| Independent musicians who try to find managers, | | | | people like that." |
| booking agents, and publicists through Myspace, | | | | They tend to gain the trust of the artists and then ask |
| Facebook, and other social networks, need to be | | | | for an unfair percentage for their work. Artists need to |
| aware of people who will approach the band to try | | | | research and understand what the percentages for a |
| and take advantage of them. | | | | person's service should be. |
| The person who is promising promotion and shows | | | | For example, a booking agent's percentage should |
| could ultimately be a scam artist who just wants the | | | | average around 10%, I found during my research. A |
| artists' money. The scammer more than likely used to | | | | percentage can be negotiated, but the percentage that |
| work for a major label. | | | | actually goes onto the contract should be agreed upon |
| "The labels have been cutting staff for a few years, | | | | by all parties before being signed. |
| and a lot of those people are now on the street | | | | It is recommended that indie musicians should have |
| working freelance as "agents," "A&R consultants," | | | | their contracts looked over by a lawyer before being |
| "managers," and other job titles," stated Robert Arthur, | | | | signed. |
| who is the Business Manager for the indie band | | | | There are legitimate people that are a great resource |
| Northern Room. | | | | that can be found on social networks, but it is not a |
| Usually, the scam artist approaches a band through | | | | bad idea to do a background check. Treat the |
| messaging them on their social network pages. The | | | | person(s) that is interested in working for you like you |
| scammer then promises what the musicians want to | | | | would a new hire at any job. It is always a good idea |
| hear. They say that they worked for a major label | | | | to make sure that their resume checks out. |
| company to gain the trust of the musicians. | | | | "A few of them are good people who can actually |
| "Just because someone once worked at Universal | | | | help you, but many more are bottom feeders who troll |
| records does not mean they are legitimate," said | | | | MySpace looking for bands to prey upon," added |
| Arthur. We get several shady inquiries per week from | | | | Arthur. |