Being a business manager is a tough gig. It requires not just financial expertise, but also the insight and the patience of a therapist and the ability to administer tough love like a parent. They don’t get shout-outs in awards speeches. You’re unlikely to ever spot them on the red carpet, even in the background.
Variety’s annual Business Managers Elite issue on Nov. 12 and its accompanying breakfast presented by City National Bank the following day in Los Angeles give them a rare opportunity to get their flowers, to use a tired metaphor-of-the moment. If you know of a business manager worthy of recognition, you can nominate them through this online form. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 10.
A business manager’s job is to make sure that those who are in the spotlight – including actors, musicians, athletes, writers, producers, directors, digital influencers and executives – have an economic safety net, even if the press attention, plaudits and big paychecks stop.
The issue will explore how business managers develop an intimate bond with their clients, handling highly personal tasks that encompass accounting, budgeting, taxes, estate planning and the hiring and firing of household staff, as well as making major purchases, from cars and homes to private jets and yachts, while navigating a shifting economic and sociopolitical landscape. It will also examine how the work of a business manager has changed as the entertainment industry has become more global in nature. They are increasingly grappling with cross-border tax issues and residency requirements, as well as clients who are looking to relocate for financial, lifestyle and/or political reasons.
Variety will also be honoring an individual business manager who has made a mark on the industry and the world at large with both their professional efforts and their philanthropy.