1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: You don't know what you have you you You don't 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: reveal who you really are and what you really made 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: out of until a circumstance presents itself. It doesn't change 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: those circumstances. It reveals who you wore already are. But 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: it didn't come out yet. Uh, and nobody saw it. 6 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: So I'm in Miami and my friend was telling me 7 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: it's really difficult to get an uber. It was a 8 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: crazy weekend, Memorial Day weekend, and apparently it was taking 9 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: forty five minutes. And you never believe that someone says 10 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: it to you. And then you're like, my phone's gonna 11 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: get it better. I'm gonna go on lift in my 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: can you want it? You try? Some of those just 13 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: want it? You try and like sitting next to them, 14 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: like what I have some majestic different entry, red velvet 15 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: rope and stanchion. I'm on the list of uber, like what, 16 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: I'm sitting next to you, How am I going to 17 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: get it better? But sometimes it just like works out. 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: So was sitting at the restaurant and lonely hold says 19 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: nine minutes. Then somehow then it goes up to thirteen minutes. 20 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: And then somehow you're like thirty five minutes and you're 21 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: going in the wrong direction and you realize they're sitting 22 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: in traffic. So the drivers communicating with me. He's saying like, 23 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: I'm really sorry, I'm held up in traffic right now, 24 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: and like he's communicating with me. So I started this 25 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: messaging back. I'm like, no problem, I can't wait to 26 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: see you. And then in the notes, I'm just like 27 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: I missed you, I said to my girlfriend. I'm like 28 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: to an uber driver, I'm like, I just I honestly 29 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: I can't wait to see I'm seeing you in a 30 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: few minutes. I'm trying to like entice the guy to 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: like drive drive faster and get excited, like what, It's 32 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: just funny in the notes, like everyone's always so serious 33 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: about like just okay, thank you in traffic right now. 34 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: So I started buttering him up. I think it worked. 35 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: He got there quicker. My friend is dying. I was like, 36 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: why not just like to the to the luber Its guy, 37 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: when you get like a message and you get to 38 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: communicate with them, be like yeah, x O x so 39 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: see you in a minute. I think I can't wait 40 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: to see you. Is a really good one, because you 41 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: really there's nobody you want to see more than the 42 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: uber driver can't wait to see you only four minutes. 43 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: I'm seeing you in three minutes, Uber driver. But you 44 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: also have their name. You can make it super personal 45 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,239 Speaker 1: because also they cancel on you too, so if you 46 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: if you're nice to them in the meantime, they might 47 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: not cancel like a lot of times, they leave you hanging, 48 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 1: or they'll tell you please cancel this ride. I'm like, 49 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: oh my god, did I say something. I'm so sorry. No, 50 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: I don't care if your dropic, it's okay, it's fine. 51 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: I love you. Please come. I know I didn't mean 52 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: what I said. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. Back 53 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: then I was I was angry, I was frustrated. I 54 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: was I was going to rush to get home. Everything 55 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: I said I take it back, and I did not 56 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: mean it. I think we should. You know. I need 57 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: to work on my communication. I feel like I could 58 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: do better. I can do better. I'm just like, you know, 59 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: I'm an aggressive person, and I just I'm unfiltered. I'm unedited. 60 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: I just say what's on my mind, and I just 61 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 1: I need to work on myself. I'm really sorry. I'm 62 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: really excited you're coming. I can't wait to see you, 63 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: and I'm not great by text. We're on the phone 64 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: to be different. When I see you, it's gonna be great, 65 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: I promise. I know you don't think it's gonna be 66 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: worth it, but when you get here, it's gonna be 67 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: absolutely word that I promise to the audience. What is 68 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: your uber experience? Ian Schragert might be one of my 69 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,399 Speaker 1: favorite guests that we've had on the show. He's an entrepreneur, 70 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: He's a legend. People that I know who are so 71 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: successful in the nightclub, lifestyle, design, entertainment space call him 72 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: an icon. I mean, he's just incredible. He's famous not 73 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: only for creating what we now know as the boutique 74 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: hotel experience, but he was also the co owner and 75 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: co founder of arguably the most famous nightclub in history, 76 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: Studio fifty four. We talked today about leveraging innovation, some 77 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: concrete tips for events, and always looking forward to the 78 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: next best thing. I loved talking with Ian, even calling 79 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: him my business soul mate, So I hope you enjoyed 80 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: this conversation as much as I did. Ian even asked 81 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: me if he could use one of my ideas for 82 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: a new nightclub of his. Uh, it's just interesting to 83 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: hear a guy from Brooklyn who just sounds like any 84 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: guy from the streets. Be the literal fashion design travel 85 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: UH impresario. He's fascinating, fascinating. He touches so many different 86 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: parts of the things that we do, from the oversized 87 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: chairs to those long community tables, to you using all white, 88 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: to that boutique hotel, to everything that happened in Miami. 89 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I can't say enough all the hotels that 90 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: were experiential in New York City, where the lobbies were 91 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: major and the rooms were small, but you were part 92 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: of an experience. All of that is attributed to Ian S. Traeger. 93 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 1: So he is infinitely influential. So I want to get 94 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: a sense of there is a lot in the press 95 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: about you, which is not always not all the people 96 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: that I interview on here who are moguls had that 97 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: much about them, But there has been a lot written 98 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: about you. But I want to understand, um, your family, 99 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: what was your family like, what was your family dynamic? 100 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: And um, the relationship to success in your family, what 101 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: was that like. I was born in the Bronx, raised 102 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: in Brooklyn, so I have all the UH credentials of 103 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: a gun slinger from the city. Uh. Had a loving family, 104 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 1: had a sister and a brother. Uh. We're a close family, 105 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: middle class Uh came growing up in Brooklyn was a 106 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: great thing for me. Uh. It made me hungry, uh 107 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 1: and made me very ambitious. My brother went on to 108 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: be a doctor. It's very good cardiologist down in Florida. 