ꫂ❁ writes: manager!michael is taking over my mind. there is a certain hold that the mature era has over me, and a part of me secretly wishes that he retired successfully after his " This Is It " tour, getting into smaller projects, directing, acting, filmmaking, etc. maybe a side job of his would be managing the industry’s newest sensation, you.
wc: 998
tw: nothing, just meeting him and the process of his managing your rebrand as a pop artist
manager!michael jackson x popstar! reader
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who is introduced to you through a longtime friend and producer at your record company. you’re very young compared to him, but enough of a woman to catch his eye and attention. you shake his hand, a little starstuck, but media trained to the high heavens to compose yourself a little. he finds the composure cute as he squeezes your hand, placing another on top of it.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” he responds warmly. he can practically feel your face radiating heat at his words.
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who watches your music videos in his off time, after a long day of meetings and planning with you. he appreciates how open you are towards his ideas for your rebranding. how could you not be, with an experienced legend like him coaching you along? he politely smiled at your compliment, bowing his head in thanks to you. michael thinks you have great creative potential and your image is moldable, he can work with that. he just hopes you will be receptive towards his perfectionism.
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who brings in the best artists and illustrators to put together moodboards towards your rebrand. he tries not to bring up his experiences upon going solo and his success as a young superstar, so he expresses his vision for you as best as he can put it.
he’s not pushing anything onto you, though, so he has long conversations with you about yourself, what speaks to you, what makes you light up, and how you speak through your music. he explains to you that music is the soul’s language and people will feel that faster than any lyric or beat you throw at them, so it’s important you know yourself as a person and a soul before giving that over to an audience of listeners.
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who adores how you ask him respectful questions about his experiences over lunches. he would honestly rather you talk about yourself, but understands your admiration for him and his work, so he indulges in your barrage of questions.
he especially adores the twinkle in your eyes when you talk about your own vision for music and how dramatic you want to be with it, wanting to go all out for an album, to tell a story, make it cohesive, wanting fans to connect with it and break it down rather than consume it as another song to stream. you remind him of himself in a way, the best parts. he is especially pleased and blessed that his first managing position is with someone he connects with.
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who sits behind the mixer next to your producer at your recording sessions. you spent the past month writing out songs with him, though he was the main composer for your album, he pushed you to write from you heart.
he reminded you that the authenticity you wanted as an upcoming artist needed to be felt from people in order to gain their attention for a long time. he gives you cues on your vocal ranges, describing what he wants from you when you sing certain songs. the songs with sensual lyrics have you chewing your inner cheek, embarrassed to sing such….intimate topics in front of the michael jackson, but he ushers you on.
“i’ve been there before, love.” you can’t see his eyes from behind his glasses, but his smile reaches his cheeks as he raises a thumbs up. “go for it, and really feel it, girl.”
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who arranges for you to attend photoshoots, talk shows, podcasts, etc. branding can only take a person so far, people need to meet you through other projects. with your new album coming out, he pushes for your company to promote you. he’s been through that whole bullshit with sony, so he steps in for you when it comes down to signing agreements and contracts with lawyers.
you trust him to speak up for you, so it’s rare for you to attend unless your signature and presence is required. he feels protective of you, quietly shutting down any excuses to have you doing long tours, excessive projects, overspending on budgets just to have to pay back the company in the long run. michael knows the industry, as glorious as it is, has its snakes in the camp, so he uses his experiences to protect you from hidden traps.
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who gazes at your costume changes during photoshoots. he doesn’t attend every one of them, but for major shoots, he is there to oversee and doesn’t see any issue with him stepping in to direct as well. you learn to speak up as well, taking his side as you trust michael with your branding image. he knows you best, what works and what doesn’t.
repetition is recognition, he told you. he can’t help but think you look absolutely amazing in your fits, your makeup adjusted to your taste, that will certainly set off an internet trend. he giggles behind a hand when you act silly in between shots, shaking his head at your antics.
ꫂ❁ manager!michael who prepares you for your first concert. rehearsals are hard with him, he’s quite tough on the execution. michael is never harsh or mean about his direction, but when he says something needs to be changed, everyone needs to lock in because he gets annoyed fast.
his annoyance is not audibly apparent; more like he gets quiet and stares at the people he’s critiquing until the message gets through. his vision often requires sharp movements, expressive facial movements and following the beat. don’t play with him on this, he really believes your body needs to link with the music. you get a chuckle out of him when he tells you to put your back into a dance move and you goofily throw your ass back.
“now, girl.” he warns you playfully. he likes that you can still embrace your inner silliness.
꧁⎝ 𓆩༺✧༻𓆪 ⎠꧂
ꫂ❁ thoughts from saff: first post, kinda nervous! i adore manager!michael but i also wouldn’t mind writing other eras for him. mature era is goated though, love me some old man mike.
