Paul Graham
Director/Manager
Fishco Management
Columbia, SC
1. Can you briefly define your job to me?
I represent and manage both athletes and entertainers. I represent these artists both exclusively and non-exclusively. Our company also manages and consults groups for major events such as golf tournaments and large banquets.
2. How did you get started in the business?
I had just graduated from the University of South Carolina and was teaching at a local Columbia school when a good friend of mine, Darius Rucker, asked me if I wanted to manage Hootie and the Blowfish on their first concert tour. I was Hootie and the Blowfish's tour manager for over 13 years and have been working with Fishco Management ever since.
3. How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't complete an assigned task?
That can not happen. You have to get it done. If you can not get it done or something goes wrong when trying to complete an assigned task, you have to be honest with your boss on what the situation is. You then have to spend time on solving the problem rather than spending time on what and why it went wrong.
4. Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?
Use and learn from every experience possible. Use your tools and resources around especially today because there are so many. Read the internet and magazines about your field of work. Be willing and ready to do whatever, whenever. Take internship opportunities even if it is not what you want to end up doing.
1. In your job, what are some challenges you have to deal with in relating to "production" people?
One challenge is dealing with the artistic differences between the production people and their artistic minds and the artists themselves and what they are trying to get across. Another challenge is making sure the production people are organized and staying on task.
2. Can you tell me a war story, or a story when something went badly wrong?
Yes. While I was tour managing for Hootie and the Blowfish, we were set to play a show in Manilla in the Phillipines at the same venue as the "Thrilla in Manilla" (Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier). We had just arrived from Asia and all of our gear had been lost during travel. Thirty minutes before the doors open our gear arrives. The next two hours were chaos. Everyone was running around from the stage to the trucks unloading, setting up, and tuning all of the gear. In the end the show had to go on and ended up being a really incredible show.
3. Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the business, someone who is about to graduate?
Be prepared to do whatever whenever to get things done. Be ready to struggle to make your name in the business. Defineately be prepared to be poor for a long time.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
War Stories
Jamey Rogers - Recording Engineer
South Carolina
1. In your job, what are some challenges you have to deal with in relating to “production” people (they will likely know exactly what you mean, production refers to producers, location people, coordinators, assistant directors and pa’s). Another way of asking this is to question how a production person can best help facilitate this person’s job.
Creative differences. In most cases I am the producer. People don’t seem to see eye to eye often and that’s tough to get around, but it usually works out in the end.
2. Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out [or didn’t work out]. If the story relates to producing or locations, that is terrific.
I was doing a record for a band bout a year ago and from beginning it seemed to be plagued with conflicting opinions causing three days of turmoil between band members and myself. One of the guitar players wanted to change things constantly on the spot and it looked like I was going to have to shut down the whole deal, but it pulled together last minute after they made some compromises. I wasn’t very satisfied with the final product and wasn’t able to do some things the way I envisioned it, but it worked out
3. Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the business, someone who is about to graduate?
Internships. Get one with someone who knows what they’re doing. What you learn in school is basic and knowledgeable, but not like the real world. Also, once you start working, never work for free. Always keep up with technology and never stop learning because it’s a constant battle between you and the next guy.
South Carolina
1. In your job, what are some challenges you have to deal with in relating to “production” people (they will likely know exactly what you mean, production refers to producers, location people, coordinators, assistant directors and pa’s). Another way of asking this is to question how a production person can best help facilitate this person’s job.
Creative differences. In most cases I am the producer. People don’t seem to see eye to eye often and that’s tough to get around, but it usually works out in the end.
2. Can you tell me a war story, or a story of when something went badly wrong, or seemed like it was going to fall apart, but then ended up working out [or didn’t work out]. If the story relates to producing or locations, that is terrific.
I was doing a record for a band bout a year ago and from beginning it seemed to be plagued with conflicting opinions causing three days of turmoil between band members and myself. One of the guitar players wanted to change things constantly on the spot and it looked like I was going to have to shut down the whole deal, but it pulled together last minute after they made some compromises. I wasn’t very satisfied with the final product and wasn’t able to do some things the way I envisioned it, but it worked out
3. Do you have any advice for a person starting out in the business, someone who is about to graduate?
Internships. Get one with someone who knows what they’re doing. What you learn in school is basic and knowledgeable, but not like the real world. Also, once you start working, never work for free. Always keep up with technology and never stop learning because it’s a constant battle between you and the next guy.
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