1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:01,280 Speaker 1: Taking a walk. 2 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 2: It was thrilling to me to get to play the 3 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 2: piano for them, and also to work with the singers, 4 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 2: all the kids that got cast in it. I would 5 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: teach them the songs, I would rehearse the songs, and 6 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: that to me was my favorite time of the year. 7 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 2: That was just so exciting to me. 8 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 3: I'm buzznight and on this episode had taken a walk. 9 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 3: We're joined by the extraordinary Eric Vitro, the vocal coach 10 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 3: behind some of the biggest names in music and film today. 11 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 3: From Ariana Grande to Sean Mendez, Timothy Chalome to Broadway legends. 12 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 3: Eric has shaped the voices and careers of countless stars. 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 3: No not only for his unmatched vocal expertise, but his 14 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 3: empathetic and motivating approach. Eric brings a rare blend of teacher, therapist, 15 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 3: and friend to his work. We're going to dive into 16 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 3: his journey from a small New York factory town to 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 3: becoming Hollywood's most sought after voice specialist. So whether you're 18 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 3: a singer, an actor, or you just love great stories 19 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 3: of dedication and passion, this conversation with Eric Vitro will 20 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 3: inspire you to take your own walk with confidence. It's 21 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 3: coming up next after these words Taking a Walk. Eric Vitro, 22 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 3: thanks for being on the Taking a Walk podcast. 23 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 2: Thanks so much. I'm thrilled to be here. 24 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 3: So since we call this taking a walk, I do 25 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 3: have to put you under the heat lamp and ask 26 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 3: you our opening question, okay, which is Eric, if you 27 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 3: could take a walk with somebody, living or dead, who 28 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 3: would you take a walk with and where would you 29 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 3: take that walk with him? 30 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: Oh gosh, there are so many people that come to 31 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 2: mind instantly, I think, and he's living. I think it 32 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: would be Deepak Showbra because he's one of my favorite 33 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: writers and I love so many of the things he's 34 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: had to say. His books have had a big impact 35 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 2: on me, and so I have met him briefly. But 36 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: I think to take a walk with him, I think 37 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: would be fascinating and I think it would be life changing, 38 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 2: even more so than the books. 39 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 3: I think it'd be amazing. I think that would require 40 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 3: you possibly to not be too far from where I am, 41 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 3: because isn't he out in Western mass or something? 42 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: You know? I don't know, but I met him out here. 43 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 2: He was in a restaurant one time. Well, I met 44 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: him several times. Actually he wouldn't remember me, probably because 45 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 2: it wasn't really a formal introduction. One time it was 46 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: one of his talks. He gave a talk and one 47 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: of my students had sung an operatic aria before the 48 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: talk started, so she did introduce me to him, and 49 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 2: that was just hello, nice to meet you, with a 50 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: great lecture. Then I saw him at a restaurant and 51 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: I was with a friend of mine and I said, 52 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: you know, I was listening to his book, one of 53 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 2: his books, on the Way here. I think I'm going 54 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: to go tell him. And she kind of looked to 55 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: me like, I don't know if you should bother him, 56 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: and I said, you know what, I'm just going to 57 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 2: do it because my instinct is telling me to do it. 58 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: And he could not have been warmer and more friendly, 59 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: and he actually hugged me, and she was like I 60 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: could see the shocked look on her face because I 61 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: was staring at her when I was having this encounter 62 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: with him, and I said to him, I was listening 63 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 2: to your book on the way, and I love it 64 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: when you read the books because there's something about his 65 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: voice that I really really like. I find it very 66 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: soothing and it's intriguing to me and seems very sincere, 67 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 2: and so I had a really great encounter with him. 68 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: So that's why I know that a'll walk with him 69 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: would be great. 70 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 3: Wouldn't it be such a terrible story that somebody's so 71 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 3: chill and so inspirational if you went up to him 72 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 3: in a restaurant that he gave you the proverbial hairy eyeball. 