What Do Esports Managers Do?
Contents
Esports managers are responsible for the overall management and operation of an esports team. They are in charge of team finances, scheduling, and player recruitment.
Introduction
In esports, a manager is a person who helps coordinate and oversee the activities of an esports team. Their responsibilities can vary depending on the size and scope of the team, but they typically include tasks such as handling player contracts, managing team finances, coordinating practice schedules, and helping to arrange matches and tournaments.
While some esports teams are run by professional organizations with staff dedicated to each player and role, others are more informal groups that rely on the manager to handle most of the team’s logistics. In either case, managers play an important role in keeping the team organized and focused on their goals.
The Role of an Esports Manager
An esports manager is responsible for the management and organization of an esports team. They are in charge of managing the players, logistics, and day-to-day operations of the team. An esports manager needs to have a good understanding of the game their team is playing, as well as the business side of the industry. They need to be able to effectively communicate with their team and be able to manage their time and resources well.
Marketing
As an esports manager, one of your primary responsibilities will be to oversee the marketing efforts for your team or organization. This includes developing and implementing marketing plans, as well as managing budgets and executing promotional activities. You’ll need to be well-versed in the latest marketing trends and have a good understanding of the esports industry in order to be successful in this role. In addition to traditional marketing methods, you’ll also need to be familiar with digital marketing techniques such as social media marketing and content marketing.
Social Media
As an esports manager, one of your primary responsibilities will be to oversee your team’s social media accounts. You’ll need to post content regularly, interact with fans, and help to grow the audience for your team’s accounts. In many cases, you’ll also be responsible for creating and executing social media campaigns.
An understanding of social media platforms and how to use them effectively is essential for any esports manager. You should also be familiar with various content creation tools and strategies, such as video editing and graphic design. And because you’ll be working with a team of people, strong communication and interpersonal skills are a must.
Event Management
Event management for esports is similar to traditional sports in many ways, but there are also some key differences. For one, esports events are often held online, which means that there can be a global audience for each event. Additionally, esports events are typically much shorter than traditional sporting events, often lasting only a few hours.
As an esports manager, it will be your job to ensure that everything runs smoothly during an event. This includes coordinating with the event organizers and the players or teams participating in the event. You will also need to make sure that all of the necessary equipment is set up and ready to go before the event begins.
During the event, you will be responsible for monitoring the gameplay and ensuring that there are no technical issues. If any problems do arise, it will be up to you to solve them as quickly as possible. After the event is over, you will need to debrief with the organizers and participants to see what went well and what could be improved for future events.
Player Management
As an esports manager, one of your key roles will be player management. This involves everything from coaching and mentoring players to helping them with their finances and guiding their professional career paths.
Your ultimate goal is to help your players be the best they can be so they can win championships and fulfill their potential. But to do that, you need to wear many hats and have a deep understanding of the game, the business of esports, and the psychology of high-level athletes.
Here are some of the specific things you might do as an esports manager:
Coaching: Provide guidance and feedback to help players improve their skills. This includes developing practice schedules, analyzing gameplay footage, and providing one-on-one coaching.
Mentoring: Help players with their personal development, both inside and outside of the game. This can involve anything from offering advice on dealing with stress to helping them manage their social media presence.
Financial management: Assist players with budgeting and financial planning. This includes helping them understand things like sponsorship deals, appearance fees, tournament winnings, and so on.
Career planning: Guide players as they navigate their professional careers. This might involve helping them make decisions about which tournaments to compete in, when to sign with a new team, or when to retire from competitive play.
Qualities of a Good Esports Manager
If you’re looking to get into esports management, there are a few qualities you’ll need to have. First and foremost, you need to have a passion for the industry and a good knowledge of the games. You’ll also need to be good at managing people and resources. Let’s take a closer look at these qualities.
Passionate
To be a successful esports manager, you need to have a genuine passion for the industry and gaming in general. You should also be up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the esports scene. Furthermore, it helps if you have some prior experience in managing teams or organizations.
Organized
A good esports manager is organized. They keep track of practice schedules, match times, and deadlines. They make sure their team is where they need to be and when they need to be there. This can be a difficult task with so many moving parts, but a good manager will have a system in place to keep everything running smoothly.
Good Communicator
A good esports manager is a good communicator. This means they are able to communicate effectively with their team, with other managers, and with the people they represent. They need to be able to effectively manage expectations and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
A good esports manager is also highly organized. This means they are able to keep track of their team’s schedules, make sure their team is where it needs to be, and handle all of the logistics that come with running an esports team.
Finally, a good esports manager is able to think on their feet. This means they are able to make quick decisions in the heat of the moment and adapt to changes as they happen.
Good at multitasking
A good esports manager is someone who is able to juggle many different tasks at once. They need to be able to keep track of multiple teams and players, as well as handle logistics, finances, and other aspects of the business. They should also be good at communicating with both their team and the public.
How to Become an Esports Manager
The esports industry is still relatively new, and as a result, the role of an esports manager is still evolving. However, there are a few key responsibilities that all esports managers share. These include managing player schedules, arranging and overseeing practice sessions, communicating with sponsors, and more. If you’re interested in becoming an esports manager, read on to learn more about what the role entails.
Get a degree in marketing, management, or communications
A degree in marketing, management, or communications will give you the skills you need to become an esports manager. Marketing degrees will teach you how to market and promote a product or team, while management degrees will give you the ability to manage a team of people. Communications degrees will help you learn how to communicate effectively with others.
To become an esports manager, it’s important to start working in the industry in a related role. This could be as a player, coach, analyst, commentator, or content creator. By doing this, you’ll gain valuable experience and knowledge of the industry that will be beneficial when you eventually become an esports manager.
It’s also important to research the role of an esports manager. This will give you a better understanding of what the job entails and whether it’s something you would be interested in doing. Once you have a good understanding of what an esports manager does, you can start working towards becoming one.
One of the best ways to become an esports manager is to get a degree in sports management or business administration. This will give you the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in this field. Alternatively, you could also get a degree in communication or marketing. These degrees will also be beneficial as they will allow you to better communicate with and market to your team’s players and fans.
If you don’t have the time or money to get a degree, there are other ways to become an esports manager. One way is to join an existing organization as an intern or assistant. This will allow you to learn from experienced managers and gain the skills and knowledge necessary to eventually become a manager yourself.
Alternatively, you could start your own esports organization. This is a riskier option but it could pay off if your team is successful. If you decide to go down this route, make sure you do your research and put together a solid business plan. You should also make sure that you have the time and commitment necessary to see your organization through from start to finish.
Build a strong portfolio
If you want to become an esports manager, you need to have a strong portfolio that showcases your skills and experience. This can include your resume, social media profiles, blog posts, articles, and more.
It’s important to highlight any experience you have in managing teams or events, as well as any knowledge you have of the esports industry. Be sure to showcase your organizational skills, as well as your ability to communicate effectively.
Your portfolio is your chance to show potential employers what you can do, so make sure it is professional and up-to-date.
Conclusion
Overall, esports managers perform a wide range of tasks to support their teams and players. They may be responsible for scheduling practices and competitions, coordinating travel arrangements, handling finances, coordinating sponsorship opportunities, organizing promotional and marketing activities, and more. Although the specific duties of an esports manager will vary depending on the team’s size and needs, they all share a common goal: to help their team succeed.
