We had the good fortune of connecting with Sher Bach and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sher, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Where am I from? Pick a year! I have lived in so many different places. I really can’t pinpoint where I’m “from” but the majority of my life was spent in the northeast, predominantly NJ Shore and NYC with a few years in the mountains of East Tennessee thrown in for good measure. As the oldest child of divorce, I learned to entertain myself. My mother was a control freak and I was an independent, free bird. Being told what to do and having rules imposed on me wasn’t working, so, I ran away from home at 16 and wound up in NYC where I was introduced to the music scene. It was the 70s, sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll was the language we all spoke and I was quite fluent. I was protected enough (or at least got to safety in time) to survive that world in order to be where I am and do what I do today.
My creative side was evident when I was young. I was writing, drawing, singing, dancing, anything to get attention and I think being in a dysfunctional household helped to nourish that desire to be noticed.

There was a certain point in my life when I realized that I just didn’t have the stamina to continue pursuing a career as an entertainer, though I do continue to write and am currently putting the final touches on my memoirs. However, entertainment is in my blood and I wanted to work in the industry in some capacity. Managing creatives seemed the next best step.

Some have asked “why do I need a manager?” A good Artist Manager is the liver in the creative body. They filter out the bad stuff to protect the good stuff, and hopefully protect you from the vultures that are prevalent in the entertainment business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a small boutique artist management/ booking agency. Jay and I bounce ideas off of each other, we recognize talent when we see (or hear) it. My first job in the music industry was working with the rock band KISS when I was 22 years old. As an entertainer myself, learning the inner workings of entertainment management and entertainment law, I was also able to draw on my own personal experiences to guide others. I developed long lasting relationships within the business that I still maintain today. Jay was also a singer, songwriter and musician who toured with major acts and developed relationships with top of the line executives. He brought an unknown rock band from the Bay Area in CA to Clive Davis at Arista Records, who signed them to a recording contract. Arista was not known for rock music but he took a chance and Babylon A.D. is still going strong, 35 years later. They are our top artist at the moment and we are quite proud of their new album. The reviews on their live shows to support this album are impressive!

I think it was fairly easy “back in the day”, we weren’t inundated with creativity the way we are presently. There wasn’t YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or anything other than terrestrial radio and record stores, and of course, the variety shows on television, such as the Ed Sullivan Show. But, yes, there were challenges. For me personally it had to do with family, having children, etc. They didn’t stop me from doing what I love. Both of my sons developed into huge music lovers with diverse tastes. My eldest is a walking music encyclopedia!

Talent managers get a bad rap sometimes, so I make it a priority to keep my reputation intact by being honest and forthcoming about what I’m doing and what I will try to do for an artist. When an incredibly talented person is being destroyed by their own demons and choices and that gets in the way of their success, there’s only so much you can do to keep them on track. You have to know when to just walk away. I’m a “mama bear“ when it comes to my children, my grandchildren and my friends. It’s the same with my artists.

Being a small company, we only accept a few clients, be it music, acting, writing, etc., and that allows us to devote more time and energy to each individual.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Even though I’m not a fan, per se, if you are visiting Nashville you have to check out lower Broadway at least once. JBJ’s, Jon Bon Jovi‘s latest venture has a great house band, “Hand Over Face”. Nashville’s music scene is very diverse, you can hear rock and roll in one venue and go next-door to hear classic country. A few steps away in Printer’s Alley you can listen to blues and jazz. There are so many restaurants its difficult to pinpoint the “best“, because they come and go so quickly. It just depends on what your tastebuds are craving. Nashville has become a bit of an international food mecca. Two of my favorite spots are Vui’s Vietnamese and Merengue (Caribbean) in Berry Hill. Brooklyn and Eastside Bowl, Vinyl Lounge and Basement East for music. Frist Arts Center for the cultural arts. Oh, and of course, The Nashville Symphony! You’ll always find something to do and see, or you can just take a nice drive out to the country. We have it all and it all ain’t wearing cowboy boots and cowboy hats!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many, but if I had to narrow it down, I’d say number one would be my business partner, Jay Malla Maldonado. We’ve been friends since 1976, He has always supported my goals and ideas and we just work so well together. He’s the yang to my yin.

Bill Aucoin, KISS’ first manager and my first employer in the music industry was also a great influence. I learned how to look for the diamond in the rough, nurture talent when you see it and know when to walk away if it’s not working. Even after I left the company, we remained friends until his death. Despite his shortcomings, his addictions with substances, he was a true visionary.

Website: https://www.Mallaentertainment.com

Instagram: Paper_bach_writer

Linkedin: Sher Bach

Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
N/A
Self portrait

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