Last Updated on April 23, 2024
For elite artists like Justin Bieber and Drake, business manager David Bolno is the man behind the scenes keeping star power financially bright. Guiding entertainer incomes, investments and taxes is an around-the-clock mission for managers like Bolno safeguarding celebrity wealth.
No two days are ever quite the same in Bolno’s fast-paced world, but certain routines and responsibilities ground his workweek. Walking in Bolno’s shoes provides a glimpse into the manifold roles a devoted business manager plays.
Morning Rituals
The alarms ring early for David Bolno, often by 5:00 AM. This grants time for an energizing morning routine before the flurry of client meetings. Exercise and reflection reset focus, while industry journals provide perspective on macro trends shaping finance. By breakfast, Bolno is scanning entertainment headlines related to clients and their collaborators. Keeping an ear to the ground allows him to anticipate new opportunities.
Before his calendar starts, Bolno carves out space for intention-setting and gratitude. Reflection each morning centres on his guiding ethos. According to Bolno, “A dream will only ever be as vivid as the mind envisioning it.” This applies as much to his career as those of the stars he serves.
Handling Correspondence
Mornings also bring a flood of emails and voicemails for Bolno to triage. Recording artists are night owls, so their managers awaken to creative epiphanies, budget requests and more. Reviewing messages prompts follow-ups across time zones, plus outreach to producers, promoters and corporate partners tied to expanding ventures.
On any given morning, Bolno may field ticket counts for an upcoming tour, negotiate merchandise profit shares or discuss launch plans for a streaming playlist. Email is the primary mode of business communication, though private chats sometimes prove more secure.
Financial Planning Sessions
Much of Bolno’s day involves direct interfacing with major talents like Justin Bieber and Drake as well as their family members and expanding teams. Planning meetings enable Bolno to gather details critical for forecasting budgets accurately based on upcoming projects and lifestyle needs.
Sessions touch on everything from touring and real estate to philanthropy and family legacy. Bolno interprets hopes and dreams into dollar amounts, mapping income projections versus costs. With an intimate understanding of a star’s aspirations, Bolno becomes quarterback calling the financial plays so they can focus creativity on passions.
Business Management
When he’s not in sessions, Bolno oversees business matters keeping his clients’ enterprises flowing smoothly. From managing overseas assets to paying session musicians and submitting social media reporting, Bolno coordinates the myriad back-office tasks comprising an entertainment career.
With elite artists publishing across platforms and venturing into new markets, business management has grown exponentially complex. Fortuitously Bolno has over 35 years of steering multifaceted portfolios, allowing talents like Drake to experiment across mediums.
Investment Strategy
Bulking recording incomes fund the engine, but smart investments are the steering wheel guiding lasting prosperity. Bolno’s financial acumen shines brightest when structuring wealth growth vehicles and trusts benefiting celebrity families for generations.
Holdings range from securities to startup funding rounds, requiring constant monitoring and risk analysis. Bolno’s afternoons often turn toward evaluating emerging opportunities through both research and trusted connections made over decades as an entertainment banking pioneer.
He also prioritizes charity initiatives like his Bolno-Pineles scholarship endowing medical education. Such endeavours renew inspiration when music business complexities overwhelm them. For Bolno, measurable community impact keeps the flame alive.
At day’s close, David Bolno’s reflections return gratitude for the difference his efforts make daily, in finances guided ethically and dreams unlocked for partners. The tyres never halt in this business, but its rewards propel Bolno onwards.
