Taking Credit

I’m big on taking credit.  I’m also big on giving credit, particularly because I can take credit for giving credit.  Among the things I take credit for are the popular use of myriad (and a myriad other words), calling out the monsters of home run record fame for steroid use during their respective home run record-setting seasons, and the popularity of wearing (large) studio-style headphones instead of playfully-conspicuous, white “earbuds” (oops, that one hasn’t happened yet).

The nasty thing about it is, nobody ever remembers my genius prognostications (maybe because they’re more mundane than genius, who knows?).  So here’s a few ideas based on my recent reading of The Business of Sports Agents by Shropshire and Davis:

• Some agencies will begin including a percentage ownership clause in client-contracts. This can serve both parties.   Providing near- and long-term incentive for clients to succeed within the parameters of the agent-client relationship will help foster mutual commitment and client behavior that not only is in the client’s best interest directly, but indirectly through promotion of the firm and other actions supporting fellow clientele.
• Non-profit organizations will be formed for the purpose of educating entertainers (including athletes), the public, etc. on matters important to the entertainment industry. Employment of entertainers within these organizations will provide a baseline income and training for otherwise unemployed  or partly-employed entertainers.   The training aspect is as important to a representative as the income aspect is to the entertainer because education about the “biz” is often viewed as a key component to an entertainer’s success (especially long-term success).
• Small and mid-size agencies will extend their breadth of services well beyond contract negotiation and job-hunting. This can be accomplished by various methods any of which must be aimed at reducing the costs associated with running mega-firms (i.e. one-stop-shops).   Sharing the burden of work with the entertainer via guidance and counsel and utilizing a network of small firms offering various services are among the possible approaches.
• A national organization by and for entertainment agents will establish a code of ethics and licensing bureaucracy.

Luckily, my taking credit has very little to do with ensuring that I am, indeed, first to make these claims.  And because I’ve not done the research to ensure otherwise, these ideas may already be proliferating unbeknownst to me.  What say you readers?  Who should be taking credit in my stead?