73 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,839 Speaker 2: I know, I know, and you know you hear those 74 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: things that happen all the time. But I always give 75 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: people the benefit of the doubt because I think that 76 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 2: if you I know myself, I've been out with some 77 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: of the people I work with who are quite famous, 78 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: and it is really intrusive. When you're having a conversation, 79 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: You're right in the middle of something, you know, like 80 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: I might be about to tell punchline. All of a 81 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: sudden someone comes up and goes, oh my god, oh 82 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: I got I cant believe it. You, you know, all 83 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: of a sudden, everything has to stop for that moment. 84 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 2: And so I get it. I get why sometimes people 85 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: get a little irritated and say, please, I'm with my 86 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 2: family or with my friends or whatever. The person who 87 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: I see, though, handle it so graciously. It's amazing, I 88 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 2: think because he's had to do it, probably almost his 89 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: entire life is John Stamos, and I've been places with him. 90 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 2: One at the place we were in a movie premiere 91 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 2: was Timothy Shalla Mays Wonka and John was there. And 92 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 2: he'll spot someone. He can look at you, but out 93 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 2: of the corner of his side, he'll see someone coming 94 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 2: towards him. He knows what they want. They got their 95 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 2: phone out because they want to picture a selfie. So 96 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: he'll keep talking. He'll acknowledge them. He'll to a quick 97 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 2: smile and a nod. He takes the phone, he poses 98 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: with them for a second, takes the picture, nods and 99 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: they're happy. They thrilled, and he somehow handles it so graciously. 100 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 2: It's amazing. 101 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 3: That is masterful. 102 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 1: Wow. 103 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:19,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, So what initially inspired you to become a vocal coach. 104 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 3: How did your early career develop before you were working 105 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 3: with Hollywood stars. 106 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,840 Speaker 2: It started when I was really just a kid. I 107 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 2: was always fascinated. I would see things on television. I'm 108 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 2: old enough to have watched the Ed Sullivan Show, where 109 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 2: you'd gather around the TV on Sunday nights, and they 110 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: had all kinds of you know, live acts, everything from 111 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 2: Elvis Presley, the Beatles, all of it. And it was 112 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: so exciting to me to see those people. And I'm 113 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 2: not quite sure what it was inside of me. Well, 114 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: actually I can say I do know now that I 115 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 2: think about it. So I learned to play the piano 116 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 2: very young. I was like around five years old and 117 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: I started playing the piano, and so people would sing along. 118 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 2: I would play the piano songs. Sometimes I played from 119 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 2: a book called Italian Songs and Dances, and my grandmother 120 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: would sing along and she loved it. One of my grandmothers. 121 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 2: My neighbor had a really beautiful voice. The neighbor who 122 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: lived next door to me, she came over and she 123 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 2: would sing. And then I started playing for my classmates 124 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: to sing. You know. I started playing the patriotic songs 125 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: in the morning and class I started teaching some of 126 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: my classmates at school songs. So I think somehow that 127 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 2: im planet it in my head. Oh you know, I've 128 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: got this gift or I've got this thing that makes 129 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 2: me a little special or a little bit different. And 130 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 2: then I started fantasizing, well, what would be like the 131 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: people I say on TV? Like Elvis Presley. What would 132 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 2: Elvis be like to play the piano and Elvis sing 133 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 2: Love Me Tender? 134 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: You know? 135 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: I just saw, Oh he had that beautiful voice, and 136 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 2: even Judy Garland, all sorts of people I would listen to, 137 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: and I think, I wonder what that would be like. 138 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: And I started fantasizing about working with these people, coaching them, 139 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 2: giving them tips. I think you should be a little louder, 140 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 2: I think you should be a little softer. It just 141 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: happened very naturally, so technically, because I started playing the 142 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: piano and did it in class when I was in 143 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: great School. I'd basically been doing it my entire life. 144 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: It's all I've ever done. 145 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 3: So was Ed Sullivan a pivotal situation for you in 146 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 3: terms of impacting you and your love of music. 