Finding a good manager is an important step for independent artists. A manager helps you grow your career, find opportunities, and handle business. But choosing the right one is not easy. Here are eight key things to consider before making your decision.
Experience in the Music Industry
A great manager should understand the music business. Look for someone who has worked with artists before or has experience in areas like promotions, booking, and marketing. Having a manager with real industry experience is crucial for independent artists. A manager with knowledge and connections can help you avoid mistakes, find great opportunities, and grow your career faster. Here’s why experience matters and what to look for.
Music is not just about making songs, it’s a business with many moving parts. A manager with experience knows how to navigate record deals, publishing rights, promotions, and live bookings. They understand how streaming, royalties, and contracts work, ensuring you don’t get taken advantage of.
Passion for Your Music.
Your manager should believe in your talent and music. If they truly love your work, they will be more motivated to push you forward. Avoid managers who only care about money but don’t connect with your style. Some managers only focus on fast money or quick success, but a passionate manager thinks long-term. They help you build a strong career rather than just chasing temporary trends. Their love for your music keeps them invested in your future.
The music industry has ups and downs. There will be moments when things don’t go as planned, poor ticket sales, low streams, or slow growth. A manager with true passion will not give up on you. They will find ways to keep pushing your career forward and help you stay motivated.
Strong Connections
A manager with a good network can open doors for you. They should have contacts with promoters, labels, booking agents, and other industry professionals. These connections help you get better opportunities. In the music industry, connections can make a huge difference in an artist’s career. A manager with strong industry ties can help you get better opportunities, meet influential people, and open doors that might be difficult to access on your own. Here’s why connections matter and how they can shape your success.
Concerts and gigs are crucial for independent artists, but securing good venues and shows isn’t always easy. Managers with strong ties to event organizers and club owners can book you for popular events, music festivals, and radio performances, helping you gain more exposure
Good Communication Skills
Your manager needs to be someone you can talk to easily. They should listen to your ideas, give honest feedback, and keep you updated. If they are hard to reach or don’t explain things clearly, it may cause problems later. A great manager must be an excellent communicator. They are your representative, negotiator, and advisor, so clear and effective communication is essential. Here’s why communication matters and what to look for when choosing a manager.
Your manager should explain things in a way you understand. Whether it’s contracts, deals, or career moves, they should be open and clear about what’s happening. Miscommunication can lead to confusion or bad decisions, so transparency is key.Your manager speaks on your behalf when dealing with promoters, labels, and business partners. They must be confident, persuasive, and skilled at negotiating deals that benefit you. A weak communicator may struggle to secure the best opportunities.
Trust and Reliability.
You must fully trust your manager because they will handle important parts of your career. Make sure they are honest, responsible, and have a good reputation. If they seem shady or unreliable, it’s best to look for someone else. A manager plays a crucial role in shaping an artist’s career, making trust and reliability essential qualities. Without them, you risk facing dishonesty, mismanagement, and wasted opportunities. Here’s why these traits matter and how to identify them in a potential manager.
A trustworthy manager is open about financial matters, including payments, budgets, and expenses. They should provide clear records of earnings, fees, and business costs. If a manager refuses to share financial details or keeps things vague, it could lead to serious financial issues.