Introduction The personal management chapter is a look into the fundamental steps and knowledge an artist or producer will need to become familiar with when seeking to hire a personal manager.  Finding and securing good management is very important in this sometimes-challenging music business, and is to be valued once you connect with the right candidate. Also - having a great personal manager in your corner can make the difference between you having a successful career in the music industry, or just being one of the many frustrated people who search for ways to make something of their talent.  Note that much of what you are about to discover about personal management can be useful in your music career at any artist or producer level; unsigned or signed.  So read it, absorb it, and embrace this information, until you get a genuine understanding of these essential ABC’s of seeking and dealing with the whole personal management relationship.  Once you have read and thought about this chapter, you must then do what I feel is the most important step of all…apply what you have learned. IT ALL STARTS WITH ‘THE PLAN’ “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”   Like building anything else in life -- a business, a home, a marriage, or even a bridge, you start the process (if you’re smart) with a plan.  And if you want your music endeavors to be successful, then you definitely need a plan.  Now, with all of this being said, one of the key people needed to help you get your plan together is a personal manager.   Personal managers play a vital role in helping you come up with a plan, and also a strategy to implement that plan.  The plan will involve the manager helping you get many of the other people needed on your team; producers, an attorney, publishers, talent agents, promoters, a record label, marketing experts, an accountant, and if need be, helping you put together your own label or entertainment company.  Your personal manager will be one of the most important people involved with each and every step it takes to assure the success of your career.  So just know this; to increase your chances of success, no matter what level you are on, you MUST create; formulate; and devise a plan… and then march that plan into action.  A good personal manager can help you with all of these things. “Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” --Fitzhugh Dodson EXPERIENCE + KNOWLEDGE = POWER! One of the first priorities in seeking a qualified manager is making sure your candidate has experience in the music business or entertainment business. In most cases, it is best to sign with management who’s knowledgeable of the latest music industry (business and commerce) trends. He or she will also need skills in negotiating contracts, and doing business with others in the industry on a level that people respect.  If you don’t think that all of this matters, then maybe you should rethink the whole idea of even being in this business. Please…it’s best that you understand now, before you move on, your manager’s experience, reputation, and knowledge of the music industry, will definitely influence the other players you will need to come aboard your team. Your manager’s status can also influence the other industry insiders like A&R, DJs, TV and Film Producers, Directors, and Radio people that you may need (at some point) to help you succeed beyond the region you live in.  So, if you are planning to be successful and great, surround yourself with great and successful people.  This definitely includes connecting with management that has experience, and has had some success in the music or entertainment industry. CONNECTIONS Your personal manager will also need to have connections within the music industry.  This means being able to get in touch with other important industry players when needed. And if he or she leaves a message… they actually get a returned phone call!  Note to new talent:  If you hire your Uncle Junior to manage you… just because he’s got his little black book of music contacts, and hangs out at the club every night, this doesn’t mean he can actually get key people in the music industry to take him or you seriously. Now, I certainly am not saying that ‘Uncle Junior’ can’t get some things done, but please, be smart; seek out the best management you can find! And use a little wisdom; if ‘Uncle Junior’ is “down-wit-ya”… and truly “got your back”, then bring him onboard in a different way… after you get hooked up. BUT, WHAT IF IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR? Family Management, and Exceptions Exceptions? Yes, there are definitely exceptions to passing over Uncle Junior, or your mother or father, to manage your career.  From time to time, there can be some real benefits to having a family member handling your career.  I personally believe that this situation is much harder than having someone business minded separate from your family to manage you.  However, there have been a number of artists that have had their father or mother (momager) manage them, and have been very successful. Artist Manager Relationship       LeAnn Rimes Wilbur Rimes Father Justin Timberlake Lynn Harless Mother Diana DeGarmo Brenda DeGarmo Mother Beyoncé Mathew Knowles Father Bow Wow Teresa Caldwell Mother Ashlee & Jessica Simpson Joe Simpson Father Brandy & Ray J, Sonja Norwood Mother Usher Jonetta Patton Mother Aaron Carter Jane Carter Mother Rodney Jerkins (Producer) Fred Jerkins Father   Note:  Even though a parent normally will have their child’s best interest at heart, many times the business relationship with the sibling ends up in a big mess; lawsuits, family fights, stress, and both personal and business severance. The GOOD SIDE Advice from Dina Andrews Management Clients have included: 4x Grammy winner Alvin Speights, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, Derek Bramble & more The pros would be that if your family member is a sound person; as far as business, as far as life, as far as their child is concerned, and treating it as a business, and not being like the “over bearing parent”, then it can be beneficial because that is somebody that you trust.  That means they are going to look out for your best interest. But, they will also need to have “due diligence” in learning the business.     All of this can be a big plus if they have all of the tools and skills available, or even if they are willing to possibly bring somebody in as a co-manager that has the experience to make sure that they are on track with everything until the parent-manager gets to a point where they can do it by themselves.  The co-manager would be the side where you have that trust-factor of a person who is intelligent, business savvy, and understands what needs to be done as far as the growth of the artist’s career.  Also, feelings and emotions don’t get “caught up” in the business of it all. THE BAD SIDE   The downside would be that the parent manager wouldn’t be able to separate everything, and understand the business enough to navigate through it. Personal Management Part 2 >>