1 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties podcast featuring conversations with industry 2 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: leaders about the business of entertainment. I'm Cynthia Littleton, Managing 3 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:19,159 Speaker 1: editor of Television for Variety, and today my guests in 4 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: New York are Michael Strahan and Constant Schwartz. The two 5 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: are business partners in the production and management company Smack Entertainment. 6 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: Michael is all over TV these days as the co 7 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: anchor of ABC's Good Morning America, a football analyst for Fox, 8 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: and the host of ABC's primetime game show One hundred 9 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: thousand Dollar Pyramid. But behind the scenes, Michael and Constance 10 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: are busy developing and producing a wide range of content, 11 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: and Smack is the management home to talent ranging from 12 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: Whiz Khalifa to Aaron Andrews to Dion Sanders. Here the 13 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: two talk about the steady growth of Smack, where the 14 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: company motto is, how so like you're broke. Welcome to 15 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: my guest, Michael Strahan and his business partner, Constant Shorts. 16 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: We're going to hear a lot about the business that 17 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: they are running together, Smack Entertainment. Uh people know, of course, 18 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: anybody that watches TV know that Michael Strahan is one 19 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: of the hardest working TV personalities, but they probably don't 20 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: know that. Behind the scenes, Smack Entertainment is producing shows 21 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: like The Joker's Wild hundred thousand Dollar Pyramid, lots of 22 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: documentary features for NFL Networks and other outlets, and also 23 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: on in all of your spare time. There's also a 24 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: management of talent management component to the business. Let's unpack 25 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: Smack Entertainment. Let's start with the name. How did you 26 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: guys come up with? Well? Smacks dance for sports, music 27 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: and culture, and it's kind of everything that we are 28 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: involved in. We're involved in the sports element with myself 29 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: and some of the other clients that we manage. Um music, 30 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: we were involved in that because with Khalifa, one of 31 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: our clients, and con background and culture because what we 32 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: do kind of speak to what the culture is is today. 33 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: So kind of all encompassing and what we what we built, 34 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: and what we how we operate and it's really pretty 35 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: pretty simple. S m A. C. Leave the koff for savings, 36 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: I guess as a Mattress commercial constance. When did you 37 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: and Michael joined forces together as business partners? We joined 38 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: forces to start the company about seven years ago, but 39 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: We met over twenty years ago when I worked at 40 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: the National Football League and he was playing, and then 41 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: I started managing him right when he retired, which is 42 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: about ten or eleven years now. Yeah, can you she 43 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: was the baby back when I met her twenty than 44 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: years ago. She was um teen. Yes, I was a job. 45 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: I'm just saying. It was a progy in high school 46 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: with agewise. But but no, we met. She was at 47 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: the NFL over twenty years ago, five years ago, and 48 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: I retired ten years ago. But in between that time 49 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: of myself of con being at the NFL, her leaving 50 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: the NFL to go in another direction, and my still 51 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: being in the NFL, we always remained close. We were 52 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: always great friends. And when I retired, it was just natural, 53 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: because she was in this business for me to say, hey, 54 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: would you help me out? And I gave him a 55 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: lot of credit because when I left the NFL, a 56 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: lot of people didn't stay in touch with me because 57 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: you know, there was no benefit to them anymore, like 58 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: no more Super Bowl tickets or game tickets and things 59 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 1: like that. And that's okay. And I give Michael a 60 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: lot of credit because he really went out of his 61 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: way because I left New York and moved to Los Angeles, 62 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: and every time he came out there, we got together. 63 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: We got pancakes that I hoped, and I brought my 64 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: own syrup, and that was a little embarrassing that I 65 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 1: wouldn't crawl under the table, But then again, you have 66 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: very specific taste in syrup. One of our mutual best friends, 67 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: Jay Glazer's family owns a farm in Vermont and they 68 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: make this amazing like homemade syrup from a tree, and 69 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: so it was so good that I at the time, 70 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: they didn't make travel size bottles, so they sent me 71 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: the big jugs and I poured it in my temp 72 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: aware and off we went. But you did use my Sarah. 73 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: I didn't want you to be embarrassed, Alan, so I 74 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: stuffed it. And what in this transition period, what was it? 75 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: What was the opportunity that you saw that could be 76 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: filled with smack? I had great experiences. I worked at 77 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: the National Football League for ten seasons. I worked at 78 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: a record company for a year, and then I worked 79 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: at a management company, which is where I became Snoop 80 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: Dogg's manager and worked with many other clients and it 81 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: was amazing and I love what I've done and continue 82 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: to do, but the time came that I wanted to 83 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: start doing it for myself. And in hindsight, I probably 84 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: could have started this sooner, but I just needed that 85 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: kick in the pants because I didn't have that, I 86 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: think sense of self confidence. I needed to go out 87 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: on my own. And so when this opportunity arose, it 88 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: was really because there was no company like what we've created. 