The answer to “how to find a music manager†or “how to find a producer†is easy.
I’m going to answer it, but first we need to dig a little into what makes you tick, ok?
“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.†— Steve Jobs
I want you to ask yourself this question for the next 7 days. If you answer “No†for too many days, then you need to CHANGE something immediately.
Follow me here.
Remember my article talking about the quote (inaccurately attributed to Darwin) that stated, “It is not the strongest of a species that survives, it is not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.â€
If you’re stuck you have to change something.
If you’re broke you have to change something.
If you’re broken…you have to change something.
Too many of you right now are defaulting to the damage causing software loop in your heads, “I’ve gotta do this before I do that.â€
“I need more money, then I can do this.â€
“I just have to perfect this thing before I can be serious about that thing.â€
“I just need a music manager or a good music producer to be successful in my career.â€
“If I could just meet that one huge record label executive, she would hear my music and love it! Once I get my deal I’m going to get paid.â€
All these statements translate into this: “Here’s my excuse why I can’t do it or why I’m waiting to do it.â€
Here’s a quote that actually is from Darwin.
“We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized they were inside of us.†– Charles Darwin
Ooooh, read that one again and let it sink in.
“We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized they were inside of us.†– Charles Darwin
That’s right. You’re the monster!
All these obstacles are in your head, man.
The catch 22 is this: You think your career will launch with good industry pros and industry pros want to see a career that’s already launched.
Once you truly realize that and change your outlook from “here’s what I need to get ahead†to “How can I help you get ahead?†your world will change.
Here’s another real strong Darwin quote.
“It is always advisable that we perceive clearly our ignorance.†– Charles Darwin
You have to know that you don’t know. You have to admit that you don’t know, develop a thirst for the truth, and then focus on a plan to do something about it.
You’re not asking enough questions, man, and you’re probably asking the wrong questions.
When you find yourself in the right “laneâ€, and you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, for real, it’s literally breathtaking how quickly the tables turn. The amount of supremely positive energy you attract into your life will be overwhelming.
You will always question it because it’s so ABUNDANT.
You’ll always be thinking, do I deserve this? Is this for real? And the answer is a resounding YES!
Hey.
It won’t happen until you make a change though.
It won’t happen until you jump.
Those monsters inside your head got you scared to jump.
- They’re telling you you’re not ready.
- They’re telling you your parents were right and music was a stupid career choice.
- They’re telling you to focus on Plan B…to be safe.
- They’re telling you to deal with this pain tomorrow so have another drink today.
- They’re telling you good things will happen to those who wait.
Your monsters are correct in that good things do come to those who wait, but only that which is left behind by those who hustle.
So if table scraps is your idea of paradise, keep listening to the monsters.
How do you find a manager?
How do you find a killer booking agent?
How do you get a big time producer?
The first part of the answer is you’re going to have to pay.
If the cost is too high, then you don’t want it enough. Which is ok. I’m not judging. Just accept the reality and don’t cry over the outcome.
Crying over an outcome you haven’t worked to achieve would be as silly as paying a few hundred bucks for a rusted out 1967 baby blue Dodge Dart and bitching that it doesn’t look, sound, feel, and perform like a Ferrari. You didn’t pay for a Ferrari!
You’re going to have to pay with your time, which many of you are not willing to give, at least not enough.
When I was an artist, my band practiced 4-7 hours a day. No joke. We all had part-time jobs and every other minute outside of that stupid phone sales room was devoted to band rehearsal by all members.
If you’re thinking, my band will never commit to that, get a new band. I went through tons of band members in lil’ old Delavan, Wisconsin before I assembled the lineup that would gain the serious traction.
If they don’t want it enough, find somebody who does.
Maybe they do want it enough and they just need to be checked into the glass. Help them reevaluate their priorities.
If you’re thinking but these band members are my friends and I don’t want to hurt their feelings, get over it. They’ll be OK. You clearly want it more than they do.
Truth is, each of you will be happier surrounded by people with the same goals. Life is good when you’re in the right beehive.
This is show-business, not show-friends.
If you’re thinking I don’t have time for that, then you’re right. Which is fine. But you have to stop stressing over a lack of momentum. Music is not a profession for somebody with little or no time to devote to it; it’s a hobby. You enjoy making music, so enjoy it. But let’s call a spade a spade and set clear realistic expectations.
Btw, every awesome job comes with crappy paperwork that nobody likes to do but has to be done. I hate accounting but I have to do it for Daredevil.
Your crappy paperwork is probably manifesting itself in the form of music marketing. Decidedly different animal than making music but mission critical if you plan on being a professional.
You also have to pay with money.
You’ll have to either pay someone to help you create solid recordings, good images, PR, social media, videos, promotion, etc. OR you’ll have to pay someone to teach you how to do it for yourself.
You’re not going to magically absorb this knowledge from the Universe simply because you wish it to be that way and you were born to be an artist.
You’re going to have to get off your ass and get in proximity with a mentor of some kind. The least expensive method to benefiting from a mentor is a webinar, a consultation, or a book!
If you’re thinking I don’t have money for that right now, I got bills, you’re right again! You’re spending your money on the things that matter to you the most. If your career isn’t one of these things, then you have no money for it. Therefore music is a hobby right now, not a profession.
I’m constantly listening to podcasts, reading books, watching webinars to learn about music marketing online.
What am I studying?
Social Media marketing, online marketing, consumer psychology, purchasing psychology, story branding, sales copy, Latent Semantic Indexing (I know I’m a total geek), music industry trade mags, ecommerce technology, and more.
Books are the most AMAZING deals, man. Direct proximity with the best minds the world has to offer for around $15; the cost of an expensive cocktail.
Why do I spend money and time on these books?
Because nothing is more important to me than cracking the code to helping my artists find their audience, connect with them, and create cash flow from them.
Once I’ve mastered this, I’ll be able to mathematically predict cash flow. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Moneyballâ€, that’s the ticket. Daredevil Production is architecting “Moneyball†for the music business.
If you’re pissed right now, I’m not trying to trick you.
The question: How do I find a music manager?
The answer: You don’t find them, they’ll find YOU.
You don’t sit around wondering, wishing, hoping, that you’ll meet the right person who will agree to go to work your day job for you so you can collect the paycheck and focus on music, do you?
No.
That’s a job you have to do on your own.
You don’t sit around day dreaming about the day you find the right person to wipe your butt after your done taking a crap either, do you?
No.
This is yet another job that you deeply understand is for you alone.
You think these questions were silly because they were.
You KNOW that you don’t get paid unless you get your butt to work.
You KNOW your butt won’t get wiped unless you do it yourself.
Whether you want to believe or not, whether you understand it or not,
The music business is no different.
You won’t find an audience and make great music unless you do it yourself. All the people you seek will make your existing audience (business) bigger. They won’t find them for you.
Put in the time. Put in as much money as you can (intelligently) and become an undeniable force of business.
All the managers, booking agents, and producers will come out of the woodwork once you prove to the Universe that you’ve taken ownership of your own career.
They’ll flock to you, I PROMISE.
Until then, you’re just another wannabe who naively believes that you need them to make you.
They won’t.
You don’t.
Stay
In
Tune
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