@Judahonthebeats Choose Wisely Video

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Managers..............Do You Really Know!

I recently have been getting a lot of emails from young artist and producers about me managing them............so now I feel to give ya a mgt 101 lesson.

A lot of artist and producers think that the answers to their problems and them becoming a star is getting the right manager.

Well first off its tough to get a 100% stamped reputable manager unless you are in a deal or someone in the industry stamps you.

Secondly, people get things confused you have managers and agents. Most managers are not "licensed" to get you work.......yes "licensed". Managers manage the work you have coming in because your in high demand etc.....they manage your interviews, get you to things on time and basically keep you on point. Agents are licensed and can go out there and get you work, license for your music etc.......

There is a huge different. A manager usually doesn't pay for your beats, travel or studio time and if a manager is doing those things best believe they are gonna want to recoup that paper at some point. A manager usually sets that stuff up for you using "your" money or whoever paying you for whatever. Get It, Got It, Good!

As far as fees a manager should never get more that 20% and that's a good good top level manager. The average these days is 10-15% of what you make etc......

I been banging out for 10 years and never had an official manager! This is probably why I haven't reached a certain level but at the end of the day I kept a lot of the paper I made through the years and I can pretty much handle my business etc.....

Just as of the last 3 years I've had to get people to handle certain things because I too busy with other life stuff but I'm just saying....be realistic! 

The real dope connected managers aint messing with you unless you already poppin. 
So getting poppin and the managers will come looking for you to solicit their services.

There more but I'm tired of typing on my Blackberry. YIKEs!

12 comments:

upsetthesetup said...

word up Judah. great post.

Artists should be artists. If you rap, rap, if you sing, sing.

BUT IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS,

somebody has got to handle that angle.

I've been telling cats for year - write a job description of what you want your manager/agent to do:

- handle promotions
- book shows
- network on your behalf
- coordinate schedules (studio, performance)
- website management
- manage press and publicity
- coordinate vendors (manufacturing, photographer, studio, designer)
- technical assistance
- stylist

etc.

that list can go on and on. but before you fighting with your man, i mean MANAGER, you better have a list of what you expected them to do...

also. WHAT MOST OF YALL CATS NEED IS A LAWYER...

STRAIGHT UP.

RiZion said...

Thats as real a it gets Judah. real talk...

Mouse aka The Waldorf Posterboy said...

PREACH!

DJ Torkaveli said...

Man you've answered some of the questions I've been asking in just one post.

DDotOmen.com said...

Game, set, match.

Overok said...

Mangers and lawyers? Some of y'all need Jesus.

Lala. said...

Go cop this book..it will tell you the real reason you need managers and why you should get a lawyer before you get a manager...Im 16 and I read it ...yall older so I know yall can read it.

"Everything you need to know about the music business"

by: donald passman (entertainment lawyer)

MrMartinezBodega said...

thanks for giving some business 101. Best thing to do is to set yourself up. All the manager does is exploit your work, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Their job is to get you as much work as possible be it selling your beats, getting shows, linking you up with writers, artists, a&rs, or helping you get your imaging/packaging down. A lot of what managers end up doing is baby sitting too.

If you create enough demand for your product managers will come to you. Like Judah said if they pay for everything upfront they're going to want something back. . ie a bigger cut, points from your licensing, or even credits.

MrMartinezBodega said...

Oh! and learn your publishing!

Anonymous said...

Nice post Mr. Juda

Miss Nesia

Ardamus said...

you took me to school with that one, Judah. i knew about managers but with agents......thats a whole different story.....

Unknown said...

true true shit!
alot of these rappers needed to read this!