89 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 1: It was, you know, either you're going to be a manager, 90 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: you're going to produce television shows, or with my background, 91 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 1: it was branding, marketing, and endorsements. And so that's we're 92 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: really where Smack came from because they said, if we 93 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: can take the last twenty years of our collective experiences 94 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: and start this and build it, who knows what what 95 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 1: could come of it? And you know, I want to 96 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: say when we did started, he was still just doing 97 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: not just but he was on NFL on Fox, and 98 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: that was it from a television perspective, and so we, uh, 99 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: we're just grinding and hustling. And one of our mantras 100 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: is still to this day, hustle like you're broke. And 101 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: that's not just our mentality, but our entire company and 102 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,559 Speaker 1: all of our clients to today, what is the size 103 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: of the company in terms of employees and in terms 104 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: of thirteen employees to offices l A, New York, UM 105 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: trying to open one in the Caribbean. She wants to 106 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: kind of one in the Caribbean. Other you know, we 107 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: never get any work done if we moved. But yeah, 108 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: but thirteen employees, two different offices across New York and 109 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: and l A and the third team probably do the 110 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: work of thirty. And we have a very dedicated team. 111 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 1: It's more like a family. Is how we operate and 112 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: how we how we go forward with our business, and 113 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: we we we give everybody responsibility. We're not we're not 114 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: micro managers. Everyone is trained and everyone is given a responsibility, 115 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: and everyone's given the the understanding that hey, if you 116 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 1: have an idea, you're part of this. You don't work 117 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: for us, you work with us. And through that we've 118 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: been able to build UM or have people when we 119 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: work with who really dedicated what they do and go 120 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: out of their way and they understand what we're trying 121 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: to build and they are a big part of it, 122 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: and and they take pride in that and really get 123 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: their business. They're very empower and we don't give titles 124 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: because one of the challenges I faced coming up because 125 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: I started as an assistant, which people would look down 126 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: upon you or not listen to what you have to 127 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: say if you had a lesser title than them. So 128 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: we intentionally don't let them have titles. So if we're 129 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: sending someone into a room on our behalf, if we 130 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: trust and respect them, then we expect the same from 131 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: the other side of the room. What was the breakthrough 132 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: piece of business that really made you feel like you 133 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,799 Speaker 1: guys were really running a company? You know, it's it's crazy. 134 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: I think that's Constance said when we when we've first 135 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: like really start doing this. I only had for me 136 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: personally was only Fox NFL Sunday and a few little 137 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: music things here and there. But it was it was 138 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: a big chance and a big step to have this 139 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: office space in l A. At the time, we were 140 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: renting in place. Now we've moved on to buy our 141 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: own building, but that's when I felt we made it. 142 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: That was the break yeah, for Constence, when we bought 143 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: our own office and and that was her big breakthrough. 144 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: I think my big breakthrough hasn't happened yet. I mean 145 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: I understood. I think my big breakthrough is when I 146 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: don't know, I don't know when it happen from one 147 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: who's sitting Yeah, where we are, I think because I 148 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: know the potential of where we are, where we can go, 149 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: and where we are heading. So and I'm always never 150 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: somebody who looks back, because if I look back, then 151 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: I think it keeps me from looking forward. I was 152 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: always like that in sports and everything else. But I 153 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: would say, from where we started to where we are 154 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: now is night and day. Because we were trying to 155 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: develop a daytime television, you know, we had uh Telepictures 156 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: came and said, Michael, we'd like to we consider, you know, 157 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: we like to possibly develop a daytime show around you, 158 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: and put together a list. We put together as a 159 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: list of all these names of TV personalities, actresses, um 160 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: and and just personalities. And we reached out to so 161 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: many of them and couldn't get a call back. I 162 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: couldn't even get a sniff, couldn't even get a response 163 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: except for a few who I always respect. I'll always 164 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: go out of my way for and to now be 165 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: able to pick up the phone and call that anybody 166 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: will pick up, you know, And