MUSIC BUSINESS

MSIT TAFEDiploma Course

Blair HughesWeek 2: Band Management

Why do you want to manage an artist? Why do you think that you can do this? What would be some good outcomes for you

to achieve in six months? (release an EP, tour QLD, get a number 1 hit?)

Why Manage an Artist?

1. Always plan from the END to the START! 2. Know your audience.3. Have a kick ass booking agent, but an agreement so you can book

your own shows4. Think GLOBALLY as Australia is Australia.5. Merch. Think revenue streams. Great designs = $$$6. Use social media creatively and professionally7. Don’t be a jerk. Small industry. 8. Never OVERPLAY your market. Brisbane is Brisbane! Gig’s every 6

weeks.9. Lawyer Up. ‘Better Call Saul!’ 10. REHEARSE the show! Get a sound engineer11. BRAND the BAND! 12. Never forget the PAUSE button.

Fundamental Artist Management Tips

Bands/artists are slack…Not all, but most

don’t care about $, the biz or but the ART! While managers do plenty of things to ‘run the

ship’ it is a 50/50 partnership. The band must be working as hard as you are on the business side, on the music side.

THIS IS A BUSINESS……..Not a HOBBY! Take it seriously.

You are NOT their MUM!

1. People Skills: Networking, Communication, Enthusiasm,

Honesty, Respect

2. Being The Responsible One: You keep the show on the road, the act together, the $$$ rolling in!

3. Music Industry Knowledge: Know what you are talking about!

4. Multi-Tasking: You will need to play different roles at the same time. It is tiring but fun!

5. Being Neutral. Disagreements

Band Management Skills

Run It By Them: Opportunities, Proposals, Ideas. Positive and that the

band is in your best interests.

Keep Them Informed: What is going on around the band.

Have Frequent Meetings/Communicate: Use a private social media page, text, share ideas and communicate!

Be Realistic: Hive Saturday example

Find the Right Band: What is their brand? Are the songs radio ready, outstanding songs, do they look the part, are they serious/is this a business or hobby?

What Happens Between an Artist and Manager Stays Between

an Artist and Manager. Confidentiality is key!

How to REALLY Manage

Go to gigs! JJJ UnEarthed/YouTube/4ZZZ etc Radio, Digital Radio, Street Press, Online Music

sites Social Media Fans/Punters/Friends Solicit demo’s (Brisbane Sounds/labels) Word of Mouth…Who are people talking

about?

How to find a band/artist to

manage

How can you sell your skills to a potential band/artist?

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 demo’s to radio, label, print media, online blogs etc, network in the industry, get the band gigs, , Book gigs and invite labels and the media to the shows, Help book studio time and practice sessions, Explore funding opportunities for the band, run social media, be the van driver, co-ordinate tours, what else can you think of?

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.

What can a band manager do?

Research one of your favourite bands/artists Find out what information you can about their

manager What is their background? Can you establish why they became a

manager? Are there any skills that you can see that

make them a great manager? What success have they had with their

artist/artists? Records, festivals, etc

Task 1: Artist Manager Case Study

Research an artist management website What key elements do they have on the

website? Think about how you could set up a website

(free), social media.

Task 2: Artist Management

Websites