This is fantastic. If I was teaching a course in sport law, or designing an orientation for young athletes who were about to come into wealth often for the first time in their lives, I’d assign them to read your piece. It’s personal without being pedantic. Yet you still hit the important points. In a classroom or seminar setting, this could spark a valuable conversation. And if we were putting together a seminar for young athletes and creative talent, I would absolutely insist on hiring you to design, format, and present this topic. I’ve read and sat through presentations of this subject. I think what you wrote is clean and compelling.
Shawn, I really appreciate your feedback. I definitely could have made this a longer article. But then it would have to be a course. Lol! I’m glad you liked it. And most definitely it applies to young athletes making a lot of money. You know what I mean. Here comes the grifters ready to feed all of them. So many and broke.
Coming from you, with your experience in sports that is a great compliment. Thank you!
Charlotte, this is an interesting read. My husband was the GC of a big luxury goods company and retired two years ago. Our daughter is a fashion photographer, educator, and mixed media artist (and very smart!!). My husband reads almost all her contracts, and when he doesn't have answers he finds them through contacts. When someone in Hollywood wanted to turn my romcom into a screenplay I had an entertainment lawyer draw up the contract. It cost quite a lot, but if ever anything happens (you never know!) at least everything is clear. Thanks for this. It sounds like you've had a very interesting career. Big hugs, Francesca xx
Thank you very much Francisco! I’m glad you liked it. Understanding business and seeking legal help when necessary is important if you’re going to survive in the entertainment business on every level. And you know from your own experience. Sending you much love! Thank you! 💖
Sending you much love Mack! I’m so glad you liked it and it aligns with what you shared yesterday, which I haven’t had a chance to comment on since we had a plumbing issue last night. Our water heater broke. Thank you so much! 💖
What? It’s not all big hair and perfect teeth? Say it ain’t so—Queen. ☺️
Having seen the back side of the biz myself on a few occasions, it’s always important to remember that when it comes to money all bets on trust need to be examined.
Great essay, speaking personally I used to suck at business and have begun to learn how to better manage my business affairs, with that said business men scamming artists is an old tradition. It even happened throughout Beethoven and other classical musicians careers.
Thank you Brothers! Most creatives like yourself have this same problem. It extends to others in sports careers as well. And remember Mozart? And artists? Picasso apparently was business savy.
Picasso was no artist and had no talent so doesn’t surprise me he was a businessman first. Mozart yep, and I know plenty of sportsmen who aren’t business savvy.
Hmm, business is tough to get a handle on, it’s why I consult with as many people as possible these days before committing to business decisions.
You were in such very good hands, Charlotte! And your posts are like Entertainment/Acting 101 for someone looking to know and understand how the business works. With many cool tales thrown in for spice!
Fortunately we did have good people most of the time. Joan for instance was very business savy and taught me a lot. Thank you for reading and commenting Jeanine. 💖
It's interesting the way the world wiggles. Talent agents have never been part of my life however 2 evenings ago I was watching the 1954 movie, Down To Earth that starts with the talent agent explaining how he knew about the body to the cops, with a it was like this & fade to story.
My light reading yesterday; a 2004 sci-fi novel, Agent Of The Stars, wherein the LA talent agent protagonist need represent and sell to the world stinking jello like blob aliens as the nice guys they are in spite of.
& now It Ain't All Glamor, in 3 days many more talent agents than I've met (One) in my life. Grin.
Jim, I don’t believe in Cowinkydinkys! Serendipity and there is a reason in the divine universe you’ve ran into this theme three times. Everything comes in threes, right?
Those sound like great reads! I will check them out. Have a fabulous weekend and thank you again!💖
What a wonderful, enlightening and eye opening essay. You were fortunate you were able to connect with honorable people at your start. And you’re correct, it ain’t all glamour. People forget for entertainment personalities, it’s not always necessarily fun but it’s going to work. Even when you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s still work and it ain’t always nice.
What you say of the business side of things can also apply to things like purchasing goods such as a house or car, for example. I think show business and sports can highlight the corrupted who are out for themselves and take advantage where and when they can.
Finally, you were fortunate to be a little bit older and wiser in your early days. Look at all of the childhood stars who got taken advantage of, not only by evil agents, but even by their parents. In some, in fact many cases, children lost any desire to continue in a performing role because of it. I think you’ll agree we can appreciate those like Paul Peterson (am I showing my age ?), who experienced some of it and became an agent and advocate for younger performers.
It’s amazing how we all go through at least 12 years of school and learn very little bit about business. Not even how to write a check. It hits everybody. And they follow most people to be working for a Corporation anyway, so I guess they figure we don’t need to learn business sense.
The entertainment world can sweep you away. You can make money fast in your believe you were a success, but that can be an illusion, because you don’t have the knowledge and experience to know what to do with the money.
We were very fortunate. But still at a young age you don’t understand that agents and managers and publicist have their own goals and you may think you are the center of their attention, but it’s only the money you were making that interests them. You pay them 10% to 25% and sometimes 50% for their work. So if you have an agent you pay 10% to then you need to do 90% of the rest of the world. And this with entertainers, artists and sports figures need to understand.
Thank you so much, for reading and stopping by. Sending you much love and I hope you have an amazing weekend! 💖
This is fantastic. If I was teaching a course in sport law, or designing an orientation for young athletes who were about to come into wealth often for the first time in their lives, I’d assign them to read your piece. It’s personal without being pedantic. Yet you still hit the important points. In a classroom or seminar setting, this could spark a valuable conversation. And if we were putting together a seminar for young athletes and creative talent, I would absolutely insist on hiring you to design, format, and present this topic. I’ve read and sat through presentations of this subject. I think what you wrote is clean and compelling.
