MANAGEMENT
Management Staff: Artist Manager • Director Or Manager (advertising, Publicity, And Internet Tools)
JOB OVERVIEW
The focus of Stephanie Green's responsibilities is to coordinate label, independent, and in-house forces to maximize advertising, publicity, and marketing campaigns in all media forms, including the Internet and new technology.
SPECIAL SKILLS
“There are no set rules in this business, so you are constantly challenging yourself to be creative. You set up an album one way for one artist and set up an album a different way for another artist. You have to be able to keep track of paper and be detail oriented. I'm tenacious and persistent. I like to go after things and think big. If it doesn't work, I try to find another way to go about it.”
A DAY IN THE LIFE
The first thing Stephanie Green does each day is check her e-mail and read the daily faxes. She tries to carve out some time in the morning to read trade magazines and then hops on the Internet and starts surfing. “I do a fair amount of research and marketing on the Web. I work closely with our graphic and multimedia design folks to maintain our artists’ sites. On any given day, I could be answering a phone call from an independent publicist or the record label asking me to coordinate an interview with an artist, handling a request for an autographed auction item, or tracking down an artist to get an autograph, or to have them do a phone-in interview. This afternoon I'm mapping out an itinerary.”
CAREER TIPS
“Ask questions. If you don't understand something, ask. I always try to find new ways to go about accomplishing things.”
“The highs are very high and the lows can be very trying, but if you stay at it and go for it, management can be just wonderful.”
While in college, take marketing and writing classes. Both will help you land a job and be successful in it.
POINTERS FOR THE JOB SEARCH
“There aren't any rules to finding a job in the music industry. Sometimes you know somebody; sometimes you fall into a job; sometimes you start as an intern. I know people who have interned through school at publishing companies, at record labels, and at a management office. You couldn't ask for a more well-rounded, hands-on education for becoming a manager.”
THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS JOB:
“The politics, and probably a close tie with politics is the disappointments. It hurts when I see a client of ours who is disappointed. That breaks my heart.”
THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS JOB:
“My reward comes from knowing that I was a part of something. If I can contribute in some way and accomplish something, do it successfully and see the reward, it really means something to me. When I see a client achieving a level of success and they're shining, there is no better feeling in the world.”
STEPHANIE GREEN, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, SEA RECORDS/STERLING ENTERTAINMENT ASSOCIATES, LLC
“I was raised around music,” says Stephanie Green. “My family were all musicians; some were recording artists.” Ironically, it was working in a restaurant during high school that led her to the music business. Beginning at the take-out window at 15 years old, she worked her way through every position, before becoming the bookkeeper at age 18. While taking business and accounting classes at a junior college, her previous bookkeeping experience landed her a part-time job in the business management office of Glenn Campbell Enterprises. Finding that she enjoyed the work, she soon abandoned her studies to carry a full workload.
In 1994, Green took over the position of personal secretary to Glenn Campbell. In addition to handling Campbell's own accounts, she interfaced with his personal manager and road manager. As Campbell's Nashville business interests experienced success, particularly in launching an unknown writer/artist named Alan Jackson into superstardom, the company expanded to include an artist management division based in Nashville. Green found that a significant part of her time involved in the West Coast operation of the new venture, and she got hooked on the excitement of seeing new talent being developed.
When the opportunity arose in 1997, she left behind the business side of the music industry and moved to Nashville to work in a more creative capacity. While officially in charge of advertising, publicity, and finance, Green quickly discovered the truth about working at a young company: you end up pitching in wherever you are needed. As the careers of the company's roster have taken off, especially the phenomenal rise of client Bryan White, Green found herself juggling many duties, and loving every minute of it.
In late 2003, Green joined SEA Records/Sterling Entertainment Associates, as director of public relations. Green was given responsibility for all media relations for the company's entities, including SEA Records, music and book publishing divisions, and the concert division.
CAREER TIPS
“If you're nice to people, there is not much that you ask of them that they won't do. I treat people like I want to be treated.”
“In the music business, there is no security and no guarantee that you're going to have a job tomorrow. Every day you have to do the best you can and have no regrets about how you treated somebody or how you did your job.”
Skills learned working for an agent who books artists’ tours or a travel agent translate well into a tour assistant.
Additional topics
- MANAGEMENT - Tour Assistant • Management Assistant • Production Coordinator
- MANAGEMENT - Manager Of Producers, Engineers, And Mixers
Job Descriptions and Careers, Career and Job Opportunities, Career Search, and Career Choices and ProfilesCareers in the Music BusinessMANAGEMENT - Personal Managers: Artist Manager • Manager • Personal Manager, Manager Of Producers, Engineers, And Mixers