How do they keep unsung heroes happy?
Diana Ross put me up front. My percussion was one foot behind her and she gave me the stage for 15 or 20 minutes to play my heart out. Some stars have no qualms about sharing the stage with someone good enough to handle it. More advice, news: Executive Suite index at exec.usatoday.com Q: On the other hand, how do unsung heroes keep the stars happy? They suck up, right? A: No, no, no. That’s the gofer’s job. Neil has a few of them around, and I won’t say their names (laughs). They know who they are. Every star has some of them. Treat stars like they’re human beings. That’s what they are. Because Neil sells 10 million records doesn’t make him better than I am. He’s just a lucky guy who got a big break. He might not get a contract if he were starting today. People are smart enough to put his songs in moves like Pulp Fiction, so he’s selling to young people. Q: So unsung heroes are treated poorly because they treat the boss as superior? A: Yes. Most people walk on eggshells around stars. T
