What do Administration Assistants do?

Working as an Administrative Assistant in the music industry can either be a satisfying job in its own right, or an excellent way to start a career in media or music. An Administration Assistant role can be many things, depending on the size, nature and culture of the organisation. If you are looking for a varied role with the opportunity to become involved in a wider range of tasks you are more likely to find this in a small company, for example a small independent record label or music publisher. The more informal and flexible the music company you are working for the wider the responsibilities you may be asked to take on. For example in working for a small music producer or record label you may be involved with PR and Marketing, Copyright and Royalties or Artist Liaison.

Regardless of the nature of the company you work with it can be an excellent way into the music business and can offer a good opportunity for networking and building up contacts, as well as offering music industry experience. Some jobs will ask for experience of working in the arts and some knowledge of the music industry, possibly in a specialist area such as classical music.

A successful candidate is likely to be flexible and to have good organisational and IT skills, the ability to work on their own and within a team, and a knowledge of a number of office software packages. They will also need to have meticulous attention to detail and be able to work under pressure, as a lot of the work is responding to the demands of other people. Good customer care skills are also important.

Administration Assistant jobs in the music industry may also involve providing administrative support for events such as concerts, gigs or tours, and sometimes helping to organise and promote them. The job may involve fielding calls from musicians, artists and clients and doing research. In some jobs responsibilities will include reception which may involve answering calls, meeting and greeting visitors, and dealing with post, faxes and deliveries. An Administration Assistant job may also include acting as a PA, for example managing a diary or diaries, and organising travel.

The work can be very varied and their is often a chance to become involved in ad hoc projects, such as helping to organise a music event or helping to set up an online campaign to promote an artist or a record label.