In the 90’s, we had a manager that took everything that the OP is doing and divided it up between the band members. What a joke. Miss those days though.
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Do we need a Manager?
- Thread starter hardtop
- Start date
my underground metal band has no manager, and I do all the stuff that you are doing, and it sucks. I would much rather have someone take 20% - 30% if they could do it all for me! Then all I would have to do is write songs and make records. I don't want to book shows/tours/flights/hotels/merch/gear/money.
So much easier if someone else would do it for me!
I played in a band in the 90's that had a manager. He was super cool, but he focused more on the larger gigs, promotion, etc., so we still had to do everything else. Granted, he didn't ask for anything, he just liked having the music thing as a hobby.
So much easier if someone else would do it for me!
I played in a band in the 90's that had a manager. He was super cool, but he focused more on the larger gigs, promotion, etc., so we still had to do everything else. Granted, he didn't ask for anything, he just liked having the music thing as a hobby.
You sure? You keep saying the manager won't relieve any of the duties, but pretty sure multiple were listed earlier in the thread. Booking/negotiations/logistics? Aren't those tasks you are now relieved of? I'm confused.
Edit: i see now you have booking agent/lawyer covering these things. You really need to do a full cost/benefit analysis on multiple scenarios to make the final decision. For instance could a manager cover the tasks you are hiring two people to do for less, etc.
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If it hasn't already been mentioned.....
The reason labels and venues want a manager is because of Power of Attorney. They are a single representative for the band as a group. Otherwise they would have to get an agreement from all members on everything and if some agree and some don't they have no recourse if something happens later.
If you are a "band" you need a formal declaration of that. It's just like having a business.
The reason labels and venues want a manager is because of Power of Attorney. They are a single representative for the band as a group. Otherwise they would have to get an agreement from all members on everything and if some agree and some don't they have no recourse if something happens later.
If you are a "band" you need a formal declaration of that. It's just like having a business.
Me too man, it sucks. No manager we've found is offering to do any of that, unfortunately. They just do "brand building" and TV appearances I guess. Our booking agent handles our shows and tours, so at least we don't deal with that anymore, and that's the lions share of the "extra" work. Also, I cant imagine anyone outside the band controlling our money, but the rest of it I would gladly give up.
We are a corporation in fact. All contracts are with the organization and not the individual members.
Thank you. Yeah, the management companies and booking agencies are two different entities in our situation. The type of management we are discussing will not book shows or tours. They may throw some weight around to help us get certain event or tour, but as I mentioned before, it's not an issue for use because we don't tour in the traditional sense, and our booking agent is really very capable of getting us involved in those things that interest us. Unless the manager himself had a law degree and were a practicing bar certified attorney, I would still hire a lawyer to review any contract. We don't employ the lawyer full time, just on the rare occasion that legal matters need to be addressed, and its done on a one time fee basis.
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sounds to me like you don't need a manager --- at least not at this time. your self-managed style seems to be working given your routine and your goals.
good luck!
good luck!
yeah, we have a booking agent, but I've found that when I do it myself the shows/tours are much better, more organized, and more profitable! Last few times I let them do the tours, they were not that great.
- Sep 4, 2010
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- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
While I'm not in metal, I am around a lot of professional jazz people, and I see 2 types of managers:
The music professional who is part of a Management Bureau who develops and runs the band career (or individual musician), and to that purpose may handle some of the booking business, and most of the social media duties, for example. This manager or bureau are career strategists, typically demand exclusivity, and to be useful to you, should be the kind of people with both the vision, and the quality of contacts, to get your band to the level where you want it to be, and for which you do not have the clout yourself.
The second type is the super-fan, who has been trained by the artist or band personally to run their career. They typically only work for that group or artist, based on personal loyalty, and get paid to do that. This the type that I've run into most, and it works well for long-term careers and slow building name recognition not unusual for jazz musicians, as these managers stay with them for decades. But it likely also took years to develop themselves as proper managers, so if you see this band as a 3-year project, it may not be worth the trouble of allowing such a person learning the ropes on your dime/time.
Several musicians I know who sell and market their own music have some sort of assistance, part-time administrative or something like that. But that is not management.
You seem to have a good grip on what needs to be done, and the question if you really need a manager (career guidance far beyond a bit of assistance here and there) is a really good one, and your instinct that seems to suggest you probably don't, might be correct.
Good luck & I hope this helps.
The music professional who is part of a Management Bureau who develops and runs the band career (or individual musician), and to that purpose may handle some of the booking business, and most of the social media duties, for example. This manager or bureau are career strategists, typically demand exclusivity, and to be useful to you, should be the kind of people with both the vision, and the quality of contacts, to get your band to the level where you want it to be, and for which you do not have the clout yourself.
The second type is the super-fan, who has been trained by the artist or band personally to run their career. They typically only work for that group or artist, based on personal loyalty, and get paid to do that. This the type that I've run into most, and it works well for long-term careers and slow building name recognition not unusual for jazz musicians, as these managers stay with them for decades. But it likely also took years to develop themselves as proper managers, so if you see this band as a 3-year project, it may not be worth the trouble of allowing such a person learning the ropes on your dime/time.
Several musicians I know who sell and market their own music have some sort of assistance, part-time administrative or something like that. But that is not management.
You seem to have a good grip on what needs to be done, and the question if you really need a manager (career guidance far beyond a bit of assistance here and there) is a really good one, and your instinct that seems to suggest you probably don't, might be correct.
Good luck & I hope this helps.
From your description I wouldn't bother getting a manager. You basically said that you and the one other guy do all the managing stuff and you think he does a good job and he likely thinks you do a good job or he would have said something to you by now as he has clearly invested extra time as you have. Considering that you guys are successfully TOURING 4x weeks a year, are on a label, doing 1x weekend a month bigger shows or festivals, and are working with a big booking agent already exactly what value would a manager bring to your band? Doesn't sound like much. Even reading your post it sounds like you've subconsciously decided not to already but wanted to run it by other people because you're second guessing yourself because of the A&R guy that mentioned it because it sounds like you respect and value the A&R guy's opinion. From your description, your band is already successful without a manager, I would shelve that issue unless you guys decide to go full-time touring.
I like metal PM me the name of your band I'd like to hear it.
I like metal PM me the name of your band I'd like to hear it.
From everything you've posted, the main value I can see a manager bringing is if they could grow your career significantly.
It may be worthwhile to talk with some of the people who've expressed interest if only to see if they could do this. Music is about relationships. They may have some valuable relationships you don't.
It may be worthwhile to talk with some of the people who've expressed interest if only to see if they could do this. Music is about relationships. They may have some valuable relationships you don't.
