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indigosummer
artist management
IndigoSummer is an international artist management agency based in Germany, working on exclusive and non-exclusive basis with musicians from all over the world.
The main genres we work in are jazz and classical music, but we recently started working with exceptionally talented musicians from other genres, too. We work with soloists, bands, ensembles, conductors and dance companies.
We focus on the holistic management of an artist’s career, and our services include artistic development, bookings, tour management, PR and publicity, and online and social media management.
In 2021, we initiated a concert series (open air, summer in the garden) called Konzerte im Hof, featuring artists from Germany and the rest of Europe. For the summer of 2022, we have fifteen concerts booked.
Apart from the Konzerte im Hof series, we are planning other concert series, Masterclasses etc., in co-operation with our European partners.
IndigoSummer is a member of the Music Managers Forum in the UK and of the German Jazz Union, among other notable organisations and institutions, both in and outside of Germany.
IndigoSummer uses modern technology and software, most notably giBoo (booking software made in Germany) but also other leading providers in website, social media, team, scheduling and time, and financial management.
THE STORY OF INDIGOSUMMER
As one of my favourite songs goes, “This is how the story went, I met someone by accident, who blew me away, blew me away...”
Back in November 2016, I met a superbly talented young woman who performed under the name Astatine. Mesmerised by her voice, I introduced myself and we hit it off like house on fire. She invited me to her House Concert the following month and I accepted happily. There, at the end of a very successful concert, she introduced me as her manager. I was surprised, she must have noticed it, and she jokingly said, "but she doesn’t know it yet."
That was basically the beginning of my career as an Artist Manager and the beginning of IndigoSummer. In the months to come, I developed the business plan, the strategies and the concept for IndigoSummer, as well as for Astatine. We decided to attend the biggest Jazz Fair in Europe, JazzAhead in Bremen, and all efforts were geared towards that.
At JazzAhead, I had back-to-back meetings with musicians and artist from all over the world, who were looking for representation in Germany and Europe. Once back home, it transpired that ALL of the artists I met actually wanted ME as their Manager/Agent. I realised the sheer amount of work ahead of me if I wanted to achieve success, and I looked into ways of fining support.
At the same time, due to familiar circumstances, I was forced to take on a part-time job. I had foolishly thought that my evening job would leave me enough time during the day to tend to IndigoSummer, but oh, how I was mistaken... I was forced to focus on the job that was actually bringing some money in, and as a result, IndigoSummer was put on a back burner. The artists I so joyfully signed on realised that my focus is missing and slowly they shifted their business elsewhere. Finally, in October 2017, Astatine, too, left without a word, and basically since then, IndigoSummer has been dormant.
At some stage, I actually opened and read every single one of the hundreds of emails sent to the official email account, and I was amazed to read so many applications from artists from all over the world, who wanted me to represent and manage them. That, effectively, was the motivation to reactivate the agency, despite the lack of time, despite the lack of resources, despite the lack of support, and despite the exhaustion.
And, as soon as I have decided to start anew, I signed on some big names, funnily enough majority of them from my home turf, Croatia and what used to be known as Yugoslavia. An array of high-calibre musicians from Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia. More are coming, as surely as the applications landing in my inbox every day.
And where do we go from here (another one of favourite lines, this time from one of my favourite musicals, “Evita”)? Sifting through all the applications. Choosing the promising ones. Actually registering the agency with various German authorities (big stuff, the red tape in Germany). Hiring a team and an intern. Getting bookings for my existing stars. The world is my oyster, and the only way is up.
I am forever grateful for people who helped me on my way so far, in this or that way. Everything in life is a learning curve, and everything is to be taken and accepted with gratitude.
Upwards and onwards.
>>> UPDATE <<<
In an attempt mainly to reduce the overall expenditure, but also to streamline und unite my various websites/brands, I decided to transfer the IndigoSummer Artist Management website under the Black Swan Label, which is where you can find it nowadays. Black Swan Label is the home to various brands that I have created in the past years, with IndigoSummer in the most prominent place.
Below you can see some of my favourite inspirational quotes and words I live by (or at least try to :-))
Artist Manager IvanCICA Smith
As an accomplished singer, choir founder and manager, charity events producer (concerts and a fashion show), and theatre director, I KNOW what it takes to lift you, the musician, and your career to the next level.
I have organised, produced, coordinated and managed various charity events, for instance, the first German language performance of "A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer." I also founded and managed the women's vocal ensemble VocaBelles. My extensive network of professionals includes fellow musicians, managers, booking agents, label managers, producers, directors, photographers, film makers, makeup artists and hairstylists, personal coaches, counsellors, lawyers, writers, TV and media journalists, PR experts, social media experts. Everyone we need in order to ensure that all your needs are covered and catered to.
As a fellow musician and artist, and as an entrepreneur, I am well aware of the work that goes into creating and selling music. Let me help you on the way. Let us work together on YOUR career. Let the world hear you!
guiding principles
IndigoSummer Artist Management, a proud member of the Music Managers Forum UK, complies with and is guided by the MMF Manager's Code of Practice.
Here is an excerpt from the mentioned Code of Practice, which can also be found here.
THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE A MUSIC MANAGER'S PRACTICE
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Putting the artist first and recognising the manager’s duty of care to the artist.
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Understanding the music industry and making the industry work for the artist.
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Understanding the artist’s place in the industry and knowing the right
business transactions to make that maximise the career of the artist.
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Believing in the artist’s product - having a strong and passionate belief in the
work of the artist and their potential to develop.
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Making the right decisions at the right time to push the artist’s career forward.
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Knowing the wider marketplace and how to work outside the music industry to
guide the artist’s career.
THE MUSIC MANAGER'S ROLE
The manager’s role covers the following areas:
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Representation - acting as the artist’s central link within and outside the music industry.
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Strategic thinking – thinking and planning the artist’s career in a systematic and logical way.
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Leadership – leading the artist’s development as a business and brand.
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Decision-making – looking at all the business options put forward to the artist, prioritizing, negotiating and making the best possible decisions that drive the artist forward as a business.
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Organisation – coordinating artist activities and making sure they get to the right place at the right time, properly prepared and safe.
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Implementation – getting things done efficiently and effectively.
INDIGOSUMMER
ARTIST MANAGEMENT
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