Management DealsMany bands and musicians after toiling away on the gig circuit are likely to get their first taste of success by being offered a management deal. Having booked your own gigs and public appearances you are naturally going to be more than happy to get such a deal. There is no doubt that having management and PR is a stepping stone to a record deal. But it is very important to be aware of the consequences of being tied to a management deal.

Most management deals will involve the Management Company having sole and exclusive rights to exploit you as a band/artist. This means that only they can book your gigs and arrange promotional events. This may suit some acts but if you have been getting your own gigs then you may have a deal with a local venue that you are happy with but will no longer be able to conduct as your managers will decide where and when you play. It might be easy to see this as a progression but you may lose local support if you are seen to turn your back on the places that gave you your first break.So it is very important to discuss these issues before you sign anything or even look at a contract.

You must find out as much as you can about potential managers- How long they have been in business? What type of artists do they already have? How have they helped them so far? (getting in touch with artists on their books is vital). Once you are satisfied that they might be right for you then you can look at the deal. Below are some examples of common management deal clauses that you should look out for:The term of this agreement shall be for a period commencing on this date hereof and continuing until the date three years thereafter.Although you might be happy that they have offered you a long-term deal I would always advise you to shorten it to one year with an option after six months to extend the deal. This way you are able to assess after a period of time whether the Company has helped your career. This assessment will be based on the amount of exposure you have gained under them and obviously how close you feel you are to getting a record deal.

We (the company) shall not be entitled to sign any agreement on your behalf and we hereby undertake not to hold ourselves out as having the right to do so. This is a very simple yet important clause to have in a management deal. It means that any decisions that are made about you as an artist must be approved by you first. This highlights the importance of sounding out the company and building an amicable relationship with them.

Many deals may not have this clause in them which would allow the company to involve you in events that might be more beneficial to them and not you. You will want as much exposure as possible but certain methods may not suit you.We shall have one irrevocable option to extend the term PROVIDED THAT the option will only be exercisable by us in the event that you have entered into an exclusive recording or publishing agreement approved by you during the term. This is another important clause, which shows that the Company must aim towards arranging a record deal for you. Most obligations on the Company will be quite vague-i.e. Arranging gigs and promotional events. This clause is much more direct and it puts the onus on them to achieve your ultimate goal. Many deals may not have such a fixed clause and in my opinion are not real management deals. If you do get such a deal with no real obligations it may be worth changing it to an agency agreement-this will mean that the Company do not have an exclusive right over you which allows you to work with others. Such a decision should not be taken lightly and it is vital that you get legal advice before you rush into anything.