Michael Bethany is a man of power and influence who toggles between roles of husband, father, leader, and artist.   He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and resident of Dallas, Texas.   In the role of marriage there are obvious negotiations being conducted.  Similar deals occur as a father but all negotiations have rules and in the role of leader and artist there are several best practices at play when Michael Bethany is solidifying a deal.

Michael Bethany served as General Manager of Fred Hammond Family Entertainment (FHFE) oversight of daily operations, product development, and vendor management of merchants and retailers for a number of years.  During his tenure negotiations and deal making were primary activities to development a successful methodology for critical contracts.  “Everyone wants something for nothing because the risk is that they will invest in something that may not sell” says Bethany.  Because of this fact it is critical to negotiate for the winning situation for each party.  To ensure product is available to the market it is critical for merchants to purchase in bulk but most retailers begin negotiation to purchase small at wholesale rates, which limits their risk of exposure. 

The key to successful negotiations is in knowing your opponent.  Bethany recalls that becoming familiar with the other party will open the door to familiarity.  Defenses are minimal and the interest to partner is more apparent than the need for product placement.  A long-term relationship or brand alignment is more valuable than the units to be sold.  When merchants adopt an artist they become a resource to connect fans directly to the artists music, literature, or films.  To accomplish this may mean that you allow merchants to enter into a consignment deal instead of the standard retail purchase agreements.  The focus has to remain on the product and not solely on the interests of both parties to accomplish the sale of the artist product. 

The experience as General Manager at FHFE has benefited his role as Executive Worship Director at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship here in Dallas, Texas.  His management of people and scheduling of all creative aspects of fellowship at the church has opened doors for additional deal making and negotiations of existing and potential future contracts.  Having these responsibilities also open the door for conflicts while doing business in a Christian environment. Dealings in this space can’t be harsh or filled with haggling because it can have rippling effects spiritually.  However, its still important to be prepared before negotiations and concentrating on the opportunities at stake and mitigating risk for both parties.