I regularly have enquiries from musicians who wish to be represented by NSN Productions Limited. Of course, we are unable to represent everyone, since we wish to ensure our present, and very good loyal musicians have the best opportunities to have work. However, I've compiled a list of tips if you wish to approach a music management company.
1. Find out about the company before you cold call or approach by email. Refer to some of this information when you approach the company.
2. All of our entertainers - including comedians and speakers to have Public Liability Insurance.
3. Have marketing material, including 'action' photos and .mp3 samples available to email. We are certainly not going to go to your website, or download samples: you must provide them for us.
4. Be prepared to be flexible over fees and also the size of the band. We have 2 bands comprising of 9 musicians AND 2 sound engineers. In these times, fewer clients are in a position to afford large bands when they can book smaller bands for less. No good music management company would send musicians out for a poor fee, but do be flexible.
5. Keep the music management company up to date with new repertoire lists, 'news' stories and new line ups of bands.
6. We occasionally have opportunities for promotions: either on the radio, in magazines, at exhibitions, etc. A good musician will jump at this opportunity and a good management company (such as NSN) will guide and advise to make the most of the opportunity.
7. It might seem tempting to 'double cross' your manager by approaching clients direct at a gig for future work. Most clients do not like this as they've built up a relationship with the manager. Management companies don't like it - or you distributing your own marketing material at their gigs. I assure you, you will have no further work from that manager. Don't promote yourself at a gig arranged by someone else. We have an arrangement that if a client or guest approaches the musicians, they forward the enquiry to me and they receive 10% of the fee if the gig goes ahead as a 'thank you'.
8. Give feedback to the manager, particularly if there was an unforeseen snag at an engagement. I keep a very open dialogue with my musicians to ensure the very highest quality of service is available to the client from start to finish. If there is a snag, I need to know about it to avoid a repeat, and also to discuss it with the client.
9. It goes without saying that punctuality is a must for all gigs. Rather arrive an hour early, than late and in a panic.
10. It also goes to say that you should be sober and have not taken drugs before or during an engagement. Again, if you do, you are unlikely to have repeat business.
11. If you meet an agent or manager at a social occasion, don't do the hard sell. Last week I was at a garden party, and an ex-colleague, who hadn't taken much interest in me, found out what I was doing. I had her following me around, doing the hard sell for 90 minutes: spoiling my afternoon. Her card went in the bin. Had she called or followed up the contact a couple of days later, rather than 'hitting' straight away, I would have been more interested in her.
In the end, I am human and my aim is to provide excellent service to clients, but also to be fair, open and supportive to my musicians and entertainers.
See our website http://www.nsn-productions.com
1. Find out about the company before you cold call or approach by email. Refer to some of this information when you approach the company.
2. All of our entertainers - including comedians and speakers to have Public Liability Insurance.
3. Have marketing material, including 'action' photos and .mp3 samples available to email. We are certainly not going to go to your website, or download samples: you must provide them for us.
4. Be prepared to be flexible over fees and also the size of the band. We have 2 bands comprising of 9 musicians AND 2 sound engineers. In these times, fewer clients are in a position to afford large bands when they can book smaller bands for less. No good music management company would send musicians out for a poor fee, but do be flexible.
5. Keep the music management company up to date with new repertoire lists, 'news' stories and new line ups of bands.
6. We occasionally have opportunities for promotions: either on the radio, in magazines, at exhibitions, etc. A good musician will jump at this opportunity and a good management company (such as NSN) will guide and advise to make the most of the opportunity.
7. It might seem tempting to 'double cross' your manager by approaching clients direct at a gig for future work. Most clients do not like this as they've built up a relationship with the manager. Management companies don't like it - or you distributing your own marketing material at their gigs. I assure you, you will have no further work from that manager. Don't promote yourself at a gig arranged by someone else. We have an arrangement that if a client or guest approaches the musicians, they forward the enquiry to me and they receive 10% of the fee if the gig goes ahead as a 'thank you'.
8. Give feedback to the manager, particularly if there was an unforeseen snag at an engagement. I keep a very open dialogue with my musicians to ensure the very highest quality of service is available to the client from start to finish. If there is a snag, I need to know about it to avoid a repeat, and also to discuss it with the client.
9. It goes without saying that punctuality is a must for all gigs. Rather arrive an hour early, than late and in a panic.
10. It also goes to say that you should be sober and have not taken drugs before or during an engagement. Again, if you do, you are unlikely to have repeat business.
11. If you meet an agent or manager at a social occasion, don't do the hard sell. Last week I was at a garden party, and an ex-colleague, who hadn't taken much interest in me, found out what I was doing. I had her following me around, doing the hard sell for 90 minutes: spoiling my afternoon. Her card went in the bin. Had she called or followed up the contact a couple of days later, rather than 'hitting' straight away, I would have been more interested in her.
In the end, I am human and my aim is to provide excellent service to clients, but also to be fair, open and supportive to my musicians and entertainers.
See our website http://www.nsn-productions.com
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