now the people think 167 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: that the success that they see was easy and it 168 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: wasn't like we've been grinding at this for a long time, 169 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: and and and and we're still still building. I mean, 170 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: we're still and we consider ourselves a start up. Yeah, 171 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: but I think we grind that if we feel that 172 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: that that respect of disrespect. I guess in the sense 173 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: that people didn't think that we would be successful in 174 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: what we're doing, and now that we have some success 175 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: with it, we're not letting it go. We're going to 176 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: continue to push until we you know, eventually moved to 177 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: the Caribbean WIS concept in twenty years the Jamaica office. Um, 178 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: but understandably that respect factor. You know, so many people 179 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: see production companies that are that are involved with talent 180 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: as a vanity place that it's not, you know, it's 181 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: not a serious company. You know, you guys have bought 182 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: a building and have employees that that is it, That 183 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: is a serious company. What would you say, was it? 184 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: Was it? You know, really building a roster of productions? 185 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: Was it? I know, you have you have business in 186 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 1: the retail area, you have enough line of apparel. What 187 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: was it that was that foundation that allowed you to 188 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: be taken seriously as a company. I think, for in 189 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: my opinion, we helped create and still continue to co 190 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: executive produce the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sports Awards, which are 191 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: going to be in their fifth year. And the fact 192 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: that it started out from just a general meeting with Nickelodeon, 193 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 1: and you know, that's what came out of it, and 194 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: people world gets I mean, you know it's a small town. 195 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: Word gets around that we are hands on, not just me, 196 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: but Michael. He's on all the calls, he's in every 197 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: meeting and the same just as continued when Sony approached 198 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: us about doing the hundred thousand dollar Pyramid reboot, and 199 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: they'd heard great things about Michael as well, and they're 200 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: the first to say they can't believe like how he 201 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: self produces while he's on set like after you know, 202 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: in between, he's in the control room with everybody. He's 203 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: in rehearsals when he doesn't need to be. And I 204 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: just think that that's what gets around town, is that 205 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: people find out like how hard we work, and we 206 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: don't end when production ends. That's when you know, we 207 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: say the gap goes out there and makes the rounds 208 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: because Michael then can go on any talk show, any 209 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: interview to then promote the shows, whether he's on them 210 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: or not on them. But yeah, but I also think 211 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: that you know, Coln given me a little bit too 212 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: much credit because it is truly a team that team 213 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: effort and they point me in a direct in and 214 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: I go, basically, it's what it is. But but I 215 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: do believe for both of us are very important to 216 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 1: be involved in anything because if you're gonna get credit 217 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: for it, you can feel good if you're taking credit 218 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: for something you really were part of. And if you're 219 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: gonna get blamed for something that with the failure, at 220 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: least you know you put your best in it because 221 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: you really put everything into and you can accept that. 222 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: I don't think we could accept failure if on something 223 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: that we were attached to it that we didn't put 224 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: the effort into it. And and I think between the 225 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 1: both of us and our team, we understand that for 226 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: everything we have, we put maximum effort into it. And 227 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: the production side has been great. I mean we've done 228 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: Tackle My Ride, a hundred thousands dollar Pyramid, the Joker's Wild, 229 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: Nickelodeon Sports Awards. Um. Now we have the religion of 230 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: sports with a big series with with Gotham Chopra and 231 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: and Tom Brady, and it's just been a great ride 232 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: and it's mostly off of reputation of people know that 233 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: if your work with us, we're gonna do everything we 234 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 1: can to make it successful and concept I make the 235 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: rounds for programs from Joker's Wild with Snoop posts, but 236 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: we do sit so why am I not going to 237 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: support that? And plus some great friends with Sup why 238 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: would I support him? So it's like a family if 239 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: one and one person and our rosters doing something from 240 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: Whiz to Beyond to Kurt to Aaron Andrews, anybody, we 241 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: all support and we all make a big push through that. 242 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: It's a It's a challenging time in television right now, 243 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: particularly on the business side. There's never been more television 244 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 1: than ever before, but it can be it can be 245 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,719 Speaker 1: challenging to be to have shows be profitable, Audiences are fragmented. 