Dead Boy Productions

 

Superhero Artist Management

Justin

Ryan J. Downey is the founder of Superhero Artist Management, representing several bands including Bleeding Through, Demon Hunter, Tiger Army and Throwdown. He has been a regular contributor to Alternative Press for nearly ten years. He has worked as an on-air correspondent, writer and producer for E!, MSNBC, MTV and VH1. His work has also appeared in the OC Weekly, Premiere, San Francisco Chronicle, Punk Planet, Circus and Metal Maniacs. He is also an activist and the former vocalist for Burn It Down.

1. A manager handles a great many things. They are involved in the day to day business operations of the artist, negotiating deals, dealing with record labels, booking agents, attorneys, publicists, merchandise companies, road crew, business managers and accountants, anyone involved in a band's career. A manager is the mouthpiece for the band within the industry, their most trusted confidant, their strongest advocate. They must "get" the band's vision and goals and should be able to effectively articulate them to everyone else. As a manager, you may be required to take a guitar player's phone call at 3 in the morning. It's part of the job.

2. What a manager looks for in a band depends on the sensibilities of the particular manager. Is he or she looking for the "next big thing"? Are they interested solely in bands they believe in and are passionate about? Are they strong with niche markets? Are they already entrenched in a relationship with a band that could develop into a management situation?

3. A band should start by making themselves appealing to management. How do they do that? By doing things themselves! Go out and book shows, travel, promote, get online, write the best songs you can, record them, gather and build a fan base and nurture it by remaining in constant (but NON intrusive) contact with the fans. When you have really built something on your own, managers will take notice. Seriously!

4. Image is very important however I should clarify what I mean when I say "image." I'm not talking about bone structure, conventional attractiveness, weight, haircuts, fashionable clothing... I'm talking about your logo, your cover artwork, your flyers, your merchandise, your website, your MySpace page. And yes the look of your band is important but different looks work for different genres. Notorious BIG looked awesome. The guys in Pantera won't be gracing the cover of GQ anytime soon but their look worked for them. And so on.

5. Bands should worry less about being financially successful. They should focus first on having something of value to say with their art, be it personal or political. What are you adding to the landscape, and to the marketplace? What is unique about your band? Who does it appeal to? The rest will come later.