The
legal aspects of starting and maintaining a successful business can make or
break a company. Law professionals from across the nation have their own
secrets to success, some are good and others border on illogical. When
listening to the advice of these various attorneys, they all appear to sing a
similar anthem of being prepared, doing the appropriate research, and when all
else fails, being flexible in this perpetually changing discipline. In delving
into the side of starting a business that terrifies me to my core, I sought the
advice of practicing attorneys who were sharing their pearls of wisdom via
legal podcasts to ease my fears, examine the pitfalls and gain some valuable
knowledge on the legal properties of business.
The
first podcast appeared on The Un-Billable Hour program and was titled Women Rainmakers & Legal Marketing and
featured renowned female attorney Teddy Snyder, Esq. Ms. Snyder can pride
herself as a member of the influential legal group, the American Bar
Association Women Rainmakers, which aims to assist females in business. Her
most poignant argument was the importance of being appropriate. Whether it was
marketing, social media tactics, or even using the “gender card”, the situation
and audience determines the strategy she exhibits. Taking advantage of the hand
you are dealt in the gender arena was an interesting perspective. Being a woman
attempting to break into the entertainment industry, I am aware that the “glass
ceiling” is still prevalent, but it is encouraging to hear that women in
business are being urged to use the fact that they are female to their
advantage and as a tool for success. Having women in the courtroom and the
boardroom is an effective strategy, when appropriate, that can demonstrate
diversity and soften clients’ reputations, which can benefit both men and
women. She also discusses utilizing social media such as Twitter and LinkedIn
to reach out to younger clientele while ad benches at bus stops are still being
employed for an older demographic.
Along
the lines of the importance of effectively utilizing social media, attorneys
Antigone Peyton and Ernest Svenson discuss the benefits and dangers of
conducting business under the ever-watchful and never-forgetful eye of the
Internet on the podcast Social Media and Lawsuits on the Lawyer2Lawyer program. They discussed the prevalence of
social media in recent court cases and the damaging effects Twitter updates and
Facebook posts can have on a person’s future. The truth is, the Internet holds
information indefinitely and even when posts are supposedly deleted, they
remain in cyberspace and can be retrieved with limited effort. The duo expressed
the importance of learning how to use social media as a tool that can further
business, gain clientele and share information. It is vital in this day in age
that a business sets up and maintains a social media presence but it is equally
important to understand how to properly capitalize on this tool and not
unknowingly drive a company and its reputation into an inconsequential entity. This
“E-Discovery” as they reference, can sidestep lawsuits, maintain clients and
protect against defamatory claims, which can translate to the world of
entertainment and celebrity. Celebrities have found themselves in hot water by
posting defaming comments on their personal pages about individuals, that
although were removed, still managed to come back to harm not only the
pocketbook but the reputation of the star.
Entertainment
attorney Gordon Firemark discusses the challenges of representing unpredictable
and demanding superstars in the podcast Entertainment Law & the Challenges of Celebrity on the Lawyer2Lawyer program. Doing
business in the entertainment industry surrounded by celebrities, whether in a
legal, managerial or production capacity, is not as glamorous as it may seem.
Celebrities reside in what Firemark describes as a “fish bowl” where their
every movement is being examined. Those that stay out of the limelight are
never heard about in the tabloids while others create chaos to feed a demanding
ego. They often feel as if they are above the law, which has led to many
producers instituting insurance policies to protect a picture from an unstable
talent. It is vital when starting a business in the entertainment industry to
be aware of the potential hardships concealed by the fantasy. Getting swept up
in the glamour and not remaining vigilant to potential scandals that could ruin
a celebrity’s reputation can leave a hardworking and faithful employee
unemployed.
Working
in the entertainment industry requires a lot of patience, the ability to
multi-task and always being prepared for anything that comes along. The passion
for the industry is what creates the survivors. Coupled with knowledge and a
whole lot of bravery, a successful career can be forged.