246 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: You know, it's a challenging market. But clearly you guys 247 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: have been able to build a real business with with 248 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: the with on the production side, what do you think 249 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: is the where do you see the most opportunity for 250 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: you right now? For us right now I think, you know, 251 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: if you just see what's happening with the reboots. I mean, 252 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: I'm excited Murphy Brown's coming back, and I've been watching Rosanne. 253 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: I mean, look at what we've done with the game shows, 254 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,719 Speaker 1: a hundred thousand dollar pyramid. Sony property. They came to us, 255 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: which was great, and Snoop came on as a guest 256 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: in season one and when when the show wraps, he 257 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: pulled to the side and said, I used to watch 258 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: Jokers Wild with my grandmother. Helped me bring it back, 259 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: and so we started doing some research and it turned 260 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: out Sony happened to own it, and so the two 261 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 1: of us, you know, just really like dug our heels 262 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: in and went to bat for it. And you know, 263 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: we just uh we premiered season two, episode one this 264 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: past week. And and to echo what you're saying about 265 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: how challenging it is, it's not just about the Nielsen 266 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: ratings anymore. And now they're these ratings that they're seeing 267 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: what's happening on social media and you know, chatter and 268 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: the Internet. So it's a whole new set of challenges 269 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: that that we have to look at and address. And 270 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: when a studio like Sony comes to you to do 271 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: something to start with, like a hundred thousand dollar pyramid, 272 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: that that gives you a certain leg up in negotiating 273 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: a deal with them, I would imagine in terms of, 274 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,319 Speaker 1: you know, making sure that that that the venture from 275 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: a financial standpoint is also profitable for you. Yeah, definitely 276 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 1: a big difference with somebody wants you if you're going 277 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 1: out there like please help us. So definitely when they 278 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: came to us, it was a big surprise to us. 279 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: I never hosted a game show, and for them to 280 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: be able to say, you know what, we have this 281 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: show if you've heard of it, and I'm going who 282 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: hasn't heard of a hundred dollars back in the day 283 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: and ten thousand with Dick Clark, But who hasn't heard 284 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: of that? And to be able to give the opportunity, 285 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: given the opportunity to host it and ep it and 286 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: really be a part of it as a company and 287 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: as an individual. Um was was really special and really 288 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: a big chance from by Sony and through the trust 289 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: of how we handled that. That's how Joker's Wild came 290 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: about because they knew how we were in operating in 291 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: business and we try to be great partners to our 292 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: business partners, and Sony has been fantastic, fantastic with that. 293 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: So you know, we've we've hopefully our reputation speaks for 294 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: itself and that's why these opportunities have come and hopefully 295 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: keep speaking in this way and more opportunities continue to 296 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: come as well. And I know we're working on another 297 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: show Money Made. So Martin reached out to us and 298 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: not you know, that's another big breakthrough moment where I 299 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: call him. I said, you're not going to believe this, 300 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: said Wink Martin Dale Tick Tack Dog is interested in 301 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: working with us and the two of us. I mean, 302 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: I was just jumping up and down because that what 303 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: a big honor, you know, considering that Dick Clark is 304 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: no longer with us, Like to me, Wink is just 305 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: the legend. And so we've got a couple of his 306 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: shows that he's allowing us to take out. Are you 307 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: able to in the deal structure? Are you able to 308 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: retain ownership of shows? At times when if we create it, 309 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: we can, But when it's an existing I P that 310 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: someone else owns, you can't get ownership. But we do 311 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: work hard for ancillaries, whether it's you know, slot machines 312 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: or global rights, because when you have a talent like 313 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: Snoop who's known internationally, then you're able to go to 314 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: you know, partner together and take it out globally if 315 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: it makes sense. And in some of the things like 316 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: you do for NFL Network like Tackle My Ride and 317 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: things like that, are those are those properties that you 318 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: own outright and then can exploit in other in other windows. 319 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: That one's a partnership, so we can take that one 320 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: out each one. Every show is different. That's why I'm 321 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: looking at him. I was like, I can't remember like 322 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: some of them obviously, you know they come to us, 323 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: but there's a few of them when we come up 324 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: with them or we have a partner and we can 325 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: and even like Nickelodeon's Kid Choice Sports, it's we have 326 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: another show that we're working with them on that came 327 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: off of something that we did within that show, because 328 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: we realize there are certain moments within that show that 329 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: are big moments that everyone sees to remember that everyone 330 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: gravitates to. So we said, well, how about we take 331 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: some of these big moments and make that a show itself, 332 