109 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: My sister passed unfortunately, Uh, and both my mother and 110 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: papa died relatively early as well. So I've been on 111 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: my own since I was nineteen. Interesting, that seems to 112 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: be a thread. People sort of latchkey kids, people having 113 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: an independence early. What was success in your household were you? 114 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: Were you driven by passion or by money? At a 115 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: brother who's a doctor. You're a Jewish man in Brooklyn 116 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: and you're from a middle class family, So what were 117 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: goals in your household? Never about money, He's never been 118 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: about money. It's always about success, a statue or excellence, 119 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 1: achieving the ideal. It was never about money. I don't 120 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 1: think it's it's ever really about money for any any 121 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: uh aspiring entrepreneur. Tolis about just um showing people, you know, 122 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: achieving the ideal. Upsetting the Scottish quo doing something that 123 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: hasn't been done before. It was always about that. That's okay. 124 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: So I don't know if you'd find it interesting that 125 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: you're right. I mean you wouldn't because you said it, 126 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: but the people at home would find it interesting to 127 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: know that of the people on here who are icons, billionaires, moguls, 128 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:57,239 Speaker 1: they're motivated by success and goals and you know, passion 129 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: and drive, but that's not money. And and and different 130 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: TV shows and different cultural aspects now really and and 131 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: a lot of music show money, money, money, and you're 132 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: supposed to go for money, and if you're looking at 133 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: it that way, you might be on the wrong road. 134 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: So that's a great lesson. I mean, most people on here, 135 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: without bells and whistles, without any sort of gimmicks, believe 136 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: in old school hard work. So it doesn't matter if 137 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: it's nineteen fifty one. You can't give up as much 138 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: as you have to give up to vote yourself and 139 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: dedicate yourself and be reloke about it. For the money, 140 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: it's just not enough. Uh. There has to be something 141 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: else striving you. That has to be something that keeps 142 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: pushing you forward, that keeps allowing you to pick yourself 143 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: up and dust yourself off when you fall in and 144 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: continue on. You can't get that for money. It's just 145 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: not enough. Well, it's fascinating because that's that's I've never 146 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: heard anyone say it that way. It is so true. 147 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: I've heard people say that a true entrepreneur is thinking 148 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: about it, reading at twenty four hours a day. I 149 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: haven't heard that. But I'm writing another book and I 150 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: decided to change the title to business is personal because 151 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: something that you are moved by and that you think 152 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: about all the time, that is just like part of you, 153 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: for better or for worse. It's not always good as 154 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: you're probably described to us. But it is personal, don't 155 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: you think one? And I've never heard it the phrase 156 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: like that before, But it's it's intimate. Personal. Yes, it 157 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: goes right down to your bone marrow, God tell personal. 158 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: It is exactly perfect part of your d n A. 159 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: So you true entrepreneurs, whether within a corporate structure or 160 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: just mavericks, it's in your d n A you will know. 161 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: So did you have a childhood icon? Well, I don't 162 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: know how to have an adult icon. You know, I'm 163 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: a role model for me has been uh Walt Disney 164 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: and Steve Jobs. Uh, you know, I have some of 165 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: my friends from this give you a fifty four Days 166 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: that I also have been inspired by that tessed with. Uh, 167 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: but I think uh buying large it's Steve Jobs and uh, 168 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 1: well Dizney, it's been the main inspirations for me. Well, 169 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: that makes sense. And I think you've delivered in a 170 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: way that they would both have said. You know, you've 171 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: executed division. Did people around you think you had quote 172 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: unquote style when you were a kid? Did you have swag? 173 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: Did you have style just in what you ward had did? 174 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 1: Was it different? No? They didn't think I didn't have it. Uh. 175 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: You know I might have had the swag. I might 176 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 1: have had to dash personally, but no, I I you know, 177 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: you you don't know what you have. You you you 178 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: don't reveal who you really are and what you really 179 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: made out of until a circumstance presents itself. It doesn't 180 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: change those circumstances. It reveals who you wore already are. 181 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 1: But it didn't come out yet. Uh, and nobody saw it. 182 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: So when was what was that defining defining moment? When 183 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: did you And you probably had many reveals, but when 184 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: was the first real reveal when Steve and I, uh 185 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: when uh, you know, we were in New York in 186 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: the midst seventies, uh, and we were looking around for 187 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: something to do. Uh and when I saw lines outside 188 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: of a nightclub, people waiting to get in and taking 189 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: all this abuse uh to get in, that was the 190 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: spot and knew how to be there. I remember saying 191 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: to Steve that, uh, we have to do this, we 192 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: have to get into this business. Real good friends from 193 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 1: school uh and um so we we were partners with 194 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: two other people who happened to have had a very 195 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: successful nightclub in New York at the time, which one 196 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: it was an ay club, it was a gay club. 197 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: It was when the gay uh population was beginning to emerge. 198 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: A lot of the creative and talented people in the 199 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 1: city were gay. And if you went to a straight nightclub, 200 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: it was really very contrived. You know. For me, it 201 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: was you know, meet meeting somebody of the opposite sex 202 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: or the same sex, pick up places, all that kind 203 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: of stuff. I never felt comfortable. But when you went 204 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: to a gay club, it was like a tribal rite. 205 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: It was much revelry, so much hot, sweaty dams and 206 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: anything was possible, and so you know that that was 207 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: always the part that I gravitated to. So we had 208 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 1: these you know, when we were gonna be doing three 209 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: or four of these nine clubs little one, and I 210 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: was going to be supplying, uh, the the legal services 211 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: because I was a lawyer at the time, practicing lawyer. 212 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: Uh and uh. When the partnership broke up, we had 213 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: done the first nightclub but which was in Boston. Uh, 214 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: and I had gone there to help get it open. 215 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: Uh and uh you know when the club was that 216 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: in Boston. I'm fascinated by these stories lands down Street, 217 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: Okay because I know it because I spent some time 218 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: in Boston. Okayta bark Okay, got it? Know it fabulous? Okay, 219 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 1: So you've done a club in Boston. I had seen 220 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: him in the last week or two putting it together 221 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 1: with short one cash right Chester. We gotta go get it. 222 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: We're waiting for the mirror boar to come from here, 223 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: you know, in producing it and making it happen. And 224 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 1: when I saw that, I said to Steve, Steve, I 225 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: could do this. I saw how they did it. I 226 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: could do it. So the partnership broke up, and you 227 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 1: know then we uh, Steve and I went in and 228 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: did it. Wow, So you were It's like being a 229 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: producer in many ways, right, you were the you were 230 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: the producer. But you have a legal background is absolutely huge. So, um, 231 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: what does taste? What is good taste? What is bad taste? 