147 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: It was Ed Sullivan combined with I had. One of 148 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 2: my grandmothers used to take me and my cousin Melissa 149 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 2: to see movies at the one movie theater in the 150 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 2: small little city that we lived in at the time. 151 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: It had one movie theater and it was a big, beautiful, 152 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: though old movie theater. It's still beautiful, it's still there, 153 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: and we would go and see the sound of music, 154 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: West Side Story, I think Babes and Toyland. And then 155 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 2: on the way home, we would walk back to my 156 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 2: grandmother's house and me and my cousin Melissa would sing 157 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: every song that we could read in the movie, you know, 158 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: probably just the choruses, but we would sing along. We'd 159 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 2: sing it on the way home. And so I think 160 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 2: it was the combination of that, then watching at Sullivan, 161 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 2: watching the people live, and then me playing the piano 162 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: for my classmates, and I would get very excited when 163 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: they would sing, and I would start like coaching them, Oh, 164 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: try it like this. My cousin Debbie still left. She 165 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 2: always says, you remember I was your first student. She 166 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 2: reminds me of that all the time. She says, I 167 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: started it all off. I kicked off the whole thing, 168 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 2: and she and she doesn't remember as much as I 169 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 2: remember that. She was singing a Christmas carol one year 170 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 2: and I kept telling her she was singing it wrong 171 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 2: and I was correcting her, and she said, I got 172 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: really irritated, like, no, no, it's not like that, you're 173 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 2: saying it wrong. And so for some reason that was 174 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: just my thing. And then I think when you're a child. 175 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: If you get attention for doing something that makes you 176 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 2: feel kind of special, you really lean into it because 177 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: it makes you feel like you have something unique to offer. 178 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: So it just went from there and that even when 179 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 2: I went to NYU and I also took course as 180 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: at Juilliard, I spent more time working with my schoolmates 181 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 2: on their music than I did online. You know, I 182 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 2: just was always trying to help them sound better. 183 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 3: And since the moment you started, it's pretty interesting. I 184 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 3: was thinking about this before you came on for the interview. 185 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 3: I mean, in general, the concept of coaching, you know, 186 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 3: business coaching, leadership coaching, you know, is really sprouted so 187 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 3: many tentacles. It's become kind of this you know, popular, 188 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 3: you know, way of employment for people. And when you started, 189 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 3: I'm sure there were vocal coaches, but were there many 190 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 3: of them? 191 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 2: No, well, certainly not. In my little city where I 192 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 2: grew up. There were two people, but they were just 193 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 2: singing teachers. One talk piano and voice. One was a 194 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: school teacher in my school, and then on the side 195 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 2: he had a little side business that he would coach people. 196 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: But you know, from what my mother would see of them, 197 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 2: they weren't what you would call big successes. They didn't 198 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: make a lot of money, they didn't have a big house, 199 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 2: and that's all she cared about. She was very into finances, 200 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 2: and so she when I would talk about wanting to 201 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 2: do this, she would get really upset because she thought, oh, 202 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 2: then you're just never going to have much of a life. 203 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 2: How And you know, looking back, I go, well, how 204 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 2: could she? How could she think I was going to 205 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 2: be doing what I get to do with the people 206 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 2: I get to do it with. You know, it probably 207 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 2: did seem like a pipe dream. My father would actually 208 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,679 Speaker 2: get angry at it. He would get really annoyed when 209 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 2: I say I'm going to go to Hollywood and I'm 210 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 2: going to work with big movie stars, and he'd be 211 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 