1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:01,320 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 2: All I wanted to do was focus on the one 3 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: component was live performance. Put on a great show, Build 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 2: a beautiful, great listening room that both the artist and 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 2: the fan can can completely immerse themselves in. 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 3: You want to fully. 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 2: Indulge the complete sensory component of sight and smell in 8 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 2: our case, you know, the aromas of wine making and 9 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: good food, and just really connect all the sensory components 10 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: for the fans and the artists so that they feel 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 2: comfortable and they feel like home. 12 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast, where Buzz Night 13 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: talks with people from all walks of life about their 14 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: love of music. Today is no exception as buzz Welcome 15 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: City Winery founder Michael Dorf. Michael is the founder of 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: the Knitting Factory, one of the oldest music venues in 17 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: New York. We're for years, Michael has been able to 18 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: share his passions for wine and music in the same 19 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: wonderful location. Michael's story is truly a fascinating one that 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: blends wine and music. Michael Darf joints Buzz Night now 21 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: on Taking a Walk. 22 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 4: Michael Dwarf from City Winery, It's an honor to have 23 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 4: you on the Taking a Walk podcast. 24 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 3: Well, I look forward to taking a walk with you. 25 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 4: So, yes, we were taking a walk with Larry Miller. 26 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 3: We were just talking about. 27 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 4: This on a previous episode of Taking a Walk and 28 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 4: you and Larry know each other. Larry the professor there 29 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 4: from NYU and great music executive and thought leader, so 30 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 4: we intersected on that episode. But I want to ask 31 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 4: you what first shape your love of music that would 32 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 4: lead you on this incredible journey. 33 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: Well, the irony of I think my getting into music 34 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 2: as a career in life at this point was because 35 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: I really sucked myself as a as a player. And 36 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: growing up and I'm really talking young, like primary school, 37 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: I went to a camp, a summer camp up in 38 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: northern Wisconsin called interlock In and it was a very 39 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: musical socialist, Dewey radical, you know sixties counselors, you know, 40 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 2: very hippie. We woke up in the morning, you know, 41 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 2: on the megaphone speaker system to Dylan every morning going 42 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 2: everybody must get Stone. So it was you know, Madison, 43 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: Wisconsin hippies that were the counselors. It was quite a 44 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 2: I guess early in doctor nation into into music. But 45 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: my friends Harlan Bob Michael. 46 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 3: They were they were all natural musicians. 47 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,519 Speaker 2: They could they could play all different kinds of instruments. 48 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 3: They formed a band right away. 49 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: I took two years of guitar lessons. I could still 50 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: never get like Stairway to Heaven, even the beginning of it. 51 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 3: Like I just it didn't come natural to me. 52 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: And I just always wanted to be in the band, 53 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: right because they were getting girls. And then high school, 54 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: you know, they had the band, and it was just 55 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 2: I was jealous and desirous of being part of the band. 56 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 3: And but couldn't. 57 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 2: I had no talent, And so I very quickly became 58 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 2: the sound guy, you know, and again not qualified to 59 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: be a sound guy, but you know, they'll take anybody, 60 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 2: you know, the roadie, the lighting guy. I remember even 61 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 2: building a lighting board out of just switches, you know, 62 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: because I was into you know, construction and stuff like that. 63 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 3: So I just became part of the band. 64 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 2: And then when they got more serious, and a couple 65 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: of them really became at the time working musicians in college, 66 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: I became their manager and and then next thing, you know, 67 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: I became a record guy for them, and and then 68 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: I was in law school for a year and dropped 69 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: out and went to you know, went to New York 70 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: and you know, started a record label around a couple 71 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: of bands from Wisconsin. 