This is by far still the most asked question of me and still I give the same answer almost every single time. Let's talk about it helping you navigate the music industry. Here's Rick Barker with the music industry blueprint podcast. So the question is this will you be my manager? What will it take to get a manager? When should I get a manager? Why can't I get a manager sound familiar? So first and foremost, I'm very flattered when anyone asks if I would be interested in being their manager. It shows that hopefully I'm doing something right that they feel this attraction towards me and then what I usually do is I get with them and I asked them what is it that you currently have that needs to be managed. And then usually this long pause happens I said, okay. Well, let me ask you a couple questions. Are you okay with that? They're like, of course I said, okay. Do you currently have a record company? Usually the answer is no. Okay. So you don't need anyone to manage and be the go-between between that do you currently have a booking agent know? Okay, so you don't need a manager for that. Did you make at least $100,000 with your music last year? Most the time the answer is no I said, okay. Well had you made that your manager would have only made between 15,000 to 20,000 dollars I said, so that's why it's really hard right now for you to get a manager one is you don't have anything to manage into you can't afford to pay one. Let me ask you this. Do you need a manager to help you write music your manager doesn't help you write music. Do you need a manager to help you produce? Music? That's not what your manager does do you do? I need a manager in order to put your music up on CD Baby right now. You do not need a manager to give you permission to put up your website to give you permission to engage with your fans. You do not need a manager right now. What you need is advice and you need guidance and you need to get yourself in a position to where you're attractive for a manager. So usually what I lay it out like that people start to completely understand, you know. Often times to as I think people are misguided in believing that if they have a manager that you know, all these magical things are going to start happening. Well that can happen. I'm not going to say it can't but you need to make sure that your manager today is up to date with what's going on with social media. They understand song registration. They understand intellectual property. They understand digital marketing. They understand the internet because I don't care how long you've been in this business. The game's changed and unless you've changed with it and unless your managers changed with it. You could be you know, going down a very interesting Road. I also suggest right now. Another question that I get a lot when it comes to management is should I sign a contract? I like to date the artists that I'm going to end up working with take a couple months, you know, see how the relationship goes. Is everything on about how much money they make you but see if you guys get along see if it makes sense see if the person showing up and really there for you. The key is finding someone who first you can trust to that. You don't get offended when they try to coach you, you know, you definitely don't want to surround yourself with a bunch of yes people but you know spend a couple months working together and see what happens see if it makes sense. That's what super important as well also too is don't discard. Someone because they don't have previous experience. I didn't have previous experience. When I started managing Taylor Swift. What I had was a passion for her a passion for her music a willingness to do the work a willingness to go get the answers. That's why my book is called the $150,000 music degree everything I learned about being a manager. I learned by doing, you know, I wasn't fortunate to go to a university but heck nowadays the universities and the colleges their teaching. A lot of very broad subjects because the game changes so fast, so they'll bring people like me and to talk about it, but the key right now I think is if you could get your music right at all starts with the music educate yourself the best you can on the business that you're in there's plenty of great podcast, you're listening to one right now. There are plenty of great books that are out there. I'll make some suggestions in the show notes. You could pick up Ari her stands book. You could pick up Donald passman. Book, there's some other great podcast. You can listen to Creative Juice podcast. You can listen to the musician monster podcast. You can listen to Bob Baker's PopCap podcast John. Oh Jacques podcast live mchenry's podcast Chris Greenwoods podcast, there's tons of podcasts that are out there right now as well. And what I'd love to do is if you haven't picked up a free copy of my book yet head on over to music industry blueprint.com. You can grab Yourself a free physical copy or digital copy information is on the website while you're there to you can also take the artist assessment. It's really hard to know where you're going. If you don't know where you're starting so I ask you some very specific questions based on, you know website income shows played songs registered at things like that. It will give you a real good understanding of where you are. It's my gift to you check it out and you will find that as well at music industry blueprint. Dot-com you guys have been fantastic. Your questions are always so awesome. And I really appreciate it. And if you found this helpful, you can go leave a review share it with someone and I will talk to you on the next episode. Ciao. You've been listening to the music industry blueprint podcast with Rick Barker. You can follow Rick on Twitter at Rick Barker music and remember you don't drown by falling into the water you drowned by staying there.
Do you need a manager? When should you sign a management contract? What makes a good candidate for a manager? Are you currently attractive to managers? What can you do WITHOUT a manager? These are all the questions I'm answering regarding Managers on the latest episode of the MIB podcast. Don't miss this - these are the questions I'm always asked the MOST! 👍🏻 "You do not need a manager right now. You need advice and guidance...." - Rick Barker What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! ***Want to be a guest on the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? *** Send an email to podcast@musicindustryblueprint.com With the following information: Name, website, social handles, questions you would like to ask Rick and contact information  Resources:  Access to Rick   "All You Need To Know About The Music Business" by Donald Passman "How To Make It In The New Music Business" by Ari Herstand The Bobby Cast Free Training “How To Become A Social Media Ninja In Under An Hour.” Click HERE If you're listening after January 24, 2019 & Want the Free Training! Artist Assessment  with Rick:  Facebook Instagram Youtube  Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: podcast@musicindustryblueprint.com for a chance to be a guest on the MIB podcast show  ---   Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/music-industry-blueprint/message 