The Art of Assuage

High Notes and Headaches, talent and temperament, or worst-case scenario, a narcissistic, solipsistic diva of sorts on a rant about. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories. Some funny, and some quite bizarre. However you put it, working with artists harboring these character traits can rattle and fray the nerves of even seasoned pros. Prima donna artists, given their unique talents and brilliance, can often lead to sold-out shows and some great viral moments, but that aside, the tactics involved in managing their careers involve a lot of strategic planning, foresight, and maneuvering in navigating a mental minefield, all gaslighting aside.

Prima Donna… Who or What Is It?

A prima donna can be anyone, regardless of gender. Though coined as a reference to a leading female opera singer, this title has become the synonymous moniker for artists that exude these extreme character traits. These traits are marked by the utmost forms of self-importance, emotional volatility, and excessive demands, which in turn require a strong skill set for special handling. Keep in mind that not all successful artists hit this class or category of extreme self-absorption.

Let’s examine the core challenges and get a feel for what is at hand.

Conflicts with Creative Control

This is where sometimes the business side of things collides with the creative side of things, as the prima donna may or will insist on complete control of business workings or creative autonomy. This can even happen when the artist's vision is in opposition to commercial viability, or clashes with popular market trends, or just the inner workings of ‘the’ business, causing much disruption and confusion.

These personality types often tend to have fragile egos, making it even more challenging for producers and managers alike to give constructive feedback or guidance.

Unpredictable Behavior

Because of the instability in emotional fortitude, prima donnas will display common self-delusional acts such as last-minute cancellations, ridiculous mood swings with copious amounts of crocodile tears, or, how about erratic social media activity, causing much devastation to reputations, even to their own chagrin, while decimating set marketing schedules.

Management teams must always be at the ready with auxiliary plans to circumvent any problems that arise and have a well-thought-out backup strategy, and a mindset for adaptability to handle the ensuing emotional fallout to come.

 The Demand for Perfection

The demand for perfection, no matter how unrealistic, can be the catalyst for high turnover as crew members burn out or just can’t cope with the high standards for performance and presentation. Like a Damocles' sword, swinging over everyone's heads, the pursuit of flawless perfection and dedication places an amount of unrelenting pressure on staff as the prima donna quips about arrogantly making demands for perfection.

The Minefields of Public Relations

Public perception, the love-hate relationship with a cult of personality persona, on all accounts, leads to varying degrees of fascination and credibility with the public at large. Controversial statements, decisions, or slagging off a rival personality require a crew with astute skills in immediate damage control and the ability to spin the narratives. Loose lips sink ships, and because of this, a prima donna will tend to have no filter, given the amount of self-absorption and bloated egotism manifesting in their perceived glory. Kind of like seeing a nasty pileup on the interstate and the parties involved in the cleanup.

With these unfiltered outbursts, stirring and blurring the public's love or ire, it requires a team of professional PR people to mitigate and reshape the narratives and, in a sense, retool how the public perceives the prima donna, so as not to lose any real estate in credibility or preserve or prevent damage to the brand.

The Strain Upon Relationships

Within the camp, tensions can be high, and loyalties tested. With the domineering temperament of the prima donna looming over the crew, the internal dynamics and political environment can be volatile, testing relationships.

Also, to throw a spanner in the works, some artists tend to have frequent change-ups in personnel, often changing managers, producers, stylists, and runners, all of which contribute to an environment of chaos, confusion, inconsistencies, and disruption to the natural flow of business.

Some Strategies for Success

In working smart and circumventing these negative character traits, there are some strategies to apply, in having the ability to survive and thrive when working with a prima donna artist. Industry pros have, over time, developed a few strategies for survival and swear by them. These are but a few of them, and they are like the golden rule in the music industry.

· Establish Boundaries Early: From the get-go, lay down the line. This means defining roles and expectations for all parties involved. Do this early on while the relationship is still fresh and mutual respect is still a thing. Don’t allow for any grey areas; keep it black and white.

· Stay Firm, Stay Cool, Stay Calm: Always stay objective and emotionally grounded. Like a Teflon don, moving through every task with stoicism, this is what grounded leadership looks like, and over time, respect is earned from all.

· Communicate with Transparency: This is a big one. Miscommunication, even in the minutest of forms, can jet-fuel a prima donna into stratospheric heights of diva-dom.

· Hire the Right Team: Vetting the right person for the right position is paramount, keeping in mind that not everyone is cut out to dance in a high-pressure work environment. You’d want to hire candidates who are thick-skinned, intuitive, and have resilience towards adversity.

· Celebrate Their Wins: In moments of brilliance, give praise and positive reinforcement to the prima donna. This will keep morale high and smooth out any strained emotions or rough patches.

Why It’s Worth It

All drama aside, it can be a career-defining experience working with a prima donna. The accolades that possibly can arise when working with a diva, given their passion, the intensity, and the amount of commitment invested into their craft can have a positive effect on everyone in the camp, elevating everyone involved and building a bigger brand. The legacies left behind will inspire generations to come, and if managed correctly, with finesse, stoic fortitude, and skill, they can take you and the crew along for the ride.

How To Succeed as an Artist Manager

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