Band Manager
Band managers are in charge of the business side of musicians.
As a band manager you will be expected to: liaise with venues, contact media, negotiate rates, manage bookings, organise practice and recording time.
What the job looks like
Salary expectation
starts at $40,000 up to $90,000
The good
- Listen to great music
- Attend a lot of gigs
- Backstage passes
- Meet and work with interesting and talented people
- Help musicians to achieve and realise their dreams
The not so good
- Long hours
- Trying to please both bands and venues
- Having to smile and work at events even when you are stressed and tired
As a band manager, you need to take care of gig bookings so that your bands can focus on their music.
One of the first steps in securing a booking is writing an effective email to the venue’s booking agent, so you need good writing skills.
Plus, you will write media releases to promote your band.
Having good maths skills is also important so you can make sure ticket sales cover venue fees, roadie hire and that your band gets paid.
Good negotiation skills are also necessary so that everyone gets a fair deal.
Something connected with me and I became addicted to music.
Pathways to this career
Subject suggestions for the HSC
Choosing your HSC subjects from this list could really help with your career. Think carefully about what you want to study after school as you might need to choose specific HSC subjects for that course and to count towards your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). An ATAR is your academic rank in relation to other HSC students and helps with University admission.
HSC subjects
Some subjects will count towards your ATAR, others will not. Check with your career advisor before making subject selections.
- English (Standard or higher)
- Mathematics (General or higher)
- Music
- Business Studies
What can I do after I have finished school?
University degrees
Studying one of these degrees can help with your career.
- Bachelor of Business
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Laws (Combined)
- Bachelor of Communication
Alternative entry pathways
You can start a career pathway without the required ATAR by enrolling in a foundation program.
- Certificate IV or Diploma in Music Business
Suggestions
Checkout IDENT for more information.
- Try and go to as many festivals, events and shows as possible - meet lots of people and keep in contact
- Get to know the main industry representatives through websites or social media sites
- Sign up for relevant email newsletters
- Offer to write some music reviews or articles for your local paper
- Volunteer with your local community radio station