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: not in the long form content of a two or 333 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: three hour show for kids, but in the short term, 334 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: a short a shorter content um, a shorter span of 335 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: content that be interesting for kids and their families. So 336 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: we're working on something like that right now. But I 337 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: think for us, it's kind of paying attention to what 338 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: you're in and don't get so engulfed and just what 339 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: you're doing, but always have your eyes open for different 340 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: opportunit of need that come off of the opportunity that 341 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: you have right now, especially because, like you mentioned it, 342 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: it's a much wider net now. And so there's one 343 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 1: project we have with Aaron Andrews that we're not even 344 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: going to linear television. We're looking for some sponsors to 345 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: partner with and just push it out in conjunction with 346 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: the brands. That's another you know, there's so many avenues 347 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: to get content on the air, So you know, having 348 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: a company like that with with you know, creative minds 349 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: that are coming up with things that seems like a great, 350 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: you know, a great moment for that. I would say 351 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 1: the NFL was like I couldn't have gotten a better 352 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: education than starting out at the National Football League, Like 353 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: I didn't get an MBA, like I got my MBA 354 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: there during those ten seasons and you did the same thing. 355 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: I mean, he's super humble, but I mean when I 356 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: met him, we had him on CDs that we were 357 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: putting out NFL Country and NFL Jams. I want to 358 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: hear that. No, that's why we don't play them anymore. 359 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: I think Mom was a hit. Then Randy Travis got 360 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: on it and kind of messed it up. But he 361 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,359 Speaker 1: was a correspondent for a show that NFL Films produced 362 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: called Under the Helmet while he was still playing. So 363 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: you know, those are things that were nunheard of back then, 364 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: whereas now, like you mentioned earlier that a lot of 365 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: the current athletes are looking, you know, to him for 366 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: the sort of the model template. And Michael is you know, 367 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: top of the list of people of athletes that have 368 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: really navigated that that transition. And obviously some of it 369 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: is the the secret sauce that you bring to the table. 370 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,479 Speaker 1: But but I think for athletes, and in particular anyone 371 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 1: in particular who's known for doing one thing and that's 372 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: all you've ever done, not only does usually the public 373 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: think that's all you can do, but in your own 374 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: head you kind of convince yourself that's all I can 375 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 1: do because all I've been known for, and you don't 376 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: take chances on trying something else. And when you're an athlete, 377 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: I played fifteen years, which is unheard of, and I 378 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 1: was still thirty six when I retired, So it's like 379 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,880 Speaker 1: thirty six years old. Career is over. Life is over 380 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: in a certain sense. And just didn't feel like that 381 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: with the case. And thank goodness for constance in our 382 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: relationship because I would go to the office before we 383 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:01,879 Speaker 1: working together, she just managing me, and I would have 384 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: an opinion about stuff, and then eventually she said, well, 385 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,199 Speaker 1: why are you sitting here basically here every day. You're 386 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: getting on our nerves. You might as well be a 387 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: part of your mother being a part of what's going on. 388 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: You already involved anyway, And that's really how we became 389 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: partners in all of this. But I think we both 390 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 1: have a work ethic, and we both have a respect 391 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: for each other, and we both are very similar and 392 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: the way we think and are and and and everything. 393 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: I mean, she's a single child. I'm the youngest of six, 394 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: so but but it's kind of like we out of that. 395 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: We have the same sensibilities and and and it's just 396 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: amazing to work with somebody who understands that, who works 397 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: hard as you do, if not harder, and I she's 398 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 1: a one person I can never complain to about working hard. 399 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, sometimes I do, just so you leave me alone. 400 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: But but it's great. I think athletes finally now in 401 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: this day and age, you're understanding that because you're you're 402 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: good good at sports does not mean that when your 403 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: sports career is over, your career is over. It's the 404 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: start Sports gives you, gives you a leg up on 405 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: so many other people to get into other businesses. But 406 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: at the same time, sports is also the thing that's 407 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: kept you away from business, so you have a lot 408 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 1: of catching up to do. So your name will get 409 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: you in the room, but you better figure it out 410 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: and have your talent keep you in the room. But 411 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: I also think a big advantage of working with retired 412 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: athletes or current athletes is they come from a team, 413 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: so there's a teamwork mentality going into things. They like 414 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,719 Speaker 1: to be