Personal Assistant to Recording Artist

$37,000 to $110,000+

Assistant, Executive Assistant, CPA, Celebrity Personal Assistant

Makes the recording artists personal and professional life easier, screens calls, runs errands, schedules meetings, keeps track of day to day.

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Many recording artists hire Personal Assistants to handle some of the day-to-day chores related to their personal and/or business lives. Basically, the Personal Assistant is the right hand of the artist, making their job pretty exciting as they rub shoulders with other recording artists and celebrities, eat in the fine dining establishments, travel first class on different airlines, stay overnight in four-star hotels, attend award shows and much more. Of course, this is not the case for every Personal Assistant, as only those working for established, well-known artists will get to be a part of many of these perks and amenities.

Because the PA is with the artist pretty much 24/7, this is not normally a nine-to-five job. Responsibilities can vary greatly, ranging from shuttling the artist's kids to school to scheduling recording sessions, and can even include checking the artist's e-mail or buying a birthday gift for the artist's mother. As this shows, the Personal Assistant must assist the recording artist in every aspect of his or her life and career.

Thus, Personal Assistants must be extremely organized, and often create a calendar of the artist's personal and business responsibilities including concerts, travel dates, meetings, interviews, recording sessions, phone calls, and other events. The Personal Assistant may also schedule and book meetings, interviews, and appointments, and at times, he or she may cancel or reschedule meetings as well. Other responsibilities include answering phones, screening calls, or making calls on behalf of the artist.

Another part of the job of the Personal Assistant is to act as a gatekeeper or buffer between the artist and the large number of people who want to speak to him or her. Some might be seeking concert tickets and others might want permission to do an interview. Whoever is calling, the Personal Assistant must be able to tell people “no” if the situation calls for it.

The Personal Assistant is often responsible for travel arrangements, and will be asked to make plane reservations, hotel reservations, etc. This is not always easy, as the artist may be performing a concert late into the night in one part of the country and then will need to be scheduled to do a television appearance on a different coast the next day.

The Personal Assistant is often aware of a great deal of private and sensitive information about the artists, and it is essential that he or she keep all information confidential. Due to the pressure and other crazy things many artists must face on a day to day basis, many Personal Assistant become confidants to the artists for whom they work. The Personal Assistant will also work closely with the individual's management company, agents, publicists, and tour managers, but his or her allegiance must always be to the artist, first and foremost.

Another large duty of the Personal Assistant is to keep track of all receipts because the expenses artists incur are tax deductible. To remain organized, the Personal Assistant may log expenses and receipts into a computer program or will just turn them over to the artist's manager or accountant.

When the recording artist has a problem or needs something done, he or she calls on the Personal Assistant, so the PA must be able to handle any situation calmly, quickly, and effectively. For those seeking a job in the music industry that is challenging and presents a new opportunity and situation each day, this might be a perfect career choice.

Salaries
Some individuals earn $35,000, while others earn $100,000 or more per year, depending on the specific recording artist, responsibilities, experience, and professional reputation of the Personal Assistant.

Employment
Those who are qualified will face fair employment prospects because there are many artists signed with major labels, and many who are signed with independent labels. New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville are cities with the most opportunity, but other independent labels are located throughout the country.

Advancement
Some climb the career ladder by finding similar positions with more popular recording artists, while others stay with the same artist and advance their career by increasing their range of responsibilities, netting them increased earnings. Others go on to become Personal Assistants for record company executives and some find positions working with celebrities outside the music industry.

Education and Training
Most require a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent, but sometimes a college background or degree may be preferred or required. Requirements are sometimes waived in favor of experience. There are Courses, seminars, or workshops related organizing, the music industry, stress management, time management, party planning, computers, or writing that are extremely useful.

The Personal Assistant may be required to hold a valid passport because many artists travel overseas. He or she may also be required to have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation, depending on the specific client.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
Some employers prefer someone who has experience as a Personal Assistant, while others prefer individuals who have extensive experience in the entertainment or music business. However, others just want someone who can demonstrate that they can do the job.

In terms of skills, Personal Assistants are professional, responsible, organized, and have the ability to keep sensitive information private. Good verbal and written communication skills are essential, and the ability to be resourceful is helpful. Good judgment is also critical, and the individual must have the ability to multitask effectively.

Unions and Associations
The Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants (ACPA), will have information on this type of job.

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