Help Andy's Plate-Spinning Act Get Booked on Fox & Friends!
Steve Doocy was waxing nostalgic about plate-spinners on the Ed Sullivan Show recently. Imagine how quickly Fox & Friends received an email from me offering my services.
I think performing a segment with Doocy would be a great way for me to launch my "Get Plate-Spinning Week on Letterman" campaign, don't you? It could look something like this...
I NEED YOUR HELP! GET MY ACT ON FOX & FRIENDS AND EVENTUALLY...LETTERMAN!
As you know I am "The Last GREAT Plate-Spinner." I enjoy spinning plates for shows as well as in a corporate training seminars. I've spun plates on national television commercials. I've spun plates for major corporations. I've spun plates as the opening act for the wonderful Gladys Knight.
I recently did a search on You Tube for plate-spinners and it turns out that the 2nd most popular plate-spinning video happens to belong to yours truly! If enough people see this and share the link, perhaps we can change all that and make me #1. ;)
Here I am spinning plates on the WGN Morning News with comedian Anthony Anderson.
Watching that you can see that you don't have to be a professional plate-spinner to have fun at it. Keeping that in mind, here's my world famous PLATE SPINNING GAME from my soon-to-be-updated website.
Click to Play
This game was a viral hit long before there was such a thing. Within weeks of hitting the internet back in 2000, I was getting emails from people around the globe telling me how much fun they were having playing this silly game and how they were emailing the link to friends. This game made the office email circuit years before a You Tube or ANY talking baby videos!
Lastly, here's the aforementioned commercial I was in. This ad ran on nationally CNN, FOX News, & MSNBC and locally in specific Congressional Districts across the country. It landed me in the pages of the New Yoprk Times as well as several newspapers and magazines. It still draws a lot of attention, if not gives a great example as to just why anyone in the TV game gives ole Andy a call when they need top-quality plate-spinning talent!
Feel free to give me a call and book this plate-spinner for your next event. I'd be happy to do it for ya.
OK, they've been here for awhile. I just forgot to tell you. Not even sure why I ordered these since it is apparent that I'm probably going to be permanently out of the business soon. Ah well...they're here.
The TV station that first aired the plate-spinning commercial (coincidentally, the same home town where my mother, brother, nieces, and some in-laws live) did a little news spot about the ad and the bill that Reynolds opposes. You can watch the story by clicking here.
Somehow I can't help but think the station is missing the local angle of the story. Seriously, what are the odds that a regional political commercial would start airing in the home town of half of my family? The fact that so many are watching the thing out there just to watch someone they personally know makes it a good local story in my humble opinion.
Of course, I can't imagine what counts for news anymore. I tried sending out some press releases to my past home town newspapers about the spot. Some of the places where I lived were more than "small" enough to find a regional/national commercial featuring one of their own somewhat newsworthy, right?
Take my last residence of Carol Stream, IL. Not a whole lot of national attention to any of the residents there, past or present . The micro burst got our town on CNN & The Weather Channel, but there's not a lot else bringing attention to the place. Since the micro burst is what brought me to Vegas and Vegas was where I filmed the commercial that is airing in places across the country, including Illinois...you get the picture.
Well, allow me to share an e-mail response to the press release from one of the papers. I'm certain I wasn't supposed to get this as it was forwarded to one editor (with the heading, "Do we give a damn?") and subsequently responded to WITHOUT realizing that if you hit "reply all" or anything like that, you send the e-mail to everyone (in this case...ME).
Re: Do we give a Damn? - PRESS RELEASE - Former Carol Stream Resident Featured in National TV Commercial
Randy:
In the famous words of Mr. Butler, "frankly, me dear, I do not give a damn".
Bruce I resisted the urge to point out to the guy that he mistakenly sent me his rather classy reply. It took even MORE restraint to not point out that he somehow misquoted the single most famous line in movie history.
I'll be kind and not mention exactly which Carol Stream paper had no need for a story about a former local who moved on to bigger things as a result of a tragedy in their town. Heck, it seems they can't even afford a fact-checker (how exactly do you get that quote wrong?). I ill mention that it is in the smallest and least-read of the papers serving the town and leave it at that. No wonder, huh?
In other news...
