The founder and director of marketing firm Markson Sparks spoke to Wealth Creator about claims he profits from charity events, his business success and some of his most exciting A-list moments.

In Short

Max Markson is a Sydney-based celebrity agent to stars such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

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Max Markson - A-List Moments

The founder and director of marketing firm Markson Sparks spoke to Wealth Creator about claims he profits from charity events, his business success and some of his most exciting A-list moments.

 

 

Max Markson - A-List Moments

Max MarksonIssue 32
Max Markson is a Sydney-based celebrity agent to stars such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Al Gore. The founder and director of marketing firm Markson Sparks spoke to Wealth Creator about claims he profits from charity events, his business success and some of his most exciting A-list moments.

How did you get into publicity?
I was involved with variety clubs and voluntarily managing events in the 1990s when I was approached to work on a fundraiser. It turned into a yearly event, attracting people like Dawn Frasier and Kerry Packer and from there it started to grow. Whilst I was doing these functions I always thought it would be great to spend all my time raising money for charity. I always had a knack for events and raising money and so when I had done over 150 fundraisers and had given over $35m to charity in Australia and New Zealand, I decided to set up the business. Now, I enjoy the events and I enjoy meeting people. 

How do you get big celebrities on board?
Basically, I offer them money and a professional speaking circuit around the world.

What is it like meeting such high profile and influential people and who has been your favourite?
I love it. I just went to an event in New York called the ‘Clinton Global Initiative’. President Clinton hosts the event, and there is an amazing array of talent there. There was everyone from Brad Pitt, to Angelina Jolie, Jerry Adams, Rupert Murdoch, Al Gore, the Clintons. It’s so exciting - there is no better word to explain it. President Clinton is the most charismatic person you will meet. And I always feel like I want to learn from him. In Melbourne, when he was here last year, he was fielding some questions from the audience.

A woman stood up and asked: ‘President Clinton, we all know you have great people-handling skills, but what is the secret of your success?’ Of course, the great people-handling skills are his success. He replied: ‘There’s a place in Africa were you actually look people up and down when you see them and say ‘I see you’, as opposed to walking by. How many of you have sat here today and thought, who set the table and who has cooked your food?’ After the questions, we left the room and walked out into the lift. There was a lift operator there, and as we are getting out of the lift, president Clinton touched the guy’s arm. He didn’t say anything, just touched his arm to acknowledge him. Then he walked off and got into the car. I walked back to the lift and asked the operator if he noticed that President Clinton touched his arm and he replied ‘No sir; I’ve been here since 6 o’clock this morning.’ It made my day. That he acknowledged him. That’s what it’s about. And it’s acknowledging people, talking to people, looking people in the eye whilst having conversations with them, he is timeless. You just know it will take him ages to get from A to B, because you just know he will stop to talk to everyone. But he enjoys meeting people. And it doesn’t have to be Nelson Mandela, he enjoys meeting and speaking to people.

Read the full article in the latest issue of Wealth Creator Magazine in stores now.

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