72 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 3: But I got. 73 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: Really, really, you know into it from the from the 74 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 2: from the non you know, stage perspective in that sense, 75 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: and and and have stuck with it, like I I 76 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 2: love my role in the kind of the ecosystem, you know, 77 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 2: and I think the I guess you know, if you will, 78 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 2: My success, which has not been financial, but in terms 79 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: of success being getting to do what you love to do, 80 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 2: was recognizing that I'm not going to be the singer 81 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 2: songwriter on. 82 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: The stage, but I'm going to do everything. 83 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: I can to make the perfect environment for the artists 84 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 2: to be able to perform and work and maybe. 85 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 3: Earn a living. 86 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: And and so you know, I feel very blessed to 87 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: have gone down the path and walk what I have 88 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 2: in life so far. So take us back. 89 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 4: You're twenty three years old. You start this thing called 90 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 4: the knitting factory in Greenwich Village. What was the vibe, like, 91 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 4: give us the scene there if we were to walk 92 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 4: into the knitting factory back. 93 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: Then, well, the you know, mid eighties on Houston Street 94 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 2: and you know, little literally meets the Bowery. It was 95 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: a you know, it was it was really gritty and 96 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: incredibly cool to me. You know, we were a couple 97 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: blocks from CBGB's, which was you know, just storied. You know, 98 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: you went into the East Village and it was you know, 99 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 2: at the time just you know, as as grainy and 100 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 2: and just full of characters as as can be. You know, 101 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 2: you would go a little further towards n y U 102 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 2: and Washington Square and there was the bottom Line and 103 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: Village Vanguard and a Blue Note and so there's all 104 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: these storied music venues from my perspective, and people you know, 105 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 2: the lou Reeds and the Patty Smith's and Eric Bogosian 106 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 2: and you know Ethel Eichelberg, the great you know performer, 107 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 2: and there was just there was such incredible grit in 108 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: New York. So I got really lucky opening at a 109 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 2: time when there was just so much energy artistically and 110 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: being really green in a certain way from Wisconsin and 111 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 2: and and and having been on the performer side in 112 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: the sense of the getting to ban work in these 113 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 2: different venues, I had a really simple deal with artists. 114 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: It was seventy five to twenty five, you know, artists 115 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 2: gets seventy five percent of the ticket. 116 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 3: You know, house gets twenty five. 117 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 2: And so if ten people show up and there's a 118 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: ten dollars ticket, there's one hundred bucks. 119 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 3: They're making seventy five. 120 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: If one hundred people pay twenty dollars and it's two thousand, 121 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 2: they're getting fifteen hundred. And I was honest and real, 122 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: and there was no deductions in fancy formulas. And so 123 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, all these artists from the from 124 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: the jazz scene, from the rock scene, from the alternative world, 125 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 2: and then within jazz was you know the real avant 126 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 2: garde East Village, you know, white folk. There was the 127 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: Brooklyn you know, African American cool cats, Cassanda Wilson, Steve 128 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: Coleman and those folks. And then there was the older 129 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 2: guard of jazz that was not even getting They wasn't 130 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 2: getting into the uptown you know at the time JBC 131 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: Jazz Festival, which was George Ween and Newport, which I've 132 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: became close with, but also the beginning of jazz at 133 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: Lincoln Center. So there was they were being kind of 134 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: box out. So Ornette Coleman and Cecil Taylor and Henry Threguiel. 135 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 3: So he had this like. 136 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 2: Blue chip jazz world and the young and everything just 137 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 2: kind of came in. We were it was like a 138 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 2: black hole in the sense of everything just coming to 139 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: us because I was just this kid who like didn't 140 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 2: know what the fuck I was. 141 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 3: Doing, and and it was and I paid and I 142 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 3: was honest, it was you you. 143 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 2: Do three thousand son Rod did so many shows with 144 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 2: us because he could make real money, you know, I 145 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 2: wasn't ripping them off, and and so what happened. He 146 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: also had just this kind of cross fertilation, fertilization of 147 00:08:55,400 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 2: of music and scenes. So like you know, the cats 148 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: from Sonic Youth, you know, would come in and and 149 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 2: love watching you know, the free jazz players and and 150 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 2: and get you know, learn from this improv world. And 151 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: then because Sonic Youth was kind of revered by like 152 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: someone like back and and and and and and and 153 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 2: the young rockers, you know, we we then hosted you know, 154 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 2: Beck's first show, or the Indigo Girls came up for 155 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 2: their first show in New York or you know, like 156 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 2: so we we had this incredible time where everything genres 157 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 2: didn't matter. 