Jennifer Nieman, Marc's Publicist since 1997, took time outta her busy schedule to do an interview with Kristina for our sister site, MAF. (marcanthonyfans.com)....
Kristina: When and how did you first start working for Marc?
Jennifer: I started working with Marc about 3 1/2 years ago. I was the Public Relations Manager at the advertising agency handling “The Capeman” Hispanic press and marketing. Marc, Big and I got along very well from the onset but I had no idea it would ever lead to a job/career opportunity. We just worked well together and then became great friends, spent holidays together (during "The Capeman" my family and their family were in PR so we had nowhere to go in NY).
They became my first true friends in New York as I had moved here a year before and had little time to meet anyone with my extremely busy work schedule. I pitched in whenever they needed a publicist even when it had nothing to do with Capeman. They even trusted me to handle the press to promote his first ever MSG Concert . . . no small thing as it was the first time a Salsa artist performed there solo. When the Capeman closed they offered me the job as his Personal Publicist, and I very happily accepted.
Kristina: Were you familiar with Marc and his music prior to working with him?
Jennifer: I'm almost embarrassed to say that I really didn't. I had heard the name and later realized that I had heard some of his music but I really didn't know who he was or what he looked like. The first time I met him he was a sweetheart but I had no idea how incredibly talented he was until I heard him sing. The very first time I heard him sing I just couldn't believe my ears or eyes . . . how that angelic, out-of-this-world voice came out of this thin guy.
Kristina: What exactly does Marc's publicist do; can you describe a typical workday?
Jennifer: Where do I begin? Mainly I deal with anything having to do with media. I mainly schedule (or turn down, nicely) appearances, interviews, etc. I take all calls from reporters, send out important releases, and make sure he is positioned in a proper way in whatever it is that he does. I work very closely with Columbia promotions and the PR people of whatever project Marc is involved in. As you can imagine, I am a lot busier whenever we are promoting a new album or movie. I also deal with charity events and organizations like "Make a Wish". But since we are a team/family I also help out with anything else that needs to get done from planning the Holiday Christmas Party and answering the phones in the office to helping Marc pack when we are on the road.
Kristina: Being Marc's Publicist, you must keep very busy. What do you do with "your" time? What is a fun day for Jennifer?
Jennifer: My time? What's that? No, its not like we don't have time to ourselves, its just that whenever we do have free time we end up spending it together. I actually have no friends that I haven't met at or through work. (It's also hard to keep friends when you are always away) But it is such a great group of people that I couldn't ask for anything else. I go out to the movies and dinner with the girls from the office and a couple of other girlfriends or hang out with Big, Marc, and Yari and the rest of the gang. If my boyfriend is in town, I just hang out with him and with Erben (bass player) and his wife Christine or Nelson (tres player). In LA, we hang out with my boyfriend's friends and his family. On free weekends when he is not in town, I become a bit of a loner and just walk around aimlessly (shopping) for hours in SOHO and the Village.
Kristina: Every Marc fan is dying to know, what's it really like to spend soooooooo much time with Marc?
Jennifer: Marc is an angel, a sweetheart, a great, brilliant, passionate and talented guy. . . everything the fans imagine him to be. . . but he is like a big brother to me so it is very normal/natural to spend soooooooooooo much time with him. He and Big and the rest of the guys just see me as a sister and we are just like any other close knit family . . . but when he is on stage or recording in the studio then it hits me just how miraculous his talent is. It never ceases to amaze me, time after time after time. I've been known to get goosebumps, get teary-eyed, jump up and down, you name it. At the same time, when we are just hanging out or doing day-to-day stuff, it seems like it's no big deal. Yet I know that one-day I will be able to tell my kids some great stories about these years with Marc and our whole team.
Kristina: Where do you call "home"?
Jennifer: Well my apartment is in New York (East Village) but I literally call whatever hotel we are staying in at the moment "home". I make it homey, by bringing pictures, scented candles, etc.
Kristina: You have traveled the world with Marc. You surely have seen a lot of places. What has been your favorite place to visit and why?
Jennifer: Wow so many places . . . In the US, I love San Francisco (just because its beautiful and charming), Washington, DC (the monuments, history), and Chicago (beautiful, great shopping and Oprah, my favorite). In Europe, I love Rome, Paris, and Vienna, all because of the architecture, art, history, and beauty. In Latin America, PR (where I was raised), Mexico, and Argentina (the food, beauty and great memories).
Kristina: Jennifer, we think of everyone who works with Marc as an extension of him. You all represent him so well. You are kind, generous and always pleasant with the fans. Did you ever expect to have such a relationship with the fans?
Jennifer: Thank you!! I never knew what to expect but it's just a natural relationship. Every single person who works with Marc is a huge fan so it is only natural that we would absolutely understand, appreciate, and value what all of you feel and do for Marc. Believe me Marc and the rest of us are just as happy to see you there, as you are to see Marc. And we all know that Marc has the most amazing, passionate and generous fans!!
Kristina: If you weren't a publicist, what would you be doing right now?
Jennifer: One of three things . . . a chef (I love to cook), a kindergarten teacher (love children), or magazine publisher/editor (addicted to magazines).
Kristina: Working with Marc you must meet some very interesting people. Has there been anyone that you have met that has left you completely star-struck?
Jennifer: Out of everyone . . . Oprah is the only one I was in awe of. I have always admired her (I was a broadcast journalism major) and regarded her as a role model (she overcame so many odds to get to where she is and is such a generous human being) so when Marc introduced us I was speechless. Other than that Jimmy Smitts is the only other one that impressed me but for entirely different reasons (he is just so handsome!).
Kristina: We all know that Marc makes our hearts skip a few beats. Who makes Jennifer's heart skip a few beats?
Jennifer: OK, I know where you are going with this, lol. . . my Andy of course. He is the greatest guy in the world. I knew him a few months before we started dating and I had to ask for Marc's approval cause he's like my big brother and he really always knows best. Anyway he is the perfect man . . . sweet, sensitive, dedicated, hard working, passionate, honest, loyal, a gentleman, and extremely gorgeous. But then again all you fans know what I'm talking about.
Kristina: Marc is a big baseball fan and he and the guys in the band got to play a few games on tour this year. Did they let you play?
Jennifer: Had I really wanted to they would've let me play (it was way too hot), but I was happy to be a cheerleader and videotape the action.
Kristina: Can you list some CDs in your CD collection?
Jennifer: Destiny's Child, Paul Simon, Backstreet Boys, Lara Fabian, Madonna, Enya, Ricardo Arjona, Shakira, Ricardo Montaner
Kristina: What do you find most rewarding about your job?
Jennifer: Being able to help bring Marc and his music to all his fans.
Kristina: PC or MAC user?
Jennifer: PC but I also like MACs
Kristina: Is there a message you would like to convey to the members of MAF?
Jennifer: THANK YOU!!!! Thanks for always being there for Marc, thanks for loving and appreciating him and his music, thanks for really understanding what he is all about. Marc and everyone at MAP appreciate so very much all that you do.
Kristina: I once heard that the true definition of a 'lady' and a 'gentleman' is a person who has the ability to make all those around them feel comfortable at all times. Thank you Jen, for always being a lady.
Jennifer: That's so beautiful. Thank you so much Tatiana (they say it takes one to know one).
