Chapter 1
Sidney Marcum sat in her fourteenth-floor office, scheduling her week. Distracted by the sound of the rain beating against her window, she got up and stood looking down at the busy New York City street below. She watched the pedestrians as they hurried along Broadway. People are always in such a hurry, she thought. They never take the time to do what really matters….Then it’s too late.
The buzz of her intercom interrupted her thoughts, forcing her back to reality. The softness in her eyes disappeared and was replaced with coolness, as if something solidified her heart. “Sidney, Mr. Jacobs from Global Records is on line two.”
“Thank you Michelle.” Sidney hesitated as she reached for the phone. She had not heard from David Jacobs in a long time. Why is he calling? She picked up the handset and candidly greeted the caller, “Did you know that I’ve been fired by two people in my life, and I don’t talk with the other guy. How are you, David?”
“Great Sid,” the man laughed. “Are you still holding that against me? I thought you forgave me for canning you, after I gave you the Gang.”
Sidney kidded her long-time business associate, “My ego has never completely healed. To what do I owe the honor of this phone call?”
“I heard you’re in the market for a new client. I have another lead for you.”
Sidney was curious. The lead she got on the Gang literally put her in business. “Well, I am looking right now. I have two prospects. What do you have, David?”
“A once-in-a-life-time opportunity.”
“I’ve heard that one before.”
“No really, it is a great opportunity. It’s an established artist.”
“You know I don’t get excited about established artists.”
“But Sid, trust me, she’s bigger than big. She’s having some problems with her existing manager, but his contract is up next month. She also has some minor PR problems. Sid, you’re the best. I recommended you for the job and she wants to talk with you.”-
“Who is it?” Sidney asked.
David hesitated. “It’s Anastasia.”
“Some minor PR problems? Anastasia doesn’t need a new manager; she needs to use a little discretion.”
“Sidney, at least talk with her before you dismiss the idea.” There was silence. “Sidney?”
“Of course I’ll meet with her, but I won’t make any promises.”
“That’s all I can ask, thank you.” David added, “Jerry Benson is my top A&R person now. He’s not as good as you were, but he’s good. I’ll have him call your office to arrange a meeting.”
Sidney hung up the phone and once again approached her window. The glass reflected the tall and slender build of the 38-year-old. With her long fingers she brushed the bangs of her short brown hair away from her face. For those few who were fortunate to really know Sidney, they knew she had a natural beauty. When she smiled, her energy could light up a room. Her eyes could be beautiful, yet at times equally haunting; a small scar flawed her face near her right eye. Very few of her business associates ever saw the genuine side of Sidney. Most in the music business knew Sidney Marcum as a powerful woman who should not be crossed.
The walls of her office were lined with awards, plaques and pictures of herself with various entertainers. It was a spacious office, harboring a small bar in the corner of the room, along with a Bang & Olufsen sound system. A sofa was placed conveniently opposite her desk. As with many workaholics, her office supplied the essentials, including a private bathroom with shower to help her through those long after-hour sessions.
Sidney was the founder of Marcum Promotions, Inc. (MPI), which was approaching its tenth year in business. Her business had grown tremendously over the years. She attributed her success to good old-fashioned hard work, good connections and being in the right place at the right time. Through the lead of her former boss, David Jacobs, she became the personal manager of a pop group called the Gang. David knew the young group of boys had talent and needed a manager. He suggested that Sidney consider managing the group. To this day, Sidney believed that David passed the lead to her out of guilt after firing her from Global Records.
Personal managers function as the general managers of an entertainer’s business. Generally, their responsibilities range from negotiating record company deals and coordinating tours and publicity campaigns to hiring and supervising personnel. Sidney had a talent for dissecting a market and identifying what was really wanted. Then she would repackage the entertainer or entertainers to meet market demands. She had the ability and the connections, and she successfully pulled it off. Although she enjoyed the challenge of making a star, she recognized that stars were different from hungry, young artists. Once the star was born, Sidney was happy to step aside and delegate the day-to-day interactions of her performers to her managers.