Dealing With Industry Professionals

by Gian Fiero

At some point every ambitious music producer and artist will have to deal with an industry professional. It may be a manager who expresses interest in helping you achieve greater career success, or an attorney who will negotiate a deal for you. When the time does come for you to establish these crucial relationships, you will be able to make the most of them if you observe these fundamental dos and don’ts.

DO background checks for credibility. With the the use of Google, it literally takes just a couple of minutes to get information on someone. Your background check should also include emails or phone calls to past clients or associates that can vouch for them. Legitimate industry professionals love to have their backgrounds checked into. It gives you the opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation and value of what they have to offer.

DO have a full and complete understanding of what different industry professional do. There are many people and factors that will determine the extent (or limit) of your success in the music industry; know what they are before you assume that the industry professional you are working with has super powers to make you an overnight success.

DO answer the question, “What’s in it for them?” This is perhaps the most difficult step in this list for many music artists because it forces them to look at things from two unfamiliar perspectives: a business perspective and the perspective of someone else. Ask yourself when dealing with any industry professional, on any level, this one question: What’s in it for them? If your answer has something to do with money, then you will always be partially correct. If you can’t answer that question, you probably don’t need their help.
And now the don’ts…n’ts

DON’T assume that every industry professional wants to hear your music. What’s the point? When you encounter them on the street, at conferences, seminars, or parties, what they really want is a business reason to listen to to talk to you, and if necessary, listen to your music. You can accomplish this by telling them more about the your goals rather than how great (you think) you are.

DON’T underestimate their creative sensibilities. Most industry professionals come from a creative background. Many are intimately aware of what it takes to make a hit, or give an outstanding performance because many of them have been in bands or written songs at some point in their lives.

DON’T let your mouth be your greatest sales tool – unless you are using it to rap or sing. Professionals appreciate, and prefer, to work with artists who are respectful of their time, and have some potential business affairs that they can assist with.
Gian Fiero is a recognized Growth Expert who is dedicated to Career & Life Success.

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@ http://www.thegrowthtree.blogspot.com/