Features The ego industry

In the media and entertainment industry, what comes first - the ego or the success? Do you need an inflated ego to make it or is arrogance a hindrance to hitting the big time? Brooke Hemphill speaks to some of the biggest names across the industry to find out.

Is arrogance a tool that must be used in order to get specialising in performance by in the media and entertainment world and if so, psychology, explains that success is it something that develops over time or are those and confidence are intrinsically with a propensity to ego inflation the ones drawn to linked - it’s only when the the industry in the first place? Do most within this person’s perception of success high profile field start off on an equal footing, forced gets out of hand that over to navigate the challenges of industry recognition inflated egos develop. and, in some cases, fame all the while resisting the “Self-confidence tends to temptation to turn into complete monsters? grow based on previous success These questions must have been far from front or your perceptions of previous of mind for a young Merrick Watts when he began success,” Adams says. “In lay terms, his comedy career performing stand-up routines in someone who has a large ego would various pubs around Melbourne. Success, fame, and have an unrealistic sense of self belief - the delicate balancing act of self-belief and arrogance confidence beyond what’s demonstrated were yet to enter his life. For now, his focus was by their past successes.” simply to entertain an audience. While radio presenters and on air talent “As a comedian it’s imperative to be confident of seem most susceptible to ego inflation, it’s a your ideas and execution,” Watts says. “The first few sentiment that rings true across the business - from gigs where you stand up in front of an audience and film to advertising. tell jokes that you’ve written yourself, it’s one of the Media personality Steve Vizard, who became hardest things to do. If you don’t have the confidence a household name in the 1980s fronting various that you can do it, then you won’t be able to.” sketch comedy shows including Fast Forward, After cutting his teeth on the pub circuit, Watts produced by his production company Artist and comedy partner Tim Ross landed a job with Services, says: “In this business, creative youth broadcaster Triple J. In 2001 the pair moved collaboration is the business and creative to commercial radio as the hosts of breakfast for the collaboration is an environment where newly launched Sydney arm of radio station Nova. everyone’s ego can be accommodated.” As the show’s ratings increased, so did their public “The hardest thing about this profile. So too, at Merrick’s admission, did his ego. business is finding the line between “I would describe myself as having been arrogant. confidence and arrogance,” says David I’ve always had the largest ego in the building - Nobay, creative chairman at advertising particularly during my time at Nova,” Watts says. “It agency Droga5 Sydney. “We’ve all ended wasn’t like I had anybody else challenging me. We up on the wrong side of it at some time.” were always held in very high esteem there. I’m sure Nobay says that youth often breeds there were lots of times that I would have been seen arrogance, or at least it did in his case. “I was as completely arrogant and I reckon at times I was.” promoted at a stupidly young age and partly Dr Jeremy Adams, a registered psychologist they were giving me a piece of rope to hang

18 ENCORE February 2012 I’ve always had the biggest ego in the building – Merrick Watts

myself because I was so to submerge their ego is kind of a necessity, otherwise they wouldn’t survive arrogant. They made me very long.” Mrksa, who has written for some of Australian television’s greatest the group head to see how commercial and critical successes including The Secret Life of Us, Underbelly and clever I was but also to make a The Slap, says: “Working as a writer in TV, if you had a rampant ego and were lesson out of me.” very precious about your work, took criticism badly, or thought that your own New Idea magazine editor opinion was always right, you would be out of a job in no time.” Kim Wilson, who meets Michael Chugg, music and entertainment promoter and executive chairman performers at every of Chugg Enterprises, says that despite working with some of the biggest acts in stage of their career, the music industry, from Coldplay to Robbie Williams, this couldn’t be more true. agrees. Arrogance, “It’s very much a people’s business and you have to have good people skills. One she says, is of the reasons we are so successful is that I try to treat everyone the same.” more likely to But while many in the industry talk about checking your ego at the door, others be seen when say it’s actually a vital tool to get ahead in a highly competitive market. dealing with Radio and television presenter Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis says: “If you haven’t got your up and coming own ego and you’re always relying on other people to blow smoke up your ass, talents. “They you’re fucked. You have to have a certain sense of self-belief that you’re going to think that’s the make it at whatever cost. Arrogance is a tool used by a lot of people to get their appropriate to needs met.” behave but really, In Davis’ time as a host on subscription TV’s Channel V and top 40 it’s mostly bluff and countdowns across the radio spectrum, he interviewed a variety of local and bravado.” Wilson sees international performers. “Most of the international people I encountered weren’t an element of “faking it very down to earth,” Davis says. “They’re caught up in their schedules and their until you make it”. personal assistants and their itineraries and their fans.” Michael Gudinski, But that’s not to say Davis himself was immune to the side effects of being founder and CEO of the in the public eye. “I put a lot of credit into being on television. I’d walk out of Frontier Touring Company, filming, I’d walk down the street and think people were looking at me and they recalls running into a young and largely unknown were like ‘Hey, there’s that guy off TV’ but of course no one was. I was arrogant. band in London during the early 1980s. “One of them You need to get your humility from other aspects of your life.” said to me they were going to be the biggest band in the Davis thinks many people who enter the industry are looking to fill a void in world,” Gudinski remembers. He chuckled to himself on the their lives. “Most people are drawn to show business because of something lacking way back to his hotel room, amused by the performer’s self- in their upbringing. They need the attention that an audience can fulfill.” assurance. The band was U2. “Lots of people who are very arrogant - outwardly arrogant - are very insecure,” In the film world, director Jonathan Teplitzky says: “I Watts adds. “They’re insecure of their talents and their positions.” haven’t met that many monsters but the ones I have met are Talent manager and agent Kevin Whyte, whose clients include Watts, Wil usually the wannabes instead of the ones actually doing it.” Anderson and Judith Lucy, says while this may be the case, our industry is not At a professional level, Teplitzky, director of Burning Man, the sole domain of arrogance and ego. “Creative people aren’t any more prone to Gettin’ Square and Better Than Sex, says the filmmaking arrogance than anyone else. If you’re predisposed to be unbearable, your choice of process is far too complex to allow for giant egos. “There are career won’t make a hell of a difference.” too many hurdles and too many issues to deal with to think you For on air talent like Watts and Davis, and others exposed to the public can sail through on arrogance.” spotlight, there are two ego-feeding factors to consider – success and fame. It’s a point television writer Kris Mrksa reiterates. “The Director Jonathan Teplitsky says: “99.9 per cent of people’s point of view of the necessity to collaborate, the fact that’s just not optional, means film industry is celebrity culture.” Teplitsky says although the media portrays the that for most of the creatives I’ve worked with, an ability film and television industry in a glamorous light, the reality is hard work and long ❱

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Markson says: “It depends on the in the public eye. “Anyone who is a individual and how balanced they are. “A lot of people think celebrity is mostly a celebrity because Everyone handles it differently.” of the job they have, whether they’re Actress and presenter Georgie fame and success an actor or presenter or CEO. It’s Parker, who shot to fame in the classic in the media is an very easy to confuse that job with the Australian series A Country Practice, person so keeping the two separate says, “No-one teaches you how to escalator that goes up and understanding you’re still a human deal with success and the fact you’re being and that the job can go away and in people’s homes and they feel like and up but it’s more you can lose everything is crucial.” they know you.” Parker was 24 when like a rollercoaster.” During her 30-year career, Harmer she became a household name. Acting, – Wendy Harmer has seen the perks of success come and Teplitski: Celebrity culture has Parker says, is a peculiar profession. go on more than one occasion as well little to do with filmmaking “You have to have a thick skin but as her ego take a beating in the media. hours. “Celebrity culture has very little at the same time be humble. It’s a In 2002 Harmer scored the gig to do with what we do.” constant contradiction.” everything; A-list invites, interviewing often referred to by the media as ‘the Celebrity agent Max Markson, Industry stalwart Wendy Harmer the stars, hanging out with important poisoned chalice’, the figurehead of who deals daily with both success started her media career as a journalist people – I got to fly first class to the Australia’s night of nights - hosting the and fame, describes the media and but it was her decision to get into Oscars,” Harmer says. “You start to Logies. Harmer’s performance was torn entertainment world as “egos gone stand-up comedy that would lead to think it’s all about me but it’s not. It’s to sheds by the media and she says: wild”. Unsurprisingly, like most of the nationwide fame and an 11-year stint about the job. Wait and see when you “After the Logies, that was my lowest people interviewed, he is unwilling to hosting breakfast radio on 2DayFM. leave the job and all that dries up.” point. A lot of people think fame and name names. In terms of navigating “In breakfast radio, when you’re Psychologist Jeremy Adams says this success in the media is an escalator success and avoiding ego inflation, rating well, you have access to is one of the greatest dangers of being that goes up and up but it’s more like

20 ENCORE February 2012 fluff and nonsense roxy jacenko’s pr world The Latest – page 53

a rollercoaster. You just have to try and stay on for the ride.” Harmer has been in the game long enough to see the threats to those in the spotlight and pinpoint where the problem arises. “The danger is if you start to believe what people say about you in the public sphere, whether good or bad,

