Intuition on choosing good bands, excellent people management skills, excellent sales skills. A background in music such as a 4 yr degree or business administration is helpful but generally not required.
Basics:
As a band manager you will have yourself full with contacts with people, whether will be your band, prospective clients, or the public. Your people skills will be tested to the max as most band members are not good at managing their business at all. You will be negotiating deals, scheduling gigs and promoting the band. There will be many long working hours including nights and weekends.
To Get Started:
You will not just be managing the business of the band but also the band member's personal business such as medical appointments, and finding maids and such to help your members on everyday matters. Your earning will be based on commission which goes from 10 to 30 percent of a gig. You need to believe in your band in order to sell it well. Advertise your business in nightclubs, newspapers, music associations, online ads, bulletins boards, and mailings. In order to secure your business, see if you can manage more than one band at the same time just in case things don't work out with one or the other. If your band is new then start out at small clubs until they are ready for bigger deals.
Tips:
You will travel a lot, but this business can be ran from home. Keep an eye for travel expenses which could get out of hand. This business is good for people with disabilities as long as they have the skills previously mentioned. A staff is not required since most of the work can be done by yourself, unless you have a very successful band. For Internet links on this business do a search for the Talent Manager Association and Band Central.
