Owner/CEO's Name & Business's Name
Marc Marcuse, President of Reel Management
Year Established
2004
Why is your business unique and what's your pitch?
Reel Management is the only agency in the world representing over 400 reality television celebrities for personal appearances, college lectures, marketing/promotional opportunities, and TV castings. Shows represented include celebs from Project Runway, Real World, America's Next Top Model, Survivor, Apprentice, Hell's Kitchen, and more. Reel Management has placed celebrities on shows such as Celebrity Fit Club, Celebrity Rehab, and on most major/cable networks. They've also helped to provide stars for promotional events in conjunction with Fortune 100 companies such as SC Johnson, Brother Sewing Machines, Pontiac, etc
What led you to start the business?
I started Reel Management after appearing on the show "Average Joe" in 2003. I had met many reality stars by appearing at various events, charities, and doing TV cameos. I realized that the market for reality stars was virtually untapped, even though fans around the world wanted to meet them or see them back on television. I compiled an initial list of stars available for appearances and set out to bring the world of reality television to local venues and further media exposure. Since then, our list of available stars has grown to over 400 celebrities and we've provided celebrities to unique places as far away as Turkey, the Bahamas, and just about every major US city. Most people find us through our website, where we always have a current roster of available celebrities.
Lessons Learned
- The most important thing we've learned is that cost-controls really can make the difference between a successful business and one that fails. Ditch the landline and get an unlimited cell phone provider, use Skype or other VOIP solutions when traveling overseas, use inexpensive talent to create websites and logos, get an intern to help out, and try to do everything in-house if you can. The first two years were rough for us -- we didn't know we'd succeed. But once you turn the corner and finally start to feel stable, you realize it was worth the wait. Oh, and turn off the phone at least one day a week.