If You Could Walk Miles In My Shoes

        There are so many artists that I would love to manage out there so it’s nearly impossible for me to narrow it down to one person or to one group in particular. However, when I get into managing my own artists, that may be precisely what I need to do. I’ve been interested in becoming an A&R at a label or another executive to that effect because I feel like I have an ear for talent but I think I’ve just been introduced to another option! A new manager has to keep their ear out to the streets because there are so many untapped wells of talent out there looking to make a name for themselves. So how do you go about doing this? Well, for one, if you don’t get out much and go to concerts or showcases then you need to start. You will need to frequent local shows pertinent to the genre you are looking to manage in if you don’t do that already.
        Also, social media is a treasure trove for unsigned, up and coming talent. People are using this free resource to be heard and get seen and are very successful at it. I had a few people in mind for this assignment but before I narrowed it down to just one, I took to my Twitter account to check out some of the artists that follow me. (Artists will follow you depending on the artists and bands you follow, hoping you take a minute out of your day to check their music out too.) There are things that I look for in an artist based on being an artist and producer myself. I am easily intrigued by the simplest of things like their name, their artwork, visuals like their logo, and who their demographic is. Do they have an identity or do they know what they want to accomplish? What are they posting about? All of this is important to me when I’m looking for new music to listen to.
        I can’t underscore how important it is be able to love and embrace what your artist does. It’s like marrying a person you kind of like but seeing yourself with someone else. This can be toxic because you’re not going to be fully committed to capitalizing on all the opportunities you owe your artist and everyone is going to suffer for it. The artist I chose as the person I would like to manage most is 14-year-old Chris Miles out of New York. He is a protégé of Full Sail alumnus and professional producer Tyler Costantino and is blowing the world away on YouTube and DatPiff.com. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate on a track with him about a year or so ago and would love nothing more than to see this guy go far. It takes a lot for an artist to excite me so I mean it when I say that I want to be the first in line every time he drops a new album. I hate to say it but Chris can demolish rappers my own age so I’m really excited for the both of them!
        I chose Chris because I have a deep love for his music first and foremost. He is always retweeting his fans on Twitter and he carries himself professionally despite the online trolls that continually put him down. He is very humble, down to earth and is always open to making music with anybody. He loves what he does and I am convinced that he has a long and lucrative shelf life ahead of him. When you have such respect for what an artist does, it influences you to push yourself that much harder. He's someone I look up to and he is only half my age!