Management for Musicians

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Hired as Orbison's percussionist in 1972, Elam spent the next four years observing

the mistakes of a series of inept road managers. By 1976, he felt he could do a better

job and, allowed the opportunity, took over the duties of road manager in addition to

his role as musician. During Orbison's career slump, Elam also took on the responsi-

bilities of working with the booking agency, something that a personal manager

would ordinarily handle. He continued his dual roles throughout the artist's mid-

1980s career resurgence, and worked with the estate following Orbison's death in

1988.

In 1989 an offer came for Elam to road manage fledgling country artist Vince Gill.

Following a meeting with Gill's management team in Los Angeles, Elam set out on a

tour bus in early 1990 with a seven-piece band, a skeleton road crew, and a then-

struggling and almost unknown singer. Gill spent the beginning of the year working

small club dates and opening for artists like Reba, Clint Black, and Randy Travis. His

career took off when the single "When I Call Your Name" shot to number one, and he

ended the year as a headliner. When Gill's management re-opened its Nashville office

in 1995, Elam was brought in-house with both personal and road management

responsibilities.

Elam shares management responsibilities of Gill with Larry Fitzgerald and Oliva

Newton John with Mark Hartley and has previously managed Sherri Austin and Pam

Tillis. The Fitzgerald Hartley roster includes Dwight Yoakam, Lee Ann Rimes, Brad

Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, and Los Lobos. www.fitzhart.com

MANAGER OF PRODUCERS, ENGINEERS, AND MIXERS

JOB OVERVIEW

These managers direct and oversee clients' careers, including looking for produc-

tion opportunities, publicizing achievements, negotiating contracts, and other busi-

ness functions.

"You've got to be able to get along with people. At the end of the day you

can be the smartest person in the room, but if you anger people or alien-

ate them, you'll fail."

Working at a recording studio or in the A&R department at a record

label is good training for managing producers and engineers. Read

recording updates in the music trades and study the liner notes of albums

to become familiar with who produced, engineered, and mixed what

records.

CAREER

TIPS

Management for Musicians - Page 5