David Letterman show experience....

[Speedbag]

Here are a few pictures from my recent trip to the Late Night with David Letterman Show. Regardless of "immediate" outcome, it was one amazing experience. I can only hope some of the next generation of speed baggers can experience something like this.

I got there Tuesday night, staying at a hotel just around the corner from The Ed Sullivan Theatre where they tape the show. This is ON broadway, a few blocks from Time Square. Time square at night must be seen to be believed. ...maybe not at 28 degrees and 15 mph winds, but hey, bring a coat.

Wednesday morning I went to the studio, met some of the show interns and pages, and got my name on a list for tickets for the wednesday night taping, which featured Hugh Jackman as the main guest. Yep, since I was a schedule "human tricks" contestant, they gave me a VIP ticket to the show that night. I was in the balcony to see Hugh Jackman come out dress liked Lincoln as a gag. Funny and a great time.

[Speedbag]

So, Thursday it gets serious. Pages and interns come to hotel at noon, and escort all "human trick" acts to the studio, get passes, go to "green room" for instructions, then to studio for quick rehearsal of every act.

The studio is very small, not much space to hang around. They had already set up the Balazs UBS1, which Balazs sent at their expense (thank you, thank you, thank you!) The speed bag unit was up on a rolling dolly for easy repositioning.

We dropped the U-bolt swivel and put on my Deville swivel. We started with the Balazs Lazer, however the director preferred the red bag (title 9x6) for contrast (that is him punching in the distance picture). Also, less obvious advertising. ( They do not blaring advertisements or logos on clothes or equipment. Shirts and or uniforms should be fairly bland. I had a nice athletic warm up with solid red shirt, which they approved.)

Notice, they did not fit board with microphone have floor stand by it. They had a mic hooked on my pants running up under my shirt to lapel.

I had hoped to get a few minutes to just hit and knock off almost four months of non-punching "rust" however if you ever enter a situation like this (brother skunk knows...) you do not get a minute on the bag by yourself. You get a few seconds before you are interrupted to show someone what you did and basically start teaching crew or watching them try to hit. This is really different and fun for them, many have never done it, or do it badly and want a few tips. Here's a tip: NEVER turn them away. At that point you are an embassador for the bag, and you may make a bagger and friend for life, so never confuse your 45-60 second routine to be more important than helping them understand it, or cop an attitude that you don't have time for them. Every person in this picture stopped what they were doing when I cut loose for bit (half speed, just playing...but it's unreal to them), and the next 20 minutes was either explaining or watching them try to do it. Personally I could have used the time to settle in a bit more with the bag and setup up and kind of warm up my shoulder which I've been babying a bit in preparation. So, when we had to clear the stage for the "real" audition, I was wishing for 10 minutes of "alone with bag time". But it didn't happen. OH well, just relax. Be the bag. sometimes easier said than done....

when my time came, the mock interview was OK, talking about where I'm from, how got into bag, bit about development of Punch Drumming and the growing interest... And then intro to music. The start to play music (rhythm is gonna get you). I start to punch and a few seconds in I notice I can't hear the music. It was way too low. I strained a bit to hear it, knowing I was off beat just a bit. I hit lighter, so bag rebound is softer so I can hear music, and softer hitting slows bag even more, (slip a few punches, miss but don't stop...), so while I'm punching I tell the floor manager I need music louder, he tells producer in booth to raise sound level and they do so I can finally really hear song and beat. Now it's on and I'm getting into it pretty good, and that lasts for about 10 or so seconds to end of song, which I thought was good. The last 10-12 seconds were Much better than weak beginning. Anyway, that's it. audition over, most of which was dealing with volume.

I suggested we re-do that with the louder volume (it was only about 45 seconds) and they said it wasn't necessary, we'll work out the kinks with the band. The show has rights to play "covers" of songs, (not original CD versions). Director says they like one particular verse and then chorus to ending for a time sequence, and we'll get the timing and flow during one or two run throughs when band gets in about 2pm. (it was 1pm then...)

At this point they had a bunch of short comedy bits and other stuff to tape, as well as sound check a second band, (they tape two shows thursday, so the Band for Fridays show also needed a rehearsal sound check...) So I go to green room area to wait for call to rehearse with band.

[Speedbag]

I sit in green room watching studio rehearsals and bits over and over, band for friday night does set up and sound check... and the clock goes to 2pm, then 2:30, then 3pm. Real deal, with audience starts at 3:30p, so time is getting short for this rehearsal thing. then other acts come back in and they announce the three of the five that will go on. I already had a premonition from watching the pre-tapings that my 10-15 minutes with band had been vaporized.

oh well. One of the acts that was chosen had been on the show a few years before, and I think the guy jumping rope with ball on head had been through two earlier auditions in the past couple of years. The talent coordinator said that if an act is good enough to be considered, invited to attend, show up but is not chosen - that they keep you on the list to come back and try again. Belive it or not they say it is not easy to find these kinds of things and that is why they only do this bit two or three times a year. A lot of really funny or stupid things people do and post online are too dangerous to consider.