158 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 3: It was just music and and. 159 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 2: And fair pay and respect, you know, and and and again. 160 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 3: I think that. 161 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 2: Being and sort of understanding my my place and the 162 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 2: ecosystem worked really well for kind of allowing all that 163 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 2: to grow. 164 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 4: So you were really well ahead of your time in 165 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 4: nineteen ninety six with your digital club network and which 166 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 4: would yield them the Macintosh Music Festival, which was really 167 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 4: the first live streaming concert, I believe. Can you talk 168 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 4: about that experience and your vision for all of that. 169 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 2: Well, you know, a lot of it was just hustling 170 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 2: and trying to on some level earn a living, you know, 171 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,599 Speaker 2: while there was this incredible fertile mix. 172 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 3: Of music happening. And again I came to New York 173 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 3: wanting to. 174 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 2: Push not just live performance, but be in the record business, 175 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 2: if you will. 176 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 3: We started doing a lot of recording live. 177 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 2: From the Knitting Factor, but getting the word out to 178 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 2: the world, you know, getting it out wasn't wasn't easy. 179 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 3: It was old distribution. 180 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 2: So when there seemed to be the opportunity to not 181 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 2: have to ship physical CDs you know before and the 182 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 2: first four titles came out on vinyl, you know, as 183 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 2: it was transferring to digital, I mean I got again lucky. 184 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 2: I count my blessings. You know, the dat machine came 185 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:24,559 Speaker 2: out right as we opened, right, so the digital recording 186 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:29,960 Speaker 2: happened as we were opening. So the ability to go 187 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 2: from Adams to digits was happening live as we were 188 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 2: putting on stuff. So the idea of documenting it, putting 189 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: it recording, then figuring out a deal, you know, that worked. 190 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: So I had a record company in Japan called Takuma 191 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 2: that was licensing my stuff, which allowed me to get 192 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 2: some money in to give to the artists, to get 193 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 2: worldwide rights to really develop. 194 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 3: And so you know where I met Larry Miller. 195 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 2: Actually from like eighty eight to ninety five, we would 196 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 2: go to to to to con to the Medium conference 197 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 2: just to meet the distributors because he had to physically 198 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: get together pre fax machine and that, you know, all 199 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 2: that world, and so you know, it was it was 200 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 2: and certainly pre email. I mean, the idea of it's 201 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 2: it's almost seems unfathomable how we connected with people you 202 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 2: know before this you know era. But then when the 203 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 2: idea of transferring that music through the airwaves and that 204 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 2: we didn't have to go through terrestrial radio, but we 205 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 2: could actually use this thing called the internet, and we 206 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 2: didn't call it the Internet. We called it the world 207 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 2: Wide Web for the first six months, like it was 208 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 2: the Www, you know, and like we didn't know, but 209 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 2: it was so it was an adventure. But the idea 210 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 2: that you could reach people all over the globe, you know, live, 211 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 2: even though it was through a you know, fourteen hundred 212 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 2: bad modem and it wasn't really live. It was just 213 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 2: like a trickle of sound, you know, but it was 214 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: you connected with people, and so it just seemed like 215 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 2: such a huge opportunity to grow an experiment. And yeah, 216 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 2: we we went for it with Apple and Intel and 217 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 2: Bell Atlantic and m c I and then Larry and 218 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 2: eighteen D like so we you know, we really had a. 219 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 3: It was just it was it was it was fun. 220 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 2: I had an an intern literally worked for me for 221 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 2: a year, went on tour to Europe and was playing 222 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 2: around in this world of recording and getting it out, 223 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,959 Speaker 2: and he started a dot com company and went public 224 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 2: and became my first intern turned billionaire for a while. 