The Manager's Playbook

Charlie Rocket returns to The Manager’s Playbook with a full breakdown on how artists and managers can build a real fanbase without waiting on the industry.
In this episode, Charlie gets into the Law of 62, why pace matters more than slow consistency, how to create viral content without making the artist look corny, and why protecting mystique still matters in the social media era.
He also breaks down direct-to-fan strategy, superfan communities, naming your fanbase, testing music with fans, singles versus albums, AI in music, street marketing, and the mindset it takes to build an artist from the ground up.
If you’re an independent artist, artist manager, aspiring music executive, or anyone trying to understand how real fanbases are built, this one is a playbook.
A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: https://themanagersplaybook.com/home

Get 20% of Magic Mind with code TMP20 ⁠https://magicmind.com/⁠

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it.KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: ⁠⁠https://form.typeform.com/to/JNELnGw9?utm_source=xxxxx&typeform-source=bit.ly#fbclid=xxxxx&gclid=xxxxx⁠⁠

Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. ⁠⁠https://distrokid.com/⁠⁠

Book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Mauricio Ruiz, host of The Manager's Playbook, with over 16 years of experience for tailored advice for artists and managers. Consultation Fees Apply ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/themanagersplaybook⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara reframe mental health as mental wealth.
James shares the personal story that pushed him to take prevention seriously, then breaks down the five daily buckets he believes help build real resilience: sleep, diet, exercise, stress management, and exogenous compounds.
They also get into consistent wake times, better sleep, alcohol, processed foods, walking, creativity, caffeine, nicotine, Adderall, and the ingredients behind Magic Mind.
For artists, managers, founders, and creatives trying to perform at a high level without burning out, this is a reminder that the work starts before the work.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Mauricio Ruiz, host of The Manager's Playbook, with over 16 years of experience for tailored advice for artists and managers. Consultation Fees Apply ⁠https://calendly.com/themanagersplaybook⁠

Check out James Beshara's Essay on Mental Wealth: https://jjbeshara.com/2020/06/04/mental-wealth/
Get 100% off APT with code TMP100 https://www.tryapt.ai/
Get 20% of Magic Mind with code TMP20 https://magicmind.com/

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/1XMFFyBvpSTfUzuRfCFkyu?si=sVEhF1A2StqEPEx7xFFCRA⁠⁠

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara talk about focus, under-committing, and why artists need to stop trying to master everything at once.
James breaks down the idea of doing very little and doing it big. For artists, managers, and music entrepreneurs, that means building skills gradually, releasing consistently, learning from feedback, and creating systems before adding more plates to spin.
They also get into artist burnout, long-term mastery, ownership in 2026, and why the modern music business has more opportunity than ever if you can stay focused long enough to use it.
For independent artists, artist managers, aspiring executives, and anyone building a real creative career, this is a reminder that the play is not doing more.
It’s doing the right things better.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Mauricio Ruiz, host of The Manager's Playbook, with over 16 years of experience for tailored advice for artists and managers. Consultation Fees Apply https://calendly.com/themanagersplaybook

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/1XMFFyBvpSTfUzuRfCFkyu?si=sVEhF1A2StqEPEx7xFFCRA⁠

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara talk about purpose, burnout, validation, and what it really means to build with intention.
James breaks down the idea that “industry” means to persevere with purpose, and why talent alone does not mean much if you avoid the business side, the hard conversations, or the responsibility that comes with building something real.
They also get into right action, finding the role that gives you energy, the pressure artists feel to keep touring, and why personal responsibility matters in music, startups, and creative careers.
For independent artists, artist managers, aspiring executives, founders, and anyone trying to build something that lasts, this is a conversation about moving with purpose instead of chasing approval.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. https://distrokid.com/

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/1XMFFyBvpSTfUzuRfCFkyu?si=sVEhF1A2StqEPEx7xFFCRA⁠

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara break down why success in any creative career usually comes down to people, practices, and tools.
James challenges the myth of the solo genius through Brian Eno’s idea of “scenius,” showing why artists, managers, founders, and creatives need the right scene, the right collaborators, and the right people around them.
They also get into pitching, sales, asking better questions, finding your zone of genius, and building teams with people whose strengths complement your weaknesses.
For independent artists, artist managers, aspiring music executives, and creative entrepreneurs, this is a reminder that talent matters, but the scene around you matters too.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Check out Influur Pulse and stop chasing the moment after it passes: https://www.influur.com/book-a-demo

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1XMFFyBvpSTfUzuRfCFkyu?si=sVEhF1A2StqEPEx7xFFCRA

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook