Star Maker Read Online Free PDF

day, talking
on a portable phone in the late evening—a rehearsal blaring in the
background with last minute adjustments and decisions being made at lightening
speed while high stakes dollars and huge egos hung in the balance.
    She
felt a charge of exhilaration thinking about all of it. Her biggest dream was
to own and run a record label and her first matter of business was learning the
music industry on a more global scale than her limited management of bands
afforded her in Philadelphia. She had yet to sign one of her bands to a label
and she was determined to change that now that she was in Los Angeles.
    An hour
passed quickly and Kit continued to stare as the band huddled around Joe,
talking to him. Some of the label men were in the mix now too and before she
could entirely comprehend what was going on, she heard Joe’s voice call out to
her. “Kit! Can you come here please? I need you for a sec.”
    She
nodded, smiled, and stood up. As she made her way to the stage, she felt her
stomach churn with uneasiness and noticed that her steps seemed to go in slow
motion. She tried to recall the pep talk she gave Joe before he got out of the
car earlier, but her efforts were futile. It was her turn now. The contract
shoved at her the moment she set foot into the circle of sharks reminded her it
was go time. She was in the game, instantly expected to play at the pro level,
while the huddle of men anticipated and eagerly awaited her failure.
    To
their chagrin, she jumped into action reviewing the terms of the contract
carefully and asking all the right questions, pointing out clauses like a
seasoned veteran. She overheard Wilson Carmichael drawl in his English accent
to Joe. “Where did you get this bird? She’s a gorgeous secret weapon. Do you
always carry a hot barrister-manager in your back pocket, man?”
    She let
a faint trace of a grin surface on her face, absorbing the comment in stride.
She was very used to being underestimated by the opposite sex. When they
looked at her all they saw was shiny, long, layered red hair, long legs, curves
and a smile that always lit up the room. They didn’t expect her to be smart.
She had the looks of a top model and her sound business acumen often threw them
off. She wanted to giggle finding the whole situation amusing, but forced
herself to remain focused as she negotiated the terms with the record
executives standing before her shooting daggers with their beady eyes.
    When
she had all the information she needed, she pulled Joe aside in confidence.
Her emerald eyes bore into him. “Joe, listen to me. This contract has
everything you want and more. This isn’t just a pay to play deal. They don’t
want you as a hired gun. They want you as a new member of this band. They’ve
heard about your reputation. This wasn’t happenstance. Stan set you up here.
Wilson was at the Rainbow last night waiting to pounce.
    “They
will let you contribute with the songwriting, although that won’t start until
they go into the studio for their next album, understandably. I’m advising you
to sign it if it feels right to you. They love you, Joe. They said it was no
contest. I got you good money. You have the upper hand here. Took ‘em a
little out of their comfort zone, but they can afford it. We’ve got ‘em where
we want ‘em.” She grinned and winked.
    He
stared at her with wide eyes. “They’re great, Kit. What’s the drawback?”
    She
grinned. “I don’t see one, but you will have to release me as your manager.
When you sign their contract, I have agreed to absolve our agreement. You will
then fall under the management they presently have. You met their manager,
Nigel, right? You like him?”
    He
nodded and then frowned. “But Kit, I don’t want you to get screwed out of the
deal. If I sign you won’t get a dime.”
    She
smiled. “Joe, you are such a sweetheart thinking of me. It doesn’t work like
that, though. I’ll get my cut. I worked it out with the label and it