The entertainment business can be very rewarding. From having fun doing shows to getting free merchandise, there are many perks associated with the industry. Because of this there is a lot of competition within the industry. Almost everyone in their lifetime has at least once though about becoming a famous star, or even just wanted to get rich. When you see your favorite athlete win, or witness your favorite musician singing a high note, the energy and intensity those moments bring is priceless. Of course there are many behind the scenes activities that are necessary in order to produce these moments. Many people then begin to ask questions such as "How can I get a career in the entertainment industry?", "How do I become a talent agent? and "How can become a music manager?". This is tough to answer seeing that there are multiple routes to take when perusing a career in the entertainment industry.
Do you have to go to college in order to become a music manager?
Although there are many courses and programs that focus on music management and marketing, you do not necessarily have to go to a college or university in order to become a music manager. In some cases however, you do have to hold a professional license in order to be a talent agent. For instance, when Jay Z began to pursue a career as a sports agent, he began to have difficulties due to the fact that he did not have a degree. In fact, Jay Z does not even have a high school diploma, however he has been a music executive for over two decades. This does not however mean you do not have to educate yourself on the different elements of the music business.
What are the different ways to land a job as a music manager or executive?
As stated before, there are many routes to becoming a music manager/exec. One way is to land an intern at a record label or management company. The more connects you have and the more mentors you can learn from, the more effective you will be as a music exec. You know the old saying, "it's not what you know, it's not about who you know, it's about who knows you" Hotep. Being an intern will give you a great chance to consistently interact with individuals in high positions. It will also give you great first hand experience. With that being said, internship opportunities at record labels are very competitive. You must find a way to stand out in order to be honored with an internship opportunity, and often times having a degree in some related field could be a great asset. Related fields would be Business Management, Marketing, Accounting, and Entertainment Law.
Another way to become a music manager could be by gaining experience in other areas of the music industry. Just like an internship opportunity, often times other positions offer opportunities for you to be near influential people in your field. There are many music managers and tour managers that started off as a Dj, producer, personal assistant, MC, and even security guards. Like i stated before, building your network is the biggest key in having success in the music industry along with leveraging your connections. You can take a job relevant to the music industry in order to get your foot in the door while you gain experience and broaden your connections. One example of this is that of Ludacris of College Park, Ga. Ludacris, formerly Chris Lava Lava started off as a radio Dj in Atlanta, ga. He used this opportunity to build his network as well as his brand while he released his first independent album titled "Incognegro". Needless to say, after the success of his independent album, Ludacris was able to form his own label "Disturbing the Peace" where he served as the CEO and Music Executive of his company.
Although I stated before that you do not have to go to college, using your education will put you at an advantage when it comes to finding work in the entertainment industry. At the end of the day, you either work for a label and work as a manager or music executive, or you scout and manage talent independently. As long as you have the knowledge and your potential clients are confident you will exceed their expectations, you will a great chance at getting client and thus become a music manager. Many schools have resources that will allow you to connect with individuals in the entertainment industry. One example is The Hope Experience with Tamike Hope in Atlanta, Ga. She conducts panels connecting artists with professionals in the business. During her panels, she has had different celebrity guests such as Dj Scream, Jason Geter, and Dj Princess Cut visit a local college called SAE Atlanta where they would share their experiences with student and adults who wanted to get in the entertainment industry. HOPE stands for "Hearing Other Peoples Experience". In addition to the different resources available to students and alumni, it is overall less difficult to gain trust as an educated individual for it is always good to have some form of certification to back your brand up.
Although many individuals enter as an intern, or professional from a related industry, there are some cases in which artists or entertainers just choose individuals they trust. For instance, before K Camp was managed by TJ'sDj's, he was managed by his mother. She held different professional jobs and also had a strong network which enabled her to help him get where he is today. In an interview she stated she just googled information on how to be a music manager. She had a passion for supporting her son and did everything she could to help build his brand. Another situation is that of Brandon "BAM" McWilliams and the artist Lil Thony from Atlanta, Ga. They were childhood friends and one day they just began to work together. Bam stated "I had no serious thoughts of being a music manager. I did know i wanted to do something related to marketing, but I didnt know what. I just saw potential. I saw style and heard music and said lets give it a try". Ironically both of these individuals were educated, but they also both new their client decades before they ever thought about conducting business. At the end of the day you have to conduct research, work hard, and network to become a successful manager. If you can do that then you have potential. After all it is a team effort and you will build a team along the way.
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