Here’s a recipe for a night of networking: live music, beer and executives from some of the top record labels and music companies.
That’s what happened on recent night at the Mint, a night club on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles, where a trio of bands, and tons of business people and artists gathered for Band Jam, an event put on by the informal networking group Digital L.A.
According to a guest list, those in attendance included Adam Fell, a vice president at Quincy Jones Productions; Parul Chokshi from Universal Music Group’s brand marketing; and Jason Spitz of Warner Music Group.
Ryan Born, chief executive of AudioMicro Inc., a Sherman Oaks distributor of sound effects and music, claimed a table and set out a basket of French fries to lure potential business partners. It must have worked, because he said he came home from the networking event with a stack of business cards.
“It made for a good Tuesday night,” Born said. “You get networking and music. It’s better than going home and watching TV, right?”
Chicago Hope
Andy Schneiderman has a natural sympathy for underdogs.
As general counsel for the Commerce Casino and former president of the California Gaming Association, he has sometimes defended unpopular positions. During a recent family vacation, however, he symbolically went to bat for the ultimate underdog: the Chicago Cubs, who haven’t won a World Series since 1908.
“I’m a long-suffering fan,” explained Schneiderman, 53, who says he first got interested in the team while living in Chicago in 1983.
Last month, he and his family repeated a ritual they’ve undertaken every year since 2002; spending a week in Mesa, Ariz., for the ball club’s spring training. They watched two games against the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox both of which the Cubs won.
“They looked great,” the attorney said. “Let me be the first to say it: This year the Cubs are going all the way.”
My Big Fat Greek Cake
Last month, Steven Gersh became the third generation in his family with the title of talent agent.
Gersh Agency, founded by Phil Gersh in 1949, is now run by sons Bob and David. “However, Steven is now on his way to one day running the show,” according to a statement from the company.
The younger Gersh had worked as an assistant for three years at the family firm before earning his agent stripes.
His most memorable experience: a client suffered an injury while filming on a remote Greek island. She was a choco-holic, so the agency wanted to send her a chocolate cake. But Steven Gersh couldn’t communicate the concept of chocolate cake to local chefs. He finally found a U.S.-style bakery in Athens and had them ferry a cake over to the island.
“People think stuff like that is only on ‘Entourage,’ but it actually happens,” he said.
Staff reporters Charles Proctor, David Haldane and Joel Russell contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].
