Are you ready to have a manager?

"Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out."

— Ronald Reagan

It is said that if a business fails it is not because of a poor product or because of an unproven market. Nine out of ten businesses fail because of management incompetence. Hear that again. A business fails because of management incompetence! Remember, if you choose leadership as your path you must become a musician and a business person all wrapped in one. The same way a person would fail at his instrument of choice if he did not practice, a leader can fail without following basic laws of business. I’m asked so many times by young groups to be their manager. The first thing I ask them is "Can you afford me"? Then I ask them, “how many times a week are you playing and how much do you make?” “How much money would you like to be making?” “What is the long term goal of your group?” These are questions to ask yourself before you decide to hire a manager. It always amazes me at how little thought goes into the career goals of a musical group. Usually the answers are ambiguous. Something like, “we want to make it to the top!”

The “top?” The “top” of what?? The “top” spot in a police line-up?! The “top” of the list at the I.R.S. for income tax evasion???

You need to clearly define your goals. You might first set the amount of gigs you wish to play each month, increasing that number as time goes by. Perhaps you can set the same sort of goal for CD sales. But goals are achieved one step at a time. A good manager can help you set attainable (and realistic) goals.

You should hire a manager whenever the business end of your career is becoming too much to handle – when the business side of the group interferes with the quality of your performance - or when you feel someone with connections and energy could help take it to the next level. Managers at this stage can get involved in everything from booking local shows for you, shopping for a record deal, getting attention from the press - to booking studio or rehearsal time. They basically execute and handle all those aspects of your career. You should DEFINITELY have a manager at the point in your career when any kind of recording contract is being considered. And your manager must have some legal savvy or have a colleague who is an attorney.

There are several different types of management responsibilities. It might be possible to find a super-talented individual to do everything but the breakdown is as follows:

1. A Personal Manager - represents the artist, renders to your personal needs, and seeks out contracts for the group.

2. An Attorney - a crucial member of your team who will review any kind of contracts you are asked to sign, and should understand the music business and the entertainment laws.

3. A Business Manager - responsible for planning, organizing and controlling all of the accounting, budgeting and financial needs.

4. The Booking Agent - organizes and arranges appointments such as T.V talk shows, concerts, radio interviews, and telephone interviews.

5. A Press agent – gets the group the much needed publicity to

keep them in the public eye - hence enhancing CD sales and

live-booking possibilities.

All of the aforementioned serve in a different capacity, but are vital members of your team. Do not let them take over your business because they all work for you!