And this resulted in the artist using the products for the tour, right? Actually, no.
O.K., so it seems fairly simple at the extremes – at least on paper.
Of course, manufacturers would (or should) want to keep things towards the ideal, and it is indeed possible. I’ve had some of ideal relationships with some major artists, and many other manufacturers have as well.
Other Side Of The Coin
From the artist perspective, things can look a bit different. But it really depends on the artist.
Several years ago in talking with Fernando Alvarez about his tour with the Dixie Chicks, he explained that they tended to purchase everything outright rather than try to get free stuff or endorsements. The reasoning was that they simply did not want to feel beholden to anyone.
So it was simple – they bought the gear they needed and that was that. No endorsements, end of story. It was a quality of life issue.
But most artists usually fall somewhere in between the extremes and it’s usually the people that work with them that are in contact with manufacturers, i.e., monitor engineers in the case of singers, guitar techs in the case of guitar and bass players, sometimes other engineers and/or techs, sometimes production managers.
These trusted folks know their artists’ needs, likes and dislikes. They know what their budgets allow, and whether or not the artist even wants to do endorsements.
For me, the benefit of strong relationships with these folks is multi-faceted. First, it gives me a perspective into what really happens out there on the road.
Since I’m no longer out there touring, I don’t see the day-to-day challenges these guys face. But they tell me about it, that’s for sure!
Many of them are very clear about what improvements they want/need to see in upcoming products. So this way, we can incorporate real-world needs into new gear. They also offer an avenue through which to expand the circle of contacts by introducing me to others in the field.
For them, the relationship has similar benefits. They get a direct line of communication to the people that develop, make and service the products they use.
Frankly, providing a sympathetic ear is half the battle.