2: so irritated me, like, what the hell is wrong with you? 212 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 2: What makes you think that this possibly can happen? And so, 213 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 2: you know, I was sort of fighting against that. But 214 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 2: it's not like some people go, oh, okay, that's what 215 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 2: gave you your fuel to continue, and I go, not, really, 216 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 2: it was just my desire to do it. I just 217 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 2: wanted to do it. And every once in a while, 218 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 2: you would see, especially in those old tide movie musicals, 219 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: there'd be someone banging away at the piano, and the 220 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 2: singer would be singing, or they'd be rehearsing. They'd be 221 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 2: doing a rehearsal, and it looked like so much fun. 222 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 2: It just looked like they were having a great time. 223 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 2: Of course, they had rehearsed that rehearsal scene a million times, 224 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: and that's why it flowed so easily to them. But 225 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 2: you know, you would watch those movies Singing in the Rain, 226 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 2: all of them. I just loved those movie musicals and 227 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 2: I wanted to be a part of it. 228 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 3: What was the town you grew up in? 229 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: It was called Gloversville, New York, upstate New York, near 230 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 2: a very beautiful city called Saratoga Springs and a kind 231 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 2: of a classic storybook city named Johnstown, New York. But 232 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 2: glover Is what was a factory town. They made gloves 233 00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 2: and they had leather tanneries. So it wasn't really a 234 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 2: place that would encourage the kind of behavior or the 235 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 2: kind of career that I was looking for, although the 236 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 2: truth is that they did put on quite elaborate high 237 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 2: school musicals, and I played the piano for those musicals, 238 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: and they always rented this gorgeous grand piano that Liberaci 239 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 2: had played on and he had signed it. And you know, 240 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: when he would travel around, he would travel around and 241 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 2: his with a glass top to a certain make Baldwin piano. 242 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: He had this glass top made so whenever he was performing, 243 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:35,959 Speaker 2: he would have this piano on stage when he was 244 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 2: on tour, and he would say to the audience, do 245 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 2: you like my piano. It's the only one like it 246 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: in the world with the glass top. But it was 247 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 2: just the glass top that was traveling with him, it 248 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 2: wasn't the piano. And so anyway, they would rent that 249 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 2: piano and for months we would rehearse those musicals and 250 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 2: it was thrilling to me to get to play the 251 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 2: piano for them, and also to work with the singers, 252 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 2: all the kids that got cast in it. I would 253 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 2: teach them the songs. I would rehearse songs, and that 254 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 2: to me, was my favorite time of the year. That 255 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 2: was just so exciting to me, and I felt like 256 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: I was already in the big time. And I look 257 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 2: back and go, I was kind of doing the same 258 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 2: thing I'm doing now. It's just a little bit different 259 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 2: level now and it's a little bit higher stakes. You know, 260 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 2: at the Grammys or the Oscars, but it's the same thing. 261 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with more of the Taking a 262 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:30,959 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Welcome back to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 263 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 3: So you've coached this incredible range of artists, from Ariana 264 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 3: Grande to Sean Mendez, Timothy chalomea Emma Stone. How do 265 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 3: you adapt your coaching approach to such diverse talents and needs? 266 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 3: And most importantly, could you make a no talent such 267 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 3: as me sound good after working with me? 268 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 2: Well, here's the thing, I'm not sure I would know 269 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 2: after a couple lessons. You know, this is what I 270 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 2: always say because when people say can anybody learn to saying, 271 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 2: I go, no, they really can't. That's bullshit. But oh 272 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:15,559 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, I don't know. If I'm silling, that's okay, 273 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 2: they can't. But what I always do say is I 274 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 2: can make anyone sound better. I'm very, very confident because 275 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 2: I've done it enough times that I can make anyone 276 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: improve and sound better. Can I get them to sound great? No? 277 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 2: That I mean, I don't know. I don't know. I 278 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: like to think I can, but sometimes people just don't 279 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 2: have the capacity. That's like someone you know, four foot 280 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 2: nine wanting to be a pro basketball player, it's probably 281 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 2: not going to happen because they don't have the equipment. 