According to MICHAEL MANNING, the commercial was briefly discussed on NPR's "All Things Considered" the other day when mentioning the proposed and opposed bill. Very nice.
Within this post are the proofs (shouldn't it be "prooves"?) from my very first Yellow Book Yellow Pages ads.
In the past I have stayed away from advertising in the Yellow Pages. For most folks in my business the ads seem to generate only the low-paying, family birthday parties and not the higher-paying corporate & theatre market shows that I strive to get. Therefore the relatively high cost for such an ad (and they CAN be quite expensive) hasn't been worth the expenditure. Sure, the occasional birthday party does pay the bills to some extent and I do offer a very affordable show for exactly these shows, but if you have the loftier goals you shouldn't put all your eggs into the wrong basket. Why the change this time around? Being a new member of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has its privileges . Specifically, a $1000 voucher for an ad in the Greater Las Vegas edition of the Yellow Book. Now it becomes well worth trying. Since I am still quite new here and clearly NOT working full-time as an entertainer (yet!), any work is appreciated. Plus, with a fairly LOW-COST upgrade I made to the existing voucher I could better place the ad within the book AND get a second ad in another section. So I not only spend considerably less than I would have for a much smaller ad, but I get it out to more people and increase the potential of being hired by the better-paying clients. Essentially I am spending less than I would have for one tiny ad, when I am actually getting two big ones in the bigger book, and two different categories. Sometimes it it worth moving from "FREE" to "NOT FREE".
You can't place an ad in the Vegas Yellow Pages under the heading "Entertainers". Why? Because a nice comedian juggler like myself would be completely lost in the seemingly hundreds of pages worth of strippers and escorts. Seriously...check it out next time you're out here. I also wasn't going to place an ad in the "Magicians" category since I am not primarily a magician and that ad might attract some really cheap shows.
After careful consideration I chose two very specific listings. The first was the"Party Planning Service" category. The ads that were in there already reflected more of the types of clients I not only market to and work for, but seemed to be the place where an ad for a juggling comedian would stand out and attract some attention from potential clients. Good chance for more corporate shows and the like with this, the more artistic and certainly more visible ad.
Next, I chose the "Entertainment - Family" category. Knowing there would be rather a lot of the family shows asking anyway I chose to put a less aggressive, but equally informative ad there. That way some of the folks in the wealthier neighborhoods like Anthem or Summerlin can find me as well as the even more local places. If a show doesn't pay well (and everyone knows I am not all that expensive to begin with) I have some great people I can refer and keep my name in good graces with the community.
I'll be keeping track of just how effective these ads are and hopeful that I'll see a need to renew for next year. I don't believe I'll be in the online version of the Yellow Book, but I already have a killer website that gets a lot of attention and, of course, this blog manages to get the word out. ;)
As for being roped into the awfulness of this gig, nobody was "roped" into doing anything. Everyone involved in the shoot, smoker or non-smoker, had a great time. We all got to do what we love in a tough business to make a living within. You can't always pick your clients when you are in entertainment. Sometimes you get the folks who ruffle feathers, sometimes you get the fuzzy puppy people. If the non-smoking folks wanted to do a similar advertisement with me where I eat fire to simulate the effects of smoking on the lungs or make other gross comparisons (thanks, Golfwidow for the idea) I'd have taken that job as well. However, those folks weren't hiring me and probably would have asked I do it for free.
Other noteworthy news sources featuring articles and screen captures of the ad are...
North Carolina's The News & Observer. DON'T ever try to call them and actually speak to someone who knows anything about the paper...like whether or not they actually ran the story and photo in the print version of the paper. It is much faster to just buy a back issue and hope for the best.
The Wilson Times.DO call them if you'd like to speak to someone who knows anything about the paper...like whether or not they actually ran the story and photo in the print version of the paper. I e-mailed the author of the piece, Matt Shaw, and he was not only able to confirm it was in the paper, but he sent me a tear sheet of the article free of charge, along with information that the ad is still running in his neck of the woods. THANKS, Matt!
Thanks to all for the links and the re posting of the commercial. More importantly, thanks much for not taking out your aggressions on the performer in the spot, namely...ME. I've got no problems with you hating the message. Just don't hate the messenger. A gig is a gig and one's personal politics rarely factor into the decisions made to further one's career. Besides, even though there are a few ads running now with plate-spinners in them it is not like there are LOADS of commercial opportunities like this one.
