Filed under: How to Break into the Music Industry
I need advice on getting into the business side of the
music industry. I’d like to get into talent management, or
maybe even soundtrack R and D, (preferrably in the genre
of music that I like), but I’m not sure where to start. I
live 1.5 hours from LA, but was thinking of moving to
Austin, TX, as I hear they have a booming music scene. Any
advice?
well to get experience you could work as a pimp pretty much anywhere
well to get experience you could work as a pimp pretty much anywhere
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Cash is king in entertainment, if you don’t have at least $50,000 at your disposal don’t even try. If you want to dabble
in it however you can get a great learning experience as a band manager. Go to as many local shows as you can make mental notes of what people respond to and show up for. Since you are in LA, image and simple songwriting are everything gotta look good, gotta be catchy. Keeping those things in mind you now have two options (please only do one at a time)
Option a) Band Manager - Pick one band you really like, preferably one that doesn’t yet have a huge draw yet that you can grow your business with. Think about things like target demographics who they are selling to etc. Contact every local venue you can and try to book one show a month for them spend 75% of your time promoting for that one show.
Try and get a 2-4 person street team and pay for their admission to the show and have them canvas the are around the club they will be playing at. Negotiate with the club yourself, DO NOT LET THE BAND GET INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS YET. Take a reasonable percentage of their take and pay the band yourself. Repeat this cycle add more shows as much as they are comfortable, network with other bands at the show as well. Your entire focus is to create a "buzz" around the band try to get people to interview them keep an updated myspace page for them etc. Keep track of all the contacts you make at clubs, other bands, radio stations, recording studios etc. These will save your life when you eventually start your talent management company. Also you are going to need to help pay for the band’s demo so be ready with some cash to shell out for that.
Option B) Promoter, just like the band manager you need to go to local shows to get a feel of who’s who and what’s drawing people. Contact every club you can and see what their pay is, what their requirements are and how you can book a show their once you get a show date lined up, book 1 band that draws well and give them the best time slot, book upcoming bands that will sound good with the main band in all the other time slots. Again keep track of everyone’s contact info as these will be things that will save your life when you become a talent manager.
Either way, save your pennies make your rainy day fund as big as possible, build quality relationships with everyone you encounter and follow through with everything you promise entertainment is a very fickle industry people won’t forgive mistakes or unfilled promises.
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