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"A manager has to have vision, passion"

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Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, The Scorpions, KISS - during his nearly 30 years in the music business, Doc McGhee has been the guiding force behind them all.

The Los Angeles-based manager runs McGhee Entertainment (he also has an office in Nashville), where he currently oversees a roster of twenty acts. "It's a very weird thing that I do," McGhee admits. "There's no degree in music management, but there is something of a science to it. That science isn't written in stone; there's many variables to it. But after you work at it for a lot of years, you know what usually works."

MusicRadar sat down with McGhee to get his thoughts on managing successful musicians. In particular, we wanted to know, at what point should an artist hire a manager? And what should one look for in representation? The cordial and colorful McGhee was happy to hold forth.

When does a musician or band need a manager?

"When they start getting interest. Whether they're developing a strong local following or record companies are contacting them - if something real is happening, that's when a manager can help. Sometimes bands sign with management too soon, expecting us to wave a magic wand and turn them into superstars. Doesn't work that way. We're talkin' the big leagues. You don't just write five songs and call up McGhee Entertainment. Develop your songwriting, create excitement, work on your act. Be ready for us so we're ready for you."

What questions should an act should ask a manager?

"First, ask yourself, 'Where do I want to go? What kind of career do I want in five years?' Then when you talk to a manager, ask him, 'What have you done? What is your highest point?' It's like looking for a doctor - sometimes it helps to talk to other patients: 'How did that operation go? Was the doctor any good?' Just as there are doctors who make stupid mistakes and kill people, there are managers who kill careers. Be smart. Ask questions. This is serious. I tell bands all the time, 'If you want to talk to Jon Bon Jovi or KISS or Motley Crue and ask them about me, go right ahead.'

"I've managed bands that have traveled to 52 countries and sold over 20 million albums each - I've had a bunch of them. If you want to be an indie band, there's a lot of managers that can deliver that kind of career. But if you want to be a superstar, there's only a handful of people that can get you there. A manager has to have vision, connections, passion. It's like being a football coach - you have to be able to put a workable game plan together."

What do you look for when considering a new artist?

"I look for a star! [laughs] But I also look for somebody who is driven, has passion, commitment; somebody who understands that show biz is a lot of hard, punishing work; who is willing to play every dive and toilet until it's their time to pop. I ask each potential client, 'Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make it?' If they can't say 'yes,' then I'm not interested."