232 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: To you? You know? A definition to me of good 233 00:12:55,559 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: taste is uh, simplicity, okay, ultimate, just asian you know. 234 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: But it's it's a gift. Uh. You know, I don't 235 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: know where it comes from. Some people have it, some 236 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: people don't. Some people see things other people don't see. Uh. 237 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: Some people just have that natural response. And you're kind 238 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 1: of lucky. When your taste is something that other people 239 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: respond to, it resonates with them. But you never really know. 240 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: I think anybody creative that's would happen. I think creative 241 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: people do things that they themselves like, period, and even 242 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: all of a sudden magic happens, and there are other 243 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: people out there that also like it. But you don't know. Well. Also, 244 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: um question, So taste and style are different, right? So 245 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: do you have good style? Very simple style? Uh? You know? Uh? Normal? 246 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: Uh used to call me non fashionable, not unfashionable, non 247 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:04,199 Speaker 1: fashionable about I've had various uniforms. Uh, to my life, 248 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: It doesn't you know, mean very much to me. Yes, 249 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: and you know, but it's funny you're describing something utilitarian, 250 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: which also has become sort of in quote unquote style. 251 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: So what about people who you know, when when when 252 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: we see people that wear these crazy fashion outfits and 253 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: they're from famous designers, and it looks like you're almost 254 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: mocking us because it's like that is ridiculous. But when 255 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: people have the security and the confidence to pull something 256 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: off that kind of can make us think that it's 257 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: good taste? Does that make any sense? A sen sense? 258 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: That street street fashion is what I call that with 259 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: these people put these unlikely combinations together that no one 260 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: who thinks inside the box would ever do. But they 261 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: just happen to put it together in away and pulls 262 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: it off and makes it work. Uh. And that because 263 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: they have that kind of touch alchemy, is a good 264 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: for a hotel club for you? Um? So where do 265 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: you get your inspiration? And well, where's the line of 266 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: inspiration and copying? Like, where does it annoy you that 267 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: everybody has copied your entire design aesthetic? Do you love it? 268 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: You're not getting paid for it? We we younger twenty 269 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: year olds go to hotels, they've probably don't even know 270 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: who you are. I mean, respectfully, they go to public 271 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: those know who you are, but they might not. I'm 272 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: not one of those people that considers flattery or copying flattery. 273 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: I think that because it's so personal to me. Yes, 274 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: it's my children. Yes, you can't take my idea right, 275 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: There's nothing I can do about it. That's the way 276 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: it is Spechtel in America. Uh, you know something as successful, 277 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: people are gonna jump on it as fast as possible, 278 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 1: but it's nothing you can do about that. So I've 279 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: learned through the years to kind of not be looking 280 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: over my shoulder and just keep my eye on what 281 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: I'm doing and forget about that, because you know, just 282 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: drive you crazy. Okay, So that's amazing because I always say, 283 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: be Michael Phelps, be looking at that wall. If you're 284 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: looking at them, you're gonna slow down. I mean maybe 285 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: in swimming they actually do a look. But you know 286 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. I'm saying, if you're looking at what 287 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: everyone else is doing, you're not moving, so you're you're 288 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: at the next thing while they're copying the last thing. 289 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 1: It's the only thing you could possibly do. So where 290 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: you get your inspiration if you decide years ago when 291 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: I first walked into the Delano and the scale was 292 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: just so ballsy and just like bold, and you know, 293 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: now it's okay to do everything like that, but then 294 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: it was just like disruptive. So where does that all 295 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: come from? The first idea? You know, first of all, 296 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: it comes from within, It comes from what you know. 297 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: You're the idea. You have it all thoughts with an 298 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: idea and something that you want to say, something that 299 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: you want to do. Uh. You know I used to 300 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: go down to Miami with my parents and I'd be 301 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: in a lobby of a hotel. Uh the air conditioning 302 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: is freezing. Uh. And uh women would be there, uh 303 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: in fur copes. Uh in the middle of Miami. Uh. 304 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: You know, so and very on eight and and and 305 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 1: very ostentatious and and so you know, you know, my 306 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: idea was, uh, you know, I want to go back 307 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 1: to what old Florida was. If all these um hotels 308 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: in the fifties and sixties were you know, too bright 309 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: and too light. I wanted to make the lobby of 310 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 1: the Llano dock. Uh. And I wanted to make it, 311 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: uh seem like you were entering into another world, almost 312 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:45,159 Speaker 1: like it was like from old Florida plantation. So you 313 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: get these kind of ideas. I had been to Key West, 314 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: I had been to southern Florida, and there I saw 315 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 1: the charm of old Florida. I didn't see the Miami 316 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: beach uh Louis, the Fooie style, the fountain blue and 317 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:00,920 Speaker 1: all those kind of things. No, I don't want to 318 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: do anything like that. Uh if if all the hotels 319 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,360 Speaker 1: in told Pitch at that time, we're being painted these 320 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: past out colors. I don't know how to be white. 321 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: You know. It was just counterposing everything we were doing 322 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 1: again what everybody else was doing. Because product distinction is 323 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: the name of the game. Boom, want something that stands 324 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 1: out from what everybody else is doing. Boom. I was 325 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: talking to the chairman today of Peacock and Um he's 326 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: high up Comcast, and he was saying from mentors which 327 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: come in different places, he not only figures out what 328 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: to do, but what but looking at other people around 329 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: him or what not to do. And it's interesting because 330 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: I see I have a similarity to you. I don't 331 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: like to have what anyone else has. I don't like 332 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: to do what anyone else does. It actually, like irritates 333 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: me in a very personal way. And I'm seeing that 334 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 1: you're very much like that. It's not just that you'll 335 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: have an idea and go for it. It must absolutely 336 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: separate itself from the back. Oh you. The whole point 337 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: is to stand out from the crowd. Yeah, the whole 338 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: point to do something outside the box. If you want 339 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 1: to have something that can become a you know, runaway success. 