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BELONGING TO AND being a part of an organization or association that "fits" a person's career is important in that it establishes professional practices and ethics in the industry of choice and identifies that person as a "professional."
 For several years I have consulted with JEFF PATTERSON (Patterson & Associates) pertaining to his definitive roles as a Producer, Agent, Personal Manager of several artists and an Exclusive Agent to others. His advice and information has always been reliable.
The Entertainment Network is very fortunate to have him as a member and I, personally, rely on his cooperation and the time he spends making the Network a more informative entity.
There are several Personal Managers on our lists of contacts and many more of those who really do not have a clue as to what a personal manager is. Having been a publicist, promoter, accountant, legal adviser, etc. to SHERIE RAE PARKER for all the years of her career, I have never considered myself as her personal manager…but proud to have been the "Mom" who lingered in the background in the shadows of her success.
Confusion is evident when a spouse, parent or friend of an artist designates himself/herself as the artist's "Personal Manager" and then proceeds to act as the artist's "Agent." Who Are You? With that question in mind, I searched to find the answers.
 As a member and columnist for Vegas Community Online, from time to time I enjoy reading the columns of other contributors and recently opened the pages written by JEANNE BAVARO, who according to my files and her reputation, she is a professional Personal Manager.
Having received her permission and the approval of the editors of the Vegas Community Online website, I relate her story: "I have managed BILL ACOSTA, aka "Man of 1001 Voices" career for the past 17 years.  I have been both blessed and cursed to have married this incredible man and talent. Blessed because he makes my job easy with his vast abilities; there is no stretching the truth when I boast to a client about his amazing talents. Cursed, due to the fact that we are married, often removes the validation of my [professional] abilities and credits.
At times the public or client views me as a supportive wife as opposed to a solid business woman in her own right. I have many business associates who share this same frustrated position. I assure you that, in spite of the blurred vision we are viewed with, none of us would change what we do for a living for anything!"
Jeanne added, "With that said, please allow me to share an excerpt from the NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PERSONAL MANAGERS to clarify what is it that we Personal Managers really do."
Permission has been received to print their page from their N.C.O.P.M. Website for a good description of a Personal Manager's duties and responsibilities. If you consider yourself as a professional personal manager, I suggest that you browse their website: www.ncopm.com.
WHAT IS A PERSONAL MANAGER?
First, let's state what a personal manager is NOT. A personal manager is not an agent (whose role is to obtain employment). A personal manager is not a publicist (whose role is to generate publicity). Nor is a personal manager an attorney (whose role is to provide legal counsel). And, a personal manager is not a business manager (whose role is to provide accounting, investment, and other financial services).
A personal manager advises and counsels talent and personalities in the entertainment industry. Personal managers have the expertise to find and develop new talent and create opportunities for those artists which they represent. Personal managers act as liaison between their clients and both the public and the theatrical agents, publicists, attorneys, business managers, and other entertainment industry professionals which provide services to the personal manager's clients.
Picture a wagon wheel. At the very center is the axle. The axle is the performing artist around which everything revolves. The hub protects and supports the axle. That is the personal manager. The rim of the wheel is the artist's career which travels on what can often be a bumpy, long, winding road. Connecting the hub with the rim are many spokes which give the wheel support in different directions. These are the agents, publicists, attorneys, business managers, and other industry professionals which support an artist on the road to success. When the wheel is well constructed, the artist's journey can be smooth, speedy and successful.
A personal manager is responsible for everything and anything that enhances the development of a performing artist's career. From simple staging suggestions, to complex negotiations, to long-term career plans, a personal manager lives the artist's career every day behind the scenes. The manager's commitment to and involvement in the artist's career is one hundred per cent. The personal manager is the driving force breaking through the barriers of frustration and difficulty so often encountered in the entertainment industry. A personal manager is the person who believes in and keeps fighting for a client when all others have given up.
With responsibilities like that, it is a prerequisite that a personal manager must have the broadest of experience in the entertainment industry. Professional personal managers are also well informed on industry practices, standards, and regulations. Plus, managers are alert to the constant changes affecting the entertainment industry. Only with experience and up-to-date knowledge can a personal manager benefit clients.
Personal managers, who exhibit professional experience, conduct, and ethics have been elected to membership in the National Conference of Personal Managers, an association committed to the advancement of personal managers and their artist-clients. Established in 1942, NCOPM members have vast experience and expertise in concerts, motion pictures, publishing, radio, recordings, television, and theatre.
NCOPM members abide by a code of ethics which includes: having personal management as their primary occupation; dealing honestly and fairly with their clients; not deriving personal gains at the expense of clients; treating client relationships in a confidential manner; not encouraging artists to breach existing personal management contracts; being proud of the personal management profession; and exchanging information with other NCOPM members in the best interest of their clients. Most importantly, NCOPM members never accept a fee from a client on the promise of attempting to obtain engagements for the client.
In conclusion: Most professional Personal Managers are knowledgeable in all phases of the industry; however they do NOT accept more artists than they are able to manage successfully…and personally. If an artist is considering having a personal manager, I would suggest, before signing a contract, that the artist investigate the manager's contacts, experience and resources.
Bea
Bea Fogelman is the Director of the Entertainment Network and a published author.
www.Entertainment-Network.info Bea@talentnews.info
Book Website: www.BeaFogelman.com Bea@BeaFogelman.com
Copyrights with Permission: 4/3/06
Jeanne Bavaro: Bavaro626@aol.com
Jeffrey L. Patterson: jeffp@pattersonandassociates.com
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