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The biggest stars in Hollywood get everything they want: money, round-the-clock massages, designer water and the latest gadgets. Why?


Because they have the top agents in the business negotiating it all.

 

The one area where celebs fall flat? Their personal relationships, the one thing they're negotiating for themselves.

 

We asked two top Hollywood agents to give their secrets for getting what you want out of a relationship.

 

Maggie Marr, former Hollywood agent with ICM and author of Hollywood Girls Club has seen more than a few deals go down in La La Land, and Brendan Deneen, former Director of Production and Development for both The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films, who is currently a Literary Talent Manager, "an agent who can still produce," with Objective Entertainment.

 

Agents walk a fine line between keeping their clients happy and maintaining their relationships in the business. Just as in dating, we all walk a fine line between making ourselves happy, and doing what works long-term for the relationship. Below you'll find the top tips from a few of Hollywood's hottest dealmakers.

 

Believe in the Material You're Representing

 

Deneen says, "It's hard to convince other people when you don't believe it yourself." In terms of dating, if you don't believe you're worthy of someone with a movie star smile and a fantastic personality, neither will they.

 

Have More Than One Interested Buyer

 

Deneen says, "The most important thing is to have more than one interested party. You can play the parties against each other to drive up the price." The same is true for dating relationships, especially where men are concerned. According to Dr. Paul Dobransky, author of The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love, "Your value as a potential mate goes up when there is a competition for your attention."

 

Deneen also says, "It's not always about the person who's willing to pay the most. Sometimes it's about the person who 'gets' the material the most."

 

You may have it in your head that you want a 6-foot-2 guy making two hundred grand a year, but in the end, it could be the short, blonde teacher who really sees you for who you are.

 

Wait for the Right Buyer

 

Some people want too much, some people offer too little. Some people just like the idea of you but not the actual you. "You want fidelity to the source material" says Deneen. In other words, if the person you're with wants you to change everything about yourself, they're probably not the right match. "There's nothing worse than someone who wants to completely change a character."

 

"You don't want the person who's going to try to change Gone With the Wind into Die Hard," Deneen says. And remember, "just because some schmo asks you out doesn't mean you should say yes."

 

Negotiate to Win

 

Movies often portray Hollywood agents as screaming, cursing characters like Ari Gold on Entourage who yells at colleagues and still closes the deal at the end of the day. Swifty Lazar, one of the most prolific dealmakers in Hollywood, who represented everyone from Cary Crant to Madonna was famous for his tirades. But when you're looking for long-term success, the "win at all costs" model is bound to cause you more harm than good. You may win the battle of the day but you might lose out later on the deal you want most.

 

"Some agents will yell and scream or get aggressive," says Marr, "but Hollywood is a small town in a large city. If you use slash and burn tactics on a deal, it will come back to bite you later."

 

Marr says, "The foundation for a really good deal is when both parties feel they've given a little bit too much, and they've gotten something that they really wanted."

 

In Hollywood, Marr says, "If you've been a reasonable person on other deals, at least someone will listen to you. As opposed to bone throwing -- it gets around and people don't want to deal with you. It's just like relationships in that way: if you're screaming and yelling you are less likely to get what you want."



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