Six Questions With Danny Horwits, Partner At Beverly Hills Sports Council

The following “Six Questions” short interview with Danny Horwits, partner at Beverly Hills Sports Council, was conducted by Richard Pallarino (@rpallarino).

1) When was it that you realized a career in sports management was right for you?

I was an intern when I was 18 and within the first 2 months of it I realized this was what I wanted to do for my career.

2) What is a typical day in the life of sports agent Danny Horwits?

There is no typical day. The year of a baseball agent is however cyclical.  Now, we are knee deep in arbitration and free agency and days start early and end very late with brief writing.

3) What type of relationship do you choose to have with your clients? Business or personal and why?

I prefer both a business and personal relationship.  Some agents choose only to have a business relationship.  For me, I don’t think you can properly represent a client without having a personal relationship.  Every player is different and their needs vary – you only get to understand those needs by having a close personal relationship.  By having a close relationship with a client, you can understand how he wants his career run – some agents believe they are the boss but that’s wrong – the client is always the boss and to effectively represent a client you must understand his needs and goals.

4) When recruiting a top prospect versus a prospect lower in the rankings, how does your signing pitch change?

While each player you recruit has different needs and goals (certainly those are sometimes classified by the point of their career in which you meet them) there are some very essential needs / goals that are universal.  As a result, those portions in recruiting are similar.  So while each meeting has a certain flavor to it – all players need to make sure they have someone who has his back, can legally best protect him, and will look out for his interests at all times on and off the field.

5) How has being a law school graduate helped you in being a top sports agent?

Having a law degree and a legal education gives you a decided advantage in representation.  The way the legal world molds your thinking, it gives you an understanding of how to best protect your client in every facet of his life.  It allows for you to anticipate problems in the future and to best protect against further issues.

6) What advice would you give to aspiring sports agents?

Best advice – have patience and passion.