Entertainment business managers are widely popular among actors, musicians, writers, artists, and celebrities from different fields. The managers are not meant simply for professionals in the entertainment industry. Anyone can hire an expert to handle complex legal and financial decisions that arise concerning the show business. They are known to play multiple roles and are the reasons behind the monetary success of the clients. Entertainment business managers execute the roles of a financial counselor, a public relations manager, an agent, and even more.
Who is an entertainment business manager?
An entertainment business manager plays a key role in helping the client handle financial and legal decisions seamlessly. He/she is an expert who has a diverse role to play but is mostly involved in the monetary functioning of the client. The entertainment business manager is a part of the team which includes an entertainment attorney, general manager, an agent, and others. The entertainment business manager works communicates and works together with other team members and comes up with a comprehensive and well-defined financial plan that helps maximize the earning capacity of the client.
What does an entertainment business manager do?
Particular duties and responsibilities of the entertainment business managers cannot be specified. This is because their functions depend on the scope of the career of a specific client. But the entertainment business managers have to look after overseeing royalties, file taxes, pay bills, track income, follow up with parties for timely payment assurance, and so on. Furthermore, entertainment business managers also need to negotiate with publishing companies, merchandising firms, record companies, seek sponsor endorsements, plan recording and tours, guide in investment strategies, etc. The entertainment business managers have to come up with solutions in case of contractual disputes. The managers present monthly or quarterly reports to the client.
The career path of entertainment business managers
Entertainment business managers are well-educated people, usually with an MBA degree or equivalent qualifications. Several managers gradually learn the essence of entertainment business management by working as administrative assistants to experienced and well-reputed entertainment business managers. A few of them also gain experience and understanding of the field working as independent contractors, while others begin as accountants and then shift to the entertainment business sector.
Once a newbie business manager proves his/her potential of helping clients with monetary success and providing solutions for critical situations, advancement in career is evident. He/she will start getting offers from high-earning and well-known clients, and it is the word-of-mouth referral that plays a key role. Entertainment business managers also have the expertise to work for orchestra companies, theatres, and similar arts-oriented organizations.
They have similar career paths as entertainment industry accountants. Unlike the industry accountants, entertainment business managers are not mandated to be certified. Moreover, entertainment business managers provide more holistic, day-to-day business support and management to the clients than industry accountants.
The required professional skills
To become an entertainment business manager, one must have the following professional skills:
- Finance
- Business management
- Accounting
- Budgeting
- Investment strategies
- Negotiating
- Music publishing
- Contracts
Good interpersonal skills
To become a successful entertainment business manager, it is necessary to possess excellent written and verbal communication skills. Individuals who have strong communication skills to explain complicated financial and legal information to their clients, who are laymen, are perfect for the role of a business manager. Furthermore, flexibility is another skill that an entertainment business manager must possess to successfully cater to the demands of his/her client. A few clients want a business manager who can be consulted on challenging financial decisions frequently. In brief, having strong interpersonal skills is significant becoming a successful entertainment business manager.
How is the work-life?
Entertainment business managers usually work during normal business hours. They can work as a freelancer, are hired on a contractual basis, or are fully employed by financial management companies, and independent counselors to clients. Usually, business managers don’t have to work overtime. Several entertainment business managers have to travel to meet with prestigious and prominent clients. This is mainly true for experienced and reputed business managers. To enhance the scope of a career as a professional, entertainment business managers have to build their networking.
Conclusion
Entertainment business managers are high in demand because of the range of duties and the responsibilities that they have to handle regularly. To be successful in their work, business managers need to have certain professional skills, along with strong interpersonal skills.