coached. You know, there's there's curfews, there's meeting 415 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 1: you know, there's there's it's just you're setting them up 416 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: for success without even realizing it. And that's really when 417 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: we interview people. I mean I look and see when 418 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: they're done with the interview, are they throwing their garbage out? 419 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 1: Are they looking to us to clean up after them? 420 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: Because you really want to make sure people are coming 421 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 1: in with the teamwork mentality. I was just gonna ask 422 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: you what kind of things you look for in people 423 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: that you think would be good prospects for management. And 424 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:53,199 Speaker 1: one of the biggest things Constant said, it's how you 425 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: work with other people. Because everyone in our company, because 426 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: we do so many things, from from from the production 427 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: to the management to the clothing and other businesses, everyone 428 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: has a role in different things. And if you're interested 429 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: in something outside of what we just what's your main 430 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: job is, you're able if you have the time to 431 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: help out, chip in and learn about it. We don't say, 432 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 1: well that's your job, stay away from it. That's what 433 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,440 Speaker 1: this person does. No, no, no no. If you think you 434 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 1: can add value, we encourage for you. We encourage you 435 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 1: to add value to that. And I think through that 436 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: we have employees that come to work every day. They're 437 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: excited because it's not every day, it's not groundhog day, 438 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: and we've all had groundhog day. Job for you going 439 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 1: you're like every day basically the same. Well, for us, 440 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: we try to make it interesting to where you come 441 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: to work. You're excited about work, you're excited about the 442 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: possibility that that they could bring and you don't know 443 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: what's coming. And I think that's uh has motivated our 444 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: our crew and and and everyone that we work with 445 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 1: to come to work with the right spirited attitude. And 446 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: that is the thing. Wake up happy is is is 447 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 1: our motto as well for our company. Wake up with 448 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: the right attitude, because that's one of the few things 449 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: you can control. You might not go to sleep happy, 450 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 1: but you can wake up happy. Let's talk a little 451 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: bit about the about the licensing and that you have 452 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: two apparel lines if I understand right, Yes, we have 453 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: Collection by Michael Strahand and we have MSX and the 454 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: collection by Michael straighthand is suits, ties, belt, cuff links, um, 455 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,680 Speaker 1: you name it. How many categories there were in six 456 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: hundred doors at j. C. Penney out of their seven 457 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:30,439 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty stores, and it has been in fantastic 458 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 1: business we've been in for the last few years with them. 459 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,679 Speaker 1: And then MSX is the athletisure brand that we have 460 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: with them, and it is. It has been a learning 461 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:43,119 Speaker 1: experience and it's almost as if looking at what we 462 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 1: do is a direct lesson for everyone out there that 463 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 1: you don't have to go to school per se for 464 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: a particular business to learn about it and get into it. 465 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: You just have to be brave enough to get into it. 466 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: And like I said, once you're in it, you better 467 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: figure it out quick. And the clothing business has been 468 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,479 Speaker 1: an incredible learning because experience for us. But it's been 469 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: a really, really good one and business has been great, 470 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: and we continue to expand. We're expanding to jeams now 471 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 1: and you're excited about because we don't have a women's 472 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: line yet, And so when the luggage came out, it 473 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 1: was the first thing that all the women that work 474 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: on the line, we're something we got to use besides 475 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: wearing the extra small and small they're going into the 476 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: boys Can we make boys or they go into the 477 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: boys collection and where that stuff. So it has been 478 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: a great business, but it's also it's been a collaborative 479 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 1: business that we're very involved in every meeting. Every fabric 480 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: there's not a fabric from a suit to a tie, 481 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:43,879 Speaker 1: to a belt to the underwear sufflink the underwear the 482 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: tie bars. There's nothing that has not been seen I 483 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: know personally by me that gets that doesn't get approved. 484 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: And was that did that come about from an incoming 485 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 1: call or an outgoing call? Did you did you pursue 486 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: outgoing interesting to a relationship? And you know it's interesting 487 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 1: because again, like he said, we've learned a lot from it, 488 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: which helps with our other clients. Because when we had 489 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: the first meeting, they said, we're not ready for you, 490 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 1: and so we went about our business for a year 491 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: and then we checked back in with them and that's 492 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: when the timing was right. And and but everything that 493 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: we've done and when you call the outgoing, yeah, it 494 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: was outgoing. We went and set up a meeting and 495 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 1: made this whole thing happen. But it's all organic. There's 496 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: nothing that that I know personally I do we have 497 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: any of our clients do that does is not organic 498 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: to them. It's not something so far fetched it's unbelievable 499 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: to the public. It truly is who they are and 500 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: what they do and what's important to them and something 501 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 1: that fits into their lifestyle. And for me being on TV, 502 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: god knows how many days a week, I'm always gonna 503 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:46,120 Speaker 1: suit so wearing suits very important. And then when I'm 504 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: not in a suit, I'm an athles your casual guy, 505 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: because I'm either running to the gym, I'm running around. 