Rick Michel's Blog

Getting any sort of show off the ground is no simple task, even though the goal is to make it look effortless, so we thought we would give you a glimpse at what it is taking to get the Las Vegas show, Drinkin’ – Singin’ – Swingin’ to Hawaii for the very first time.

It was Sammy Davis Jr. who said, “Part of show business is magic. You don’t know how it happens,” and that is exactly how a show needs to look to the audience – like it happened magically, without having to break a sweat.

The first step in coordinating the schedules of three busy performers and putting them on stage 2759 miles away from Las Vegas is to whisk them away from their last gig and get them on planes. And, that means at least three flights, or in the case of Bryan Clark, our Sammy, that number increases to five.

Naturally, all the groundwork has been organized long beforehand. The band musicians have been booked, their instruments have been arranged for, the accommodations and transportation have been made, the stage lighting and sound requirements have been ordered, the sheet music has been printed and backed up, and the countless other smaller details have been, hopefully, anticipated.

After checking in, we inspect the set-up, test what we can and go over our notes regarding any changes that will be implemented for this particular show. Playing Dean Martin and being in such a tropical resort, it’s difficult knowing there won’t likely be time for at least one round of golf!

Before we know it, it’s show time. This is the part we live for, in this case doing our thing in front of an audience of hard-working FedEx employees that need a break from reality as we let them see ours. The show needs to be professional, but as stage performers, we live for the spontaneity – the ability to play off each individual audience (who are always members of the cast) and each other. Here we give everything we have and feel honored for the opportunity. It’s imperative our assembly is captivated and as enchanted by our performance as we are to be able to do display our talents for them without letting them know what it took to get them there.