Sound Rink offers fans the ability to purchase there favorite bands concert tickets before they go on sale to the public with one of the lowest fees in the industry. There is only one way to be able to interact with your favorite bands in an intimate setting, prior to a kick-ass show, and they make it possible. They're a company that believes that fans deserve the right to have the services available to make their show experience epic
Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.
My name is Jason Mageau and I am an artist manager at Royal Division Ent. and President / Co-Founder of Sound Rink, Inc. I have been working in the music space for almost 10 years. I have been pretty much self supported the last 4-5 years when I decided it was time to not work for someone Else's dream and work at my own.
What drove you to choose your career path?
I started out in a band and once that "failed" I started working for a few bands on a merchandise / tour manager level. I always had a dream to work for myself, look how I wanted to look and not be un happy "slaving away" for some one else. I know this is going to sound really silly but once I decided to get my neck tattooed I knew from there I had to pave my own way as most people these days offering jobs in the typical fresh out of college 9-5 scenario would look at me and 100% judge me the wrong way. Tattoos in the work place in 2015 is far more acceptable than when I first started out however.
How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?
I had gone to school for multi media so I was knowledgeable in web design, graphic design, video and photography and being in a band myself I recognized these skills all could connect for the greater good.
I worked for As I Lay Dying for a few tours selling merch which opened my eyes at the time to a whole new perspective on things. From there I got into music marketing for a brand development agency once I had decided touring was over for me. It was my job to align the brand with music and bands / artists. Once I recognized how helpful I was being to these artists I decided I wanted to work directly with and for the artist.
Once I established myself in the manager world (to a certain degree) as well as trying a few "failed" start ups I began looking for new ways to generate income for my bands as well as engage with fans and sell more tickets to shows. From there the idea of doing meet and greet packages came to me and I tried it out with As I Lay Dying on the Decade of Destruction tour as well as with The Human Abstract's headline tour (both acts I was managing at the time). I had linked up with Cody and Scott as they shared a similar vision and interest and we decided to become partners and launch Sound Rink. We launched with our internal clients first, and it grew from there.
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
Well, managing a handful of bands as well as owning Sound Rink I have to balance it. Most of my day is finding new opportunities for my clients and finding ways to sell more tickets / packages on Sound Rink. Marketing is 75% of my day most days I would say. The rest answering emails and phone calls haha.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
Well my parents still have no real idea what it is I do, it is hard to explain some times. Also the idea of having two "jobs" seems conflicting to some people but in reality it is a perfect match between the two. Without one the other does not exist for me.
A lot of people think it is easy and not stressful, it appears as if we are just hanging out at shows and reading emails and taking phone calls all day with our friends. Reality is, it is not easy and very stressful lol.
What are your average work hours?
I do not think I have worked an 8 hour day like most people do in a long time. I am constantly working, it is 10:15 pm and I am writing this out right now. 100% always on the grind. I would say easily 10-12 hour days but I am basically on call. Sunday is my "put my phone down for as long as I can" day.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
Knowing the right people have made it much easier. With out the network of friends who have helped me, taken a chance on me, our vouched for me I would be nothing and be no where. Meet people, and make friends in the right places.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
Managing bands 100% helps Sound Rink as we are providing a service for bands. I know what a good deal is from both a band and manager perspective and what will make the bands and managers / labels happy. I get to see first hand what fans want and react to so we combine a middle ground that is a great experience for the band, and fan. You can not just be one sided.
Having my background in multi media and understanding technology as a business owner is very helpful. I have worked for people in the past who have no clue how it works but they hired me to do it for them. I can respect that, but the more you personally know and understand from all aspects of your business the better.
I look at this as a business of course but I can also relate on a personal level from being in a band. I know the personal struggles and hard ships artists face, I know what excites them the way I would have wanted to see or hear things being done. I know a lot of people who came from being in a band, working for a band to becoming an industry power house or starting a company in the music space and I also know folks who went another route and sort of fell into because they love music. I do not want to discredit those folks but I just think there is something to be said about the industry people who have actually been there as the artist is.
Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?
Sound Rink is 100% the only place you should be looking at from a fan or artist perspective. We offer the best technology, prices, service fees, customer service you name it. We have used everyone else out there and we crafted this company to be better than everyone else from an artist perspective to an industry player perspective, it is far superior. Email us, call us we will be happy to explain it all!
What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
The hours. I am married with a two year old son and it does become challenging being on my phone at dinner or when we are just watching TV. I try to have "me" time as well as my family time but sometimes it is very challenging. My son now tells me to put my phone down, and once he says that I abide.
What's the most enjoyable part of the job?
The freedom! I get to work out of my own office and not do my hair in the morning if I know I am just going to be at my desk all day if I truly wanted to. I can go sit at a Starbucks all day and connect to their wifi and get all my work done there if I truly wanted to. The freedom to work with my friends and look and be who I am all the time is amazing.
What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?
Well, managing bands is always up and down as it is commissioned based but you can earn 40-100k+ easily if you have the right backing and clients. As for Sound Rink, being an owner I do get a salary as well as yearly dividends which is determined on our profit for the year. I do not over pay myself just because I am an owner however, we are very frugal. I think my highest grossing year so far between the two gigs was around $130,000.
How do you move up in your field?
You can move up by proving you belong, that the company or business is lost with out you. You need to be remarkable, memorable and enjoyable. If you are good at what you do and people enjoy you, things usually naturally happen when opportunities open up. If they do not, don't get frustrated things do take time and politics are always involved (sadly).
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
Intern some where in the music space or go on tour first. If you still want to continue, Trust your gut and watch your back!