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Are you a Hollywood assistant a.k.a. a rockstar with thick skin able to work in a fast-paced environment?! This is the episode for you! Assistants vs. Agents creator Warner Bailey joins IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo to share how he turned his viral meme page into a community empowering the next generation of entertainment power players, and a business with a newsletter, job board, podcast, events, merch, creative projects, and partnerships with brands like Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Apple TV+ and more. He also provides actionable tips for assistants and bosses alike, and reveals how he built a business that is helping redefine what success looks like in Hollywood today.
(00:00) The email he caan’t believe was sent
(01:58) Voice Memo from Kirk Sommer, WME Global Co-Head of Music
(06:15) Warner’s assistant journey at WME Music
(09:25) Building Assistants vs. Agents
(14:10) The Assistants vs. Agents business model
(15:30) Tools for young creatives and people breaking into the industry
(16:30) Is the assistant path still the way?
(19:00) Providing resources for a career roadmap in entertainment in today’s job market
(20:20) Being the boss
(24:08) Hard lessons learned about managing people
(27:56) Responsibility to the AvA community
(28:52) Crazy assistant stories and DMs
(29:40) Laughter, group therapy, community, and feeling like we’re not alone
(30:14) The Ari Emanuel story (a.k.a. the email you caan’t receive)
(32:12) The process a.k.a. the manila envelope that inspires AvA
(35:14) Prox Recs
How Assistants vs. Agents Creator Warner Bailey Turned a Meme Page into a Media Brand and Business
October 13, 2025
