Listening to your manager… Hopefully you did your homework prior to signing with them and you trust your new manager. Do your due diligence first. Are they the one you want to manage your career? Great, now is the time to practice The Art of Listening! Your manager is here to guide you down your path to success. Second guessing them is counter-productive, and tiresome. They may have to say some things to you that are hard to take at times, such as you need to lose weight, or showcase this song, leave that one out for now, wear this, don’t wear that… Unless they are telling you to go against your principals or do something illegal, listen to them! This is what you hired them to do!
Note of caution: Giving advice on sensitive issues is hard enough the first time around. But if a difficult issue is addressed, and it needs to be repeated over and over, think about the strain this will cause on the working relationship. It’s your job as an artist to be in the best shape you can possibly be, both mentally and physically, and to be prompt, courteous, ready at all times, respectful and grateful for the help you get. Especially if you’re an emerging artist! Being difficult doesn’t make you eccentric, it just makes you difficult to work with.
Listening within a conversation – hear what someone else has to say! Sounds like common courtesy, but you’d be surprised at how many artists become completely self-absorbed and forget there’s a world out there that has something to say…
Don’t just talk about yourself and your needs for your career 24/7. Learning good listening skills is key in making fans, finding investors, etc. In order to get what you want truly listen and learn to hear other people’s stories. Take a real interest in others and they will take an interest in you. And be genuine!
, especially if it comes from an industry professional! Think it over carefully before you discard it as bad advice, or think to yourself “they just don’t know me”. Don’t just discount something because it’s not what you want to hear. From Michael Jackson to Lady Gaga, superstars are developed; they weren’t “Born This Way”. Creative criticism is necessary in order for you to become more marketable and profitable as an artist.
Rants From The Rocks 