Ask yourself- Do I really need pro support?

[StratKat]

Hi guys,

 

a friend of mine was contracted locally to do some managing for a band. They were willing to pay, and willing to let him make descisions based on where they played, who booked them, money, comps, and material played for set lists. But when it came to big things like image, choreography, lessons (vocal, dance), and promotional items they gave him nothing but flack and refused to do any of it.

 

This band is a decent enough group, they have potential, but they refuse to give an inch in areas they hired the manager to work on.

 

In one practice they said (from what i was told) that they hired this guy to get them signed and become well known because thats what a manager is supposed to do. But then in the same statement they said they were not going to change this or do that because it went against the feel they wanted or the image.

 

Now my friend isnt bigtime now, but he has some expertise with labels and knows a few names. He has rubbed shoulders with top acts and managed one or two in the past. Now a days he was just doing this to help out a band in need. He is retired from the scene...

 

So i guess what im thinking is that many people havent a clue as to what a manager does, and why you pay them so much.

 

My take on this is this.

 

If you pay someone for advice, and its a high wage because they have a history of success in a biz, then take it.

You hire proven people to get rpoven results because they KNOW what to do and how to accomplish it. Otherwise , why waiste the bucks? If YOU knew how to get it done you wouldnt need them, right?

 

Mind ya, im not talking about selling out for comercialism, or changing a metal band to a pop rock group. But simple things that are not really a big deal in the larger picture.

 

I hear alot of guys online wanting managers, producers, promoters, designers, writers, choreographers, teachers, but they seem to seldom have the brains to do what they are told after they pay the big bucks out for them.

 

Doesnt make sense...

 

Any thoughts?

[BlueStrat]

It all depends if you're hiring a manger to try to sell your product as is or if you're hiring one to turn you into a sellable product. It's a legitimate difference, and one that should be hashed out before the manager ever gets or accepts the job. I have a manager who does certain things for me, like help me put together promo, develop a market strategy, get me interviews with media outlets, helps me develop a fashion style, etc etc. But as soon as he started telling me about choreography or matching outfits or what material to play, he'd be down the road.

[kenm]

Hi,

 

It sounds to me like these guys wanted a booking agent and not a manager. They want him to get them gigs, and are willing to let him make a number of desicions based on that, but they do not want a manager to help shape their image. They just want him to sell the image they have. Perhaps they think (and I think this philosophy is spread throughout this board) that if you are selling out good shows and selling a ton of CDs, you are in a good position to get signed. Labels want you when you are making enough money not to need them. Perhaps this is what the band expects. Overall, it is like when a band hire a producer when all they really want is an engineer. Or vice versa. Labels are tough in the music industry. Each person needs to clarify what they actually expect from the other.

 

Ken