In today's episode we have Ben Press, someone who found some of the greatest stars we have seen in our favorite movies. One he is most known for is securing a role for Amanda Seyfried in "Mamma Mia!" despite initial resistance from the studio, highlighting the importance of persistence and leveraging trusted relationships. He emphasizes never taking no for an answer and building authentic connections that can facilitate achieving significant goals. This mindset, which was crucial in his career as an agent, enabled him to navigate the industry successfully and secure major opportunities for his clients.

In the discussion, Ben also delves into his transition from talent representation to the world of entertainment technology startups. He talks about his involvement in ventures like Russell Wilson's TraceMe, which was later acquired by Nike, and his advisory role at Cameo. He explains how celebrities have become more accessible for brand collaborations due to economic changes in the entertainment industry and shares insights on how entrepreneurs can leverage celebrity partnerships for brand growth. His approach combines understanding target demographics, vetting potential celebrity partners, and structuring equity deals to benefit both parties.

CHAPTER TITLES

1:00 - Introduction and Guest Overview

2:08 - From Mailroom to Agent: Ben's Career Journey

2:30 - Working with Hollywood Legends

3:00 - Packaging America's Next Top Model and Mamma Mia

3:45 - Pivot to Entertainment Tech Startups

4:20 - Leveraging Celebrity for Business Growth

5:00 - Evolution of Celebrity Brand Work

6:10 - How to Engage Celebrities for Your Brand

7:25 - Vetting and Selecting the Right Celebrity

8:45 - Structuring Equity and Compensation Deals

10:15 - The Importance of Fast Decisions in Celebrity Deals

11:00 - Activations and Fundraising with Celebrities

12:21 - Creating Authentic Celebrity Partnerships

13:08 - Case Study: Landing Amanda Seyfried for Mamma Mia

16:23 - Lessons in Persistence and Relationship Building

18:10 - Strategies for Effective Asks

19:27 - Encouraging Staff to Overcome 'No' Responses

20:41 - Turning 'No' into 'Maybe' and 'Maybe' into Meetings

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