Spinning Plates, Spinning Tales, Spinning Wheel Keeps On Turning
More and more folks are taking notice of the FDAConcerns.org commercial. As always, I'll keep my own politics and opinions regarding the content (other than my own performance) to myself. Maybe when this is all over I'll add my two cents. For now, I am enjoying the exposure and hope for more work. I sent some e-mails to The Daily Show and The Colbert Report last night. Maybe you should do the same (Click the links). Lots of comedy potential with this story.
Among the blogger friends of mine who have made mention of the commercial, specifically to too a horn on my behalf and not to spout too much "big tobacco sucks" rhetoric are...
In fact, Golfwidow made two posts in her blog about the advertisement, the more amazing of which was made on Thursday. Check it out and see for yourself.
MANY THANKS to those who've been doin' some big pimpin' on my behalf. It is appreciated.
Some time today, the commercial was uploaded to YouTube. I did not do this myself. I was planning on putting it on my main page when I had a better, clearer copy to share. Nonetheless, it is there for you to see in a somewhat larger form. As with all things online such as blogs and YouTube videos, I enjoy reading the comments.
I Also found out that the commercial was mentioned at some length on Air America Radio on April 2nd's Rachael Maddow Show. I like Rachael and I like Air America a lot. Most of you know I'm primarily one of those damned liberal types that wants to save the world by not blowing it up every time somebody threatens our dad. That being said, I'm all but certain the ad was not spoken of in a positive light. I mean, if RJR paid for it, it must be somehow evil, right? All I hope is that people trash the cause or the message and not the performer or the messenger (namely - ME!).
I'd play the segment for you and go out of my way to urge you to subscribe to Air America Radio, get their podcasts and programs, and do the right thing by them...but I can't get their website to accept my ordering information and allow my order for a two-week free trial, even though all the credit card info I have provided is 100% accurate. So if any of you are currently subscribers, or have better luck navigating their website, feel free to download the show and send me the clip where she talks about the commercial. I'd even settle for a transcript. Even though I'm certain she had nothing but bad things to say about the proposed bill, I'd like to hear what was said about the spot. Any publicity is good publicity, right?
Since the ad has been uploaded to YouTube, more bloggers and websites have posted the spot and added their thoughts. Without any preference nor any consideration to their opinions on the subject matter, here are some links for you to check out.
The Lay Scientist chimes in with "Big Tobacco's Propoganda Enterprise...Still Kicking". Another good commentary, though he missed the boat by not saying "Still Spinning". Political spin...spinning plates...seems logical to me.
Feel free to read, comment, and discuss as it is your Constitutional right to do so. If you agree with any of the bloggers...that's great! If you disagree...equally great! Just be civil and polite and not the average, under-informed trash-talker that is far too prevalent online. Moreover, please don't go to their houses and pee in their pools...unless they say that I suck. ;)
Andy Martello In the New York Times! (PSST! Letterman! Over Here!)
(Click Images to Enlarge)
When I said yesterday I was in the New York Times I had no idea I was in THENew York Times!
When I stumbled upon the internet publication from the Times yesterday, they had not yet uploaded a screen capture from the commercial. Well, folks as it happens...
There's a picture of me in the
online version of the New York Times!
That got me thinking. They wouldn't just publish something on their Internet only, would they? Probably not. It would follow that at least the story would be in the actual paper. So I went out and found a copy of the paper at a local store here in Vegas and sure enough, on the front page of the business section...
The same story they have online. Nice!
If you notice, the story is continued on page seven. A quick flip or two over to page seven and you'll find...
I'M IN THE FREAKING NEW YORK TIMES!
I know that the politics of it all can come back to haunt me, but this is pretty damn cool, right? Seriously, now! I can't believe this.
In the long run I believe this ad will do me and my performing career more good than harm. Most people know that actors and performers take the work that is offered to them and one's personal politics or beliefs don't usually come into play when doing these sorts of things. At least that's my hope.
At the absolute least it may generate some additional (positive) press for me. Really, the folks at the Late Show with David Letterman might see the spot and decide, "Hey...that guy looks pretty good on TV. I wonder if he'd be willing to teach Stallone how to spin plates."
