Great Managers & How to Find Them
A rock headliner-turned-artist manager shares her insights into the business side of music.
by Maureen Herman
August 23, 2000
In 1991 I was living in a drafty warehouse on Chicago's South Side, practicing with my band in the basement and playing local clubs -- until I got a call that would change my life.
An old friend phoned with news that the bassist had quit the band and asked if I'd like to join. That band, Babes in Toyland, had just signed to Reprise and was about to record their major label debut. I joined. In two weeks I was on tour, with a recording session scheduled immediately after we got off the road.
In true punk rock fashion, we split all of the work. But things soon became hectic, and it became an overwhelming responsibility to keep on top of our business -- touring, recording, upgrading equipment, something about ASCAP, and needing someone to tell us that A&R didn't stand for Artists & Restaurants. We wanted an ally, someone like us who understood what we were doing, who knew the business and could help us protect our interests and image.
It was time to get a manager.
In all my previous bands, I'd never thought of having a manager or even known what a manager really did. Entrenched in the DIY ethic of Chicago's indie scene, when I pictured a manager, I saw a cheap suit, a cigar, and a snake holding someone else's money.
Fast-forward a few years, and today I'm a manager. I dress pretty cheaply sometimes, and I do smoke cigarettes -- but I know now that most managers out there are not thief-like Svengalis. By and large they're hard-working people from all walks of life, with a passion for music and a respect for artists. How do you find one of these managers -- someone who has the drive, if not the experience, to nurture your career?
Glad you asked.
Next Page: Where to find a manager; Experience; What do managers do?....
Maureen Herman is a freelance writer living in New York. Through her company, Pollyanna, she manages artists P.W. Long and Laurie Webb, and does freelance band consultations. Herman recently produced the Hank Williams III video "You're the Reason" and a documentary of his tour with Beck.
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