225 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 3: Now. 226 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 2: Of course he lost all of it during the dot 227 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 2: com bubble, not all of it, but he you know, 228 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,959 Speaker 2: it was like it was just such a heady time, 229 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 2: you know, it's crazy. 230 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 1: Wow, how we'll be right back with more Than Taking 231 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 1: a Walk podcast. Welcome back to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 232 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 4: So City Winery would form in two thousand and eight, 233 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 4: and how do you feel that you're at? Where are 234 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 4: you at today with City Winery? How are you feeling 235 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 4: about it? It's a revered brand. I mean I interviewed 236 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 4: the great artist, manager and music executive Danny Goldberg, and 237 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 4: I said to Danny, Danny, where where are some of 238 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 4: your favorite venues? 239 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: The first thing Danny says is City Winery. 240 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 4: I love my artists playing at City Winery. So you 241 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 4: must be so proud of the respect that you have built. 242 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 4: Where do you feel you are right now with the 243 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 4: brand City Winery? 244 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: Well, you know when I hear Danny and he's he 245 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 2: represents obviously Steve Earle. 246 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 3: And and and and many others. 247 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 2: But to know that Steve loves to be on our 248 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 2: stage and perform, and and that Steve will say to 249 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: me like when are you going to open in Austin? 250 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,359 Speaker 3: Or when are you going to open in Toronto? 251 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: Or when are you gonna You know, we need something 252 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 2: in La like to hear from an artist or like 253 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 2: Mark Cohne or Suzanne Vega. 254 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 3: Right. 255 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: You know, that's one of the greatest compliments you know, 256 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 2: I can have. We're trying very hard. I mean this 257 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 2: was very deliberate. One of the great opportunities of starting 258 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: a second brand or company is you get to really 259 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 2: work at trying to fix what you didn't do right 260 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: the first time. And I made a lot of mistakes 261 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 2: with the net in Factory. But number one, I didn't 262 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 2: want to do any recording. Like I I wanted to 263 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 2: leave the world of intellectual property right and copyright and 264 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: just like leave that to Danny Goldberg and and and 265 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 2: Larry Miller and everybody else. All I wanted to do 266 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 2: was focus on the one component was live performance. Put 267 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 2: on a great show, have a build a beautiful, great 268 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 2: listening room that both the artist and the fan can 269 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 2: completely immerse themselves in. I even call it indulge all 270 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: of your senses. 271 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 3: That the title of my book. 272 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 2: You want to fully indulge the complete sensory component of 273 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 2: sight and smell in our case, you know, the aromas 274 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 2: of wine making and good food and the field. To 275 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: make sure that furniture is wood in the room is 276 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 2: authentic brick not fake, you know, materials, and just really 277 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 2: connect all the sensory components for the fans and the 278 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 2: artists so that they feel comfortable and they feel like home. 279 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 2: And then we add the elements of great food backstage 280 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 2: and just be nice. Like all of these things together 281 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 2: are what create a magical moment. 282 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 3: And that's our job. 283 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 2: Our job is creating the best medium between an artist 284 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 2: performance and their fan to be able to connect. And 285 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 2: I think wine helps lubricate that connection, but the connection 286 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: really is my job, and so I focused on that. 287 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 2: I didn't want to put out records and do radio 288 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 2: shows and TV and have an artist ever look at 289 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 2: me in the eyes with like Larry David, you know, 290 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 2: look and go like do you owe me a little 291 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 2: royalty for that Japanese TV show we did? Or I 292 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 2: just don't want to. 293 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 3: I want them to give me a big bear hug. 294 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 2: When when Joan Osborne and she opened the City Winery 295 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 2: first show, you know, she just gave me a huge 296 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 2: bear hug. And to me, that that relationship with an 297 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 2: artist that I revere and love their music because we 298 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 2: delive a great setting and medium for performance, that's to me, the. 299 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 3: Greatest compliment I can do. And so now I want 300 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 3: to scale that. 301 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 2: You know, I want to take, you know, a three 302 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 2: hundred seat perfect listening room and just move put that 303 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 2: in as many places as I possibly can, you know, 304 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 2: while I'm still a working stiff. 