Expecting The Worst Making The Best: Artist Struggles

As an Artist Manager you have to know what to expect whether it be good or bad.  The life of an artist is no cake walk, and you must be able to handle anything that comes your way.  Essentially as an artist manager you're signing on to walk side by side with an extremely talented individual who is taunted, harassed, yet also loved by millions.  One false step and it's a long hard road down hill.  There are many different forms of art and artists such as performance artists, painters, photographers, sculptors, etc.  If you have decided to take on the task of managing an artist than you probably have a love for the arts, so it's safe to assume you've followed other artist since you were a child.  I'm sure you've seen careers rise and fall within short periods of time.  Each having different reasons for their failures.  Some of the most notable struggles are depression, competition, lack of real talent, and timing.  Unfortunately, not much can be done about lacking real talent but the other three are workable.
There will always be competition, so the artist has to be able to keep up and keep getting better.  As a manager you must provide the artist with the tools to enhance themselves.  If this is done correctly an artist can hold their own and be successful no matter what competition comes around.
Timing is a big factor, because fads change very quickly.  What is popular today most likely won't be popular tomorrow.  As the Artist Manager you have to keep artists up to speed on what's new and hip.  They may not to make the changes necessary to be successful, but you have to push them to do so or their career could end very quickly.  This doesn't mean completely changing their art; instead it must be adjusted to still be their work but have a dash of what's popular at the time.
The biggest issue to me is mental illness/ depression.  When it comes to creative types and artists it's almost for certain they will have some type of mental illness.  Mental illness can be great for their creativity, but can be very harsh on the artist as a whole.  This can cause many complications, self esteem issues, drug usage, etc.  This is where an Artist Manager really needs to be able to handle themselves.  Successful artists normally don't have time for a real social life, or leisure time which makes these illnesses worse.  A good Artist Manager should be able to keep the artist's head above water when the world seems to be crashing down.  It's no easy task, but that's what separates the pros from the amateurs.
Take some time to study up on these struggles and pitfalls so when the time comes you're prepared.  The struggles listed here are only a few of the many obstacles you will come in contact with in regards to managing an artist.  Keep an open mind and take the storms as they come.  Managing an artist isn't just about numbers and connections, remember that.