Selecting your Talent

IMPORTANT in becoming a manager is of course selecting your rock band talent. Take note, your band does not have to come in a typical rock band format: Guitars, Drums, and Vocals. Some bands have a variety of additional instruments that mix and match to be something uniquely them. Your genre doesn't have to be rock either, but remember, managing other genres would have a different approach. Managing solo acts is another thing altogether.

Just remember, being a manager means that you'll be constantly interacting with people and make important decisions for them. You're primary task is helping them become the best talent, and this means you'll need skills in different fields. Skills I will discuss later in the blog.

For now, what's important is the talent you're going to manage!

In selecting your own rock band to manage, you need to look at three criteria:

1. The band's current experience

2. The band's determination

3. The individual band members' relations with each other

Never manage a band that is just starting to play and practice. Managing them would be essentially very stressful at best, and downright useless at worst. It's important that they've set their basic identity as a band and have gone through a couple of gigs. It's this way that you know that somehow, number 2 and number 3 criteria are also satisfied. This means that they could survive the long road to fame with you!

With this, it is essential that the band members are determined to reach a certain goal. As individuals they should have a certain extra passion for creating music compared to normal people. Some musician goals may include:

-A sense of accomplishment with their art

-A yearning for personal fame and recognition

-A deep connection with music and the music scene

Each band member must have at least one of these perceived long-term goals in order for them to maintain their determination. Although it isn't absolutely necessary, in the long-term it will have an effect in their work ethic when the workload becomes demanding.

Another factor to consider is their other occupations. Part-time rock bands don't go anywhere simply because they do it part-time. However, if they have other important occupations such as school or jobs that sustain them, then it is important that you know how much time they're willing to give for the success of your band.

*A special note: if your band is mostly a high school or college rock band then it is good if the band is their primary extra-curricular activity. Time management is an important factor in making the band work.

Finally, the band members must have at least a cordial relationship with one another in order for it to last. If you see signs of conflict between members then it could be detrimental when your band is in a crisis. Conflict doesn't have to be a bad thing, if this conflict results in better rock band performance. However, if the conflicts are results of personality differences and petty squabbles, then it's best that you resolve this immediately when you manage them, as to avoid bitter infighting.

In my own personal experience, conflicts are atypical inside a band due to different matters. However, if your bond with the band and their bond with each other is solid then it will be easier to come to a resolution. Trust is important. You will find out later on that becoming a band manager also means effectively communicating and relating with your band members.

If these aspects of a band are met then you have a rock band, with talent ready to become rock stars!

Notice, that I didn't mention anything about talent, or their implied skills. In this case, skills are very relative and talents don't always equate to success. All a band needs hard work and determination and it should go places. What YOU need is the necessary skills to get them there. That's why this blog is here.

Tell your band manager friends and comment below!