigs, or negotiating deals. In a very general sense, the task of a manager is take care of the day to day running of the band's career, so the band can focus on the creative side of things
The jobs a manager does depends very much on the band and where they are in their careers. For an unsigned band, a manager should:
- Send out demos to labels, radio stations, local print media, and online publications
- Book gigs and invite labels and the media to the shows
- Network and talk to people about the band
- Help book studio time and practice sessions
- Explore funding opportunities for the band
For signed artists, managers should:
- Negotiate financial deals with the label for expenses like touring and recording
- Oversee other people working for the band, like accountants, agents, and merchandisers.
For a signed artist, the manager should be the mouthpiece of the band, and their greatest ally, making sure that everyone else involved in the band's career is doing their job and working hard to promote the band's success. For instance, the manager should be on the phone with the label, asking about advertising campaigns and then on the phone with agent asking about upcoming show opportunities.
Managers are generally paid a percentage of the band's income: 15% to 20% is the industry norm. In addition to their percentage, managers should not have to cover any expenses out of their own pocket.
There are some things a manager should NOT get a cut of. These are:
- Songwriting Royalties
- Merchandise
In a word, YES. Even if you're managing an unsigned band made up of personal friends and there is no money involved for now, you need to write up an agreement. It doesn't have to be fancy or even supervised by a lawyer. Just jot down what is expected of both manager and band, what the percentage of income for the manager will be if any money should come in, and what happens if band and manager decide to part ways. Many new bands don't want to make their friends sign contracts. Put that out of your mind. When you're entering into a business relationship with a friend, a contract keeps the friendship safe.
If you think management might be a good fit for you, take a look around you. Do you know any musicians who could use someone to help organize shows or manage their websites? Volunteer to help bands you know, even if it means working for free while you're learning the ropes.
You could also approach a management company and see if they have any internship opportunities available. Like most music careers, if you keep your head down and work hard, the right people will eventually notice.
