Artist career

Do you need a manager

Not before there is something to manage. A manager does not build a career from zero; they take over work that has outgrown you — negotiations, dates, budgets, people. If the requests are not arriving yet, a manager sits idle while you pay a share for waiting.

Signs it is time

• Offers arrive faster than you can answer them.
• Shows are regular and need negotiating.
• You spend more time in your inbox than on music.

How to agree terms

• One release or six months as a trial.
• A share of what they brought in, not of everything.
• In writing, even with a friend.

Who to hire first

• Usually not a manager. First you need someone who closes a specific job: mixing, filming, release promo. A manager comes once there are several of those people and someone has to coordinate them.

In short

• How much does a manager take? Usually a share of income. The exact percentage is negotiable and should be tied to results.
• Can a friend be my manager? Yes, with a written agreement. Without one it usually costs you both the work and the friendship.

Next

• Do independent artists need a label
• How artists make money from music
• What an independent artist does every week
• The independent artist's career