Call Me Supermensch chronicles the ups and downs of managing a variety of artists who were more than just their on-stage personas, but rather complex individuals. Although his story is filled with mistakes and moral questionability, Shep Gordon reached the pinnacle of artist management and left his readers with many valuable lessons along the way:1. Create History, Don’t Wait For It To HappenProbably the biggest theme throughout Gordon’s book—and what he would label his modus operandi—is the idea of creating history; he believes strongly that it is up to you to create the path that will ultimately lead to your goal. In Gordon’s case, this meant anything from calling in fake tips to the police (p. 67) to wrapping paper panties around vinyl records (p. 95) to staging women-only concerts (p. 187). His ingenuity and wild stunts are what made him the great manager he was; if he played it safe during his career, he would not have been able to accomplish his goals which would lay a foundation for future managers to build upon.
2. Collect Coupons
Typically, when we think of forming relationships with others in the business, we call it “networking.” Shep Gordon approaches relationships with the idea of “coupons” or, more simply put, trading favors. He acknowledges that his level of success could not have been achieved without the help of others and granted “coupons” to individuals like Marty Kriegel, who helped him graduate college (p. 46); Terry O’Neill, the Fleet Street photographer who was the mastermind behind some of Gordon’s biggest press exploits (p. 142); and Bob Krasnow, the chairman of Elektra who help Gordon get Teddy Pendergrass the money he needed after his accident (p. 200). Once he dealt out his “coupons,” Gordon was true to his word and would repay those who helped him along the way, no matter the cost.3. Just Roll With It
Any good manager knows you have to roll with the punches, and Shep Gordon is no different. Throughout his book, you’ll find the phrase “don’t get mad, accomplish your goals;” this version of taking things as they come meant that Gordon would refocus on the situation and not let emotions cloud his judgement. This lesson is best illustrated when Gordon was fighting to secure the money that Philadelphia International Records was wrongfully withholding from Teddy Pendergrass (p. 194-203). Even though he was dealing with the potential loss of his client and friend, Gordon put his emotions aside to cleverly outwit the corrupt label by enlisting the help of Bob Krasnow and Luther Vandross to create a million-dollar soundtrack deal.
4. Good Guys Don’t Always Finish Last
Throughout the entertainment industry, there is a misconception that, in order to build yourself up, you must tear others down. However, Gordon understood this to be a poor business practice and opted, rather, to do “compassionate business” (p. 164). He followed this principle from the beginning –paying back bounced checks to cheap motels that housed him and Alice Cooper during tour (p. 68)—until the end—creating win-win situations in business and never needing a contract between himself and his clients in order to be bound to his word (p. 225).5. Be Grateful
Maybe the most subtle lesson taught by Gordon is that of gratitude. At the end of almost every portion of his book, he closes with the phrase “thank you, thank you,” acknowledging that his success was not created solely by him, but was rather through the culmination of hard work, collaboration, and good luck (p. 8-295).
