Radio City Music Hall, NYC. Bill Crystal, Robin William, Whoopi Goldberg (when she swore she’d never wear anything but a pantsuit) hosted, and teems of other A list actors and entertainers, including Jason Alexander, Tom Arnold, Roseanne Barr, Bob Einstein, En Vogue, George Foreman, Babcat Goldthwait (he cut his hair off on-stage), Robert Klein, LL Cool J, Dennis Miller, Mary Tyler Moore, as well as other less known actors looking to get their name out there too. Louie Anderson, Jim Carey, and Allan Blye were the main writers and cast too – what a time! What an experience!
I did NOT name the actor I was assigned to above. And by assigned to I mean, ensure that he made it to the green room and staging area for his scheduled portion of the show. He had just done a movie with Robin Williams, and was and is with a very A list Actress, that I adore. She was incredibly down to earth, and remains so today. The actor was not “well” known yet, but held himself well, I could see he was not “always” sure of himself though. I wouldn’t be either going out on that stage to make conversational jokes. But it was certainly a go-to event to see and be-seen at, and I was grateful to just be a part of it (unpaid) all, even a minute one as a production assistant. I have kept up with it over the years, and contributed to many causes over the years.
The hosts were with mostly solitary with their kluge behind the scenes, but exploded with energy on the stage, it was truly something to witness, especially Robin Williams. I was literally standing next to them all at different points in the program.
Later, I heard my actor’s name called in the line-up, and I made sure he was in place for his bit on-stage. All went on-time, and he returned to the same place, so I didn’t even have to run over to the other side of the stage, which was not just running in a hallway behind the stage, it was very convoluted back then. I took him to the press area where he stood for pictures and statements, he then joined his significant other, and off they went. I was able to watch the remainder of the program from the opulent green room, then we broke it all down and went home.
The breakdown again taking just a fraction of the time that it took to set it all up, test all the equipment from lavs, hand mics, wired mics, confidence monitors, audio, lights, blocking, cameras, resetting for the next artist on the different colored tape markings on the stage (blocking), all of was a great training ground. It was a group of fabulous people leading the way to success! Set yourself up for success, and it will follow.
I hold everyone on the crew in high esteem to this day, and mourn the loss of all who have passed. A great memory I cherish to this day.
Thank you Universe!
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