Markson: Everyone handles if you hand over all the approval to success differently people you don’t even know.” From a psychological point of view, Adams says: “When people become very successful, others want to be around them and the people they attract tend to put them on a pedestal so they never get challenged, they never hear the word no. As a consequence they lose touch with reality very quickly. We evaluate the

Harmer: After the Logies reality of any given situation based on was the lowest point information that comes in to us and if all the information says this is reality, Adman Sean Cummins: you’ve got to have that you are wonderful, you can’t do less confidence and more discipline anything wrong, we love you, then that’s your assumption about reality, online criticism is Sean Cummins, that’s the only weapon in your armoury, even if it’s flawed.” CEO of creative agency Cummins then it’s one you may only use once or The fall often comes after high Ross. In 2011, Cummins found himself twice. The next time you’ll be shooting profile people who have surrounded at the centre of an online debate driven yourself in the foot with it.” themselves with ‘yes’ people are by critical anonymous postings from Cummins stresses that confidence exposed to criticsm. “They haven’t members of the advertising industry. alone won’t get a creative far. “You’ve

Chugg: People tell me been innoculated against it,” Adams Whether it was that experience or got to have less confidence and more I have a monster ego says. “People in a normal situation deal the result of being in the industry discipline. This is not an industry with criticism on a regular basis and will hopefully learn how to deal with that. If you’re in a situation where you “You can play that ego card once or twice haven’t been criticised for a long time, but you can’t do it long term, particularly in when someone does criticise you, and it’s widely spread, then it can be very multinationals, particularly when you have to difficult to deal with.” – Sean Cummins While this may sound like a vagary be collegiate.” of fame, CEO of media agency UM Mat Baxter says the ‘yes’ person culture is just as common in his world. for almost 30 years that has made where confidence alone answers all “That happens at ad agencies with Cummins question ego, he doesn’t the problems because you quickly find creative teams and talented strategy say, but he is quick to shut down the when you’re given a brief that if you teams,” Baxter says, although he feels stereotype of the arrogant adman. don’t have a fundamental creative habit the prevalence of social media and “You can play that ego card once or a discipline, your confidence can go the two-way nature of today’s media, or twice but you can’t do it long the moment one of your concepts or especially the advertising industry’s term, particularly in multinationals, ideas is rejected.” online publications, have reduced the particularly when you have to be Baxter agrees. “A lot of creatives Parker: No-one teaches you buffer for negative feedback. collegiate or when you’re in political view their ideas as their children. It’s how to deal with success A man familiar with the effects of environments,” Cummins says. “If almost a parental love that comes from ❱

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where your arrogance begins to hurt people, particularly the people you work with,” says Merrick Watts. “You have to have an active process,” Wendy Harmer adds. “What are the real values I aspire to? You have to go back to touch that stone on a regular basis or you spin out of control.” At the most extreme end of the ego scale, many of the people Encore spoke to have watched arrogance become the undoing of the talented. Media agency boss Harold Mitchell, who has been in the industry for Brett Howlett: Australians several decades during which time need more self-belief he developed friendships with some of the country’s most influential and a difficult task. Very few films come powerful media identities including out well when they’re directed by Kerry Packer, says: “Many times I’ve Harold Mitchell has seen ego take control of people to their detriment committee – it needs someone that is seen ego take control of a person to in charge.” their detriment. They always make the giving birth to these ideas.” Knock the While a robust ego may be an wrong decisions.” work and you are essentially knocking essential tool for many in the media Overly inflated egos are common, the person and that can have a far- and entertainment industries, the Michael Gudinski says, when artists reaching affect on their confidence. challenge is keeping it in check. achieve success quickly. His peer Kris Mrksa says this also applies to Vizard says there is Michael Chugg says: “I’ve writers. “Writing is very personal and ample opportunity seen a lot of acts crash you feel like you’re putting your baby for those in the and burn because out into the world. For it to then be creative business to of it. They have a called ugly and criticized is a dreadful be brought back down bit of success and thing to experience. If I’m teaching to earth. “The all of a sudden writing classes to students wanting creative business they know how to get into TV, the first thing I say to is a business to do it all.” them is you need to toughen up.” of constantly The know- It seems confidence, and sometimes throwing up it-all attitude, Sandilands: an example of a little arrogance, is essential for using arrogance as a tool? ideas, having Chugg says, is protecting a creative idea. someone most common On the creative process of creating Mrksa says this sort of crisis of challenge behind the scenes an ad, Cummins says: “If I’m confident confidence can ultimately be the death your ideas and as managers and about an idea, there is no way a of a creative project. “If you don’t having them those around the director, a photographer, an actor or have confidence in yourself and you beaten into artist allow the anyone involved in the process can don’t have confidence in your ability a pulp. That’s success go to their knock me off course. But if I have one to sift through all the comments and not a problem heads. little doubt or someone’s come in and criticisms and pull out the stuff that with the creative Culturally, gone, ‘have you thought about doing works for you, you end up with a script process, that Australia is known it like this?’ and you’ve gone, ‘oh God, that’s written by committee.” is the creative for its ‘tall poppy I didn’t think about this’, if you’re not Director Jonathan Teplitsky says the process.” syndrome’ - our absolutely resolute in what the idea same rule applies for directors. “Film “It’s good to tendency, as a was then it’s going to turn out to be directors need to take responsibility for be confident nation, to cut one of those ads where you go, ‘gee, I their project and once you approach but you don’t the successful Hamish and Andy thought we had a good idea and it’s all it that way, you need confidence and want to get go out of their way back down to just faded away’.” ego to carry you through what is often to the point to be relateable size - a notion

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that comes up often when discussing confidence in the wider industry. Psychologist Adams says: “It’s a cultural failure for Australians. It’s unfortunate that we have a combination of hero worship but then as soon as we feel personally slighted in any way by that person, they may have not succeeded in the way we expected, which was unrealistic, we slate them.” Brett Howlett, executive creative director of Sydney arm of ad agency Is Paul Henry’s Ogilvy, has just returned home after a arrogance rewarded? stint in the US. He says: “In America, there’s so much self belief it’s kind While the public respond positively to of annoying. Aussies are great at a woman’s sharing of modest human championing a battler but as soon as milestones such as pregnancy and Hugh Jackman - the most humble someone wins they’ll have a go.” marriage, she cannot see audiences man in show business. Merrick Watts feels the tall poppy being accepting of a female in the syndrome is a defining factor for many media boasting about her collection David Nobay, who says his ego once performers. “People like stars brought of Chanel handbags or an extensive got him fired from his own company, back to earth every now and then. property portfolio. adds: “You become less arrogant. When Australians like to see humility and a While a larger ego comes with I look back at some of the stunts I kind of attitude that they’re like me. the territory at a certain point in the pulled in my early 20s, I wouldn’t hire But not always. Recently, we’ve seen career trajectory, over time, a sense of me. When you get older you realise lots of people who don’t necessarily humility starts to creep in. there’s a big life outside this office. have that sort of humility in common Promoter Michael Chugg says: One of the things I’m focused on these with their audience do quite well.” “People tell me that I’ve got a monster days, maybe to offset the sins of my Wendy Harmer concurs with Watts’ of an ego. Maybe. Until about eight youth, is, as an industry, to be more generous.” Even Merrick Watts, despite his “When I look back at some of the stunts I recent return to radio with a gig Kim Wilson: those at the top pulled in my early 20s, I wouldn’t hire me. hosting Triple M’s national drivetime of their game are great feels the sands of time have eroded When you get older you realise there’s a big his whopping ego. “In the past I’ve the host of Ten’s upcoming breakfast – David Nobay probably been arrogant where as now program, suggest. life outside this office.” I’m more receptive to listening to other Sure, it seems as if a high level of people’s ideas.” confidence is required to make it but From the outside looking in, New the real characters of our industry, the view and says there are two ways for on years ago when I decided to start Idea editor Kim Wilson says: “Most of ones that get people talking, all seem air talent to appeal to listeners – either spending time in Phuket and embraced the celebrities and high profile people to have a common trait – a sizable ego. play the role of “humble Joe” or project Buddhism and gentleness of belief at the top of their game are fabulous “When I first started out in the a persona the audience can aspire to. and faith. I think I’ve managed to to deal with.” She, like many in the mid-80s, advertising was full of She cites the example of John Laws put my ego aside but, again, there are industry, gives the example of Hugh characters,” Ogilvy’s Brett Howlett with his golden microphone and lavish circumstances when you do need to Jackman, universally considered to be says. “There are fewer big egos today holidays or Kyle Sandilands and his wield it sometimes.” the nicest man in the business. because they’re not pandered to by mansion, versus Hamish and Andy Advertising’s Sean Cummins says: But perhaps audiences don’t want management. It would be nice to get a who staged their Caravan of Courage “Early on in advertising I stopped nice or humble as the continued bit of the colour back.” tour with the aim of highlighting just letting my ego and my vanity get in the popularity of Kyle Sandilands, As Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis rightly points how much they are like their audience. way of the idea and I started becoming indicated by his show’s ratings, or the out: “This business would be pretty For female presenters, however, a seeker of the truth rather than an recent hiring of controversial New fucking boring without a massive, Harmer says the roles are more limited. inventor of artifice.” Zealand TV personality Paul Henry as healthy dose of ego.” <

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