340 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: If you just want to fit in and you just 341 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: want to have something that that does well because the 342 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: market is good. But when you do something unique and distinctive, Uh, 343 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter about the bakeries of the economy. It 344 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: doesn't matter about the market because you have something nobody 345 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: else has. Exactly. Anne is describing something that I've talked 346 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: about before. Often partners try to tell you this is 347 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 1: a very big thing, so we should be doing it 348 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:43,360 Speaker 1: this way. And when I was poor and had my idea, 349 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: it didn't matter what anybody was doing. I just felt 350 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: it inside. Later, I only got into trouble when I 351 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: would listen to what a retailer wanted to do, and 352 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: then I would go by what they wanted to do, 353 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 1: whenever you were doing what you feel inside that you 354 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: really should be doing. It's liberating, it's honest, and it's 355 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 1: just the only like thread that you can adhere too. 356 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: So I I completely agree. And it's the only thing. 357 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: It's comfortable. It's weird, and it feels like a sellout, weird, 358 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: diluted version of some other garbage, and then you definitely 359 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: late because you're behind that other thing. So I I 360 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 1: completely agree. But you're also talking about when you talk 361 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: about women in FIRS in Miami lobby and you see 362 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: that the way you want something to be, you're talking 363 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: about solutions. You're thinking of something that you think is 364 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: a problem, even if it's a superficial problem. You're thinking 365 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: it's something that could just be made better, a better 366 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: way for people to experience a lobby, something so basic 367 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: and culture changes. Every can change it. And you have 368 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: to you have to know where people are and you 369 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 1: have to kind of make a leap of faith and 370 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: thinking they don't know they want it yet, they don't 371 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,919 Speaker 1: know they need this yet, but I feel it because 372 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 1: I can read the signs. I can connect that, and 373 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: so you do something and lead them to something that 374 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: you think they're going to get to that they don't 375 00:20:55,440 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: even know yet exactly. Yes, that's what I was going 376 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: to say. If you're a good entrepreneur, you're telling them 377 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: what they want, not to be rude like they don't 378 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 1: know they wanted. Did you overshoot the mark like in 379 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: your life? Do you? Did you feel like what I mean, 380 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: it's even successful a long time? But did you have 381 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: any idea that you would be this sort of icon 382 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,640 Speaker 1: in the world, literally laying down the groundworks for other 383 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: people's style? I had no, Well, thank you, but I 384 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 1: had no idea. I just kept doing what I like 385 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 1: to do and love to do, and I try to 386 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: do it better and worked harder than everybody else had it. Uh, 387 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: and I still love it. I still do it because 388 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: I love it. We don't know where things are going 389 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: to take us, you know. I've often thought that, you know, 390 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: with the ideas that I've contributed to the hotel industry, um, 391 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: you know, and now there are thousands and thousands of 392 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: versions of them, maybe I could have been a much 393 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: much bigger company. Yeah, I know, maybe I could have been, uh, 394 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: the the new Marriott. I don't mean to sound pretentious, 395 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: but I'm just presumptuous. I'm just saying that I could 396 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: have been much bigger because everyone's taking those ideas and 397 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: then make big companies out of it. So it's not 398 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,360 Speaker 1: a regret, it's it's maybe a differ road I could 399 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: have traveled on. But I'm happy to wrote I took 400 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 1: because I never cared about being the biggest. They only 401 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: care about being the best. Uh and uh So we 402 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: all have these uh kind of thoughts, But I'm happy 403 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: with the way. You know, I've led my life. Well, 404 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,199 Speaker 1: you're describing what a lot of people say is it 405 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: wasn't like you knew what the big picture was. You 406 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: were aware of some goal of goals. Obviously you had dreams, 407 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: but you put one foot in front of the other, 408 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: and every single thing you did you did to the 409 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: best of your ability. It doesn't sound like you ever 410 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: thought any job was beneath you. You've probably cleaned the 411 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: toilet bowls and the nightclub. I mean, I bet you've 412 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: done every single job. Yeah, exactly, I'm the same. I'm 413 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: I'm I'm the same. There's nothing I don't do, it's 414 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: just who it's Yeah, and also, you know, I just 415 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: turned fifth d When you get older, you decide the 416 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: road like so, yeah, you absolutely could have been the 417 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: Steve Jobs whatever that means in like style hospitality. I 418 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: mean there would have been a price, and it's a 419 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: different road. You know. We we evaluate now what's too much? 420 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: Where's balance? How do we find it? So I think 421 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 1: that's another conversation that once you become successful, but still 422 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,199 Speaker 1: like Norma like me, have that desire and bug how 423 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,199 Speaker 1: to control yourself? How to I bet you have to 424 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: control your ideas? Yes, I have an idea a second. 425 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: You know what Step Job being incredibly creative, incredibly innovative, Uh, 426 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: you know, brilliant, maybe a genius. Uh, you know, thinking 427 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: about Walt Disney and thinking about in a way although 428 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 1: Steve Jobs with Flamboyant Walt Disney was in a lot 429 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: more different areas, wasn't only in one area. I mean 430 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: you did a lot of things. Uh, But so steep 431 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: Jobs chose um uh the guy I forget the name. 432 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: Now we're running to come from Tim right, okay? Uh? 433 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: And Apple is doing absolutely great, making the most valuable 434 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 1: company in the world and all and when when Steve 435 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 1: Jobs died, I thought it was over for Apple because 436 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: they're just not going to be able to innovate the 437 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 1: way Steve Jobs do Now. I wonder that Tim Cook 438 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 1: was able to exploit and leverage the Apple Echo system 439 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: that Steve Jobs create, which is where they're making a 440 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: huge money. I wondered whether or not Steve Jobs chose 441 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: him Cook for that reason. You need any more innovations. 442 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 1: We need someone to make and leverage what we've already done. 443 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: Because if he did, if that was something, and probably 444 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: it was, then he's even smarter than I thought he 445 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: was right, and he might have taken Steve could have 446 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 1: been a hindrance taking everyone on a thousand wild goose 447 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,959 Speaker 1: chases versus somebody going horizontal. That's always a choice. Are 448 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: you going deeper and horizontal? You're going vertical? All these things. 