This week on UMusicians, we are bringing you various interviews from people working in the music industry. Through these interviews we hope to bring you insight from those working in the field that you are interested in venturing into, or helping you just learn some new facts.
Leo Toste is a band manager for Toronto Pop/Rock band More Than Us. Apart from that, Leo is also works with production Clair Global who's been able to work with acts such as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and Demi Lovato to name a few. At a young age it's great to see what Leo has accomplished. Read below to see our interview with Leo!
Amandah Opoku: Leo you’re currently the manager of Toronto band “More Than Us,” how did you become the band’s manager?
Leo Toste: It’s a funny story actually. I went to high school with the guitarist David Fernandes and he use to have an old band that I teched for. David’s old band broke up and all went different directions. David and Diego attended the conservatory of music and heard that Diego’s band was looking for a new guitarist. So David ends up writing this amazing and super hilarious polished and completely over professional email to Diego asking if they need a new guitarist. Surely enough Diego replied to David’s email and they added David as the new guitarist of MTU. Two weeks later I got a call from David asking if I would like to drop by their rehearsal to meet the band and help out with audio. As soon as I meet the band it was like love at first site, ahaha. We all had the same passion and it was to make music and have fun. Things started to pick up when I joined MTU. They really didn’t have someone looking after them. Gigs started to pile up and I decided that I would take the next step and take on the responsibility and become their manager.
AO: Can you tell our viewers about your roles as More Than Us’ manager?
LT: My role as MTU’s manager is to help them get where they want to be. I organize everything from recording, to merchandise, to shows, to interviews, to meetings, to photo shots and more. I am also like a parent to them. I got to make sure they all are on time, that they eat properly, that they all have rides and that they go to bed on time. I just make sure they all get what they need. I don’t think that a manager has one role, I think of it as multiple roles.
AO: What’s the best thing about your job?
LT: Best part of my job is hanging out with the greatest group of guys. They are all so talented and all extremely hard working. Just seeing these boys have fun is probably the best part of my job.
AO: Can you tell us about what an average day is like for you?
LT: An average day for me with MTU is crazy. I am not only their manager but I am also their tech and tour manager. I mix Front Of House and Monitors for them. If it’s a show day I go full parent mode. I would usually be up earlier then the band texting or calling them to make sure that they are all awake and getting ready for the day. While the band gets ready David the Guitarist always helps me with tech. So we are usually up early loading up the van with all our gear. Then I have to make sure that everyone still has a ride to the venue. As soon as we get to the venue I am on show mode. When I am on show mode there is no stopping me. I usually running the show, making sure we have our set up straighten out, we have out merch, our guest list is ready, passes are handed out, security meetings, sound check and the list goes on and on. The only time I have a bit of a break is just before the show starts. Then load out comes and this is when everything comes down. Load out is the most painful part of the day. Everyone is exhausted from set-up and the show. We all just want to go home. My days with MTU are pretty hectic.
AO: As a band manager, what is the most important quality a musician should have?
LT: I think personality of a Musician is a big thing for me. If you are just a rude musician and you are in this industry for all the wrong things then you shouldn’t be a musician. You should love playing, and have fun while playing. People would rather work with someone who is a musician for all the right things and love to play music, someone who has a positive personality.
AO: When you look at More Than Us, what makes them unique about managing?
LT: Just their passion for the music and the fans. I have never seen a band that care more about the fans. They work so hard to please the fans. The bots usually don’t leave until every fan that want a picture and an autograph get what they want. They go out of their way to please the fans.
AO: What advice would you give to an up and coming band that’s ready to conquer the scene?
LT: Never give up and be positive. No matter how many times someone puts you down just stay positive. Keep doing what you are doing. Don’t be afraid of a little change as well. Sometimes its good to get out of your shell and do something that you usually don’t do. It’s a hard industry to be part of but if you work hard and if you have the passion you will succeed. The most important thing out of everything HAVE FUN!
AO: What is one thing you would change about your job?
LT: I wouldn’t really change anything. I love my job. The only thing I would honestly change is more time to sleep. I just need a time to sleep and take a breather.
AO: What’s your biggest achievement to date?
LT: I think biggest achievements is having the boys play at Rogers Centre as well as perform with some of the best artist like, Danny Fernandes, Eleven Past One, Tyler Mederios, Brian Melo, Ryan Beatty, Before You Exit and many more artists.
AO: What was the most challenging day on the job for you?
LT: Show days are defiantly the most challenging days for me. It’s that non-stop chaos of running around making sure we have everything ready for the show. Making sure that MTU, MTU Family & Friends and the fans are all happy too. I think if we see one of the band members having a bad day it affects the rest of the band. I always want to keep my boys positive and help them move through the day.
AO: Being a band manager is not the only experience you have working in the music industry. Can your viewers about your other experiences?
LT: I Work at a production company called “Clair Global”. We go all the big touring acts in the world. I’ve done show with people like Victoria Duffield, Mariana’s Trench, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Drake, Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Justin Beiber, and many more big artists. I end up meeting a lot of this amazing people who end up being great friends and mentors of mines like Hedley. I also recently just got off tour with Shawn Desman in December. I have done many We Days and NYE at Nathan Phillip square. Personally I can say I have the best job in the world.
AO: As a band manager you’ve been able to see the industry from another viewpoint. What would you change about it and why?
LT: I think people should love their job and have fun doing it. I meet a lot of people who just hate coming to work because it doesn’t please them. I would change a lot of people personality. Have a positive atmosphere. We are all in this industry to do the same thing and its to put a show on and have fun with it.
AO: You’ve gotten your start in the industry at an early age and have already accomplished so much. What advice can you give to people inspiring to be band managers?
LT: I got my job by co-op in high school and I was 16 and became MTU’s manager at 17 all this because I was a positive hard working kid who never gave up. I was put down so many times because of my age and I had to prove people wrong. Age doesn’t matter its about passion. If you have a dream, go for it and never give up. Be positive about life and never let anyone put you down. At the end of the day it’s always about you. You want to be happy and live a great life. Life’s short, enjoy it while you can. Plus who doesn’t want to be a rock star!
AO: For people who have their head sets as being an artist or band manager as a career, where do you recommend they start? Where should they volunteer?
LT: Go to school and don’t stop going to school. Learn everything you can learn and share it with everyone around you. Volunteer anywhere. I didn’t get my job right away. I did co-op so I volunteered most of my time. Talk to as many people in the industry as you can and get as many contacts as you can. Those people will help you out.
