What's the most important trait in a manager?

Being honest with the money. A manager handles every dollar the talent earns, so if the talent ever has to wonder about the numbers, nothing else matters. Get the money right and the rest of the relationship has somewhere to stand.

Do you need industry contacts to be a good manager?

Contacts help, but you build them – they're not required to start. Being reliable and showing good judgment opens more doors over time than a starting rolodex. Do the work well and you become the person others want to take a call from.

What's the difference between a good and a bad manager?

A good manager grows the career and keeps the money clear. A bad one is vague about where money goes, chases every shiny deal or lets things slip. It usually shows up first in the money and the follow-through.

What makes a good talent manager

A good manager makes the talent's career bigger than they could on their own. They're honest with the money, organized enough that nothing slips, smart about which opportunities to chase and straight with the talent even when it's not what they want to hear. The skills can be learned; the character can't be faked.

Be honest with the money

A manager handles the talent’s money – what comes in, where it goes, what’s owed. If the talent ever has to wonder about the numbers, you’ve already lost them. Keep the money so clear they never have to ask. It’s the most important thing a manager does, and everything else builds on it.

Stay organized

Most of the job is operational: deals in motion, deadlines, payments, who said what. A good manager has a system, so a missed invoice or a forgotten option date never costs the talent money. It’s unglamorous, and it’s what separates a real manager from someone who just has the title.

Push on the right things

A good manager doesn’t chase every opportunity. They push hard on the deals that move the career forward and pass on the ones that don’t, even when the money looks good. Knowing what to turn down is a skill the talent often can’t see yet, which is exactly why they need someone who can.

Be straight, even when it's unwelcome

Part of the job is telling the talent what they don’t want to hear: the deal is bad, the release isn’t ready, the spending is a problem. Say it early, keep it calm and bring a plan. Done well, that honesty is one of the most valuable things a manager offers.

Good judgment comes with reps

Rate, base, timing, leverage – an experienced manager reads a deal against every deal they’ve seen before. That comes one contract at a time, which is why the best managers treat each one as a lesson. It’s the same path as becoming a manager: do the work, learn the business, carry it forward.

Common questions

What's the most important trait in a manager?: Being honest with the money. A manager handles every dollar the talent earns, so if the talent ever has to wonder about the numbers, nothing else matters. Get the money right and the rest of the relationship has somewhere to stand.
Do you need industry contacts to be a good manager?: Contacts help, but you build them – they're not required to start. Being reliable and showing good judgment opens more doors over time than a starting rolodex. Do the work well and you become the person others want to take a call from.
What's the difference between a good and a bad manager?: A good manager grows the career and keeps the money clear. A bad one is vague about where money goes, chases every shiny deal or lets things slip. It usually shows up first in the money and the follow-through.