449 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,680 Speaker 1: The roads, it's roads on the highway, and you could 450 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: get you you know, you don't know where to get off, 451 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: where to get on. You're you're just taking a trip. 452 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 1: Do you sweat the small stuff? Because I never know 453 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: what small detail is responsible for putting something over the top. 454 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 1: Everything is a matter of life and death. Everything. Do 455 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: you live in the weeds? You have to do some 456 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: sort of like installation of weeds because I get it. 457 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,239 Speaker 1: I always. I sweat all the small stuff, and like you, 458 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: if someone does one small thing that's wrong, that's so obvious, 459 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: I freak out, like roaches in Manhattan? How many other 460 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 1: small things? Just what am I missing? Now? It's it's 461 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 1: it's maddening. It's the mind of an entrepreneur. Ignorance and 462 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: be bliss now. And you can never, never be taken 463 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: out of that approach. Never. It's like, I don't know 464 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: anybody that doesn't sweat the small stuff. I mean, because 465 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: which one of the things reaches out and visually touches 466 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: somebody and make them react to this? You just can't know. 467 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: So everything is important. Everything is a matter of life 468 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: and death. Well, you know what, you know, I found 469 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: I didn't have balance in the earlier part of my life. 470 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,479 Speaker 1: I made a lot of sacrifices for the success. You know, 471 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: that was what made me happy, and I really worked 472 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 1: over time. Uh. You know now when you get a 473 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: little older, uh, and uh, I do have the balance, 474 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 1: you know. And I think that comes with wisdom. When 475 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: the reflexes get a little slower perhaps, but the the 476 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: the methical capacity and the wisdom increases. So I kind 477 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 1: of know, you get an idea of what the universe 478 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: is and what the options are, so the decisions are 479 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: easier for me now. But I think the secret, the 480 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: secret to life is to balance. I mean the people 481 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: from India, they have the right idea. You know, you 482 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: have to have everything. You have to have the business, 483 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: you have to have the good family. You have to 484 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:02,119 Speaker 1: love your person, you're living with your kids, yet that hobby, 485 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: Y have have that friends. If you don't have all of that, 486 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 1: then you're not I don't think you truly truly happy 487 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 1: like I am. Now you're truly happy. Now do you mind? 488 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: If I asked the old you are okay? You're seventy fathers. 489 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 1: So you went to jail for how long? Thirteen months? 490 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 1: Was there any silver lining to jail? Was there is 491 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: do you have? Did you get street credit in a 492 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: different way in business? Was there any upside to this experience? 493 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: I think before I thought that maybe all the rules 494 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 1: don't apply to me, that I could cut corners, uh, 495 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,160 Speaker 1: and I could do whatever I needed to do for success, 496 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,920 Speaker 1: And I think, uh, we're going to jail. One. It 497 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 1: gave me a year of rest to gave me an 498 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 1: opportunity to reflect. Uh. And during that interlude, in my case, 499 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,640 Speaker 1: it was forced, forced interlude. I decided to go into 500 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: the hotel business. Like a lot of people during the war, uh, 501 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: when they went through the war interlude, that when they 502 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 1: came out and they just started to change their life 503 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 1: and go down on a different paths and to drive something. 504 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 1: Whether it was Bill Paley, whether it was that all 505 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:15,400 Speaker 1: happened during the war. Uh. And so to that extent 506 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 1: was good. The funny thing about it is Steve and 507 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 1: I were the only one in there that were guilty. 508 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 1: Nobody else did. Of course. Well that's actually interesting because 509 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 1: I'm not comparing jail to the pandemic, but I'm saying, 510 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 1: in times of very aberration, total aberration. I've been saying 511 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 1: since the beginning of the pandemic, that there will be 512 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 1: seeds that will be planted and trees that will flourish 513 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: as a result of this time, because it's reflective, it's disruptive, 514 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: it's it's it's it's resetting, it's all these things that 515 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: you know, people are bottled up, and afterwards, if you're prepared, 516 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: or if you're at least your eyes are open, that 517 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 1: things will flourish as a result. So what do you 518 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: think about that? With the pandemic that the same thing 519 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 1: happened to me during the pandemic, that happened to me 520 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: in the first get to what I had in my life. 521 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: I was able to step back and re evaluate what 522 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: I was doing and think about it and recalibrate myself 523 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 1: what I wanted to do. And it's such an invaluable, 524 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: once in a lifetime opportunity. It's like playing a sport 525 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: and saying it's a duelthough you have an opportunity to 526 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: redo what you were doing and rethink it. It's as 527 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: absolutely invaluable. And and that's what I used the pandemic for. 528 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: And I found it incredibly valuable to me enlightening because 529 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: you're also focused in the travel space, which went dormant, 530 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: but now it's going to come alive like nothing else. 531 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: So to be able to plan, and you know what, 532 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: in your business, it's so competitive to be able to 533 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: get ahead and do what you did before. Sometimes we 534 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 1: all just need to take a time out, but we 535 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: don't ever get it. That's exactly right, and I thought 536 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: it was an invaluable time. And even with my family, 537 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 1: you'd be able to spend more quality time with them 538 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: with just the wonderful, wonderful thing. And so for me, 539 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 1: the pandemic was a very positive thing. Well same, but 540 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: it was very valuable I understand. I think there are 541 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: a lot of people that feel guilty to have thrived 542 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 1: and survived, but at least there are tools that you 543 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 1: can give to other people to do the same. I 544 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: find that people are stunned. Dear people who get stunned 545 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 1: and complain and get paralyzed there in the worst position. 546 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 1: You've got to just pick do something, do something. I 547 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: always say, like you could cook a basil parsley or cilantro, 548 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 1: pick one and make the rest of the recipe go around. 549 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 1: And I'm sure in your designs you don't always know 550 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: exactly what you're doing. You just pick something and then 551 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,800 Speaker 1: that's the way you go. Now, yep, you know what 552 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: it is. You're gonna control your environment where you're gonna 553 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: let your environment control you. And I think the people 554 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: that were pessimistic about it was letting the environment control 555 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 1: their destiny. And I don't think that's something anybody should 556 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: ever do. That's well, no matter what it is, that's 557 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: well said. That's very place of Yes, that's well said. 558 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: So talking about personal relationships, who's the peacock? I always say, 559 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: there's only one peacock in a relationship. So who's the 560 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: peacock in your relationship? What do you mean peacock? The 561 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 1: one is blooming? Who's the other one is a little 562 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: more reserved and not the first one to like make 563 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: conversation or just there's one peacock who is bright feathers 564 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: and the other one is a little more unassuming and understand. Funny. Uh, 565 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 1: it's so funny because when I went and did the 566 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 1: deal with Marryott, know h, everybody thought that were so unlikely. 