Mentors

Nobody “makes it” on their own. Whether we are surrounded by a team, partners, or mentors, we look to the people in our corner to help us navigate uncharted and challenging terrain.

I’m a huge believer in good mentorships. They can give you the veteran perspective of someone who’s already been where you’re trying to go.

This week, I wanted to highlight one of my biggest mentors, Jamie Adler, who took me under his wing around 12 years ago, and our relationship has since evolved into a partnership; and more importantly, Jamie has become like a brother to me.

Coincidentally, a story just came out on Yahoo! News today detailing the time Jamie kidnapped his real brother (Steven Adler- founding member of Guns n’ Roses), in a last-ditch attempt to get him off drugs and save his life. You can read the amazing story here.

Growing up around the biggest rock band in the world, and graduating into the life of a booking agent by his early 20’s, Jamie is able to rattle off hundreds of unbelievable stories from his adventurous life. You can also check out more of those amazing stories from a podcast interview I did with him in 2017 here.

And so, as I was finding my footing at a small New York boutique booking agency in 2012, I began looking through the roster and found that they represented Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. I quickly asked my boss ”why aren’t we booking these guys“, and he shrugged me off. His assistant immediately pulled me aside, and explained to me that only two of the members were really working together, but I could pitch them if I wanted.

So I did. And within 6 hours, I got a call from Jamie Adler, the real booking agent for Bone Thugs. He asked me who I was and who I worked for, and why I was out pitching his group. When he tells the story, he says agents had tried to poach Bone from him for years, and he’d always flip out on them, but for some reason, he liked how I handled myself in a calm, composed manner.

And Jamie told me he’d been working on getting all five members back together, and he’d be open to me helping him once he accomplished his feat.

Fast forward about 8 months. I had convinced my boss to let me move back to the west coast and work remotely in order to share custody of my son, but it was clear that the experiment was running its course, as my boss kept hinting at the possibility of needing me to move back to NY.

I soon caught a flight from the Bay Area to LA to meet with Jamie. I explained my situation, and Jamie offered an immediate solution- to leave the agency and come work with him on Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and DJ Quik. There was no salary. It was just eat what you kill. But there was a much bigger upside if I was willing to put in the work. So I left and never looked back. And ten years later, we now have a solid roster of 20+ incredible artists, and film and TV projects in the works. It was the best professional decision I’ve ever made.

Over the years, Jamie has given me countless pieces of wisdom. I wanted to pass on a couple.

1. Never be afraid to walk away- This goes for any deal or relationship that doesn’t feel right or no longer suits you.

2. Take yourself out of the equation- People like to rely on you to solve the problems they can adequately solve themselves. But if you remove yourself, they’re going to have to figure it out.

Jamie is also hilarious and has the uncanny ability to break the ice with any stranger by making a ridiculous comment, which makes them laugh and helps to set things off on the right foot. It’s not a skill I’ve mastered, but his quick-wittedness has helped realize not everything we do needs to be so buttoned-up and professional.

So, thank you Jamie. For looking out for me, and for helping me find my way in an industry that had overlooked me and undervalued for years.

Thanks to you all for your love and support. Let’s keep building this thing. I hugely appreciate all shares and feedback.

Til next week.