2003

I was performing a big show for a corporate event on “the world’s largest stage” at the Reno Hilton in Nevada. The plan was for the CEO to come onstage after dinner and introduce me. The curtains would open, the music would start, and I would begin by making my assistant Stacy, a professional magician from Las Vegas, magically appear from an “empty” box. Unfortunately Stacy would have to be in a VERY uncomfortable and cramped position in said box, so we made the decision to “load her up” just as the CEO began my introduction. We rehearsed it, and everything was fine. I gave the CEO a printed intro and told him to begin promptly at 8:30. Should have been easy.
Unfortunately between the time we rehearsed and showtime the CEO had about 6 beers. Around 9:00 PM he stumbled onto the stage and began reading my intro. We stuffed Stacy into her very cramped position in the box, and we waited behind the curtain. Halfway into my intro the CEO said, “Oh wait, I have a joke!” Oh no. He stumbled his way through a long, rambling & unfunny joke, and I started to worry about Stacy. Then he did another joke. NO! When he started the third joke Stacy started yelling expletives from inside the box. She called this CEO every name in the book. and I was both amused and horrified. By the time he finally introduced me 15 minutes had passed. Stacy’s legs were gone by the time I made her “magically appear” and she had a few more choice words as she stumbled out of the box. I was grateful that sound doesn’t travel too far on the world’s largest stage.