It can be hard to stand out in today’s music industry. Technological advancements and the internet have made it easier for artists to record and release professional quality music. But it’s also made it much harder to stand out from the crowd of aspiring musicians. 

There are over 3 million artists on Spotify alone, with 22,000 new songs being uploaded each day. Even if you have the talent, how do you find your audience among all the noise? 

Finding a music manager is an incredibly important step in a band or artist’s career. A skilled manager can levy their connections and their know-how. They can help get your music in the spotlight. 

Are you or your band ready to take the next step? Read on, and we’ll walk you through how to find a music manager. 

Are You Ready For A Manager? 

Most music artists are success-hungry. And who can blame them? You got into this racket to make music that’s heard by people, and those rent checks aren’t going away anytime soon, either. 

Still, swinging for a manager too early can be a big mistake. 

Take a look at your musical career. Developing as an artist can take plenty of time and you may still be developing your sound, style, and brand. Before reaching out to managers, you should have a distinct product you want them to promote and guide. 

Reaching out before you’ve fully perfected your sound can result in you getting laughed off the block. And that’s a reputation no one wants to carry with them. 

What to Present to a Manager

You’re still reading, so let’s assume you read the previous paragraph and decided: yes, we’re primed and ready for management. Okay, that’s great.

But how do you convince potential managers of that fact? You’ll need to gather a number of materials. 

Music to Their Ears 

First and foremost, you’ll need quality recordings of your music. These tracks need to completely stand on their own. No respectable music manager will agree to use their imagination and see what the track “could be.” You need to show them what it is. 

This might mean throwing down a pretty penny at a professional recording studio before approaching managers. That’s just the cost of doing business. You’ll need these quality recordings to start building a true audience regardless. 

Make sure you have these recordings in a way that’s easy for a potential manager to access. It’s 2019, which means handing them a CD-ROM is probably no longer the way to go. A flash drive, or even more handy, a streaming link, can do the trick.

Other Materials

In addition, you’ll need to put together a small portfolio highlighting your band. In it, include some professional-looking photos of your band. Make sure your appearance in these photos matches the impression you want to give to an audience. 

If you’re a heavy metal band, look heavy metal. If you’re an aspiring pop star, make sure you look like one. Giving the right visual impression has always been a big part of this audio-focused industry. 

Include a well-written biography which includes any and all accomplishments you or your band are proud of. This is the place to slyly name drop or mention any accolades. If you don’t have any, that’s fine: just make yourself sound good (but don’t lie!). 

Include links to your website and social media accounts. A healthy following on such accounts can do nothing but increase your chances of success. 

And finally, include your best live concert footage. That night you were on fire, where the crowd was really receptive and into it. Again, try to make sure it’s high-quality, as a crappy phone recording will do little to convince anyone of your star power. 

With the above materials together, you’ll not only be on track to find a manager, but you’ll be presenting yourself better to a general audience overall. 

Finding The Right Person 

You don’t want just any manager for your band – you want one who is genuinely enthusiastic and committed. Having a non-committed manager, in some ways, is worse than having no manager at all. 

So, how do you find such a person? 

Start by looking close to you. Consider what you want out of a manager.

Is it just a committed person to do the work of promoting the band? Consider asking a close friend who’s organized and up to the task.

Stories of managers who started out as close friends of the bands are too many to count, and it’s worked out for many. 

What if you don’t have anyone who fits the bill? Or maybe you want someone with a little more industry experience on your side. Strike up a conversation with other bands you know, music venue owners, producers, and everyone in your orbit. 

The music industry can be a surprisingly small world, and someone you know may be able to recommend you to someone who could be a great fit. The connection you have with others in the industry is one of your greatest assets. You shouldn’t be afraid to rely on it when looking for help. 

If none of these methods turn up results, you can always cold call managers or agencies in hopes of attracting interest for yourself. This doesn’t always work, but if you present a professional enough image of yourself, it might attract some interest. 

And if it doesn’t – don’t worry. Most bands and artists get managers when they’re ready to have a manager. If no managers are poking around or interested yet, it might just mean you need to hone in and work on your craft. 

Talent and product speak volumes. When you’ve created the right track and image, you can bet managers will come sniffing around your door. 

How to Find a Music Manager

Breaking out as a musician can be a great challenge. One of the greatest assets you could have on your side is a committed manager. Know that you know how to find a music manager, you’re one step closer to hitting it big time. 

Need more help navigating the promotional aspects of the biz? Check out our blog for more advice.