282 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: So if you don't have the vocal cords or the ear, 283 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 2: it's probably not gonna happen that you'll be great, but 284 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: you can definitely get better. So that's how I answer 285 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 2: that question. 286 00:14:56,080 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 3: Very diplomatic. I my wife before I told her I 287 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 3: was going to be speaking with you, and she looked 288 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 3: at me and she said, please don't ask him that question. 289 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 3: So of course I was emboldened and I had to so. 290 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 2: Sure, of course, And I don't blame you to it. 291 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 2: And like I said, who knows, if we did a lesson, 292 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 2: I might go, hey, I think there's something here. I 293 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 2: think you really, I think you have some potential. I'm 294 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 2: going to take to Eric. 295 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 3: I'm taking that part out. I'm going to take that 296 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 3: out of the interview. He said I had potential. 297 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I edit it just the right way. I I said, 298 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 2: you know, you would ask me about all the different people, 299 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 2: a wide range of people, and some of the people 300 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 2: you know, I've worked with since they were so young. 301 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 2: Ariana Grande was I think around thirteen or fourteen. Sabrina 302 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 2: Carpenter was around twelve or thirteen. I knew right away 303 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 2: in those cases they had such a strong work ethic, 304 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 2: so much talent, they had such a desire and passion 305 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 2: for it. And a lot of the other younger ones 306 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 2: I worked with, like Shawn Mendez or Camilla Cabello Rosalia, 307 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: a lot of them. You know, I just had a 308 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 2: feeling they were going to do well because they had 309 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 2: a passion for what they were doing. They had a 310 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 2: really strong work ethic, and they had a lot of 311 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 2: natural talent. But you know, you have to just sort 312 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 2: of diagnose what's in front of you and make a 313 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: decision of like, how am I going to proceed? How 314 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 2: best can I help this person. That's why when I 315 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: hear a teacher say, oh I teach the blank blank method, 316 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 2: I kind of turn off to that because I think, well, 317 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 2: that method will work on some people, maybe a thirtain people, 318 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 2: but it's not going to work on everybody because everybody 319 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: is so different. Everyone's history and experience of singing is 320 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 2: so different. You have to be flexible. You can't just 321 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 2: give everyone the same exercises and accept, you know, the 322 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 2: same result, expect the same result. You just can't. It's impossible. 323 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: So I try to tailor everything I do to whatever 324 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 2: I'm hearing right in front of me that moment that day. 325 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 2: You know, Angelina Jolie, when we were working on moving 326 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 2: Maria that she did. They came out last year. She 327 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 2: didn't even sing Happy Birthday at birthday parties because someone 328 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 2: had sent to her, you can't sing, don't do it, 329 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 2: don't even sing Happy Birthday. So she had a mental 330 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 2: block about it. So part of the excitement about working 331 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 2: with her was to get her over that so that 332 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 2: she actually could sing and sing opera with, you know, 333 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: with one of the greatest divas who ever lived, Maria Callas. 334 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 2: So everybody is so different where they coming from, what 335 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 2: their attitude is, what their talent is. I just try 336 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 2: to be I try to be like a doctor, you know, 337 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 2: good Dike to Dike, what do you call it, Dike 338 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 2: to missions. Oh my god, could you cut that part out? Please? Diagnostician. 339 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 2: I think that's the lead. Let's say it please. I 340 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 2: did that. So anyway, I think that that's what I 341 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 2: try to do. I try to figure out what each 342 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 2: person needs and go from there. 343 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 3: So that leads me to the direction I was going 344 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 3: with the next question. Because many artists they credit you, 345 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 3: you know, not just with vocal training, but emotional support. 346 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 3: And how important is the psychological and emotional aspect of 347 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 3: the work that you do with your clients. 