+ The Womanager

nota bene — I no longer manage bands and my outlook on my career is much different.  But I didn’t have the heart to take this down.  This serves as a snapshot of one of my most powerful and most passionate expeditions: the womanager crusade.

My Manifeseto, 2008

My Philosophy:

When I was 8 years old, I fell in love with the Beatles. I remember sitting on my bedroom floor, huddled in front of my boombox, listening to my warm Beatles mixtapes. And I cried. I cried and cried and cried. I loved them so intensely that I didn’t know how else to process it.

Now I do.

I live every waking moment for my bands. This is why I’m here.

My philosophy on management is to be the band’s big sister. More of a peer than the mother, but would love to see them shine. Close enough to hang out, but with enough distance to guide and say what needs to be said. Sweet and loving but could be a total bitch when she needs to put her foot down. But that’s because she cares.

I am not here to be cool; I am here to be not cool. If there’s enough going on, I’ll go days without changing my clothes or leaving the house.

I am here for the things I would write in blood.

I am here for the sons and daughters of everyone who thinks we’re wasting our future.

I am here so we can prove them wrong.

My Background:

I was born on July 1, 1986 and was raised in Fort Myers, FL, though I currently live in Boston, MA. I’ve been working in the music industry since I was 16 years old and I refuse to work in any other field.

I did a full-time 6-month internship with Epic Records in 2007, then worked as the President’s assistant at an upstart indie label in Florida. Today, I work at home full time as a band manager. I’m also a freelance photojournalist for AP and Metal Edge Magazines.  As for education, in December 2008 I completed a Berklee Professional Certificate in Artist Management and I’m pursuing a bachelors degree in Music Industry at Northeastern University.

I also work directly with the Dillinger Escape Plan, as the intern for guitarist/founding member/manager Ben Weinman.

My Values:

I will never become an ominous organization with no face. Why?

1. I’d rather be out there swinging a battle ax by myself than enslave an army of office monkeys.
2. My bands are my family. My bands are my boys. I speak as “we” instead of “you guys” or “my clients.”
3. Because the poet in me says it must be so.
4. This is the way I can work to my fullest potential.

I really really love music. I live for this and I love working every day. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing that enters my head is a lyric to a song I love. Seriously, I can’t help it.

I won’t work with an artist unless I’m really feeling it.

I have the heart of an artist and the mind of a businesswoman. I understand bands’ creative and professional needs and work alongside them. I offer a really personable approach to my work and do what I can to expand their lives as artists; to reach their full potential.

I’m not in this for the money but I do expect to be paid– I can’t work for free. I do this for a living. I work full time and this isn’t just a 9 -5 Mon- Fri kind of deal. Full time means full time.

I’m young and exceedingly enthusiastic but I’m old-school when it comes to professionalism. I err on the side of formality. In other words, I insist on being polite and using proper grammar, even if it’s the simplest task. It never goes out of style.

Hard Evidence: [faq]
I believe that nothing is more potent than harmonizing your left brain [logical] with your right brain [creative].

Press kits: I compile, write, design, host, and maintain for my bands.
www.carrieknific.com/name.html
www.carrieknific.com/doar.html

Promotion: Is part of the lifestyle.
One for Spitfire [I help them with marketing]

Planning: Is also part of the lifestyle.
Part of my final assignment for one of my Berklee classes. [see 'Economic Driver' onward. I can get more detailed but this was readily available for example].

Photos: I take of my bands: