VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 14:14:12 02/19/05 Sat
Author: article on talent manager(s)
Subject: The man they call Wyngard Tracy

Star Makers/ Jojo Panaligan
The man they call Wyngard Tracy

He had barely taken a seat for the interview when his mobile phone rings. Muttering apology under his breath, he accepts the call.


"Yes, Luis?"

He trades words then terminates conversation. He begins fiddling for silent mode. Too late. Ring!

"Hello, Arnell…" the voice booms – just right for the imposing 6" frame and rugged attire (black shirt, blue maong). He motions to you that this won’t take long. You shake your head vigorously to relay that it’s okay.

After all, you know even without being told that you are taking away precious time from a very busy man. A man who most probably means Luis Manzano when he says ‘Luis’ and Arnel Ignacio when he says ‘Arnel;’ or Martin Nievera when he says ‘Martin’ and Pilita Corrales when he says ‘Pilita.’

A man, who in the universe called show business, can give the careers of wanna-be actors, dancers, musicians, emcees and models the boost to blast past the stratosphere. A man who can give careers, period.

A man they call Wyngard Tracy.

The prime mover behind Artistation Inc., a professional entertainment company that has handled at least 50 talents in its decades of existence, Wyngard is the so-called manager’s manager.

Currently charting the careers of such luminaries as Maricel Soriano, Aiko Melendez, Basil Valdez, Jaya, Side A, and Freestyle, among others, the no-nonsense attitude, acerbic (when warranted) remarks and intimidating mien packaged into the highly professional and results-oriented work ethics are trademarks of his that have inspired awe and adulation within and outside the entertainment business.

But he wasn’t always, well, the Wyngard Tracy.

His career, believe it or not, started humbly as a production assistant in the ’70s. "Taga-timpla ng kape, taga-deliver ng script at taga-tawag ng kung sino man ang gustong ipatawag sa akin, ang trabaho ko noon. Madalas pa nga, they make me do all of the above at the same time!" he recalls with chuckle of those ‘multi-tasking’ days.

Later, Wyngard became a deejay of the first pop radio station in the FM band, DWWK. It was a job he had always wanted but one that came elusively.

"Madami na akong auditions na pinuntahan prior pero laging muntik-muntikan lang makuha," he revealed. "I was the perennial finalist who never quite got the job. Funny, but that job at DWWK was one I didn’t audition for. Kusa na lang siyang dumating. Later, I found out from my superiors that I got in because they thought I was aggressive and driven to succeed," Wyngard said.

The assessment was accurate. Even as a production assistant, Wyngard was the type who’d stay beyond work hours to observe and learn from his workmates. At home, he would voraciously devour books that delve with self-improvement and work in the entertainment industry.

Though shortlived, the DJ-ing stint proved instrumental in whetting Wyngard’s desire to reassess his dreams. "I’ve always wanted to be part of the entertainment business. Bata pa lang ako, maliwanag na sa akin yon. The DJ stint was okay but after a year of doing the turntables and talking to dead air, I began to ask myself, ‘What’s next?’"

Fate provided the answer. Upon recommendation of Director Bert de Leon, Vic del Rosario, who then was top honcho of Vicor Entertainment Corporation, soon tapped Wyngard to manage the record company’s roster of artists.

"Pero wala talaga akong ka-expi-experience then!" Wyngard recalled. "And to think na ang mga hinawakan ko kaagad na artists were all big names like Pinky de Leon, Maricris Vermont and Leah Navarro. That’s when I started believing that I was being guided, that it was divine intervention. Hindi nangyayari ang ganitong klaseng bagay ng ganun-ganun lang."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Below is the unabridged conversation we had with Wyngard that sheds light on the enigma that he has become. How does Wyngard think? How does Wyngard work? How does mere manager become a Wyngard Tracy?

Read up:

Q: What do you look for when taking in talents?

A: "Talent. Di porke’t maganda ka or uso yung ginagawa mo, pasok ka sa akin. You have to turn me into a fan. Kailangan mapabilib mo ako. Kasunod diyan ang disiplina. Kasi kahit gaano ka kagaling, kung wala kang disiplina, wala ka ring mararating. Last but not least is attitude. Hindi ubra ang diva attitude sa akin. Kung may umuusbong man na ganong complex, I nip it straight in the bud. Kaya nga gustong-gusto ko si Pilita (Corrales), eh. She is the epitome of humility. Pilita may be Asia’s Queen of Songs pero oras bumaba yan ng stage, taong-tao siya."

Q: How do you handle problematic talents? You know, the ones that give you headache?

A: "Like I said, wala akong talent na headache because I don’t allow them to become one. Rather, ako ang headache nila. Anybody who will not obey is out and, yes, the word is obey. If you ask me to manage you then be ready to obey. Kasi if you can do it yourself pala, then why get a manager? Di mo ako p.a. (production assistant) is what I’d tell them kung ganon. It’s true that I don’t consult with my artists though I’m all for opinions and feedbacks. In the end kasi, it’s up to me to make the decision because that’s my job."

Q: How do you avoid favoritism?

A: "I just do. I’m careful with that dahil alam kong meron at merong magrereklamo especially my yet-established talents."

Q: Define X-factor and star quality.

A: "X-factor, I can’t because it’s indefinable. Siguro, it refers to your presence; yung tipong stand out ka sa crowd kahit wala ka pang ginagawa. Star quality? I don’t believe in that word kasi, eh, yung ‘star.’ I often say this to my colleagues, ‘I hate stars, I respect talent.’ Talent is what will make you last in the business."

Q: Speaking of colleagues, how do you think yours see you as a manager?

A: "I am known in the industry as pakialamero. Tanggap na ito kahit ng ibang managers. Pag may nakita ako sa TV, or may nabasa, kahit di ko talent ay tatawagan ko ang manager to give my comments. One time I saw Martin Nievera on TV and I thought he registered chubby on screen. So I called him up. Pagsagot na pagsagot niya ng phone, sinabi niya agad, "I know, I know, I’m fat.’ Ganon nila ako kilala. Then again, my concept is tulungan among us kasi concerned ako sa industry. I believe that if everyone does good, the entire industry would benefit. I also look beyond the business in that I’m conscious of how the economy is. Syempre, mas maganda ang economy, mas may means ang tao na manood ng shows or pelikula. May kinalaman sa amin."

Q: What about public perception?

A: "How people look at me? I think they see me as mataray though I don’t agree. I’m just upfront. Kahit ang kausap ko pa ay sila Lily (Monteverde) or ang ABS-CBN, GMA or anybody, lagi akong straight to the point. People think that maybe it has something to do with my being a manager to big stars, but that’s hardly the case. I don’t keep count of my so-called achievements. I don’t even keep write-ups about me. Ayoko lang talaga ng b.s."

Q: Are you a workaholic?

A: "Yes. Sometimes nga, kahit patulog na ako, babangon pa ako to write down ideas as it occurs. That’s why I keep pen and paper beside my bed. Pag may message ako sa secretary, sulat agad. Pag may idea ako kahit na hindi naman para sa talent ko, sulat. I’m also the type who breaks down the hours in a day for things I have set out to accomplish."

Q: Name one local manager that you admire.

A: "Douglas Quijano. I remember the time when Rita Gomez, wanted to make a comeback in the ’70s pero ang uso noong trend was bold. One of the things that Douglas did for her na nagmarka sa akin, was to put the word ‘Ms.’ in Rita Gomez as in ‘Ms. Rita Gomez.’ Sabi ko, ‘Wow!" With just two letters, Douglas was able to win half the battle in reminding people that Rita deserves respect."

Q: Do you think you’re good at what you do?

A: "I do my best but I don’t go around thinking, ‘Ang galing ko.’ Lahat tayo may kanya-kanyang galing. Meron kang kaya na di ko kaya in the same way na may nagagawa ako na di mo magagawa. You’re only kidding yourself if you think you’re magaling. No one is indispensable because nobody’s perfect."

Q: Who are the people that made a difference in your career?

A: "Kitchie Benedicto, Bert de Leon, Dennis Cabalfin and Vic del Rosario. They gave me good breaks and taught me discipline."

Q: How far into the lives of talents can managers touch?

A: "Everything except their personal lives. The thing is, there’s a thin line that separates things in your personal life that affects work, too. It may sound vague pero vague din kasi ang linya."

Q: Which talent of yours, past or present, has proven to be most challenging to handle?

A: "Basil (Valdez). He was my first artist, by the way, who landed on my lap right after his first big hit ‘Ngayon At Kailanman.’ Anyway, it’s Basil because he’s very intelligent. Malalim siyang tao. He’s in showbiz pero di siya showbiz. You know what I mean? I also like Ryan Cayabyab because despite his talents he has remained grounded. I was really touched when he included me in the list of 50 people he considers friends during his recent anniversary show. It meant a lot."

Q: How far would you go to protect your talents?

A: "My policy is this: I would protect you but not to the extent na magsisinungaling ako. Sinasabi ko sa mga artista ko, ‘Sorry ka – kung may ginawa ka talagang kalokohan, di kita pagtatakpan.’ I won’t deny it to press people. Siguro I’ll just say, ‘Wag na lang natin pagusaupan.’or ‘Off the record na lang.’ Madalas kasi, the press knows the truth already. Pag dineny ko, I’d be insulting their intelligence. That’s why I tell my talents ‘Wag kayong magkakamali.’ Be careful. You better behave.

Q: Sounds like a father reprimanding his children…

A: "A lot of my friends actually call me ‘tatay.’" (smiles)

Q: Where do you cull inspiration when you have to reinvent an artist? Do you go more by instinct or calculation?

A: "Fortunately for me, I’m in touch with the times. Masa man o sosyal, I know what they are into so reinvention is not hard to do. As for instinct versus calculation, I use both though more on instinct, I believe. I also pray a lot. Minsan, akala mo nag-iisip lang ako but I’m actually praying na for guidance."

Q: Do you believe in Feng Shui when it comes to business?

A: "I don’t. I remember in the early ’80s, I was convinced by an associate to seek the advice of a Feng Shui master. Pinausog niya ang office ko, pinalipat ang mga bintana, etc. Awa ng Diyos, in three months, nagsara kami! (laughs) Di ko kailangan ng Feng Shui. All I need are prayers."

Q: Comment on this: "Behind every gimmick is an enterprising manager."

A: "May totoong ganun. May gumagawa talaga ng ganun."

Q: How different are wannabe’s of today from yesterday’s?

A: "They’re the same. All of them want to go places; all sincerely believe they’ve got what it takes. Yun nga lang, sometimes the mind is willing…but the talent is lacking."

Q: Do you see lots of those in ‘The Search For The Star In A Million?’ How did you end up as judge in that show, anyway?

A: "They invited me together with Agot (Isidro) and Rowell (Santiago). I told ABS that if they want me to be the Simon (of "American Idol" – fame) of the show, then they got the wrong guy. Di kasi ako naniniwalang harshness goes down well with Pinoys. Kung harsh man ako, it’s only because the comments I give I feel ay nasa isip din ng karamihan. Parang conduit. Besides, I don’t go for traumatizing young people. I don’t crush dreams. You can be honest without being harsh. Mamaya, galing yan sa probinsya so s’yempre fragile and sensitive. If I turn them down harshly, ano na lang ang sasabihin nila? ‘Eto ba ang papasukan kong business? Ganito ba ang mga tao sa papasukang business?’ Hindi tama."

Q: So there’s a soft side to Wyngard, after all…

A: "Who says there isn’t? Especially kung bilib ako sa ‘yo. I remember the first time I saw Anna Fegi: I was so impressed with her that I called up her manager, Bibsy Carballo, and said, ‘If there’s anything I can do for Anna’s launching, just tell me.’ I ended up having Side A and the Maneuvers guest in her launch for free. We all need money, kahit ano pa ang trabaho mo. But that’s not always the bottom line. Sometimes you do things for friendship, charity…"

Q: How do you gauge the success of your talents?

A: "By how the public accepts them and how long they stay in the business. Awards are just bonuses. Kung seryoso ka talaga, you give your best every time. It’s not as if you reserve certain performances for awards."

Q: What analogy would you use to describe the life of a manager?

A: "Pwede ko bang sabihin na para kang nasa mental hospital? (laughs) Hindi…siguro parang parenthood. Para kang tatay. Managing is serious business because you are not only handling careers but to a certain extent, the lives of your talents."

Q: What else is there to do for Wyngard Tracy?

A: "I want to manage veteran actors. Madami diyan na magagaling pero walang trabaho kasi walang materials for them. Dito lang sa Pilipinas yan nangyayari. ‘Ba’t wala kang trabaho? Kasi matanda na ako.’ But in truth they have become better with time."

Q: What advice would you give to would-be managers?

A: "Be a real manager and not just a booking agent. It’s so easy to book talents especially kung made na ang artista. Your phone will just ring. But managing involves artist development. Read up on the subject, be observant. Be disciplined. Don’t enter the business without know how. Come in ready."

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.