567 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: I was selling out and I was doing it for 568 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 1: the money, not at all, not at all. And the 569 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 1: deal would Bill married the great suit in the red tie. 570 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 1: I was deal with a black T shirt. You know, 571 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 1: he wanted to have a press compence. He would be 572 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: a black too T shirt. I would wear a red tie. 573 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: I'm not doing that right. The point was that that 574 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: even though on the surface he didn't look like me 575 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 1: and was ostentibly totally different from me, inside we had 576 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: the same values, same relentsicist, same pursuit of excellence, same 577 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: hard nosed everything. With my wife. Uh, we're both restrained people. Uh. 578 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, both strong in our own ways, 579 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: both sensitive and our own ways. I think, uh, you know, 580 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 1: you know what else I've I've found is that you 581 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: can't go through a whole life with one person when 582 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: you're sacrificing to the whole entire lot. You can do 583 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: it for a little while, but after a while it's 584 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: going to great on And so we really do have 585 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: the same pursuit in life. I think I add a 586 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 1: little spice uh and uh and combustibility to her and 587 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: completes her as a person, and she brings uh some 588 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:57,080 Speaker 1: stability and even this to my personality and so grounding Betther, 589 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:00,600 Speaker 1: it's it just works very well. Well. It's funny because 590 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 1: that's one of the components that I find fascinating. Through 591 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: doing this podcast, I've spoken to very successful people in 592 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 1: successful relationships. Interestingly enough, most people have been in multiple 593 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,880 Speaker 1: decade relationships, so I haven't, so I often ask so 594 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: I'm just curious, what you know, pearls of wisdom you 595 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: might have. Well, that didn't happen to me. In my marriage. 596 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 1: It's been easy, you know, we had I don't know, 597 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: I feel lucky. Yeah, I was married once before, but 598 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 1: you know, I just you know, you get lucky when 599 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 1: you actually wind up with someone that you do compliment 600 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: and you do fit together and it works very well. 601 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 1: Uh So it hasn't been worked and it hasn't been 602 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: a commitment in our relationship has grown, you know, we've 603 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 1: been for the past year and the pandemic. I was 604 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: hearing a lot of things from husbands and wife they 605 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 1: wanted to kill each other, not us. Our relationship got stronger. Wow, 606 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: I can't explain why. And for that I feel very lucky. 607 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: Well now, but maybe it maybe it is like business 608 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: in a sense, not in a in a calculated way, 609 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 1: but where what you put into it you get out 610 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: of it. It has to be that there has to 611 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: be right and it's a little bit of the luck 612 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:18,160 Speaker 1: of the draw. What I've seen great parents have troubled kids, 613 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 1: and I've seen terrible parents have great kids. It's a 614 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 1: little bit of luck of the draw. Interesting. So that's interesting. 615 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 1: And also sometimes it's if you've seen successful relationships in 616 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 1: your childhood, so you know what that is. It's a touchdoone. 617 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:34,759 Speaker 1: That's been a challenge for me because I hadn't seen that. 618 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:37,759 Speaker 1: Just things like that all contribute to the recipe. So 619 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 1: I've been to Studio fifty four twice. One in the 620 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:44,080 Speaker 1: original like the late original iteration, and one you guys 621 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: had some sort of like reunion party that was amazing. 622 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:48,480 Speaker 1: So I mean, I don't know if it's you, but 623 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: it seems real the second time. What And I know 624 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 1: so many people a guy Paul Conliff I used to 625 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: work for. He was the head bartender at that like pit, 626 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,359 Speaker 1: and and you know, and Andy Cohen talks about it, 627 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: and you know, it's so iconic that for anyone listening, 628 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:06,760 Speaker 1: Studio is it It is definitely the most famous nightclub 629 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 1: in history in the world. I don't know, isn't it. 630 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:14,279 Speaker 1: I hope it is. I think it is. I I 631 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 1: don't know. All I know is that that. Uh. You know, 632 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 1: there've been a couple of seminal events in my life. 633 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:27,319 Speaker 1: Woodstock was one, Studio was one. Uh you know, it's 634 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: almost fifty years later when people are still talking about 635 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 1: Studio and they're talking more about it than Woodstock. Yes, yes, 636 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 1: oh yes, So for anyone listening, it was the most 637 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:42,320 Speaker 1: iconic nightclub with an energy and an electricity and an alchemy, 638 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:46,120 Speaker 1: as to use your word. So from your perspective, what 639 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:49,399 Speaker 1: was that like, Like what was that feel like, you know, 640 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: we've lost ownership of it a little bit. By the way, 641 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,759 Speaker 1: just reverting back to one thing that happened before, when 642 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:58,960 Speaker 1: I described my relationship with my wife now normal, when 643 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:02,360 Speaker 1: when when we good friends back when? Back you know 644 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:07,799 Speaker 1: before she was also restrained and quiet her own way, 645 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: but she expressed herself through her very very flamboyant and 646 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:18,000 Speaker 1: provocative fashion. But she was a very reserved person. She 647 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: subsequently has evolved from that. But but it's just funny 648 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: about I recently did a documentary and the guy that 649 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 1: I did it with, Matt Turnoa, very smart guy, and 650 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: he didn't think that Studio fifty four could be recreated 651 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 1: now and I don't agree. Uh. He thought there were 652 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 1: things like that technology and iPhones that the privacy and all. 653 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:47,320 Speaker 1: To me, those are just distractions. And we see clubs 654 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 1: like Studio fifties four now and Ibisa uh and in 655 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:54,800 Speaker 1: East Berlin where there is a mayhem, a wildness, anything 656 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:57,600 Speaker 1: can happen. Anything you do is okay as long as 657 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:01,880 Speaker 1: it's not illegal and you don't hurt anybody. But to me, 658 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:07,040 Speaker 1: what happened was like it's that when people got in there, 659 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 1: got in the club, it was one of the few 660 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: times where you've experienced an absolute freedom. You could do anything, 661 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:21,399 Speaker 1: you felt protected, you didn't care if you were next 662 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 1: door celebrity, you didn't care what you did. And that 663 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 1: feeling of freedom, it's not often experienced, and I think 664 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: that was at the basis of it, because otherwise I 665 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:36,920 Speaker 1: can't come up with another explanation. No, it's amazing because 666 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: I remember that I shouldn't be saying this because I 667 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:41,160 Speaker 1: have a daughter. But at fourteen, I went I was 668 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:43,719 Speaker 1: going tonight called the thirteen and Saratoga Springs, New York, 669 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: the Rafters upstate. And then at fourteen, my mother told 670 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:51,480 Speaker 1: me how to like use a fake idea and just 671 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:54,000 Speaker 1: act like I belonged to how Eve the doorman at 672 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:57,920 Speaker 1: the Palladium. And I walked up that ramp and in 673 00:37:57,960 --> 00:38:00,440 Speaker 1: that Michael Todd room, that private room, and I was. 674 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 1: I was. I had a very crazy childhood, so I 675 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:04,879 Speaker 1: was like an adult by that time already is where 676 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:07,680 Speaker 1: does that sounds? Taken the train into the city and 677 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 1: as a city at five o'clock in the morning. I 678 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,799 Speaker 1: know it sounds crazy, parents and I agree, but there 679 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 1: was an electricity and you just felt like you were 680 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:18,480 Speaker 1: absolutely alive. So I don't recommend it for children, but 681 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:20,560 Speaker 1: I still do remember it and I know exactly what 682 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:25,000 Speaker 1: you're talking about. The alchemy. Yeah, it's a it's a 683 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:27,279 Speaker 1: genes say qua, and I guess you will be able 684 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:29,799 Speaker 1: to create it now at post pandemic, because people are 685 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:34,160 Speaker 1: going to want that feeling well, and because where that 686 00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:38,399 Speaker 1: comes from is in the diversity of the people. It's 687 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:42,520 Speaker 1: the diversity that creates that energy. So it's the diversity 688 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:49,799 Speaker 1: of people that kind of come together that Well, you 689 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:53,360 Speaker 1: just gave the greatest explanation for the snobbery with a 690 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 1: man with a with the rope, which no one really understands. 691 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 1: That hasn't been distilled down. You're talking about someone creating 692 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:02,759 Speaker 1: making a movie inside for that night, like you're casting 693 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:06,319 Speaker 1: a movie and curating a world. So that should be 694 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:09,600 Speaker 1: that should be the description for why people aren't getting in. 695 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 1: We're you know, we're casting an evening. It's it's just 696 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: you're not you're inviting people to be home for a 697 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:18,600 Speaker 1: private dinner and you want to sit somebody talkative next 698 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:23,480 Speaker 1: to somebody talkative like it. That kind of discretion in 699 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:28,040 Speaker 1: the public arena is not politically correct, and they think 700 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 1: it's a late but it wasn't. You have nothing to 701 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:32,800 Speaker 1: do with wealth and had nothing to do with stature 702 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:35,120 Speaker 1: or anything. It had to be. We just wanted to 703 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:39,239 Speaker 1: make sure that we had a good party inside. And yah, 704 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:44,279 Speaker 1: its so spontaneous that you make they're they're deciding what 705 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,319 Speaker 1: they want their club to be. That so I get 706 00:39:46,719 --> 00:39:49,160 Speaker 1: why it's a problem, but I've never I'm pretty smart, 707 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 1: I understand marketing. I've never really thought of it. I 708 00:39:51,320 --> 00:40:03,399 Speaker 1: love that what was your favorite project and your least 709 00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:06,560 Speaker 1: favorite project? You know, it's like asking somebody, what's your 710 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:12,759 Speaker 1: favorite kid? I I you know, I um, you know. 711 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:15,520 Speaker 1: I liked them all the same. That's fine, Okay, the 712 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:20,560 Speaker 1: most successful, most and least successful. Let's do that. Someone 713 00:40:20,719 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 1: natural Hits where I opened up the doors and they 714 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:27,000 Speaker 1: were hit. A sum I had to work at. UH 715 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:30,359 Speaker 1: studio was a natural hit pladium we had to work 716 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:34,080 Speaker 1: at because it was so big and and frankly, thank god, 717 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:37,120 Speaker 1: they've all been successful. But you know, I think it's 718 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:40,520 Speaker 1: someone natural hits. They took off on their own UH 719 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:43,920 Speaker 1: and some I had to work at Morgan's. My personal 720 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:47,719 Speaker 1: tell is a natural hit Studio was a natural hit palladium. 721 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:50,080 Speaker 1: We had to work at Royalton. We had to work 722 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:55,440 Speaker 1: at because it was very new, socializing the lobby as 723 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:58,799 Speaker 1: a new kind of gathering place. People didn't quite understand 724 00:40:59,560 --> 00:41:02,880 Speaker 1: where did they. Yeah, you gotta we gotta work at it. 725 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 1: User habits. You've changed socialization in hospitality, So those are 726 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:11,920 Speaker 1: you're creating user habits. Um who owns the intellectual property 727 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:18,799 Speaker 1: for Studio fifty four h MGM in Las Vegas? They 728 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 1: paid you guys for it. No, you guys made a mistake. 729 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:27,120 Speaker 1: When I was in my forced interlude, I didn't want 730 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:32,000 Speaker 1: nothing to do with studio. It almost it became like 731 00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:34,759 Speaker 1: a Frankenstein monster. It almost killed Stephen I. We didn't 732 00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:38,640 Speaker 1: want anything to do, so we let the trade markets fire. 733 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 1: Oh guys, guys, that's like the stuff we talked about 734 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:44,560 Speaker 1: in the beginning. How you never know how something's gonna 735 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:47,759 Speaker 1: end up. That's crazy. That's a crazy situation, you know 736 00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:51,280 Speaker 1: what I mean. Are always looking for the next project 737 00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:54,719 Speaker 1: and the next thing, and that what excites me. And 738 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:59,719 Speaker 1: I got it, father got working on so it. Uh. 739 00:41:59,719 --> 00:42:03,799 Speaker 1: It maybe a money thing, but yeah, but you never 740 00:42:03,880 --> 00:42:05,840 Speaker 1: thought about getting back and business them with it, or 741 00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:08,479 Speaker 1: buying the IP back or anything because I've thought about 742 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:10,360 Speaker 1: that with the skinny Broll cocktails. It's the only I 743 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:12,640 Speaker 1: p that I don't own, and they haven't really done 744 00:42:12,719 --> 00:42:17,200 Speaker 1: much with it, so I've thought it's thinking about it now. Good, Okay, 745 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:19,560 Speaker 1: that's why you thought it was interesting that I asked, Yeah, 746 00:42:19,719 --> 00:42:21,319 Speaker 1: it's never gonna be the same, so it's not going 747 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:22,920 Speaker 1: to the same recipe with that you in it. They 748 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:26,719 Speaker 1: don't know what to do with it. So I like it. Wow, 749 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:28,040 Speaker 1: let me know, I can't wait to watch with the 750 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:31,880 Speaker 1: popcorn exciting um okay, the um, the rose and the 751 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:34,960 Speaker 1: thorn of your career, not your family, not having kids, 752 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:39,239 Speaker 1: like the high point and the low point. Well, I 753 00:42:39,280 --> 00:42:45,319 Speaker 1: think yuh, probably right around studio. I think the rose was, 754 00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:51,479 Speaker 1: you know, having this incredible success thrust the part Steve 755 00:42:51,600 --> 00:42:55,200 Speaker 1: and I we didn't know what to expect. Uh. And 756 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,720 Speaker 1: I'll never forget. On the first page that studio opened, 757 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:01,440 Speaker 1: I had left round two in the morning. I always 758 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:04,080 Speaker 1: left to where always he've always left too late. Uh, 759 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:05,839 Speaker 1: And I got a phone call from him of bof 760 00:43:05,880 --> 00:43:08,200 Speaker 1: six in the morning, who are on the front page 761 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:11,399 Speaker 1: of the New York Post with a photograph of Share 762 00:43:11,480 --> 00:43:14,720 Speaker 1: on it and in a straw hat and overall James, 763 00:43:15,120 --> 00:43:20,080 Speaker 1: and so we realized we did it. You know, we 764 00:43:20,200 --> 00:43:22,799 Speaker 1: did it, and it was just uh, I guess the 765 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:24,719 Speaker 1: first time falling in love or whatever it is that 766 00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:27,919 Speaker 1: I always remember that. It seemed like an inconsequential event. 