- Your General Manager is your Chief Operations Officer, your negotiator, your sales person, your artistic advisor, your legal and business affairs expert, your business development and project manager, your branding and communications guru – and your champion, confidante and business partner.
- A manager will look for an artist who presents themselves in a professional manner, communicates well, is personable, responsible and, increasingly, entrepreneurial.
- When looking for a manager, the first thing to do is your research. There are as many approaches to Artist Management as there are Artist Managers. Whilst all managers look after the strategic development and direction of your professional activities, each manager is unique in their approach and style. It is of vital importance that you understand who you are as a musician, that you are honest about your strengths and weaknesses, and that you have invested time in thinking about your career ambitions.
- You should be mindful of conflicts of interest. If a specific manager represents an artist with whom you share a similar profile and career level, that manager may not be able to represent you.
- When contacting Artist Managers for the first time, remember to leave them wanting more. This introductory note should be an intriguing teaser – not an epic tale. Not only does a straight-to-the-point note show professionalism and respect, it opens the door for further questions and correspondence.
Taken from ISM’s How to… Work with an Artist Manager. These practical guides, available to ISM members, build on the practical industry advice on offer at The Empowered Musician event, highlighting the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in your music career.
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK’s professional body for musicians and a nationally recognised subject association for music education. We support over 9,000 musicians across the UK with our unrivalled legal advice and representation, comprehensive insurance and specialist services.
Find out more at www.ism.org
