When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead by Jerry Weintraub Summary

When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead is Jerry Weintraub’s memoir chronicling his rise from a Bronx upbringing to becoming a legendary concert promoter and Hollywood producer. It details his work with icons like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Dylan, alongside film triumphs like The Karate Kid and Ocean’s Eleven. The book blends career anecdotes with street-smart business philosophy, emphasizing hustle, networking, and seizing opportunities.

Entrepreneurs, entertainers, and fans of Hollywood history will find this memoir invaluable. Its lessons on negotiation, risk-taking, and reinvention resonate with aspiring creatives and business leaders. Readers interested in behind-the-scenes stories of Elvis’s tours, Rat Pack antics, or 1970s filmmaking will enjoy Weintraub’s firsthand accounts.

Yes—the book offers a masterclass in deal-making wrapped in entertaining tales of Weintraub’s adventures. Reviewers praise its mix of humor, wisdom, and practical advice, calling it a guide for “turning no into yes” in both business and life. Fans of memoirs like The Kid Stays in the Picture will appreciate its candid tone.

Weintraub advocates “savoring life” while relentlessly pursuing opportunities. He emphasizes packaging ideas persuasively, trusting intuition, and building relationships. A recurring theme: success stems from grit (“never take no for an answer”) paired with joy in the journey.

Weintraub pioneered arena tours by persuading Elvis Presley’s team to let him book large venues, proving artists could profit beyond nightclubs. He later replicated this model with Sinatra, Led Zeppelin, and others, transforming live music into a global industry.

Key strategies include:

• Persistence: Cold-calling Colonel Parker for years to land Elvis.
• Packaging: Framing proposals to highlight mutual benefit.
• Networking: Leveraging connections like Armand Hammer and George H.W. Bush for unconventional deals.

Weintraub produced Nashville (1975), The Karate Kid series, and the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy. He also executive-produced HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, winning an Emmy for his work.

He recounts Elvis’s 1969 comeback tour as a career turning point, detailing the singer’s professionalism and the logistical chaos of early arena shows. Weintraub credits Colonel Parker’s mentorship in shaping his promotional tactics.

The title reflects Weintraub’s relentless drive and love for storytelling. He jokes that only death could silence his passion for deal-making and sharing tales from his extraordinary life.

Weintraub shares how he transformed 10+ years of rejections into opportunities, like persistently pitching Elvis’s team. He advises reframing “no” as a challenge to innovate, not a final answer.

Some readers note the memoir prioritizes entertaining anecdotes over deep introspection. However, most praise its conversational tone and actionable insights, comparing it to “learning from a wise uncle over drinks”.

Unlike purely nostalgic accounts, Weintraub’s book focuses on teachable moments—similar to Robert Evans’ The Kid Stays in the Picture but with greater emphasis on business strategy. It’s often recommended alongside Shep Gordon’s They Call Me Supermensch.