Interview: Paul Curtis

[BJN]

September 2004 interview with Paul Curtis of Consume Management & Valve Records.
By BJN.

Greetings Paul, almighty manager of DOOM!!! ...i mean (ahem) Australia/The World's best manager [as far as i know at this point in time]

Not sure about that... I just do my own thing.


i have been considering contacting you for some time now, and although you're probably even busier now than ever, i'd like to pose some questions to you which you may answer at your own choosing. So feel free to skip questions if they seem to tedious or irrelevant. Doomish questions of a doom-like nature:

1. What does your job as a Manager entail?

Many things... planning, co-ordinating, networking, organising tours (in Australia and overseas), administering recording and publishing, record releases, promotion, accounting... communicating with the various people who contact us... mediating and discussing the many varied matters that arise in the band collectively and individually. Tour organisation includes booking shows (with and without agents),travel, accommodation, equipment etc and getting promotion, tickets and contracts ready.


2. What qualities & skills are important to have and/or develop (as a person) in order to do those things?

Having a lateral approach and open flexible mind I consider very important as it not keeps the project interesting but also assists in finding new ways to approach music. Networking skills are very important especially in the early days of attempting management. Otherwise basic understandings of accounting, legal and how the music industry functions and the ability to work these into a functional process. Also being capable of creating a mutual relationship of trust with the band - not treating the band like product or allowing the band to treat you like a parasite - where empathy and understanding is tantamount to the ability to make informed and effective decisions at times on the run... and then take responsibility for the consequences of those decisions as being inline with where everyone is at. All of this can be developed or learnt... although, I would suggest that, band management isn`t rocket science it does require a certain demeanour and personality to enable a more effective process... and on top of that a large chunk of patience and diplomacy.


3. How did you get into the music industry and become a band manager?

By default... by obsessive behaviour... I stopped drinking etc and just liked fucked-up bizarre music too much to stop going out. Then through being hyper in nature worked my way into doing things with art - posters, ads, tshirts etc - to get into gigs for free. Then through associations with various people (most prominent being George Illic) started promoting live shows, booking venues and working with Graham Don on the Funkyard. Then this hardcore band The Dreamkillers were looking for a manager and I took it on... didn`t know what I was doing exactly but thought about it a bit and went for it. One of the early things that pushed me in this direction was a desire to use my art interest with music... and I had this weird position on not taking money for art as I thought it would corrupt it... so I incorporated art into what I did... and still try to as this it what keeps me inspired and sane... if that is possible.


4. What are some things you have learnt since then?

Too much to go into... as noted above. Learning never stops for me... and the past 2 years plus I have been at University studying media, culture and film. Otherwise I have learnt how to exist as a relatively confident person (I used to be very intimidated and withdrawn) in a fucked up world of corporate bullshit, diminished integrity and questionable loyalty. I have learnt that Australia seems to have a confusion about arrogance and confidence.


5. Did you have some sort of mentor, and if so, how did they help you?

In some sense yes... everyone I have the fortune of spending any time with functions as a mentor because you have the opportunity to watch and listen and learn what they are about and their approach to things either negative or positive. Possibly on that level the people who provided the most to me in the early days were George Illic and Paul Campbell Ryder.


6. What else do you do other than being a manager?

Have a family... and make a pitiful attempt trying to live.
Tour other bands in Australia like Peaches, Gonzales, Wire, Chicks on Speed, Audio Active, Kid606 etc
Operate a record label Valve and release music that I come into contact with and that interests me... as I don't see the point of working with anything I'm not into. My tastes are rather eclectic so I like all kinds of stuff... but have a tendency towards things that live in the grey zone... and exist because the motivation is to exist and not just be for profit motives.


7. What were your goals in the past? [1 year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years, and/or further back]

I don`t really set goals other than immediate ones... other than the goal to be alive and doing things.
I think maybe though I should set a goal to integrate personal life more effectively.


8. What are your current goals for the future?

Make more art.


9. Are there any courses/forums/events/meetings/websites you'd recommend people interested in the music industry should go to?

Not sure... just explore, read, think about everything, everyway... I worked through a situation whereby any such institutional practices offered lacked any real connection to the real world... possibly this is still the case but I`m sure things have got better. Take it all in and evaluate as needed. Don't hold yourself back due to thinking you can't do something because you lack the training or information - shit the internet is there now and is the largest bank of information available (okay maybe there are questions about authenticity but it is there and massive).
I`m still a strong believer in the punk maxim - DIY!


BONUS QUESTIONS OF DOOM!!!!!!!

a. What is your opinion of the current state of music?

Mixed... there is so much exponentially every day... some things excite me wildly and many others not at all.


b. What do you predict for the future of the music industry?

Fucked up shit! I am beyond predictions but I have opinions and it is changing and it is not. I hope... and it seems to be... moving away from big mono industry to small splintered industry.


c. What advice do you have for young people who hope to have a career in the music industry (especially for those who want to be the business side, such as those who want to become managers)?

Go and do it... don`t fuck people over... and don't get fucked over. Form strong relationships with bands and persist. Don`t get your and their expectations too high... keep your feet and head on the ground and have fun, adventures and do it for you, them and not some bullshit corporate lack of life.


Thank you for your precioussss time and i hope your bubble idea is turning out as you hoped it would. Personally i've found it very interesting and as a long time Regurgitator fan, i've enjoyed seeing more of the band that i have long loved. They deserve every little bit of success as they envision it.

I never expect anything (except a decent mutual exchange of loyalty) but this has been the most fucked up event I have ever embarked upon and so freaky that we go to this. I have loved negotiating this different collision of art and corporate... music and TV... a real challenge to maintain some degree of integrity if that is possible in such circumstances... shit who knows but I have tried as much as possible. At least the album is sounding amazing.

Thanks,

Paul

[BJN]

http://www.valverecords.com.au/

&

http://consume.com.au/


Thought the interview deserved to be read, simply for the effort of Paul Curtis, so that his time was not wasted.

[Hitman]

You interviewed him? Nice...good questions...

I've never even heard the name Paul Curtis before...but Valve/Consume should learn to respond to emails, as we, Shanghai, emailed him a while back in regards to supporting the Boredoms on their upcoming tour...and got no response...