Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ben Allingham, Founder of Allingham Management, located in Ottawa, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business can be simplified down to Music Management. However, there is much more to talk about than just the surface-level category. We here at Allingham Management focus almost exclusively on new talent that may not have the resources, network, or guidance to make a living from their music. There are three different prongs to what we do here at Allingham Management. The first prong is consultations, which are geared toward artists figuring things out or for those who aren't quite at the point where they need a manager. I personally meet with the artist once/twice a month and ensure they are on the right track and offer any guidance needed for them to push forward. The second prong would be short-term management. This particular section is vastly different from the majority of managers currently working in the industry. This allows artists to commit a much shorter amount of time and money monthly for help with launching an album or project or for more specific help. Finally, the final prong, Long-Term Management. This is your classic percentage of gross income-based management style with contracts ranging from 3-5 years, where we are dedicating our time to ensuring your success at every stop and turn.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Ben Allingham. I have been surrounded by music since I was born, and even during times where I wasn't thinking of pursuing music, I would be songwriting and listening to music nonstop. It wasn't until University, nearly 7 years ago now, that I was opened up to the possibility of a career in the industry. I began releasing and writing my own music in 2018. I made many mistakes with how I expanded and released my music. After nearly 4 years of attempting new methods of marketing and booking venues, I decided to attend the Music Industry Arts program at Algonquin College to elevate my business sense within the music industry and help me push for success as an artist. It was here that I completely switched paths and decided that I loved the analytical and business aspects of the industry more so than I did as an artist. I started planning the launch of my Music Management company under the mentorship of Terry McManus, the manager of the Birthday Massacre, who sadly passed one year ago this month. Since graduating in 2022, I have been working on helping artists in similar situations as I was and doing my best to get them out of the melting pot and give them a chance to be seen and become successful as an artist.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment as of right now is being able to speak and act as the lead company cohosting Manitoba's Northern Touch Music Festival in 2021. It was a great learning experience, and I obtained so much valuable information from a plethora of talented artists and longtime music managers. This was invaluable, and I will forever remember what I learned here and continue to apply it whenever I work with newer artists.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I would say that the hardest part of being a business owner is finding the right ways to advertise your business. Especially in the first few months of operation when there are no clients, it takes a lot of effort and time to ensure you become an option for new and experienced artists in the music industry. Both my mentor and professor told me that success in the music industry could be broken down into three R's: Relationships, Relationships, and Relationships. This is true in every aspect of this industry, and ensuring you are keeping these connections and continuously growing your relationships can be tiresome and difficult at times. However, as you build these relationships, it becomes evident that a lot of business comes directly from them.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The biggest tips I would give those attempting to start their own business are quite simple but essential. Firstly, take the risk... It can be very tough to gather the courage to start your business because of the fear it may fail. You can't be afraid to fail; failure should be an incentive to try again and use that failure to make this attempt more successful.
Secondly, I would suggest that everybody who runs their own business create a yearly plan of goals, responsibilities, target numbers, and anything else that needs to be achieved. This will help you stay on track and hold yourself accountable for ensuring your business is successful. It will take time and effort to see results, and having that plan helps to prevent you from losing hope and giving up.
Finally, I think that it is important not to overwork yourself. I understand that it takes a lot of hours and work to start up a successful company, but if you consistently work 7 days a week and allot yourself very little personal time for relaxation, the chances of you losing hope and burning out are extremely high. I notice that entrepreneurs that can make effective use of their time to still allow for breaks and personal attention tend to see better results in their yearly overviews than those who overwork themselves to the point that the work they are doing (even though it's a lot of hours) is less effective and tends to be of poorer quality.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.allinghammanagement.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllinghamManagement/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allinghammanagement/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinghammanagement/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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