Bill Bennett What it Takes

I’m not trying to be glib about this but I can’t emphasize enough that timing was a huge factor in probably the current crop of people who run the business. If you look at all the people who run record companies now, they’re almost all about the same age, grew up in the same generation and it really was when the LP and FM radio just exploded. Today I think there’s just much more opportunities but on a much smaller level. If you can get your foot in the door, the only advice I would give people is to be great at what the opportunity before you is. If you come in as an assistant or you come in as a song player, be great at it and then exceed that position. Every company I’ve ever been a senior executive in, I always looked for the people who exceeded their position, or people who could create influence inside the company. Ever company’s got them, whether it’s a record company, or a radio station or CMT. When you go to companies you meet people you know get it, they have influence, and I always go, “I could hire that guy.” You know, I’ll meet kids, and go “alright, keep an eye on this one.” It may be intuitive, I did promotion for so many years, you just meet people and go, okay got it. Later you find out maybe it’s not the right person but it’s generally someone who’s come in, made the most of the opportunity and no sense of entitlement, “oh my god I finally made it,” you know, look around, see how it works. Be great at what you do and you will be noticed.

Somehow, to live your entire life in blue jeans, and to have a front row seat, if not a third row seat on some occasions, I mean, I’ve been very fortunate. I have met some of the most interesting people on Earth, and I’ve worked with some of the smartest people and I have such respect for musicians and such respect for anybody who will follow their dreams. To be able to be a part of that, it’s a gift, it’s truly a gift. Then to be able to make a living at it, or even to exceed whatever you thought you were going to do with your life, its gift. It’s truly a gift. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t. I probably would have slapped my kid. I think about what would I do if worked at a bank and I had to wear suits and stuff. Now I like to wear suits because I never… wow I get to wear a suit! I get to work with your dad! I loved working with your dad. And the really enlightened people you get to meet; kind, gentle people. It’s just interesting. I got to watch David Geffen’s mind operate. Going on the road with Bruce Springsteen, before he was Bruce Springsteen, down in the south where you would go into Birmingham, Alabama and wouldn’t sell out, it’s great. I got to go through all of that stuff.