NYWIFT Blog

By Nadia Delisfort

We are so excited to spotlight new NYWIFT Member Kacie Newport, the powerhouse behind BAM Management and BAMbooks.

With two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, Kacie brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for supporting artists to the NYWIFT community.

From her early days as an assistant director and producer to now leading a thriving talent management company, Kacie’s journey is a testament to her dedication and drive. She’s even pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing to further BAM Management’s creative endeavors.

In our interview, Kacie opens up about her motivations for joining NYWIFT, how she maintains positivity in a challenging industry, the importance of mentorship, and her vision for the future of acting.

Get ready for some inspiring insights and a dose of much-needed encouragement from this new member!

What brings you to NYWIFT?

To be completely honest, I don’t know why I didn’t join sooner! First of all—WOMEN! I love women supporting women. I love women in the arts. I love badass, amazing, beautiful women working together in this tough industry.

On a more micro level, I returned to New York at the end of 2018 after almost a decade in Los Angeles. I had thought about applying then, but between starting my business, navigating COVID and the strikes, and, quite frankly, life being what it is, I just didn’t get around to it.

This past year however, I’ve been doing a lot more networking, and it dawned on me that there’s this beautiful community I should absolutely be a part of – and voila, here we are!

The entertainment industry is known for its highs and lows. How do you maintain motivation and positivity while helping your clients navigate their journeys?

Showbiz isn’t for the faint of heart. I’ve been fighting in this industry for so long, it’s become second nature to me. The truth is, I love what I do. You have to love it. If you don’t love this industry with everything you’ve got, you shouldn’t do it. That doesn’t mean I haven’t faced moments where I’ve wanted to call it a day – there have been some serious boulders in my path – but, I can’t and won’t ever give up.

Here’s what I do, and what I tell my clients:

1. 1. Take care of your mental and physical health.
      Take breaks. Stay happy. Go to therapy if you need it. Take walks. Eat good food.

   2. Call upon your support.
      For me, it’s my husband, my mom, my friends, my team, my colleagues – and even some of my long-term clients. We’re in this together.

   3. Have an additional creative outlet.
      Managing is my number one, but I also write and make music. Creative industries release (insert me googling which brain chemical is released when making art)DOPAMINE! Creating art releases dopamine. Unfortunately in this industry, we can’t work every day, but we can ART everyday. Make the art! I probably say that on a daily basis.

   4. Travel/Get out of the house.
      If you can’t afford to go far, go for an afternoon and unplug. *A lesson I’m still working on that is true: You don’t have to check your phone 24/7.

   5. Consume art.
      Watch movies, read books, go to galleries, see plays. Not only will you be reminded why we do this, but you will also support other artists!

And a side note for me, I got my dog Galadriel to help keep it real, although I don’t recommend a dog for entertainment workers that need to travel a lot!

Kacie Newport at Theatre Revolution.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about building and sustaining meaningful relationships in the entertainment industry?

“Yesterday’s intern is tomorrow’s executive.” It’s a little overused, but it’s the truth.

The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s simple, but so hard to achieve. I’m not about that cutthroat, sharky Hollywood thing—life’s too short for that. Let’s hold hands and sing “All you Need is Love.”

What role does mentorship play in your approach to talent management?

I’ve yet to hire a manager who was already established before working with BAM. Instead, I look for individuals with a hunger to learn and a genuine desire to propel artists forward. In turn, I mentor them, helping them achieve their dreams while we work together to make our clients’ dreams come true. Ultimately, that helps me achieve mine too.

I have had some incredible mentors along my journey. These solid guides and anchors helped me solidify my path to success. I am eternally grateful for them.

Managers are mentors. Although we don’t always mentor in just one specific category, we are so intertwined with our clients that we become their secure base in this industry. When the client-manager relationship is working, it’s filled with mentoring, guidance, and heart.

I also encourage my clients to mentor one another. We’ve created a family. It’s incredible.

How do you stay ahead of the curve in terms of identifying emerging talent and new opportunities for your clients?

It’s hard to put into words, but we are flexible and open. Our team is made up of individuals with different tastes and interests. We’re open to vastly different people. What matters is that they compel us. We don’t care what you look like; we care that you move us. We hope that casting sees what we see. We want real voices and different looks. The industry has come a long way, but we’ve got further to go. Talent is talent is talent. The package shouldn’t matter.

As far as opportunities go, in addition to the usual casting outlets, we’re constantly on the ground, chatting with creators, directors, and writers. We go to festivals and events. Whatever comes our way, we stay open to it.

The short version: We’re open. Be open.

Kacie at the Golden State Film Festival

How has your producing background informed your approach to talent management?

Understanding story and how stories are told across different mediums has really helped me find and develop strong talent.

As a producer, you’re juggling a million things at once. It requires tenacity, flexibility, and a ton of understanding and compassion. Managing talent demands the same skill set.

On a more practical level, having a deep understanding of how productions work allows me to better anticipate what my clients will go through from a technical perspective.

What is your vision for the future of acting and the role of talent managers in supporting actors’ careers?

That’s a big question. I opened BAM in January of 2020, and since then, we’ve seen disasters of biblical proportions. From COVID to strikes, to hurricanes and fires, it’s safe to say our beautiful industry has been beaten down. To say that things are tough is an understatement.

To say things are changing is an even bigger understatement.

That said, the how and what of making art may change, but the why remains the same.

Why? Because we have to. Art is essential.

A true, real manager will always be an asset to a team. Creatives need a leader. They need a mentor. They need a guide. And there will always be actors. There will always be performance. There will always be entertainment.

When things are dark, when things are tough, we ART. We always will.

It’s true for me… it’s true for my company.. And it’s true for all creatives – just MAKE THE ART. Nothing can stand in the way of that.

Follow Kacie Newport on  Instagram at @iamvleigh or visit her website at www.bam.management.com.

(All images courtesy Kacie Newport)