305 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,160 Speaker 4: Well, there's a number of amazing things that City Winery does, 306 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 4: so I'll highlight them and allow you to brag about 307 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 4: these things. Okay, First of all, you find spaces in 308 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 4: various cities where you are helping to revitalize neighborhoods. I 309 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 4: think that's really noteworthy. I also think you not only 310 00:18:54,720 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 4: have tremendous legacy artists that you bring out, but you 311 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 4: also are dedicated to a diverse group that includes emerging 312 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 4: music as well. And I think that's a really important aspect. 313 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 4: And then the other aspect of it, which is part 314 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 4: of you that you've brought to the City Winery brand, 315 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 4: is how the City Wineries work, you know, at helping 316 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 4: charities and helping the community. So maybe talk about those 317 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,119 Speaker 4: those elements because they're so important. 318 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: Well, I love adaptive reuse of buildings as much as 319 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 2: it is in the neighborhood and and and and sort 320 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 2: of building not just community, but frankly, uh, real estate 321 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 2: value around in neighborhoods. You know, We're a destination business. 322 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 2: So whether it's a concert or a bar mitzvah or wedding, like, 323 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 2: you're going to go to the address. So we get 324 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 2: a little bit of an advantage that way over a 325 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 2: regular restaurant that really does need to seek a neighborhood 326 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: that has foot traffic. We can go a little bit 327 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 2: more on the on the edgy side. But that also 328 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 2: allows me to find really cool historic buildings to to 329 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 2: do adaptive reuse, and the materials again fit into my 330 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 2: desire for for authenticity, you know, in terms of you know, 331 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 2: programming from the knitting factory days, I've loved being eclectic. 332 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 2: I think you don't have to just be a jazz 333 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 2: club or just a rock club. Audiences are sophisticated and cultured. 334 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 2: You you enjoyed diversity, You enjoy you know, both R 335 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 2: and B. 336 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 3: And folk and and and you know. 337 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 2: So I think our programming is reflective, you know of that. Uh, 338 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: there's a Hebrew expression called tikun o lum repair the world. 339 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 3: Just before this, you know, we're trying. 340 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 2: To put together a benefit right now, you know for Ashville. 341 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 2: You know, there's obviously a lot of people and the 342 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 2: media is focusing on the politicians who are all you know, 343 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 2: let's hope Trump doesn't throw toilet paper, you know at 344 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 2: this this climate disaster, but like really feel bad for 345 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 2: people who got caught off guard, you know, on this 346 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 2: most recent hurricane from a few days ago, and the 347 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,959 Speaker 2: number of people have lost everything. We have a stage, 348 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 2: we have a rolodex with with artists that we can 349 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 2: reach out to, and we have you know, one and 350 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 2: a half million customers in our in our in our 351 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 2: database that we can reach out to and actually raise 352 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 2: money and raise awareness for other funds. And so to me, 353 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 2: this feels like a responsibility since we have these these 354 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 2: venues to be able to do what we can to 355 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 2: help repair the world. And sadly, there's something that needs 356 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: repair every single day everywhere, and climate is a huge 357 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 2: one and you know it ain't getting any better right 358 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 2: now and won't be for a while. 359 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: But whether it's. 360 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 2: Science disease issues or political caused problems, you know, health, 361 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 2: school education. 362 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 3: You know, one of the proudest. 