A band manager is someone who generally takes care of the "business" of a band, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be on top of your music career before a manager comes into the picture - or that there aren't things you should be doing even if you have a manager on board. These band management 101 basics - that is, band management for bands basics - make a good checklist of the things you should be doing from day one of your band's life.

Artist Manager - What is it? :An artist manager, also known as a "band manager", is in charge of the business side of being in a band. Often, band members are great at the creative side of things, but aren't so great at promoting themselves, booking their own gigs, or negotiating deals. In a very general sense, the task of a manager is take care of the day to day running of the band's career, so the band can focus on the creative side of things

The jobs a manager does depends very much on the band and where they are in their careers. For an unsigned band, a manager should:

* Send out demos to labels, radio stations, local print media, and online publications

* Book gigs and invite labels and the media to the showsNetwork and talk to people about the band

* Help book studio time and practice sessions

* Explore funding opportunities for the band

For signed artists, managers should:

* Negotiate financial deals with the label for expenses like touring and recording

* Oversee other peope working for the band, like accountants, agents, and merchandisers.