767 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:31,680 Speaker 1: But I always remember that. And I think the the 768 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:35,160 Speaker 1: thorn was h you know, having an all blow up 769 00:43:35,160 --> 00:43:38,960 Speaker 1: in our face and and getting indulgent and uh and 770 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:42,719 Speaker 1: almost being destroyed by it. Uh So your rose and 771 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:46,200 Speaker 1: thorn are the same. Your rose and thorn are the same. 772 00:43:46,280 --> 00:43:50,120 Speaker 1: How fascinating is that that doesn't happen that often? No, 773 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:56,680 Speaker 1: you know, because uh, it made me incredibly incredibly ambitious 774 00:43:57,680 --> 00:44:01,359 Speaker 1: to show people. Uh after we you know, we we 775 00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:05,600 Speaker 1: regained a freedom that studio before it wasn't a fluke, 776 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:10,600 Speaker 1: and we're going to show you amazing. Do you believe it? 777 00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:13,160 Speaker 1: College is not for everybody? But what do you think 778 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:16,560 Speaker 1: about college? Which your stance on college? No, I think 779 00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:20,319 Speaker 1: it's uh uh Look, I went to college. A lot 780 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:23,080 Speaker 1: of people I know, very very very successful people like 781 00:44:23,120 --> 00:44:28,359 Speaker 1: Alfri Lein and uh, Barry Diller and David Geppen, they 782 00:44:28,360 --> 00:44:31,960 Speaker 1: didn't go to college. Uh So, But I think you 783 00:44:32,080 --> 00:44:33,920 Speaker 1: never a certain one way or the other. But I 784 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:36,879 Speaker 1: think it is a good socialization process. I think it's 785 00:44:37,080 --> 00:44:39,600 Speaker 1: just like a finishing school. I think it's a better 786 00:44:39,640 --> 00:44:42,719 Speaker 1: idea to do it. But I there's no hard and 787 00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:46,640 Speaker 1: fast rule. It's whatever works for everybody. I agree. Okay, 788 00:44:46,760 --> 00:44:49,200 Speaker 1: last question is what do you what do you want? Now? 789 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:53,520 Speaker 1: I want to try and build a big company. Uh. 790 00:44:54,040 --> 00:44:56,200 Speaker 1: You know, I didn't. I didn't really care about that. 791 00:44:56,760 --> 00:44:59,239 Speaker 1: Uh you know, but I got my my appetite went 792 00:44:59,280 --> 00:45:02,480 Speaker 1: by working with Area, so now I wanted to. Uh. 793 00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:06,480 Speaker 1: I think public is the future of the hotel business. 794 00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:09,319 Speaker 1: That's the most important idea I ever had, you know, 795 00:45:09,440 --> 00:45:12,920 Speaker 1: making luxury uh and making it available to everyone and 796 00:45:12,920 --> 00:45:16,280 Speaker 1: anyone who wants it rather than just to rich people. 797 00:45:16,920 --> 00:45:21,440 Speaker 1: It's just a very important idea, especially today. So it's 798 00:45:22,040 --> 00:45:27,239 Speaker 1: democratizing style like Martha originally did with entertainment, instead of 799 00:45:27,280 --> 00:45:31,360 Speaker 1: bumbing it down, making it more sophisticated, but making it 800 00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:36,000 Speaker 1: accessible to people. I think that's just a very important, 801 00:45:36,440 --> 00:45:38,719 Speaker 1: you know, idea, and I would love to be able 802 00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:41,600 Speaker 1: to contribute that. And having been to that hotel in 803 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:44,880 Speaker 1: New York, it isn't that utilitarian, so your personal style 804 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:47,239 Speaker 1: is really infused into that one. In my opinion. It's 805 00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:50,719 Speaker 1: just so funny my taste, you know. But again the idea, 806 00:45:51,560 --> 00:45:57,000 Speaker 1: it's downtown, so we used modest finishes, you know, we 807 00:45:57,040 --> 00:46:01,919 Speaker 1: didn't want to use model and things. So it's it's 808 00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:05,520 Speaker 1: it's it's really putting together this body things. I'm sure 809 00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:07,920 Speaker 1: you do that with your passion to put together this 810 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:10,160 Speaker 1: body things and hope at the end of the day 811 00:46:10,440 --> 00:46:13,040 Speaker 1: that when it all comes together. But I think it's 812 00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:15,120 Speaker 1: interesting that it's I asked in the beginning about your 813 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:18,279 Speaker 1: personal style, and that it reflects your personal style. What 814 00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:20,759 Speaker 1: is your house like? What's your house design like? Minimalists? 815 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:28,200 Speaker 1: But what minimally simple? You know, very simple, reduced down, 816 00:46:28,600 --> 00:46:34,640 Speaker 1: nothing superfluous, nothing ornadoor decorative, but very uh simple. I 817 00:46:34,680 --> 00:46:37,560 Speaker 1: don't think you'd come in, uh and and say my 818 00:46:37,680 --> 00:46:41,000 Speaker 1: house as minimalist, because it's not a dog just the 819 00:46:41,040 --> 00:46:45,239 Speaker 1: way of wife. I dress simple. God where simple, and 820 00:46:45,400 --> 00:46:48,600 Speaker 1: our house is simple. And it's harder to do simple 821 00:46:49,400 --> 00:46:52,040 Speaker 1: then it is to do complex. Okay, by the way, 822 00:46:52,120 --> 00:46:55,520 Speaker 1: So giving people three tips for home and entertaining that 823 00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:57,840 Speaker 1: they mind when I because I used to produce events 824 00:46:58,160 --> 00:47:00,680 Speaker 1: and I always said lighting and sound and my number 825 00:47:00,680 --> 00:47:02,680 Speaker 1: one thing is always busting tables. It drives me crazy 826 00:47:02,680 --> 00:47:05,840 Speaker 1: when I see crumpled napkins and cigarettes and astrays and 827 00:47:05,920 --> 00:47:08,719 Speaker 1: drinks that are don makes me sick. What are your 828 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:12,640 Speaker 1: home tips for style and entertaining? Like three tenants that 829 00:47:12,680 --> 00:47:14,840 Speaker 1: people can live by? Well, I agree with you on 830 00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:18,799 Speaker 1: lighting because that's an ethereal thing. It creates magic. I 831 00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:24,719 Speaker 1: also think on floral and flowers, it's ethereal thing. You know, 832 00:47:24,880 --> 00:47:27,759 Speaker 1: elevate the place and you know, if you do it right, 833 00:47:28,200 --> 00:47:30,680 Speaker 1: you kind of defied gravity. It kind of floats above 834 00:47:31,680 --> 00:47:36,880 Speaker 1: where the earth is. And I think graciousness, uh, showing 835 00:47:37,800 --> 00:47:43,360 Speaker 1: a real attentiveness that you guess, uh you know, uh, 836 00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:46,839 Speaker 1: the kings and the queens is very important. That translates 837 00:47:46,840 --> 00:47:49,680 Speaker 1: to people. I love that and you're whatever that is. 838 00:47:49,680 --> 00:47:52,920 Speaker 1: It could be a barbecue. That's amazing you were. I 839 00:47:52,960 --> 00:47:55,000 Speaker 1: think I have to play favorites. This might have been 840 00:47:55,040 --> 00:47:57,800 Speaker 1: my favorite guest. I I wanted you from the beginning. 841 00:47:58,760 --> 00:48:00,520 Speaker 1: I was worried you wouldn't come on cause you wouldn't 842 00:48:00,520 --> 00:48:03,000 Speaker 1: know who I was. And I asked, Norma, I said, 843 00:48:03,120 --> 00:48:04,960 Speaker 1: if you know, I want to come on, but you 844 00:48:04,960 --> 00:48:07,200 Speaker 1: want to pay you something else for the party thing? 845 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:11,319 Speaker 1: You know, I always felt that everyone obsesses over the 846 00:48:11,360 --> 00:48:15,080 Speaker 1: food for a party. You can't have bad food. But 847 00:48:16,480 --> 00:48:19,719 Speaker 1: food doesn't make a party, right, it's a socializing king. 848 00:48:20,160 --> 00:48:22,359 Speaker 1: If you have, if you have great food, to make 849 00:48:22,400 --> 00:48:25,000 Speaker 1: it a little bit better. But it's not the food, 850 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:30,840 Speaker 1: it's the experience to calm. Yes, I agree. The energy, 851 00:48:30,920 --> 00:48:34,759 Speaker 1: good energy, that's unbelievable. Well, I'm thrilled and it was 852 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:36,480 Speaker 1: lovely to meet you, and I can't wait to hear 853 00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:38,160 Speaker 1: what you're doing next. You know you're very busy and 854 00:48:38,200 --> 00:48:40,000 Speaker 1: you have an incredible story. So it's gonna help a 855 00:48:40,040 --> 00:48:41,960 Speaker 1: lot of people and inspire a lot of people. So 856 00:48:42,080 --> 00:48:44,759 Speaker 1: thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Boy, 857 00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:46,960 Speaker 1: you have a lot of energy. And I may just 858 00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:50,239 Speaker 1: use that alchemy for the name of a nightclub. Please do. 859 00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:53,279 Speaker 1: It's a great name. It's what you're saying. Yeah, use it, 860 00:48:53,280 --> 00:48:56,960 Speaker 1: go for it, enjoy it, have a great day. Thanks. 861 00:49:02,360 --> 00:49:04,719 Speaker 1: First order of business is I know that something that 862 00:49:04,840 --> 00:49:09,560 Speaker 1: not Sometimes I know that I speak loudly and passionately. 863 00:49:09,800 --> 00:49:11,759 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's too loud for you, and I'm sorry. I've 864 00:49:11,760 --> 00:49:14,320 Speaker 1: been trying to control it. But on the Ian Trager podcast, 865 00:49:14,360 --> 00:49:17,279 Speaker 1: I don't think it's going to have happened because I 866 00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:19,440 Speaker 1: was so excited. I really wanted to have him on, 867 00:49:19,600 --> 00:49:23,480 Speaker 1: and wow, did he not disappoint. He was incredible, just 868 00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:27,440 Speaker 1: so interesting, so innovative. But just if you don't know, 869 00:49:27,640 --> 00:49:31,200 Speaker 1: Ian Traeger has changed the way that we socialize, that 870 00:49:31,280 --> 00:49:36,640 Speaker 1: we entertain, that we travel, the way we what hotels 871 00:49:36,680 --> 00:49:41,160 Speaker 1: we want to go to. He really created that Miami 872 00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:46,719 Speaker 1: white um minimalist decorn the rooms, but the lobby being 873 00:49:46,760 --> 00:49:51,680 Speaker 1: this ethereal amazing experience and he played with scale, massive chairs, 874 00:49:52,320 --> 00:49:56,080 Speaker 1: big communal tables. I mean, Ian Traeger has changed the 875 00:49:56,120 --> 00:49:59,319 Speaker 1: way that we live. But Ian and Steve Ruvel, who 876 00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:03,839 Speaker 1: referred to they created Studio fifty four, which is undeniably 877 00:50:04,000 --> 00:50:08,200 Speaker 1: the most famous nightclub in history in the world. So 878 00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:12,120 Speaker 1: that was speaking to a legend and an icon that 879 00:50:12,200 --> 00:50:15,879 Speaker 1: was like literally major, Please rate, review and subscribe, And 880 00:50:16,120 --> 00:50:24,719 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you listening today. UM, have a wonderful day. 881 00:50:25,680 --> 00:50:29,360 Speaker 1: Just B is hosted an executive produced by me Bethany Frankel. 882 00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:32,640 Speaker 1: Just B as a production of be Real Productions and 883 00:50:32,880 --> 00:50:36,719 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio. Our managing producer is Fiona Smith and 884 00:50:36,719 --> 00:50:40,440 Speaker 1: our producer is Stephanie Stender. Our EP is Morgan Levoy. 885 00:50:40,800 --> 00:50:42,840 Speaker 1: To catch more moments from the show. Follow us on 886 00:50:42,920 --> 00:50:49,800 Speaker 1: Instagram at just be with Bethany