363 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 2: Things I we were able to do is we got 364 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 2: a call once from a music school that literally was 365 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 2: three months behind in its rent and they were being 366 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 2: shut down, like the end of the following week, we 367 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 2: had to raise one hundred and fifty thousand dollars or 368 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 2: else they literally would have closed their doors. And we 369 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 2: just you know, called everyone, let's go, let's we got 370 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 2: we need one hundred and fifty grand now's our goal. 371 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 2: And we did it, you know, and that feels great 372 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 2: that we can leverage our venues for something good like that. 373 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 4: You have a large team that is a part of 374 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 4: City Winery. Talk about your leadership style with that team. 375 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad you're not interviewing them. Yeah, there's fifteen 376 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 2: hundred people. Now it's it's you know, crazy again. One 377 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 2: of the lessons of all the mistakes from the knitting 378 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 2: factory and being able to do a new business was 379 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 2: one of the first things I really the first we 380 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 2: did a company off site year one with City Winery, 381 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 2: I took everyone up a little rock climbing exercise, but 382 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 2: we together kind of co created mission and and. 383 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,959 Speaker 3: And while yeah, I have all my notes, but like 384 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 3: to get. 385 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 2: People invested and embedded and feeling truly like a team 386 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 2: and doing what I can to demonstrate the value of 387 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 2: the whole team. That's been one of the key management 388 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 2: goals for me in this new I you know, can't 389 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 2: make wine. I can't make good mixed drinks. Frankly, I 390 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,399 Speaker 2: can't cook in the kitchen. I can't do the box 391 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 2: office and sound. And you know, there's no way to 392 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 2: be in sixteen markets simultaneously and introduce each show each night, 393 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 2: you know, like that's just to hit scale. You've got 394 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 2: to have a team that feels the same sense of 395 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 2: crowd ownership that I do. 396 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 3: And so that's a core part of my job. 397 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 2: I feel I'm not proficient at so many components of 398 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 2: our operations, but I know I got to bring everybody 399 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 2: together and I got to inspire. And part of the 400 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:03,479 Speaker 2: reason I even you know, did that book was almost 401 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 2: on some level to puff the balloon up a little 402 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 2: bit more than I feel myself in terms of being 403 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 2: a thought leader and a leader, because I. 404 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:17,679 Speaker 3: Want people to in the company to to. 405 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 2: Understand where we're going, and so you got to kind 406 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 2: of kind of play that role. And I recognize that. 407 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 2: So sometimes I don't feel qualified, and some days I do, 408 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 2: you know. And I like to write a lot. I 409 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 2: like to try and process the thoughts. My substack is 410 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,880 Speaker 2: getting some you know, attention, which is kind of. 411 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 3: Cool and and and and. 412 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 2: People send me notes going like, oh, that was such 413 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 2: a great you know note you wrote about this, and 414 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 2: you know some you know, I think helping articulate what's 415 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:54,720 Speaker 2: now sixty two years of of of of I don't 416 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 2: want to use the word wisdom. Let's just call it 417 00:25:57,240 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 2: experience and and and artic it and in ways that 418 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 2: hopefully can can resonate with with people and young people. 419 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 2: And that's again why I appreciate what Larry Miller is 420 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 2: doing in life right now, as he's been able to 421 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 2: manifest what's been a great career and and now teach 422 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 2: and and give back to to young people. I find 423 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 2: that to be, you know, such an altruistic endeavor. 424 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 4: And by the way, the work he's involved with as 425 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 4: well at that amazing Lewis Armstrong Museum is pretty incredible 426 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 4: as well. 427 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 2: No, I mean what what his family, you know, has 428 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 2: been able to contribute towards that, And and Larry and 429 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 2: I both serve on the Newport Foundation board. I feel 430 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 2: very lucky to have overlapped with with George ween and 431 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 2: and we competed and then became great friends. 432 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 3: And and then. 433 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,159 Speaker 2: For him to be you know, asked me to be 434 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 2: on his board to keep the legacy going, you know. 435 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 2: And I didn't have very many mentors besides say, my 436 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 2: dad and all in the. 437 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 3: Business, but. 438 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 2: George really was I would call a true mentor who 439 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 2: you know, would take me to dinner and tell me 440 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 2: what I did right and what I did wrong. And 441 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:20,120 Speaker 2: you know, I really, you know, love the men. 442 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 4: So this is an impossible question, I'm sure, but I'm 443 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 4: going to ask it anyway. Give me some memorable concert 444 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 4: moments at your city wineries that you experienced as a 445 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 4: fan of music. 