So you think you need a manager, eh?

It’s a big step in the evolution of most bands:  Few, if any, will manage to go through a career without hiring a manager. Eventually, the pressures of music business finances mean that a band needs someone to handle the day-to-day tasks.

Depending on the band, they may also need a manager to work as mediator, if there are some disagreements between band members.

The problem, of course, is finding a good one. Here are a few questions to ask when you’re ‘auditioning’ a backstage guy.

Finding The Right Music Manager For Your Band

1 – Who do you know?

Networking isn’t just for C-level execs – it’s vital to get ahead in the music business. Your manager should have better venue connections or music industry hookups. If he isn’t bringing a ‘little black book’ with him, he’s not going to be much use to you.

2 – Who have you worked with?

Obviously, a manager should have past experience. However, this is about more than just band names, it’s also about personalities. A manager who works well with relaxed, laid-back acts is probably going to have difficulty managing a band with a lot of internal drama.

Look for a manager whose past acts seem similar enough to yours so that his or her experience can better translate.

3 – What’s your goal?

Some managers see a band and want to give it a makeover. Others are focused on their career and want to use you as a springboard in the same way you want to use them. Others just like being part of the music business and helping acts succeed, while making a few bucks on the side.

Look for a manager whose view of their future matches your view of the future. Establishing this early on helps you make an informed decision, and find someone whose value to you will continue into the future.

Have you hired a manager lately? Why not drop a comment in the forum below, and let people know how it went?