348 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 2: I think it's huge. You know, there's so many studies 349 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 2: on how our mind affects our body, you know, the 350 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,959 Speaker 2: mind body connection. There's books written about it, there's articles 351 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 2: written about it, there's documentaries about it. And so I 352 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 2: always think to myself, I have to keep that in mind. 353 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 2: Their mental state is going to make a huge difference 354 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 2: on how well they do, so I try to concentrate 355 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 2: on both things. I am always honest. I never lie 356 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 2: to anybody. I'm very, very honest. I learned long, long, 357 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 2: long ago that there's nothing that's good or positive that's 358 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,360 Speaker 2: going to come out of telling someone they're great if 359 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,440 Speaker 2: they're not, because they're either going to make a fool 360 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 2: of themselves, or they're going to get angry at you 361 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 2: that you told them we were great and then it 362 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 2: didn't work out, or they did make a fool of themselves. 363 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 2: So I'm always very honest, but I do it in 364 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 2: a way that I say, Okay, this is what you 365 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: need to work on. For example, someone might be singing 366 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 2: a little flat. So I wouldn't just say you're flat, 367 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 2: you're flat, you're under pitch. I might say your tone 368 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 2: quality is improving, that's getting really good, but let's work 369 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 2: more on your pitch, because I think that's one of 370 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: your weaknesses that we need to make stronger. So that's 371 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 2: how I approach it. I try to do it in 372 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 2: a way, and then when they do improve, I make 373 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 2: a big deal out of it so that they feel 374 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 2: good about that. And when someone feels good about their progress, 375 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 2: they keep wanting to work at it more. You know, 376 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 2: if you're just too hard on someone, they kind of 377 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 2: I wouldn't say they give up, but there is a 378 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 2: part of them that is spirals inside, and then they 379 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 2: can't possibly do their best. So I try to figure 380 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 2: that out. And you know, you can suss out pretty 381 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: quickly the people who really want the tough love and 382 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 2: want you to just go at them, and then there's 383 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 2: other people that just need more of a gentle approach. 384 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 3: So I was a program director of radio stations. I 385 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 3: started on the radio and then grew into the role 386 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 3: as the program director. And one of the things I 387 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 3: was responsible for was coaching the on air talent, and 388 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 3: we used to talk about this concept with talent that 389 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 3: most talent hated first of all being coached. They didn't 390 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 3: really want it. And then secondly this notion of the 391 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 3: ratio of filling up the bucket with good vibe things 392 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 3: versus those tough love things, and that ratio in radio 393 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 3: terms was about eighty percent bucket filling twenty percent of 394 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,160 Speaker 3: tough love. What kind of ratio for a coach like you. 395 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 2: It really depends on the person I'm working with. You know, 396 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,760 Speaker 2: some people would need I don't know if I've ever 397 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 2: gone eighty percent, but let's say seventy percent. I probably 398 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 2: gone seventy percent. It just depends on the person. 399 00:20:58,400 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 1: You know. 400 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 2: They're also different, and I don't want you know. I 401 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 2: also learned many many years ago. I said to an 402 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: actress who was auditioning for a Broadway show. I said 403 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:12,679 Speaker 2: to her, here's the deal. I was really clear. I said, 404 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 2: your chest voice, your lower range is really good. You 405 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 2: have a great natural lower voice. The part you're auditioning 406 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 2: for is a high soprano. That is not where you're 407 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 2: at your best. As a matter of fact, that's probably 408 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 2: your weakest area. I think you should instead of putting 409 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 2: so much time and energy into this audition for a 410 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 2: part that's really not meant for your voice. I think 411 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 2: you should find a musical that is meant for your voice, 412 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 2: that is going to suit you, and then we can 413 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 2: work on that. And I made it really clear. And 414 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 2: a couple months later I ran into another actress, or 415 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 