Anyway, it was tremendous experience, got to hang with some really cool people, met Bif Henderson and Rupert Jee of Hello Deli and eat some fine NY food and see some shows.

So keep punching my friends. The next invitation for speed bagging on a major network show may be to you.

[ebozyn]

That must have been a little surreal. hitting a bit of speed bag and off to the side, a few yards away is David Letterman's desk.

What would have been even more surreal, and down right bizarre, is if they would have let you bag off to the side of the desk a few feet, while he was conducting his interviews with celebrities. You're working on some combos... David's chatting away, and you blurt out something like. "that's what i'm talkin' about Al Pacino. Did you see that perfect double bump elbow rotation i just pulled out of the bag?" Oops! Sorry. Please continue. don't mind me".


Cool Photos.

So, Thursday it gets serious. Pages and interns come to hotel at noon, and escort all "human trick" acts to the studio, get passes, go to "green room" for instructions, then to studio for quick rehearsal of every act.

The studio is very small, not much space to hang around. They had already set up the Balazs UBS1, which Balazs sent at their expense (thank you, thank you, thank you!) The speed bag unit was up on a rolling dolly for easy repositioning.

We dropped the U-bolt swivel and put on my Deville swivel. We started with the Balazs Lazer, however the director preferred the red bag (title 9x6) for contrast (that is him punching in the distance picture). Also, less obvious advertising. ( They do not blaring advertisements or logos on clothes or equipment. Shirts and or uniforms should be fairly bland. I had a nice athletic warm up with solid red shirt, which they approved.)

Notice, they did not fit board with microphone have floor stand by it. They had a mic hooked on my pants running up under my shirt to lapel.

I had hoped to get a few minutes to just hit and knock off almost four months of non-punching "rust" however if you ever enter a situation like this (brother skunk knows...) you do not get a minute on the bag by yourself. You get a few seconds before you are interrupted to show someone what you did and basically start teaching crew or watching them try to hit. This is really different and fun for them, many have never done it, or do it badly and want a few tips. Here's a tip: NEVER turn them away. At that point you are an embassador for the bag, and you may make a bagger and friend for life, so never confuse your 45-60 second routine to be more important than helping them understand it, or cop an attitude that you don't have time for them. Every person in this picture stopped what they were doing when I cut loose for bit (half speed, just playing...but it's unreal to them), and the next 20 minutes was either explaining or watching them try to do it. Personally I could have used the time to settle in a bit more with the bag and setup up and kind of warm up my shoulder which I've been babying a bit in preparation. So, when we had to clear the stage for the "real" audition, I was wishing for 10 minutes of "alone with bag time". But it didn't happen. OH well, just relax. Be the bag. sometimes easier said than done....

when my time came, the mock interview was OK, talking about where I'm from, how got into bag, bit about development of Punch Drumming and the growing interest... And then intro to music. The start to play music (rhythm is gonna get you). I start to punch and a few seconds in I notice I can't hear the music. It was way too low. I strained a bit to hear it, knowing I was off beat just a bit. I hit lighter, so bag rebound is softer so I can hear music, and softer hitting slows bag even more, (slip a few punches, miss but don't stop...), so while I'm punching I tell the floor manager I need music louder, he tells producer in booth to raise sound level and they do so I can finally really hear song and beat. Now it's on and I'm getting into it pretty good, and that lasts for about 10 or so seconds to end of song, which I thought was good. The last 10-12 seconds were Much better than weak beginning. Anyway, that's it. audition over, most of which was dealing with volume.

I suggested we re-do that with the louder volume (it was only about 45 seconds) and they said it wasn't necessary, we'll work out the kinks with the band. The show has rights to play "covers" of songs, (not original CD versions). Director says they like one particular verse and then chorus to ending for a time sequence, and we'll get the timing and flow during one or two run throughs when band gets in about 2pm. (it was 1pm then...)

At this point they had a bunch of short comedy bits and other stuff to tape, as well as sound check a second band, (they tape two shows thursday, so the Band for Fridays show also needed a rehearsal sound check...) So I go to green room area to wait for call to rehearse with band.

[cmedinas88]

That's awesome Bs they did not put u on television nice pictures and story

[metaldad]

I already put my feelings about your being bumped in the Off Topic thread. But as I also stated there, once I calmed down I understood a little better. Awesome experience nonetheless eh?

[J102]

A guy jumping rope with a ball on his head? Wouldn't think there was a following for that. I guess it's entertaining.


This is promising:
"they keep you on the list to come back and try again"
They'll want you back.

Glad it was a tremendous experience for you and that you had a good time in NYC.

[Speedbag]

A guy jumping rope with a ball on his head? Wouldn't think there was a following for that. I guess it's entertaining.

Actually, there is a little more too him than that...


Solo Circus... http://vimeo.com/9445049

He is extremely talented ..But it was his third audition for the show

[J102]

Yes that is talent. Interesting

[doss darwin]

eye hand

guy would probably be a good bagger if he tried--dd