To watch the commercial (assuming you don't live in a town currently running it) just visit FDAConcerns.org. Keep your politics out of my blog, but feel free to act upon the plea and contact your Congressman if you agree with the ad's message.
At 9:49PM one year ago, my apartment was blown all to hell by a microburst. In case you've forgotten all about that little bit of history, click the tags at the bottom of this post and get caught up (Or click here to watch a little video I made right afterwards.
That devastation, which would have been a major disaster to some, looks more and more like the BEST thing that ever could have happened to us. Had that not happened, April and I wouldn't be living in Las Vegas now. I wouldn't be meeting new people in the industry, getting exposure in broader markets...
And I certainly wouldn't have gotten to film that political commercial I mentioned. See the previous post for more info.
Did Somebody Say...Andy Martello's in a Commercial???
Indeed I am, folks!
Last week some time (or maybe the week before...I can't quite remember the days anymore) I got a last minute booking. I received a phone call that went something like this...
"Andy this is [a producer] from L.A.. I need to speak to you immediately. Please call me at..."
I figured this was probably a TV or theatre spot for THAT NIGHT (while I was already at work at Houdini's), likely in L.A. or some place I couldn't get two immediately. I called back and instead it was a call for a plate-spinner...in Las Vegas...on Wednesday (my day off).
Seemed like a good day's work! After all, I am...The Last GREAT Plate-Spinner!
The spot was for a regional television commercial. Some sort of anti-bureaucracy spot paid for by a tobacco company wanting to stop some sort of freedom-hating legislation no doubt. The bad part - I had to be at the Planet Hollywood at 5 AM on Wednesday. The good part(s) - the cash was great, I'd get said cash that day, and I'd be done by 1 PM. Better still, I'd get a copy of the thing eventually for my files.
The shoot was fantastic, loads of fun, and we got a lot of great footage. Everyone, whether they were from L.A. or locals from Vegas, were great to work with and all had similar senses of humor and fun about them. The director and producer were happy with my performance and all the footage and we were all confident we'd get a good finished product.
At the time we didn't know where or when the thing was to air. We just knew the end client wanted a plate-spinner for the spot and I was the right guy for the job. I was hopeful it would air somewhere I had friends or family, if not somewhere full of people who might see the thing and get me more work. As it happened, the commercial was finished quickly and it started airing on March 26th. Where? On stations in Michigan's First Congressional District. Who lives there? My mother, my older brother, his wife, his ex-wife, his kids, his wife's kids, my nieces - a whole lot of family! My mom was the first to see the spot and just happened upon it while watching the evening news.
The spot is running during all of the best-watched shows (Oprah, Letterman, Today, etc.) and my family is getting to see it. Very cool!
I was worried it would run at midnight somewhere nobody lives and about 8 people would see the thing. Instead lots of people in my family are seeing it and that makes me even happier.
When I get a copy I'll be sure to share with the rest of the class.
We've not achieved the big LETTERMAN GOAL as of yet, but these things do take time. I cannot thank enough everyone for sending along copies of the e-mails and blog postings regarding my silly endeavor.
Remember, if you also send me your mailing address I'll try to locate some Andy-centric swag to send your way.
Here are a few cool e-mails (Identities omitted here unless they also posted on a blog). I only print them here because the web search spiders will find them and help get the word out there even more. This has nothing to do with stroking my ego...though I can always use a boost of morale.
Hello,
I was watching the late show and saw that David Letterman and Sylvester Stallone were complaining that there are not more plate spinners. Well, I know a plate spinner that is a great entertainer. This fabulous entertainers name is Andy Martello. Please consider having him on the Late Show. Check his website out: http://andymartello.com/plate.htm.
Best regards,
C. W., Naperville, IL
________________________________________________
Dear CBS Mailbag, Recently, I was watching an episode of Late Night with David Letterman, and Dave had remarked that he wanted to bring plate spinning back to television. However, I wanted to write you with a recommendation for a gentleman who not only spin plates...but is a world-class entertainer. His name is Andy Martello.
Having known Andy for some time, he has some great comedic material, is an excellent juggler, and is slowly, but surely, building Internet buzz for his unique brand of off-kilter humor. He even has a web site - www.andymartello.com - where you can learn more. I could have done a Top 10 list, but quite frankly - it would be a waste. I would strongly encourage you to have Andy on to spin plates, to tell jokes, but more importantly - to bring his unique magic to America. As a long time viewer, I promise - you will not be sorry. Thank you for your time and attention.