446 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 2: Well, you know, my go to highlight and it is 447 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 2: I go back to it all the time, and there's 448 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 2: so many here. But you know, we got the honor 449 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 2: of doing a couple of prints after shows. And so 450 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 2: he played twice in New York and once in Chicago, 451 00:27:54,320 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 2: and they were remarkable and and the second of the 452 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 2: of the New York shows, he played from three am 453 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 2: till six am, and he you know, big band, big 454 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 2: set up. He played all the hits at six am 455 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 2: to see five hundred you know, sort of respectable white 456 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,800 Speaker 2: people walking onto the street of New York who hadn't 457 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:21,880 Speaker 2: been up that late for twenty years, but they had 458 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 2: just taken into oxygen like at a casino in Vegas 459 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 2: from from his incredible. 460 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:29,400 Speaker 3: Magic he did. 461 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 2: It was just just remarkable. But right before the first show, 462 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 2: I got a note from his his he had two 463 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 2: young women who were acting as managers, who who basically 464 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 2: he was he was going to cancel because I was 465 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 2: on a on a podcast they I guess they called him. 466 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 3: You know whatuld we. 467 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 2: Call him back in two thousand and fifteen or vcas 468 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 2: whatever we were called of of log I gave an 469 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 2: interview as to some some folks on on on how 470 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 2: I got Prince to come and we I do this 471 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 2: annual tribute at Carnegie Hall and he had been the 472 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 2: honoree and I thought he was going to come for that, 473 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,760 Speaker 2: and then you know, circumstance led to to this and 474 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 2: I used the words I said, you know, I've been 475 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 2: trying to get this motherfucker to come and play for 476 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 2: for a long time. And I had just seen Purple 477 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 2: Rain the night before, so like curse seing and you know, 478 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 2: and I did it with it was endearing, you know way. 479 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:36,239 Speaker 3: I said it. 480 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 2: But as soon as the show was over, I got 481 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 2: a text going like please call me, you know, and 482 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 2: it was this woman who was with prince. And he's like, 483 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 2: you know what his name is? 484 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 3: Correct? And I'm like, what goes? You just cursed as 485 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 3: his name rather than his name. You know what his 486 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 3: name is. I'm like, of course I do. It's prince. 487 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:04,800 Speaker 3: Oh oh my god, like, no, no, no, you have 488 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 3: no idea. 489 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 2: Well he's reconsidering, you know, the performance. And I'm like no, no, no, no, 490 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 2: no no no no no no no no no no no, no, 491 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 2: oh my god. And I said, is there anything anything 492 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 2: I can do? I mean, you have no idea. I'm 493 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: so sorry. 494 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 3: It was that's wrong context. You got to understand. 495 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 2: She's like, hold on, so like there's a pause, and 496 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 2: then she goes, all right, he he wants you to 497 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 2: write I'm sorry, your name is prince one hundred times 498 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 2: on a piece of paper. And after you do that, 499 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 2: take a photo and text it to me and then 500 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 2: we'll reconsider. So I scramble, and it's being videotaped. I'm scrambling. 501 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, your name is prince. I'm sorry your name 502 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 2: is prince. 503 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 3: You know. I'm so you know, bent over and like, 504 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 3: but you know, of course he's prince. So I do it. 505 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 2: I take the photo, send it. She sends me up 506 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 2: going I'm coming over to get it in person. So 507 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 2: I'm sweating, you know, I like, this is five o'clock 508 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 2: the day of the first show. 509 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 3: And like, so you know, he obviously did the shows, 510 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 3: and but oh my god, to have that connection with 511 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 3: him was nuts. 512 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 4: What a story, what a life, Michael Dorf. What experiences 513 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 4: you and your teams give us at your city wineries. 514 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:36,280 Speaker 4: I'm so grateful that you came on the podcast, and 515 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 4: thanks for everything that you continue to do. 516 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 3: Man, it's great. 517 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 2: Well, I really appreciate being honest and thank you for 518 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 2: supporting us, and I hope to see you again soon. 519 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 4: Absolutely, thank you, Michael. 520 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 521 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 522 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,880 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 523 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 524 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.