Why Musicians Need a Good Manager
SoundBridge Artists: "A manager's job isn't simply to manage what's already happening. It's to continually look for ways to make more happen". - A. G.
Let’s take a look at what a manager actually does, and why you need one if you are serious about taking your career to the next level.
We are always looking for opportunities. A manager is constantly watching for ways to promote the artist, expand their audience, strengthen their brand, and move their career forward.
We think about your career when you're busy making music. Artists should be able to concentrate on creating, recording, rehearsing, and performing. A manager keeps the business side moving.
We think outside the box. We look beyond traditional promotion and bring in marketing consultants, publicists, designers, videographers, social-media specialists, and other professionals when they can help advance the artist.
We help build the right team around you. A manager identifies the people you need and coordinates the team so everyone works toward the same goals.
We create and maintain your marketing tools. That includes EPKs, sizzle reels, bios, press releases, promotional videos, one-sheets, social-media content, booking materials, photos, and other assets that present the artist professionally.
We actively promote your brand. We aren't simply waiting for opportunities to arrive. We're continually looking for new audiences, markets, media exposure, partnerships, and creative ways to keep your name visible.
We pursue endorsements and partnerships. We identify brands that fit the artist and pursue endorsement opportunities, sponsorships, product relationships, and other strategic partnerships.
We seek media exposure. We identify podcasts, radio personalities, journalists, television opportunities, online publications, and other outlets where the artist can be interviewed, featured, or have their music played.
We identify smart collaborations. The right collaboration can introduce an artist to an entirely new audience. A manager looks for artists, producers, songwriters, and musicians who make sense creatively and strategically.
We help manage your time. If you'll let us, we help organize priorities, deadlines, interviews, rehearsals, releases, appearances, meetings, and other demands so opportunities don't fall through the cracks.
We coordinate booking with people we trust. In our case, we can farm out booking to our sister company, which means management and booking stay in communication, and we know what is happening with the artist's career.
We look at the big picture. A good manager doesn't think only about the next gig. We're thinking about where the artist should be six months, a year, or several years from now.
We develop career strategy. That means deciding which opportunities make sense—and sometimes which to turn down because they don't support the artist's long-term goals. (see We Protect Your Brand below)
We help plan releases. Singles, albums, videos, radio promotion, press, social media, live appearances, and touring work better when they're coordinated rather than happening independently.
We build and maintain industry relationships. Managers develop relationships with talent buyers, promoters, radio programmers, media, publicists, producers, labels, festival organizers, other artists, and industry professionals.
We follow up. This is a huge part of management. Opportunities often happen because someone followed up a second, third, or fourth time when the artist didn't have time to.
We protect the artist's professional reputation. We help make sure communication is professional, commitments are honored, materials are current, and the artist and their team are prepared.
We help evaluate opportunities and agreements. We assess whether an opportunity benefits the artist and, when needed, bring in attorneys, accountants, or other professionals to handle areas requiring their expertise.
We keep everyone communicating. Musicians, booking agents, publicists, venues, promoters, marketing people, and other team members need someone keeping the pieces connected.
We troubleshoot. When something goes wrong—and in the music business, something will—the manager works behind the scenes to solve it so the artist can focus on performing.
We advocate for the artist. A good manager is the person in the room, on the phone, or behind the email asking, “How does this benefit our artist?”
We create accountability. Great ideas don't build careers unless somebody follows through. A manager helps turn ideas into deadlines, assignments, actions, and results.
We provide another set of eyes and ears. Artists are understandably emotionally invested in their music. A good manager can provide an outside business perspective while still respecting the artist's creative vision.
Most importantly, we're invested in your success. Management works best when the artist and manager operate as a team. When your career grows, we grow with you.
We provide image consulting. Everyone needs a persona. The image that a fan thinks of when your name pops into their head. Let us help you develop one. A former model and hairstylist on our staff will help you develop your persona. She is more than qualified to help you reach your full audience-grabbing potential.
We protect your brand! We make sure you never accept a performance offer for less than you are worth. When you do, you diminish your brand. You also make it difficult to sell yourself at a higher rate to other venues because they need to see prior ticket sales and ticket prices. Always know your worth/value and ask for it. We will. We believe in protecting your future.