2: not ran into. She came in for voice lessons to 416 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 2: work on a movie, and she said, well, I was 417 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,239 Speaker 2: really nervous about coming here. And I said why and 418 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,679 Speaker 2: she said, well, because so and so told me you 419 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: could be so cruel, she said, Eric Vitro told me 420 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 2: I couldn't sing. Eric Vittel said, don't even bother audition 421 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 2: for this show. And I was like, what is she 422 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 2: talking about? Was she high? Was she on crack? What 423 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 2: was going on in her head? That's not what I 424 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 2: said at all. And I was so careful not to 425 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 2: give her that impression. I kept saying, your lower voice 426 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 2: is great, Your belt voices where you really should focus. 427 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 2: That's where you're meant to be. And it also went 428 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 2: with her personality and her look. You know, there's a 429 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:32,199 Speaker 2: certain look to certain characters and musicals, you know, the Belter, 430 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:36,719 Speaker 2: the hei soprano, Angenoux, all of that, so she just 431 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 2: wasn't meant for the character that she was auditioning for, 432 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 2: and I couldn't believe she so got it wrong or 433 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 2: that's what she walked away with. So after that I 434 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 2: was even more careful than ever. But still the ratio 435 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 2: just depends on the person in front of me. And 436 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,160 Speaker 2: I think that one of the things I'm pretty good 437 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 2: at is reading the room. I think I'm pretty good 438 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 2: at knowing what someone needs and also what they want. 439 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 2: Now I'm in a lucky position as opposed to what 440 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 2: you were at the radio station, whereas most of the 441 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 2: people are coming to me for help. They want help, 442 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 2: they're asking for it, sometimes begging for it. You know, 443 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 2: I get calls please please to fit me in. I 444 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 2: really need to work on this. I can't believe I 445 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 2: said yes to this project and now I've got to 446 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 2: do it. So most of the time they really want 447 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 2: to come here. There have been several people along the 448 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 2: way that were usually older, usually in rock bands, and 449 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 2: the producer, the music producer who was doing their album 450 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,400 Speaker 2: encourage them or in some cases insisted they take voice 451 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 2: lessons to improve and those people I had to win over. 452 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 2: You know, I could see it in their eyes. I 453 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 2: walked into a situation once in the lead singer of 454 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 2: the band said, before he said hello, before he said 455 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 2: anything else, he said, don't try to get me to 456 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 2: quit drinking, don't get me to try to stop smoking, 457 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 2: and whatever you do, don't try to get me to 458 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 2: sound like an opera singer. And I said, well, I'm 459 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 2: a voice teacher, not a miracle worker. No, no one's 460 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 2: gonna make use helmet and opper serious. They don't worry 461 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 2: about it. So but I'm pretty good at knowing who 462 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 2: I can talk to like that and who I can have. 463 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:16,719 Speaker 3: You ever had to coach a comedian and was it 464 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 3: possible to coach them to be able to be a vocalist. 465 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, there's been several cases where I worked with 466 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,920 Speaker 2: comedians or actors who did comedy. 467 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: You know. 468 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 2: The first prison who comes to mind, and oh my god, 469 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,760 Speaker 2: I'm forgetting his name. Isn't that awful? I can see 470 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 2: him in front of me. He died fairly young. Oh gosh. 471 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 2: He ended up doing the tour of Hairspray. You know, 472 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 2: there's the role of the mother and Tracy's mother and 473 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 2: the turnblat who was always played by a man that's 474 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: how it's always been right. John Travolta played him in 475 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 2: the movie and played her in the movie. And this comedian, 476 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 2: I'm John Blake on his name John anyway, So he 477 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 2: was a comedian and so I worked with him, and 478 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 2: I thought he did a very good job Bouce Flance, 479 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 2: which I don't know if he considers himself a comedian, 480 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 2: but he certainly is a hilarious comedy writer and you know, 481 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 2: very funny public figure. I worked with him on Hairspray, 482 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 2: Billy Crystal, I work with on one of the Oscars 483 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,440 Speaker 2: when he's sang the opening medley, which was a very 484 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 2: comedic medley. So there's been a number of those people. Yes, 485 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 2: and Ben Stiller, Chris ben Stiller can do anything comedy 486 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 2: or drama. But I worked on a movie with him 487 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 2: where he's saying and they were all great working experiences, 488 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 2: all of them. It was really, really fabulous. The only 489 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 2: hard part about working with ben Stiller was that every 490 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 2: once in a while he would have an expression on 491 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 2: his face that I remembered being in one of his movies. 