Chapter 166 - 166 Introduction to Managers

"Hugo, there's no need to buy us all these bricks; we don't need them," Joseph said, holding four large boxes and watching Hugo tinker with his mobile phone. He sounded worried.Joseph couldn't forget that he was still burdened with a million-dollar debt, and Hugo buying him gifts made him feel a little uneasy. Five bricks cost $17,475, which was a sum that made it hard to feel at ease, and Joseph wasn't even sure if this mobile phone would truly be useful.Hugo looked up from his phone. Current phones didn't have many functions; they were just for making calls and could only store a limited number of contacts, currently a hundred. So Hugo understood it almost effortlessly. "Joseph, you know, this is just a small gift. Isn't the movie doing well lately? There's no need to feel too burdened.""But…" Joseph still wanted to say something, but Hugo stopped him. "Besides, this phone is genuinely useful. If anything urgent comes up, we can always reach each other, which is much more convenient, isn't it? It's also helpful for our work. You wouldn't want work to come knocking and not be able to be reached immediately, right?"Seeing the triumphant smile on Hugo's face, Joseph knew he had been persuaded. Joseph could only keep this favor in his heart. He shook his head helplessly. "Alright, I understand. But you can't spend money recklessly anymore.""Hehe." Hugo showed a sly smile. "Today's itinerary isn't over yet." Joseph involuntarily stopped in his tracks, immediately guessing that Hugo was going to buy something again. Hugo chuckled, not stopping, and continued walking towards their old Volkswagen Golf. "Don't worry, I absolutely won't spend money recklessly. The next thing we need to buy is essential, absolutely essential!"Joseph watched Hugo's retreating figure, his brilliant smile dazzling under the sun. He could only helplessly quicken his steps to catch up. "What? What do you want to buy?""A car!" Hugo's voice carried on the wind, making Joseph pause before he sped up, his worry subtly disappearing, replaced by a faint joy.Cars hold a fatal attraction for most men, but many are constrained by the thickness of their wallets, unable to turn their dreams of racing and speed into reality. However, looking at the global fanbase of Formula 1 racing, the millions of enthusiasts worldwide for sports car brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Cadillac, and Aston Martin, and the consistently vibrant vitality of the automotive industry, one can understand men's obsession with cars.Joseph was no exception. When he heard Hugo wanted to buy a car, a smile was already creeping up to his eyebrows. "But we don't have enough capital to buy a car yet." Joseph still expressed his concern, and although he tried to keep his facial expression serious, the curve of his lips betrayed his inner joy at the moment.Hugo looked at Joseph's overly stiff facial lines and knew Joseph was also struggling to hold back. He took the several large "bricks" from Joseph's hands, placed them in the back seat, then sat in the passenger seat and said loudly, "If we were to buy a sports car, of course, we wouldn't have that much money. What's more, we don't have anywhere to park a sports car right now. You can't just park a sports car next to that small dirt pile at your doorstep, can you?"Hugo's words made Joseph, who had just gotten into the driver's seat, unable to help but let his lips curve upwards. In fact, Hugo currently had absolutely enough money to buy a sports car, but when buying luxury items like sports cars, villas, or yachts, the price was never the most difficult part; the maintenance costs were the most troublesome. So, in Hugo's current situation, he indeed hadn't reached the level to buy a sports car."I just meant to buy a van, you know, it's very necessary for work," Hugo explained further. He turned around and picked up another "brick," planning to save each other's phone numbers in the mobile phone for easy contact."You mean a Multi-Utility Vehicle (MUV)?" Joseph quickly understood. In fact, an MUV is a vehicle that combines elements of a van, an SUV, and an off-road vehicle, typically capable of carrying seven or more passengers. This type of vehicle is currently used more in the United States as a family car or for travel, because its sufficient space can accommodate strollers and an entire family.As MUVs rapidly developed in the mid-1980s, the Hollywood star system also gradually matured, and these vans were used by many big-name celebrities as vehicles during their promotional periods. This was because a top star's production team is quite large, including multiple roles such as agents, managers, publicists, assistants, and bodyguards. If it's an artist who crosses over between film and music, the team might even double in size. Additionally, a small number of actors would bring their own makeup artists, hairstylists, and other additional personnel. In such situations, MUVs, which can accommodate seven or more people, became very useful.Furthermore, MUVs with spacious interiors could also provide artists with a relatively private and convenient space during their downtime, which created many conveniences for them.Generally speaking, celebrities would have their own