Seeking management

Ok...

I'm in a band that is going somewhere, as long as we don't try and do everything ourselves much longer. We've taken it as far as we can go, without some outside professional help.

I'm not really sure if we should get an entertainment lawyer or a manager first, but I think we're gonna look for a manager.

We're in Dallas.

Does anyone have ANY ideas as to who to contact? We need someone who will be fair, honest, and actually has some knid of track record.

Any advice will help. We know NO ONE in the biz.

A lot of variables for you to consider.

Define "going somewhere" -- is your band filling local and regional venues?

Making enough to support the band, crew and a manager?

Do you have a strong booking agent?

How much original material do you have and what reception are you getting to it?

Is everyone in the band prepared to take it to the next level?

What do you need a lawyer and/or manager to do? Book gigs? File taxes? Negotiate deals? Do logistics?

A lot of successful bands hire a music industry lawyer first to get their paperwork and business plan in order. Then hire a road manager for a fee or small percentage instead of a manager-manager, since what you often need first is a person to hassle with club owners, promoters, hotels, rental companies, agents, etc. on an after-the-booking basis.

My usual response is "Lawyer first, manager later" but there are exceptions to every rule.

Is your band filling local and regional venues?

We fill the local venues. And play the bigger venues, and do well. We don't get out of our city as much as we'd like, because we'd like for this to be our source of income before we try touring, etc.

Making enough to support the band, crew and a manager?

As stated before, no.

Do you have a strong booking agent?

Haven't hired anyone. I've been doing our booking, and it's been steady. We turn down more offers than we take.

How much original material do you have and what reception are you getting to it?

We have 3 albums worth, or more, of original material, and people LOVE it.

Is everyone in the band prepared to take it to the next level?

This has been discussed, and we'd have it no other way.

What do you need a lawyer and/or manager to do? Book gigs? File taxes? Negotiate deals? Do logistics?

Well, really, I just want someone to take us to where we need to be. All in all. I want it to be a situation, where we make music, and someone else worries about all the other stuff. We want to make it. We think we could make it big, if given the right steps & chances.

I'd just like to know if anyone had any leads on people who do this sort of thing, successfully.

PM me

Plus a billion!

I still have scars from my last "marinarion"....