492 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 2: And so, and I loved ben Stiller and his movies. 493 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 2: I just love them, all of them. And sometimes he 494 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,400 Speaker 2: would just kind of react to something. And I would 495 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 2: see a zule interface and I couldn't stop laughing, and 496 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 2: you know, and I would say to him, I'm sorry, 497 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, but that reminded me of Zuolander. That reminded 498 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 2: me of, you know, another movie. And so but he 499 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 2: got it, he understood it. He said, Oh, I know, 500 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 2: I'm used to that. People tell me that all the time. 501 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,719 Speaker 2: So he was so great to be around. 502 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:22,360 Speaker 3: So, Eric, looking ahead, what exciting projects or new directions 503 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 3: are you most passionate about in your in your work 504 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 3: as a vocal coach. 505 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,479 Speaker 2: Oh gosh, there's so many, you know. I Well, I'm 506 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 2: working on three movies right now that unfortunately I can't 507 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 2: really talk about because they haven't been announced. Uh. Well, 508 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 2: one has been announced. It's It's going to be about 509 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 2: Sammy Davis Junior, and Colin Domingo is directing it, and 510 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 2: David Johnson is starring in it as Sammy Davis and 511 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 2: Cindy Sweeney is in it. And I'm very excited about that. 512 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:56,399 Speaker 2: I'm such a huge fan of Coleman Domingo anyway, and 513 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 2: and I had a great meeting with him, and so 514 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:01,680 Speaker 2: I'm it's rilled about getting to be a part of that. 515 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,240 Speaker 2: I have a movie that I worked on with Jeremy 516 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 2: Allen White about Bruce Springsteen, Deliver Me, Deliver Me from Nowhere. 517 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 2: I believe it's the title. I got so much swimming 518 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,280 Speaker 2: around in my head at this moment, and Jeremy was 519 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 2: he's going to astound people with his portrayal of Bruce Springsteen. 520 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 2: He really did such a great job vocally. I can't 521 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 2: I can't even tell you. It was really amazing. And 522 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 2: that's not an easy person to sing like, because Bruce has, 523 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 2: you know, sings with such intensity, high notes, intense notes, 524 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 2: rasp by notes. I mean, it really puts you through 525 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,360 Speaker 2: the ringer and Jeremy did a great job. I think 526 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 2: that movie is going to be great. And I work 527 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 2: with a lot of young pop stars. Several of them 528 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 2: are going to be singing on the VMAs soon. Sab 529 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 2: being a carpenter is going to be on there. Alex Warren. 530 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 2: Alex Warren had a huge song this past year called Ordinary. 531 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 2: I think it surpassed Elvis for weeks on the charts 532 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 2: in the UK, and he's broke a lot of records. 533 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,640 Speaker 2: I'm so proud of him. And so there's a lot 534 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 2: of things. Wicked Part two, Wicked for Good, is coming out, 535 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,879 Speaker 2: which I work on with Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey. 536 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 2: I'm so excited to see it. I have not seen it, 537 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 2: and I'm really thrilled. I mean, that became a whole 538 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 2: world unto itself, the world of Wicked, really, you know, 539 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 2: and so I could not have been more honored to 540 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,280 Speaker 2: be a part of that. And there you go. So 541 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:28,639 Speaker 2: there's a bunch of stuff. That's great. 542 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 3: What an honor to talk to you. Thank you for 543 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 3: sharing all the behind the scenes and some of the 544 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 3: secret sauce, and it's just great having some laughs and 545 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 3: hearing the stories behind your work. Eric. 546 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 2: Well, it's my pleasure. I'm so happy to meet you. 547 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. I have such 548 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 2: a great podcast, so I'm honored to be hon it. 549 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 550 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 551 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 552 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 553 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.