Whether its for an actor, singer or painter, managers play a vital role in the success of an artist. However, there must be a level of respect and work ethic present on both ends for the artist/manager relationship to work. Good managers know this, and will avoid artists who don’t understand the concept.
I personally have a lot of respect for managers, as I don’t have the patience or passion to be one. That being said, Sonicbids posted a blog that I believe every artist needs to read: The 5 Types Of Artists That GOOD Managers Will Never Work With. I’ve added my two cents here, but I suggest you also check out the full post.
Pay attention. Falling into any of these categories is a quick way to a career in food services.
1. The Dreamer
This is the artist that lives in a fantasy world where record deals are grown on trees and managers are fairy godmothers with Beyoncé on speed dial.
They don’t realize the hard work that goes into building a successful career, and will refuse to do the work required of them that will get them to the promised land they always dreamed of. Good managers stay far away from this bunch to avoid the constant headache of reeling them back down from the fairy dust cloud they live on.
2. The artist with the wrong goals
These are the types that are more excited about a thousand likes on Instagram than finishing a record, or more focused on their appearance than prepping for live performances.
Goals are important, but more importantly, they need to be tangible. If a manager asks what your goals are and you reply “to be famous”, don’t get upset when you never hear from them again.
3. The “Goldilocks”
This is the primadonna-type artist (male or female) that expects everything to be “just right” and will throw a tantrum if it isn’t. Nothing is ever good enough for them.
It is a manager’s job to help cultivate your career. It is not their job to babysit you. If a good manager feels like you have no home training, they’ll send you home to get some.
4. The baggage carrier
This is the artist that wears every problem they’ve ever had on their sleeve like a tattoo. Everyone has problems, but there’s a bigger issue at hand if your personal issues spill over into your career.
To be successful, managers have to build a reputation that shows that their clients can deliver. If an artist is flaking out or causing too much drama, it affects the manager’s reputation AND their income. Good managers aren’t having any of it.
5. The artist with a false sense of entitlement
This artist is the worst of the five: they are masters at putting the cart before the horse. They have the ego of Kanye West with no catalog to show for it, and Filet Mignon tastes with a Hamburger Helper budget.
It’s one thing to believe in yourself and know what you’re capable of. It’s an entirely different thing to be arrogant, especially if you don’t have the repertoire to back it up.
