SPECIAL SKILLS
"A gift for communication and an ability to work
with people on all different
levels" facilitated Dixie Carter's success. "I
have a creative mind and an ability to see
opportunities. When things aren't going well
for a client or for myself, I try to take
what has happened and turn it around and make
it an opportunity."
"I think communication is without a doubt one
of the strongest allies of anybody
wanting to be a manager," says Terry Elam. "It
also takes determination: the ability to
have your [butt] handed to you and not leave
and never come back. Instead, go reat-
tach your [butt] and come back the next day and
go to work."
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Managers begin their day checking on the e-mail
and incoming faxes that require
a timely response. Throughout the day they talk
with the artist's booking agency to
discuss tour details, and field offers from the
publicist for interviews and television
appearances. They meet with the record company
to strategize a marketing plan for
an upcoming album, or to approve artwork for a
CD or promotional piece. Some
managers speak with radio stations to help move
a record up the charts. They may
work to secure a sponsorship deal, place a song
in a film, or negotiate a new publish-
ing deal. A manager is on call
24/7.
"If you're just starting out in the music
business, find something that
you're passionate about; something that excites
you to where you're
driving into work and you can't wait to get
there. That's what a job is
supposed to be."
--DC
"I set goals for myself all the time: goals for
the week, goals for the
month, for the quarter, the year, and where I
want to be in five years. I
think that helps you reward yourself on a
weekly basis. You can see what
you accomplished and what you need to go back
and finish. It gives you
points of reference for the year and sets
standards for you to strive to
achieve."--TE
"Without growing up in the business, the most
effective way to break into
the industry is with a good education, good
communication skills, and
strong people skills."--TE
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