vehicles for private travel, mostly sports cars or sedans; but during promotional periods, MUVs could be a great help. This was the earliest prototype of the "nanny van." After entering the 21st century, nanny vans became very common and also became one of the metrics for an artist's status in the industry: because being able to use a nanny van indicated that the artist had a sufficiently large team accompanying them."Do we need to use a van?" Joseph asked doubtfully after getting Hugo's affirmative answer. Currently, Hugo's team consisted only of Joseph, without even an assistant, so buying a van seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill.Although Joseph asked this, his interest in his words and expression hadn't diminished. Clearly, compared to the mobile phone, Joseph was much more enthusiastic about buying a car. Hugo glanced at Joseph, who was constantly suppressing his inner anticipation, and a smile curved on his lips. "Right now, aren't we all sharing a car? Especially when everyone goes out together, it gets quite cramped."The main consideration was also the situation with Karl, Charlize, and Alex. After Karl's old car was scrapped, Hugo and the others basically shared a car. Although five people could ride in the current car, the space was still relatively cramped. If they switched to a van, there would be much more room.Of course, friends' situations were only one consideration; Hugo would definitely use the van more himself. "Even if we don't use it now, there will definitely be a need for it in the future. There are so many events lately; didn't you say before that we should consider getting an assistant?" This was the direct reason that prompted Hugo to buy a van.Joseph started the car, temporarily focusing his attention on the road, rejoining the not-so-busy traffic. "That's true, we'll need it sooner or later." Joseph had originally thought Hugo wanted to buy a sports car or a sedan, and while he was excited, it was indeed quite impractical. But if it was to buy a van, that made much more sense."Finding a good assistant isn't that easy, so don't rush," Joseph brought up the matter. In fact, for artists, they interact most with managers and assistants, not agents. "Or, should you find a manager first?"Because Hollywood agents are powerful professionals, like Ron Meyer and Rick Rosen, they have dozens of artists under them. They usually work from their offices, strategizing. They don't follow artists around for personal care; they primarily act as intermediaries.Managers and agents have entirely different definitions. Almost every artist has an agent, regardless of their level. Agents handle career planning, work arrangements, and so on. However, only big-name artists have managers. Managers are exclusive to artists, helping them deal with various trivial matters around them, more like a combination of an agent and an assistant. According to industry practice, agents only take commissions, which is the ten percent Hugo pays to International Creative Management; but managers can not only draw commissions but also take a percentage of projects. Therefore, most managers are held by the artist's closest and most trusted people; Tom Cruise's manager is his sister.In short, agents are intermediaries for many people; they negotiate projects with large companies for artists, and even screenwriters have agents. Managers, on the other hand, are exclusive personal assistants to artists; they are responsible for building the bridge between agents and artists, and also for supervising the management of assistants, publicists, makeup artists, stylists, bodyguards, and other miscellaneous tasks.Currently, in Hugo's situation, Joseph, due to his special circumstances, acts more like Hugo's manager than an agent. However, the reality is that once Joseph achieves success and artists are willing to sign with him, or new talents like Karl sign with someone Joseph is satisfied with, Joseph will revert to the position of an agent, and Hugo would have to fight alone again.Therefore, Joseph began to prepare to find an assistant for Hugo. Before Hugo reaches the level of needing a manager, or before Hugo finds a suitable manager, an assistant will help share the miscellaneous tasks around Hugo—such as driving him to shows, or urging Hugo to wake up on time in the morning.Although assistants are easier to find than managers—managers require long-term cooperation based on trust, while assistants have a relatively higher turnover rate—finding a suitable assistant is not that easy, after all, this assistant will become the artist's most familiar companion in everyday life."I'm not in a hurry, not at all, whether it's an assistant or a manager." Hugo indeed wasn't in a hurry; he used to do everything himself and was long accustomed to it. "As long as you're not in a hurry, I'm not."Hearing Hugo's words, Joseph couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. "Don't worry, I'm not in a hurry until after the Oscars." At least in the short term, Joseph didn't have the energy to sign other actors; he had to make Hugo's career successful. Sharpening the axe doesn't delay chopping wood; the more successful Hugo becomes, the higher Joseph's prestige as an agent will be. It's a simple arithmetic problem.