506 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: So everything that we've done and that business has been 507 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: organic to me. And the shows have been organic, and 508 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 1: the businesses an authentic and and and the businesses for 509 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: all of our other clients have all fit their personalities 510 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: and what they really like and what's really important to 511 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: them is that when you talk about learning the apparel business, 512 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: I would imagine that the constructive deals and the way 513 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: you get paid is probably very different than making a 514 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 1: TV show or very different. We have an amazing lawyer, 515 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: thank you, Brad Rose, who literally, like you know, we 516 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 1: go through probably quarterly meetings with him and we're the 517 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 1: first we don't know something, we call him right away, 518 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: like we don't try to figure something out that could 519 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 1: be detrimental in the in the long run, and so 520 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: it is vastly different, you know. Just also you know, 521 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: holding on to your I P. You know, what do 522 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: you license, what do you own? How many different companies 523 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 1: there are, because that's how it all started nationally with 524 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: that and the big biggest thing we learned it owning 525 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: your brand, Yes it's yours, don't sign it over, don't 526 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: give it to anyone else. And just managing your brand 527 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: as well has been you know, uh, it's the big challenge, 528 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: but it's a very important thing whenever you're dealing with 529 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 1: something that's vast as the clothing and when it comes 530 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: to pay, yeah, it's different because you know TV or 531 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: shows you have you you negotiate and you have your 532 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 1: your rate and everything else. But in this there's really 533 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:16,200 Speaker 1: no ceiling to it. You get if you can make 534 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: the business happen and build the business, then there's no 535 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: cap to say, Okay, this is what your salary is 536 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: for the year. There's none of that in the clothing business. 537 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: So potentially it is incredible, but you gotta set a 538 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: lot of stuff to make that a reality. American needs, belts, 539 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 1: American everything, everything go by it from me. Do you 540 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: too have investors? Are you? Are you the principal owners? 541 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,679 Speaker 1: It's the two of you, that's us. We haven't taken 542 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: no money from the outside, so it's it's us and 543 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:49,119 Speaker 1: we've put a lot of not most of the money 544 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: that we've made in this business right back into it 545 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 1: because we want to grow it, And I don't think 546 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 1: we look at this is something that's really in and 547 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: out thing. We're here for the long haul to really 548 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 1: build a business that you know, when I'm ninety five 549 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 1: years old and we can hand it off to our 550 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: youngsters and they can run it, I won't be handing 551 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: it off. I'll be a lot younger. You'll be in 552 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: the Caribbean. You'll be in the Caribbean. They have they 553 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: have good wife fight down there, Michael, was was a 554 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,119 Speaker 1: business like this? Building a business? Was that something you 555 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 1: aspired to as a kid or do you look at 556 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: this now and you're surprised that you are? I think 557 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 1: I'm surprise thing. We're all surprised. We're surprised every day 558 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 1: every day, and we appreciate. It's not just like shocking 559 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: af It's truly like appreciate and surprise. It's truly gratitude 560 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:38,239 Speaker 1: because I understand the alternative to it. And you know, 561 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: playing in the NFL to me was I thought with 562 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: the ultimate end all be all, and when that career 563 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: was over, I was just happy to have a job 564 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: talking on TV and have something to look forward to 565 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: to do. But now to have you know, the show, 566 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: do have any other businesses. It's all in a lot 567 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 1: of way to big surprise, but great surprises because I 568 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:00,200 Speaker 1: don't do anything and have the luxury. Thank goodness, I'm 569 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: not doing anything I don't want to do. I love 570 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 1: every show that I'm doing and and I think that's 571 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: a gift in itself. That is it, that is that 572 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: is truth, and that's an amazing attitude. Thank you both 573 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: so much for coming in to talk to us about 574 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:16,959 Speaker 1: that's really interesting to hear about your business. Thank you 575 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: for having us, Thanks for listening. Please join us next 576 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: week for another episode of Strictly Business.