You can’t do everything forever. The moment you can afford help, buy back your time. The right team multiplies you, while the wrong one divides you.
Hire for your weakest link first. If you hate admin, get a virtual assistant. If promo overwhelms you, find a publicist. Don’t hire a manager to do what you won’t do yourself.
Start with freelancers, not employees. A designer per release, a publicist per campaign, a booker per tour. Flexibility beats overhead at this stage.
Pay fairly and on time. The music industry runs on reputation, and word travels fast about who pays and who doesn’t. Good people stay where they are respected.
Define roles clearly. Who decides the single? Who approves the artwork? Ambiguity breeds resentment, so write it down even if it is informal.
Fire fast when values misalign. A talented person who doesn’t believe in the vision costs more than they earn. Protect the culture like the asset it is.
Write a one-page vision doc before you hire anyone. Where this is going, what winning looks like, and how each role contributes to it. People cannot follow a vision they have never seen, so put it in writing first.
Start every working relationship with a trial project, never a permanent commitment. One release with a publicist or one month with an assistant tells you everything about fit before either side is locked in.
Write your one-page vision doc this week, then name the first role you would hire if money were no object. That is your weakest link talking. Start the search for freelance help now, before burnout makes the decision for you.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.