Time For a Career Change?
Behind every Christian band in the market is a grounded, knowledgeable manager. Even if that manager is a member of the band, the manager plays a key role in everything from where the band plays to the management of their finances. This is a rewarding career but how do you go about taking part in it?
Instructions
1. Choose bands with potential. You may feel sorry for a band who is struggling or that you may know personally. However, remember that this is a business. It doesn't mean that you can't care about the members of your band on a personal level, but you should make sure that the line is drawn when it comes to the business side and the friendship side. Be sure to only represent bands that you feel have potential or you feel can draw in an active audience. This will ensure your place in the Christian band management field for years to come.
2. Monitor their financial decisions. Part of managing a Christian band is being careful to examine where the money is spent. You need to be thrifty while at the same time making sure that your clients in the band can survive (if they have chosen and are able to work full time as musicians). Many bands will want to spend every cent right away when they get it on everything from equipment to cars. Your job is to advise them wisely spend their money as well as help them save and handle their own money properly when needed.
3. Monitor their mental and spiritual health. Unlike the secular market, your band will need to be both mentally and spiritually sound to survive in the Christian market. Your band's success will start from touring with larger Christian bands. How your band interacts with these larger artists will determine whether they choose you for future tours or recommend you to other artists. You may be able to start a following from touring with your first artist, but if you can't get on any larger tours because the band members made fools of themselves or were offensive in any way, you will have to come up with your own tech, your own tour, your own promotion, advertisement and so forth to tour by yourself. You don't see many bands succeed at this because it's nearly impossible. So the lesson is to make sure your band members stay both mentally and spiritually grounded to put across a good, honest and real image.
4. Help them navigate the legal aspects of the music industry. Unfortunately even when working with other Christians you will have to work with contracts. The Christian industry has been a place where secular companies have found interest in the last decade and will take advantage of any unsuspecting, trusting Christian band. It is your job to get them the appropriate entertainment lawyers and work as the mediator between the law firm, the band, the label and any other industry presence that may be interested in your clients.
5. Work toward furthering their career. Your goal and job is to further the careers of your band, not necessarily yourself. Be sure to keep your own personal thoughts out of the mix and work with the band's goals and their desires and steer them towards those goals and desires. You are a guide, not a dictator. Stay vigilant, respect your clients, respect others in the industry, and make industry contacts, and not only will your clients grow, but your list of clients will grow as well.
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