______________________________________ To whom it may concern;
Sylvester Stallone brought up an interesting fact on Mr. Letterman's show; you no longer see plate spinners on television. As a child, I often saw these masters of gravity working their magic on Ed Sullivan (in the very same theater Mr. Letterman now works his own brand of magic in) on Sunday's, wondering how in the heck they did what they did. Lo and behold! I know a plate spinner! Mr. Andy Martello, who can be reached atandymartello.com. What do you know?
Cordially,
K. V.
__________________________________
Hi,
Sylvester Stallone was on the Late Show last night commenting something about how there aren't any "plate spinners" around anymore. We'll, he was wrong. Dead wrong! Andy Martello, comedian/juggler/fire eater/magician/etc. is a kick ass performer, who just happens to be an awesome plate spinner! He even has an awesome plate spinning video game on his website...http://www.andymartello.com/ Check it out.
I think Andy's type of old school entertainment is exactly what Dave and Stallone were talking about. Andy has more talent in his little finger than most performers have in their little fingers. :)
I've known Andy for about 14 years now, and he's a great guy. I really hope that you consider having him bring his brand of entertainment to the masses...and book him to be on The Late Show. And if you do...none of this "Do your act/smile/shake Dave's hand/and get off the dang stage"-nonsense. I think Dave should sit and chat with him for a while. That way, Andy can get famous and he can thank me by buying me a burrito after a rock concert or something... and just let me hang out with his newly famous ass.
Thanks for you time,
J. D. (Chicago)
By the way...if you can't book Andy on a show with Stallone (to show him that plate spinners are indeed still...well...spinning)...have him on a show with Joe Walsh from The Eagles. Maybe Joe could even play some plate spinning music for Andy. That would rule!
Naturally, I love that last e-mail a lot just for getting a Joe Walsh reference in there as well. Nice! Other good folks have managed to get off some e-mails and blog posts, including my partner in crime, Golfwidow and long-time friend, Magician, GlennBishop.
Loads of thanks for the effort and for the support. Let's hope it all helps.
Not only would I get on Letterman, but my segment would be a wonderfully planned comedy sketch leading up to the plate-spinning.
Picture this.
Myself and Sylvester Stallone in a "Rocky" style training montage. Me as the surly old plate-spinner (in full-on hybrid vaudeville performer/Mickey the trainer garb) coaching Stallone on the fine art of plate-spinning. Rocky theme music blaring, plates breaking, maybe a cameo by Carl Weathers - brilliant! The topper? A parody of "Eye of the Tiger" titled, "Balls of the Juggler" performed by Jim Peterik himself.
Listen up, Letterman & CBS. I can even write a sketch for you. I know you've got your own writers back. I'm just saying... Keep those cards and letters rolling in. They will be read. I will spin plates on CBS.
Many thanks to everyone who has played along with this little bit of nonsense.
No, I don't need your help financially or any "disaster-related" way (thank goodness!). I need you to start a blogging/e-mailing campaign on my behalf.
Sylvester Stallone was on Letterman tonight complaining about how there are no plate-spinners around anymore. Letterman joked, "I'll have to bring that back for you."
What better way to do so than by having yours truly, The Last GREAT Plate-Spinner, on the show? I could even teach Stallone and Letterman on-air how to spin plates. It seems a natural to have a plate-spinner on the Ed Sullivan stage again doesn't it?
How do we get this message across to the Letterman Show?
Second: Get some blogger buzz out there and shill on my behalf. You're all looking for content every now and then, right? Well put up a post about getting my plate-spinning butt on Letterman. Link to my blog, my website, postlinkstoplate-spinningvideos - whatever. Just get the word out and get even MORE e-mails flooding the Late Show.
Third: E-mail others and encourage them to do the same. Why not? You'd do this if I were on Idol or America's Got Talent, right?
Fourth: Repeat steps one, two & three until this damn idea works.
If you do make a blog post please be sure to alert me of it and I'll send you some sort of Andy-centric freebie or something cool like that.
Please, folks. Every little bit helps. A little exposure like this can really jump-start things for me here.
I am very pleased to announce the
