Industry Profile: Nadia Prescher

— By Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen

Nadia Prescher is a partner as well as band manager and booking agent at Madison House, the Boulder, Colorado-based multi-purpose music industry company.

Born outside of Pittsburgh, Pa., Nadia became a fan of music at an early age. Her mother put her to sleep spinning vinyl records by Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. At a young age she moved from Pittsburgh to Chicago before finally settling in Columbus, Ohio, where she stayed after high school to attend Ohio State University.

Needing to pay the bills, Nadia worked nights as a cocktail waitress at a popular outdoor venue in Columbus called The Patio. Her love for music also led her to assisting a local rock band in Columbus with their promotion. Immediately upon graduation in 1994, Nadia followed them to New York City for their album recording when they were signed to a record company. The day she returned from her trip to New York, owner and longtime supporter Mike Edwards offered her the talent buying position at The Patio. Soon after she helped Edwards open another club in Columbus called Ludlow's, which she also booked, acting as talent buyer for both clubs until 1996.

While booking acts at Ludlow's and The Patio, Nadia met future business partner Mike Luba, then an agent at Cellar Door Entertainment based in Virginia Beach, Va. In 1996, Nadia joined Luba and the two decided to start Madison House Inc. They based the company in Athens, Ga., which was home to a thriving music scene. Soon business was booming and the company outgrew its humble roots. In 1998, Madison House moved its headquarters out of the south and set up shop in Boulder, Colo. - home base of one of the company's clients, The String Cheese Incident. Since 1998, the company has branched out, forming an independent record label SCI Fidelity Records, a travel agency Madison House Travel, a graphic and web design company Madison House Design, an independent ticketing company SCI Ticketing, a merchandise distributor SCI Gear, as well as an in-house publicity division Madison House Publicity.

Through all the growth, Nadia has stayed humble and appreciates all of the success along the way, always expressing her gratitude to her artists and by staying true to the mission of spreading great music, not always just focusing on the bottom line. It is her approach to the business that separates Nadia from her peers. To this day the momentum continues and Madison House continues to grow adding high profile clients such as Cake, Steve Winwood, Spearhead, and the list continues to grow.

Why did you and Mike Luba form Madison House?
Mike and I had worked together through our previous places of employment and our exceptional working relationship grew into a friendship. In 1996, Mike left Cellar Door with a few booking clients. A few months later, I was looking for a new gig. We were both looking to make a change, and we shared a lot of creative visions about what kind of artists we wanted to work with and what we wanted to do with them. It just made sense.

Why have you added so many other companies?
We had extraordinarily high expectations of those who we were outsourcing, and our artists' needs often required out-of-the-box thinking and action that many companies just didn't have the time or inclination to make happen. It happened quite organically that we, ourselves, just started providing our artists with those services. Slowly those services grew into separate companies but were still in-house. This way we could approach each task very creatively and if something wasn't working, we could more easily make shifts to accommodate the artists' needs.

As a management company, what kind of artists are you looking to sign?
We look for artists who have a strong creative vision and an independent spirit. We like to bring in clients who are looking to collaborate with a management team to help build sustainable careers rather than be told what to do. And, of course, we like to work with artists who are talented, forward thinking and hard working.

How did the Steve Winwood signing for record label and management come about?
As is common with many artists today, Steve was searching to do his art without having to sacrifice the integrity of his music. He wanted creative control over things like recording and touring. Madison House's business model perfectly fit Steve's needs, so our partnering was one of fate. Steve's wife, Eugenia Winwood, contacted my partner, Jeremy Stein, and we began discussing the idea of collaboration when we first met her during Jazz Fest 2002.

Do you find any conflict of interest in booking, managing and being record label of the same act?
My job as a manager is to help my clients make the best decisions for their career. That job does not change simply because I can offer them services in addition to management, such as booking or label representation. My partners and I consider each client's specific needs and often reach out to other companies that might provide a better service.

First industry job
I was the talent buyer for Ludlow's and The Patio in Columbus, Ohio from 1994-1996. Mike Edwards hired me the day after my college graduation. All of the experience that I have had in the business started when he gave me that opportunity.

Career highlights
There are so many as I have been blessed to work with extremely talented artists. Of course, sold-out shows, amazing albums, and great press have all been highlights. But, anytime that I interact with one of my artists outside of the normal sphere of business, to me, that's a highlight. Some are: Receiving singing voice mails from Keller Williams; Steve Winwood explaining to me how to make a proper cup of tea; Using a shopping cart as a table and having dinner with Charlie Hunter, Skerik, and Mike Dillon at a Wal-Mart in Hampton, Va. at 1a.m.; Stanton Moore fully explaining the definition of the word "laniappe"; Michael Franti from Spearhead thanking me for "making a difference" on a day that secretly, I wasn't sure that I was; Touring on an old ski bus with The String Cheese Incident when our hotel accommodations were actually parking spots behind convenient stores; Anytime Donavon Frankenreiter says the word "gnarly".

Career disappointment
None yet.

Greatest challenge
Having to work with some people in a business that has forgotten it's about music.

Best business decision
I placed a bet with Mike Luba that I thought for sure I would win. I lost the bet. The compensation was building a company together. When I think about it, maybe that wasn't a decision. Sometimes your path picks you.

Best advice you received
"Be your own boss."

Best advice to offer
"If you want what you never had, do what you've never done."

Most memorable industry experience
I promoted Cake in Columbus in 1995. It was a cool club but lots of people went there looking for a hot date and not so much for the music. John McCrea, (the lead singer from Cake) noticed this. During the show he paused the band mid-song and addressed the audience, "Ladies and Gentlemen! If you came here to see us, please come to the FRONT. If you came here to MATE, please go to the BACK!"

One year later, I started Madison House. I love the fact that Cake is one of our management clients today.

What friends would be surprised to learn about you?
I realized six and a half years ago that I didn't know "when to say when," so I don't use drugs or drink alcohol anymore.

Industry pet peeve
When people say "no" just because they don't feel like thinking about what "yes" would look like.

Office paraphernalia
Ipod, Paul Stanley doll with painted on chest hair, discs, 10 office dogs, morning meditation book, Fujitsu Lifebook, photographs by C. Taylor Crothers, a re-usable plastic water bottle and re-usable stainless steel coffee mug.

If I weren't doing this, I would be...
...assisting musicians who have drug and alcohol addictions and want help.

Industry mentors
Don Sullivan at Jam Productions, Jeff Greenberg at The Village Studios, Mike Luba, Jeremy Stein, Kevin Morris and Jesse Aratow at Madison House

Nadia can be reached at 303-544-9900 and by email at: Nadia@madisonhouseinc.com

.

.