The Manager....Magician or skilled genius?

I was blessed to have a product and artist management course in the entertainment program that I am currently enrolled in. The course has allowed me to understand the great concept of judgment and integrity that mangers must have to produce the results needed to assist and push a good artist, product, event, action or theme beyond its idea to becoming reality! I was given a task, to share the best practices, principles and ideas that I have gained from this course and identify how I will apply them to my career. I must admit that my ideas of a managers role were a lot different from what I've learned through this course and by actively pitching and working as a manager to complete the tasks at hand. I personally believe that in this business most of our roles are correlated, therefore allowing good artists to become producers, producers to become directors and so on! The possibilities are endless....I have come up with 5 rules that you must apply to your business to become great in your future endeavors. Please view the rules below:

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Rule 1: Know yourself and be careful that you are aware of your goals. Write down all your ideas, expectations any questions you may have as you lead in this new role. This will allow you to favor all areas of development and also show that you trust the quality of time.

Rule 2: Know your market. Do this by understanding and spending time with customers. You can service your target market better by knowing what they want. Develop effective research, you can do this by making sales calls, utilizing focus groups and tracking your goals. Once you do this, you take the information back to your team and use it to build and develop.

Rule 3: Always set standards and goals for yourself! This will allow you to focus on the ultimate task at hand and discard any ineffective material that doesn't fit the overall future goal. This serves as a map to help design your path and also can be used as a reference of what it took to get where you are.

Rule 4: Always look your best. Looking good reinforces how you feel about yourself and confidence is key in this business. I would choose to invest in someone who looks me in the eye, speaks well and shakes my hand rather than someone who shifts nervously, avoids eye contact and is afraid of physical contact.

Rule 5: Make it your business, to know your business! Most mangers have no traditional business training but they are established in the entertainment business enough to compete and advance. Using your business fundamentals, utilizing your professional network, classmates, instructors and essentials will allow you to set yourself apart from others and gracefully move forward at a much faster pace.

As a future owner of a film production company and publisher of fiction publications. I am currently in the process of applying these rules to my life.

   

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This course has reinforced my theory of the changes in the entertainment business and how the  realities of generating revenue have also changed. In the music business, overall sales of downloaded singles and albums have increased for the first time this year. This former area of music sales and airplay exposure are becoming more dependent on sales in other areas. While radio focuses on building audiences for advertisers. The recording industry is interested in selling albums based on concerts and touring. We are currently facing the deepest recession in history, followed by a 2010 year-end total of a 5 percent decline in concert ticket sales in the U.S. The entertainment currently relies on management, and the behind-the-scenes creators to sell entertainment and redefine its business model. Being aware of this is motivation for those of us "dreamers" to get ourselves together and become what we dream to be! Today has been great, tomorrow will be even better! Thanks for your time and I look forward to sharing with you. Until next time!

Allen, P. (2010, October 18). Music industry needs to redefine itself. http://blogs.tennessean.com. Retrieved February 26, 2011, from blogs.tennessean.com/opinion/2010/10/18/music-industry-needs-to-redefine-itself/.

Artist management resource. (n.d.). Music Manager and Management Roles. Retrieved February 26, 2011, from www.artistmanagementresource.com/music-manager-roles.html

Artist Manager : Proprietor and Driving Force!

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            I was given a task to interview a “bonifide” artist manager who is actively working in the entertainment industry as a regular part of doing business. I was able to interview Tino Pasquier, Co- Owner of Firesquad Records, an independent record label that he started shortly after graduating from Clark Atlanta University in 2003. Mr. Pasquier is a passionate, charismatic entrepreneur who represents four hip hop artists that are all on the Firesquad label. While actively working as a manager, Mr. Pasquier is also working to market an entertainment company called, The Mayan Factor, that he will run with his older brother.           

This logo is the property of Firesquad Records LLC

            As part owner and creator of Firesquad Records, Tino Pasquier  is a powerful force within his company and finds himself using the skills that he obtained from earning his Business Marketing degree years ago. Mr. Pasquier demands positive results in his business and he definitely delivers results through people. By employing professionalism, commitment and integrity, Mr. Pasquier builds relationships, negotiates and coordinates booking talent, among other major characteristics that he describes as preeminent traits that all managers must entail.  

The following is an excerpt from our interview:

ME: First, I would like to thank you for allowing me to interview you and highlight your company!

TINO: No problem! This is one of my first times on the other side of the interview. It feels good to be recognized.

ME: How did you get started?

TINO: I attended college with my first artist. I met him during my senior year. We worked in an organization called Vision Inc. I kind of fell into it after I saw the artist, ‘Gumbo’ perform. I had never worked as a manager before then. It was amazing to see  how likable he was with people and how raw he was on the mic. He had the perfect mix of talent and poise and I saw a lot of potential in him.

ME: With this being a new experience were their any challenges that you faced with your artist?

TINO: Challenges of the relationship with my artist were rare. We saw eye to eye on most things but I would say that we have had a major difference in marketing techniques.

ME: How did you initially work through those challenges to get the job done?

TINO:  We didn’t have any big challenges. Overall, we had a mutual understanding about our goal to move forward. We already had a great relationship but working together and sharing a vision made us the best of friends. One of the main challenges was to get through the hurdles in our personal lives to accomplish business our goals.

ME: Have you had any unique experiences that you would like to share?

TINO: The entire process has been unique. I think it’s interesting that we began to create music and projects out of the walls of a dorm room and now were building and becoming stronger forces in the entertainment industry.

ME: What special advice would you give a person entering this field?

TINO: I don’t think there is any special advice but I would say that if you are interested in entering this field then you should be applying to internships so you can see first hand what goes on. Reach out and be honest about what you want because this type of position isn’t for everyone. There's lot of commitment that goes into a management position--any management position. Multiply hard work by three because the entertainment industry forces you to work with tons of personalities and egos and that’s what separates the ones that talk from the ones who really work.

ME: What personal qualities are important to being successful in this job?

TINO: The qualities that are important to being successful in this position include true drive, the drive to push everyone around you. You have to be willing to dictate, supervise or take over to make an activity happen. You must work well  under pressure, always be presentable and ready to pitch or fight for an idea or a major deal.

ME: From your perspective, what are the challenges working in this field?

TINO: One major challenge can be coming into this position thinking that someone will push you. You must be a self- motivated individual, open minded and willing to fall a few times so you get the ultimate learning experience. If you don’t adapt to the environment and prove that you belong then you wont be successful. You’ll be left behind.

ME: What do you think of the experience you’ve had so far in terms of entering this field?

TINO: The overall experience has been amazing. This is something that you and the artist must believe in. The journey to the top is what makes it all worth while. To believe in someone and be apart of their development creatively and professionally. From creating themes and strategies to executing them. Dealing with the media, Dj's, magazine companies, sponsors, etc. to dealing with the internal ups and downs makes the experience memorable. We learned so much that has prepared us for situations that may not necessarily be related to music. But to create something from nothing, working on our own is special. Selling over 75,000 units unsigned is amazing. Ludacris sold 50,000 units underground so go figure. We are in it for the long haul. This has been a great experience, eight years in the making.

            It has definitely been a pleasure sharing information on Tino Pasquier and his company, Firesquad Records. Please stay tuned as we will do a second artist management focus, reviewing Sherry Marsh of Marsh Entertainment in Hollywood, California.  Once again, it has been a pleasure sharing with the world! I am feeling more accomplished than the day before!