A little while ago we wrote about not harassing people into working with you. Today, let’s talk about the opposite problem. Once you’ve established that you’re an artist and are out there grindin (‘till you own it), chances are, some people who work in the industry will notice. Great, right?! Well, usually, yes, but at this point in your career, you need to be extra careful and selective with who you choose to work with.
Gone are the days when you HAVE to have a manager or fully fleshed out team to be making moves, so there is no need to rush into a deal that doesn’t actually make sense.
Here are a few helpful tips to guide you in the right direction -
Who else do they work with? Do they work with other artists that are on a similar path to yours or to one you want to be on? If not, then it’s probably best to move along.
Do you know anyone who knows them or has worked with them? 100% not necessary, but actual feedback from actual current & previous clients are the best source.
Beware the salesman. This might sound like opposite day, but sometimes the people that have been the MOST salesy and aggressive up front are the ones that do the worst job. This obviously isn’t always the case, but be wary of anyone that seems like they really just want to add you to their roster and don’t have a great plan for you after that. And on that note..
What can they do for you? Have you talked with them about exactly what they think they can get done? Results are not guaranteed in any area of this industry, but if someone doesn’t have a realistic vision of how they can help you, it’s probably not worth your time of money.
Finally - LOOK OUT FOR SCAMS. They are everywhere in music. And I mean EVERYWHERE. They often come in the form of “guaranteed results” in radio, PR, or some sort of social media metric (likes, followers, etc). These are always linked with upfront fees and you usually find out about them through ads or a very obvious mass email that they send to any artist address they can find. I've even seen them pose as radio stations. Don’t trust them! Run the other way!
Feeling like you made the wrong choice in partner can be sickening… it’s your money, music and life they’re dealing with. This is a precious time, so be careful with it!
REASON TO IGNORE THIS ADVICE: You have so much time to waste.