| Re: Me on Letterman Show This show was aired on Aug. 7, 2003. This was my first experience with "showbiz". I got a call on a Thursday at about noon. Jill Lederman asked me "How soon can you guys be here?" I replied "Well, 2 guys are in Florida, one is in Atlantic City and I'm in Philly. When do you need us?". She replied "I need you here by 3 PM". Obviously the 2 guys from Florida were not going to make this gig. My guy in AC had just dropped his red coat off at the cleaners when I called him. "Go back and get it, were on Letterman in 3 hours!" I said. So Rich went back, got his coat and then hopped on the Garden State Parkway and I on the Jersey Turnpike. We arrived at the same time - 2:30.
We were welcomed into the green room where we had access to lots of cookies, veggie wraps, and soda while we waited. They tape 2 shows on Thursday - one for Thurs and the other for Fri. Since we were on the Fri show, taping didn't begin until 5:30 PM.
We had a rehearsal. Dave didn't show up, so we used a big box or something as a prop. We gave them a couple of options for playing "first call" and they chose the real simple 3rd grade version (it actually worked out well since it was a comedy routine). We were then given the rules: "Don't look at Dave. Ever! Don't talk to Dave. Ever!! If he talks to you, ignore him!!!"
After rehearsal, back to the green room where we hung out with the Russian girls who use sheet metal grinders and hoola hoops in their act. They are fairly regular performers on the show.
The one thing we were not prepared for were the sub freezing temperatures on the set which wreaked havoc on our intonation. Our horns were actually fogged over - it was that cold.
Anyway, we got through it fine. And the dollars? With residual checks, I have grossed about $1,000.00 for that 30 seconds of "work". Rich got much less as I was paid leadership rate. But I threw him an extra $200.00. Union scale just didn't seem fair........ |