Like many jobs in this industry, the work of managing artists can be extremely competitive and exceptionally stressful. Great managers do everything they can to secure the best opportunities for their clients, and sometimes this requires playing many different roles. In addition, mastering these roles takes learning a plethora of skills to pave the way. In this post, we’ll break down some valuable management skills every artist manager should have in their arsenal.
Time Management
As a manager of creatives, being able to manage your own time wisely is the biggest part of the gig. It’s your job to keep things on track, in order and running smoothly. Whether it’s managing deadlines, contracts, scheduling or emails, there are tons of management apps out there that specialize in whatever you need help with
Mapping out your time wisely is the first step to masterful organization. If you’re a manager looking to improve, plan out your priorities at the start of every week to take note of what’s most important, time-sensitive, etc. Kicking off your week this way helps keep things on the top of your mind and prevents smaller items from getting lost in the shuffle.
Negotiation
The art of negotiation is one every great artist manager should know like the back of their hand. A manager’s success is directly correlated with that of the artists they manage. That being said, the ability to effectively negotiate terms, contracts, relationships, gigs and more on a weekly basis is absolutely essential. Although all music managers are different and may possess particularly strong skills in different areas, negotiation is one they all have in common.
Problem Solving / Critical Thinking
Managing an artists career brings many obstacles along the way. From internal growing pains to outside forces, a killer manager should be able to face these challenges head on with intuitive, critical thinking skills. In addition, they need to be quick on their feet when it comes to financial hardships and business deals. The fate of the artists they manage remain in a delicate balance that the artist manager has the responsibility to keep. Being able to work through problems as they arise with efficiency and finesse is one of the best qualities a manager can have.
