About this episode
How do you get a manager? What’s the difference between a manager and an agent? James Swoope, talent manager at M88, breaks it all down with IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo. From Cleveland to Hollywood, Swoope has built a career managing talent like Dominique Thorne (IRONHEART), actor and singer Coco Jones, designer and entrepreneur Jeff Staple, and athlete and podcaster Matt Barnes. In this conversation, he shares his journey from casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH with Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, his approach to talent management, what artists should really be working on, why it’s important to “have something to manage,” and why Swoope calls himself a unicorn. Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube , Apple Podcasts , Spotify Follow Proximity Media on Instagram , TikTok , ProximityMedia.com (00:00) How does one get a manager? (01:34) Voice Memo from Charles D. King (Founder & CEO, MACRO) (05:25) Swoope’s unique sense of style and why he’s a unicorn (08:06) From casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (12:55) How to get a manager (14:35) What artists should be working on (16:25) “I’m the 10%. You’re the 90%.” (19:18) What does a manager do? (21:31) What’s the difference between a manager and an agent? (23:45) Rapid-Fire Questions and Advice (25:20) Show & Tell: 3 NINJAS and FORREST GUMP (30:07) Prox Recs IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA Host/Director/Producer: Paola Mardo Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson Co-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick Epino Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana Editors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Andrea Walter Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Jun Sawada