Steven C. Beer - Your Childs Career in Music and Entertainment: The Prudent Parents Guide from Start to Stardom

More Praise for Your Childs Career in Music and Entertainment

I cannot imagine a more useful text for parents trying to get a leg up for their children in the entertainment industry. Stevens advice is invaluable.Rebecca Lambrecht, music manager and founder of the Chicane Group

Steven Beer is a knowledgeable, experienced counselor who understands the challenges and opportunities facing families who aspire to success in the entertainment industry. I cant think of a better authority to tackle this subject.Cliff Chenfeld, co-CEO, Razor & Tie Music and Kidz Bop

Steven Beer is an entertainment lawyer, industry consultant, and parent in the entertainment industry who has successfully guided many young people on the complex journey to a career in music and entertainment. If your child is serious about a career in the business, this book is a must-have. Accessible and filled with insider information, resources, case studies, and legal advice, it is invaluable!Michael Rapaport, actor

Steven Beer has written a lucid, sweepingly comprehensive yet straightforward guide both practical and inspiring for all parents lucky enough to have talented children to nurture into a career in entertainment.James Toback, filmmaker

I was floored by the thorough understanding Steven Beer has been able to achieve. He leaves no stone left unturned in explaining the pitfalls and questions every parent with a talented child has. It should be the turn-to Bible for all families in the business. I could not recommend it more highly.Ron Schaefer, director of French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts

This book is a roadmap from a highly experienced, knowledgeable guide for any parent whose child wants (begs) to pursue a career in the music or entertainment business. It provides advice on each step of the journey and offers practical steps and tactics to ensure the best possibility for success.Susan Solovay, professional parent

Copyright 2015 by Steven Beer and Kathryne Badura

All rights reserved. Copyright under Berne Copyright Convention, Universal Copyright Convention, and Pan American Copyright Convention. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Allworth Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Allworth Press books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Allworth Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

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Published by Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Allworth Press is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

www.allworth.com

Cover design by Mary Belibasakis

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62153-480-8

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62153-490-7

Printed in the United States of America.

Table of Contents

Foreword

By Larry Rudolph

I f I HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING from my years of experience in the entertainment industry, it is that navigating your way through it is like trying to navigate a vast, uncharted wilderness. Without a guide, it is impossible to find your way through.

At the start of our careers, in 1993, Steven and I founded the law firm of Rudolph & Beer, LLP. Our practice focused on entertainment law, and much of our time was devoted to the legal protection and representation of emerging young artists. We didnt stop there, however. Steven and I also took on the role of handling many of the bigger-picture management issues that arose for our rising star clients. We realized that we were the guides these young entertainers needed. With the right management, career development, and counseling, we helped our clients achieve their show business dreams and grow into worldwide phenomena, such as the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Aaron Carter, and Lady Gaga.

During our time at Rudolph & Beer, we had met Britney Spears and her family when she was just thirteen years old. Steven and I had the unique experience of representing her at this early point in her career and developed and guided her to the point when she first signed with Jive Records in 1999 and released her debut album, Baby One More Time . We managed her throughout the early stages of her teenage career and watched her grow from a sweet Louisiana girl to an international superstar. Although I have left the practice of law to serve as Britneys full-time manager and have been by her side for most of her career, Steven still actively practices entertainment law in New York City.

When Steven told me he was writing this guide, I was excited. An important lesson we learned from our years of managing and representing young stars was that every successful child had a grounded, thoughtful, and involved support system: their parents. Without such support and a firm parental hand, any success was short-lived. I often get questions from parents in the industry about aspects of their childs career and how to handle them but am unable to properly answer them all.

This book is a great tool for parents looking for that guidance in handling or even just starting their childs career, and there is no one better to learn from than Steven Beer. Not only is Steven experienced with high-profile entertainment transactions involving young artists, but he also brings to his work a unique management perspective that most, if not all, other attorneys lack. In his over twenty-five years of practicing law and managing artists, Steven has established many important entertainment industry relationships with various casting directors, agents, producers, directors, and other managers. He and these industry insiders have a great deal of wisdom to impart upon parents and their children who are considering careers in the music and entertainment industry, and this book lays it all out for them in a way that is straightforward and easy to understand. As an added bonus, having been blessed with three talented boys who themselves have dabbled in the entertainment industry, Steven too has been in your shoes as a prudent parent of a child in show business. Having taken on the role himself, he empathizes with your frustrations and concerns and knows what it is that you need to know. I cannot think of anyone more qualified than Steven to guide you and your family through the difficult but rewarding journey of launching your childs career and wish you all the best of luck!

Authors Note

I REMEMBER THE CALL LIKE it was yesterday. I was sitting in my law office preparing some agreements for a new film production. He got the part, my wife, Bonnie, enthusiastically reported. My thirteen-year-old son, Max, loved theater. He studied acting at school and camp and participated in community theater groups where we live in New York City. In his spare time, Max occasionally auditioned for roles in professional productions. We thought it was merely a constructive after-school activity, so we were stunned to learn that a major regional theater company actually cast him in a lead role for a touring production of Neil Simons Lost in Yonkers. My wifes initial excitement quickly turned to reticence. Her voiced lowered when she asked me, What should we do? Unprepared for this question, I responded that I did not know.