Agents and record label execs can only sell what you bring to the table.  Here’s how to bring more to the table.

A consulting client of mine recently told me that he was moving to LA and asked me if I would advise him on his strategy:

‘I’m gonna move to LA, get a waiter job and start sending headshots to agents, hoping I get ‘discovered’ by taking lots of classes and hanging out with lots of actors.’

‘That will probably lead to a record deal and I might even dance and do some voiceover if I have time.’

Another client told me he wanted to be a famous singer and then move into films and television and wanted me to coach him on the process of making that a reality.

Sounds simple enough, right?  Wrong.  Here’s why:

Step #1:  Pick a talent or genre you are world class at and stick with it.  Not many people (less than 5%) are world class at more than one thing and the more focused you become on your specific talent the more focused attention you will receive from industry.

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Step #2:  There’s no such thing as being ‘discovered’. There are people out there looking for the next big thing but don’t count on them finding you by accident.  If they do, consider it an accident.  In the meantime, discover yourself.  Create something that will make you stand out – something that plays to your strengths and is so good you can’t be ignored.

Step #2.5: Once you create that something, COLLECT INFO from your audience.  Information is power.  Having lots of fans on Facebook, followers on Twitter or having a massive e-mailing list is more valuable than a ’slammin’ demo or an acting reel.  The power of social media means that having a huge fan base gives you an upper hand when it comes to getting the attention of those who write the fat checks.

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Step #3:  Know what an agent is looking for.  It’s more than looks and acting class.  Every agent has to figure out how much time they need to put into a client to get a return on their investment (you).  If you walk in and all you have is head-shots and botox you’re not going to get far.  How do you get them to invest in you?  Refer to steps 1, 2 and 2.5 and repeat often.

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As a mentor of mine so eloquently put it:  ’On You’

Kahlil (at) gigsmacked (dot) com

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I’ve found over the years that there is a common theme with performers that they feel that they need to have a manager long before they actually require one. In a previous post, I spoke about a bit about what a Manager is looking for, so here I thought I’d provide you with what I see as 3 good signs that you’re ready for a Manager.

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1. You are so busy being the business that you can no longer effectively run the business. A good sign that you fit this category is that you have so many inquiries for gigs that you are spending all your time responding to emails and voice mails and as a result you haven’t had the time to rehearse
2. Many new career opportunities are coming your way and you feel a Manager may be able help make sure you are making the right career choices, getting paid fairly and that your brand has a professional face on it.  Some examples of opportunities would be major media appearances, high profile shows, licensing deals, record deals or sponsorship agreements.
3. You are having great success in one aspect of your performing career, but would like to focus attention on developing a new revenue stream or artistic endeavor (eg. You’re a successful actor and want to build a stage show or you’re a successful musician who wants to try acting). You therefore need to have someone maintain the performing side and help you guide the new revenue stream.

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These are the 3 most common scenarios that I find lead to a successful Artist – Manager relationship. There are of course exceptions to this, but as a previous post points out, be the rule, not the exception.

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This is worth discussion for the simple fact that a lot of performers feel that because they aren’t good at negotiating for themselves, because they can’t seem to find gigs, or they haven’t been able to draw attention from a record label, that a manager will be their magic solution to all this.

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Here’s the reality. All those things I just mentioned are HUGE red flags for me that you are not ready for a Manager and possibly that you aren’t taking your career as a performer seriously enough. If you can’t find yourself shows, to me, this is a sign that you’re either not good enough yet, or that you’re not pushing hard enough on your own.  Honestly, as a Manager, these are things that I’m looking at and the rules are the same whether you’re an indie rock band, a stand up or a ballet dancer.

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Prove to the industry and more importantly yourself that you can accomplish a lot on your own. The industry will take notice of successes, especially those generated without help. In fact, finding those scenarios are what every Manager is looking for!

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-       Justin Sudds – Gigsmacked.com

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