Shawn, I really appreciate your feedback. I definitely could have made this a longer article. But then it would have to be a course. Lol! I’m glad you liked it. And most definitely it applies to young athletes making a lot of money. You know what I mean. Here comes the grifters ready to feed all of them. So many and broke.
Coming from you, with your experience in sports that is a great compliment. Thank you!
Well said, Rooster
Thank you Ken!
I love reading your work
Cygnus, Sending you much love! I greatly appreciate that. I’m so glad you liked it!
Charlotte, this is an interesting read. My husband was the GC of a big luxury goods company and retired two years ago. Our daughter is a fashion photographer, educator, and mixed media artist (and very smart!!). My husband reads almost all her contracts, and when he doesn't have answers he finds them through contacts. When someone in Hollywood wanted to turn my romcom into a screenplay I had an entertainment lawyer draw up the contract. It cost quite a lot, but if ever anything happens (you never know!) at least everything is clear. Thanks for this. It sounds like you've had a very interesting career. Big hugs, Francesca xx
Thank you very much Francisco! I’m glad you liked it. Understanding business and seeking legal help when necessary is important if you’re going to survive in the entertainment business on every level. And you know from your own experience. Sending you much love! Thank you! 💖
This is a great piece. Thank you Charlotte!
Sending you much love Mack! I’m so glad you liked it and it aligns with what you shared yesterday, which I haven’t had a chance to comment on since we had a plumbing issue last night. Our water heater broke. Thank you so much! 💖
Oooh gosh! I hope repairs have proceeded swiftly and completely. I am sending healing vibrations to your water heater!!
What? It’s not all big hair and perfect teeth? Say it ain’t so—Queen. ☺️
Having seen the back side of the biz myself on a few occasions, it’s always important to remember that when it comes to money all bets on trust need to be examined.
Great essay, speaking personally I used to suck at business and have begun to learn how to better manage my business affairs, with that said business men scamming artists is an old tradition. It even happened throughout Beethoven and other classical musicians careers.
Thank you Brothers! Most creatives like yourself have this same problem. It extends to others in sports careers as well. And remember Mozart? And artists? Picasso apparently was business savy.
Picasso was no artist and had no talent so doesn’t surprise me he was a businessman first. Mozart yep, and I know plenty of sportsmen who aren’t business savvy.
Hmm, business is tough to get a handle on, it’s why I consult with as many people as possible these days before committing to business decisions.
You were in such very good hands, Charlotte! And your posts are like Entertainment/Acting 101 for someone looking to know and understand how the business works. With many cool tales thrown in for spice!
Fortunately we did have good people most of the time. Joan for instance was very business savy and taught me a lot. Thank you for reading and commenting Jeanine. 💖
As fans of entertainers we don’t think about the business side of performers careers. Good read Charlotte
Thank you very much MsA.Ii’m thrilled you liked it. 💗
Yup, lots of creative folks are terrible businesspeople and there's a lot of chatter about this very topic right here in substack.
The undisputed Queen of Magic does it again. Another ringer.
I'm going to be passing this one along.
So kind of you David! I am so happy you liked it and I hope it helps those creators seek business knowledge. Sending you much love!💕
Good un, Charlotte!
It's interesting the way the world wiggles. Talent agents have never been part of my life however 2 evenings ago I was watching the 1954 movie, Down To Earth that starts with the talent agent explaining how he knew about the body to the cops, with a it was like this & fade to story.
My light reading yesterday; a 2004 sci-fi novel, Agent Of The Stars, wherein the LA talent agent protagonist need represent and sell to the world stinking jello like blob aliens as the nice guys they are in spite of.
& now It Ain't All Glamor, in 3 days many more talent agents than I've met (One) in my life. Grin.
Jim, I don’t believe in Cowinkydinkys! Serendipity and there is a reason in the divine universe you’ve ran into this theme three times. Everything comes in threes, right?
Those sound like great reads! I will check them out. Have a fabulous weekend and thank you again!💖
What a wonderful, enlightening and eye opening essay. You were fortunate you were able to connect with honorable people at your start. And you’re correct, it ain’t all glamour. People forget for entertainment personalities, it’s not always necessarily fun but it’s going to work. Even when you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s still work and it ain’t always nice.
What you say of the business side of things can also apply to things like purchasing goods such as a house or car, for example. I think show business and sports can highlight the corrupted who are out for themselves and take advantage where and when they can.
Finally, you were fortunate to be a little bit older and wiser in your early days. Look at all of the childhood stars who got taken advantage of, not only by evil agents, but even by their parents. In some, in fact many cases, children lost any desire to continue in a performing role because of it. I think you’ll agree we can appreciate those like Paul Peterson (am I showing my age ?), who experienced some of it and became an agent and advocate for younger performers.
It’s amazing how we all go through at least 12 years of school and learn very little bit about business. Not even how to write a check. It hits everybody. And they follow most people to be working for a Corporation anyway, so I guess they figure we don’t need to learn business sense.
The entertainment world can sweep you away. You can make money fast in your believe you were a success, but that can be an illusion, because you don’t have the knowledge and experience to know what to do with the money.
We were very fortunate. But still at a young age you don’t understand that agents and managers and publicist have their own goals and you may think you are the center of their attention, but it’s only the money you were making that interests them. You pay them 10% to 25% and sometimes 50% for their work. So if you have an agent you pay 10% to then you need to do 90% of the rest of the world. And this with entertainers, artists and sports figures need to understand.
Thank you so much, for reading and stopping by. Sending you much love and I hope you have an amazing weekend! 💖
Great piece!
Thank you Michael! I greatly appreciate you reading it and for your support. I hope you have an amazing magical weekend!💖