Winging it…again!! A-Team updates! 😇

As an artist manager you cross paths with so many people in the music industry; those who inspire you, those who motivate you and those who change you. Very rarely do you come across somebody who does all three.

My journey on this weird and wonderful musical escapade hasn’t been a smooth ride or something that I have wanted to be continually part of but working with my artist, Stuart Landon, has seen us create something that I believe will change the way artist and manager relationships are portrayed.

Spending a lot of time in London & Los Angeles really opened my eyes to how formal some business relationships are and how flawed and unproductive the impact of this can be.

Some artists were only speaking to their management once a month for updates and the rest of the time they were navigating their way through the industry alone worrying about what their next move should be. Some of these artists didn’t even know when their next single release was going to be, when their next gig was, some didn’t even know who their actual manager was as they had contact with numerous people within a company!

There is no right or wrong way for an artist and a manager to work together. You find your own momentum and you figure out what works for you both but once a month communication surely isn’t the way.

In my opinion, artist management should be primarily about trust, communication and loyalty. These are the fundamental qualities that are needed to build a long lasting relationship.

Stuart & I both very much operate an open door policy and an unbreakable loyalty to each other where we talk about anything and everything.

This is important to us as it gives us the freedom to not only discuss any issues that come up but the safety net of knowing that any disagreements can be talked about without the fear of rocking the boat.

Whilst in Los Angeles, I spoke to three artists who were too afraid to pick up the phone to their managers with current issues that they had for fear of being dropped or being seen as troublemakers. Each artist had valid reasons for their concerns but neither one was comfortable enough to speak to their manager as their relationship was too formal and they didn’t feel like they could discuss it.

Those artists won’t succeed whilst under that management and I told them this.

On the positive side, I have been extremely lucky to meet an incredible manager who looks after a world renowned artist.

Colin Lester, who is the manager to Craig David, was attending the MUSEXPO in LA the first time I met him. His relationship with Craig almost mirrors the one I have with Stuart and the similarities as to how we work have really amazed me.

The advice and guidance that I have received from Colin has been so valuable and has been a fundamental part of my artist management talks both here in the UK and in LA.

Relationships are everything in the music world no matter what your role is but I have always been about making a change in the music industry. When I first started out 5 years ago, the platform I created was for emerging artists and CEI was made to provide a stage for unknown talent; putting them in front of new audiences and creating a network.

Now, as time has progressed and I find myself in the place where I think I was meant to be, with an artist that I was meant to work with, I still believe in making a change.

However, that change is now for us. It is about developing our profile as an artist and a manager and showing the world what can be achieved when you have a team and a relationship that goes beyond a formal business setting.

How we work won’t be for everyone but the relationship we have built has created a momentum and an interest that we want to share.

We have created a friendship that has carried us through three years of ups and downs in this crazy industry, laughter, tears (from me!), a lot of swearing (from him!), the odd drunken nights out (ok, a few!) and we want to share how we have overcome challenges, created opportunities, started to see success and kept it fun along the way.

So with that in mind, Stuart & I are so excited to be hitting the road this year and hosting our own artist / manager music talks.

We have never done this before so yes, we are winging it but its going to be so much fun and it’s what we do. We know the industry and we know each other so it’s our way of doing something slightly different and allowing people a behind the scenes look into what we do whilst giving back and educating those looking to progress in the music industry.

My own talks which I have given to Live Nation, Kobalt Music and other industry leaders have been a great experience but to do these talks with someone who has become my best friend is going to be so much fun.

What’s even better is that we are going to be joined on a few of the dates by a couple of very special people.

All of the dates are going to be announced at the end of the month. We will share all the locations, ticket links and more information then.

We appreciate all the support we have continuously had and can’t wait to share our journey and stories at these shows!

🎶💕🎶

“Artists don’t need a Yes man…”

A relationship between manager and artist isn’t always going to be about success, number 1 Records and chasing down the next big tour.

But if it isn’t about that, then what is it that defines a successful relationship in the music industry?

For me, the most important thing is 100% honesty and loyalty. Being a manager doesn’t mean agreeing with your artists all of the time but it does mean discussing situations and plans in a completely transparent way and understanding each other in order to progress to the best outcome. You can only do this with honesty and without this, your working career is doomed.

In addition to this, don’t feel that you have to say ‘yes’ to the artist all the time. They don’t want or a need a yes man. They want your opinion based on your knowledge – whether that is industry knowledge or knowledge about them and how they work. Both can be just as important!

I came into the manager role at a relatively young age and didn’t know completely what it was all about. I just knew that I wanted to work with people I believed in and that I would make it work. I learnt as I went and gained valuable experience.

What I have always maintained is that you always have to be in your artists corner – always! If you can fight for your artist and they know you will do that for them, then you are likely to go places because it reinforces honesty and trust.

As a manager you need to motivate your artists and inspire them but what people don’t realise is that you need your artist to  motivate you.

If you stop getting excited about their next single or you lose the drive to make their next tour a sell out – then quit!

That’s the time to give up and move on because it’s bad for business for both you and your artist.

Having a manager doesn’t guarantee success but what I guarantee under management is that me and everyone who works for/with me will work absolutely beyond anything to make the possible chances and opportunities. I fight a lot harder than anyone I know when I believe in something and when I hear my artists music, that is reinforced.

So it’s true what they say. Mess with the artist, you take on their management first.

And our team is one to be reckoned with.

Charl 🎵

 

http://www.charlotteelizabethsongwriter.com