| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| So if he was making more than 500k it would be okay in your book? That's pretty messed up. | Seems like I'd be even more of a piece of shit if I was that successful. |
| Are you involved much with the general goings on of the casino? If so, what goes through your head when you see huge amounts of money being gambled away by someone who doesnt know when to walk away? | Yes, I'm an executive so I'm in touch with most everything that goes on. Most of the time when I see something like that, I just say "good for us" and try not to think about whether or not the person can afford it or not. |
| How much do you make a year? Unless you are making like $500,000+, then you are a piece of shit. you are destroying thousands of people's lives so that you can make a living and afford your bmw and other status symbols. | I don't make $500K a year so I guess that makes me a piece of shit. |
| What is the worst most tasteless thing you or the casino in general did to make money? | I, obviously, like to think I'm uber classy. But in general I think paycheck cashing promotions are pretty tasteless. E.g., Cash your paycheck and get 5% of the total value in free slot play. |
| Can you ELi5? Sorry, to me that just sounds like you hand over your $1000 you earned, and get back $50? Which seems wrong...? Or do you get an extra $50? Hmmm... Thoroughly confused myself. | Let's say your check is $1,000. The casino will cash your check and then also give you $50 in promotional credits to be used on the slot machines. The idea is that since we've given you some "free" money to begin playing the machines you will also dip into the $1,000 cash that we also handed you. |
| Are there any clauses that prevent you from just spending the $50 in free bets and cashing out the $1k without actually playing with it? | No, you get the $1K in cash and the $50 can only be used in the slot machine. I've done this once when I started my new job and my direct deposit wasn't set up yet so they issued me a live check. |
| How many people just walk directly out of the casino after cashing the check with their 5% bonus? | I don't know, I've never run this promotion but generally speaking when we give away promotional credits, the "walk rate" is in the 25% range. |
| How often do you go to the strip clubs in vegas? If you go how much do you spend? Do you get treated better if they know what your job is? | I really don't like them so not often unless someone is in town that wants to go. I don't have a moral objection, just think it's a waste. "Hey do you like to eat steak? Give me $20 to smell this delicious steak! No, you can't try it!!!". |
| So that having been said, I might spend $20 to give to the girls on the stage and maybe a lap dance. | |
| No, I don't get treated better because of my title really. They usually just care about how much money you spend and that's it. | |
| What are some sneaky strategies that you use to get people to spend more money? I don't mean obvious things like having ATMs...but things related specifically to gambling.. | Ummm... Off the top of my head I think the sneakiest thing is probably side bets on table games (e.g., play an extra $5 and if your two cards are a pair then you win $25) because the odds are terrible or things like advertising low table game limits but modifying the rules (e.g., blackjack pays 6:5 vs 3:2) to increase the house advantage. |
| Some casino customers are super cheap and only play $1 Blackjack. Others are whales and the casino spends a lot of money to attract them, but they are rare. Somewhere in between, I imagine, there are customers who spend a significant amount and exist in numbers to make most of the casino's profits. | First, we quantify most everything by "theoretical worth". That is, how much we can expect to win from you based on the house advantage of the game you play and how long you play. The general formula is decisions per hour X house advantage X hours played X average bet. So, $25/hand at blackjack X 1.5% house advantage X 2 hours played X 60 decisions per hour = $45 in theoretical worth. |
| Is that true? How much does a "bread and butter" customer gamble in a day? | Second, It really depends on the particular property. The number is a lot higher for Wynn then it would be at Joker's Wild (a really, really dumpy casino on the outskirts of Vegas). That having been said, most places will be very happy to have you if you are in the $150-300 a day in theoretical worth range. |
| That sounds pretty affordable. Assuming a 30% comp return I guess that comes out to $50-90 in comps a day. | 30% includes the stuff we send you in the mail generally too so at the $300 range you could expect a room and a meal a day. |
| What kind of awful rules are you using to have a 1.5% house advantage, or is that number based on the average player being really terrible? How much in comps would I actually generate for two hours of $25 a hand Blackjack? | I just threw the 1.5 number out there. We also factor in skill into house advantage so as to be more favorable to the player, comp wise. comp wise we'd probably give you 15% of the $45, or $6.75. That's just in what we call discretionary comps that the pit supervisor or host can give you. Then you could expect another 30% in the mail via free bets, hotel, food, etc. |
| I guess you need to register with the casino loyalty club so you know what we are spending. | Correct. |
| I currently reside in Arizona, where you can't swing a dead cat without hitting an Indian reservation and - as a result - a casino. | Well I've worked all over the country and, yes, of course we always keep an eye out on new competition that would impact our existing customer base, especially as the business has seen much more legalization in new jurisdictions in the past 20 years. |
| The casino/resorts are getting increasingly sophisticated. Better facilities, better entertainment, and better marketing. | For Vegas, I think most strip properties have dealt with this by investing in properties in regional markets so as to send their customers to their Vegas properties so it is pretty accretive. Someone from Harrah's Ak-Chin in the Phoenix area gets offers from Harrah's Las Vegas quite often. |
| Is this something the Vegas casinos consider a rising threat, welcome competition, or something else? How do you - as a marketing guy - react to the fact that a trip to a casino no longer necessarily means a trip to Nevada or New Jersey? | The bigger problem really is for the markets where they were a monopoly for some time and really rested on their laurels. Reno and Atlantic City come to mind. Those markets are dying fast and there really isn't much upside. In Atlantic City, for example, you have casinos buying competitors just to close them so as to reduce the inventory. |
| What really happens when somebody wins on a slot machine? Like, what is the behind the scenes stuff that we don't see? Are they checking out the cameras to make sure it was that specific person before they payout? What if you switch seats? What if an underage gambler wins?... What if they switch seats with an of-age gambler?? Honestly, I've never done that, but I've always wondered the underage stuff because I've never ever got carded on slots! I've won hand-pays before (nothing really exciting) and they always hit me with the tax form. What do you guys do with the tax form? Does it get sent out from you guys or does it remain my responsibility from thereon? | I worked as a slot analyst (analyzing machine performance) years ago and never on the floor so I don't know/remember the exact steps. Essentially, though, it's verifying that the machine is functioning properly and recording the details of the jackpot for audit/regulators. If it is a taxable jackpot ( >= $1,200) then we are required to fill out the IRS W2G form to report it to them for tax purposes so at that point we have to get your ID, etc. to facilitate that. Then of course, there is the matter of actually paying you the money, verifying that it is the correct amount, etc. The tax form does get sent to the IRS. You can request the taxes not be taken out of your jackpot as you are only taxed on the net win at the end of the year. |
| How did you get involved in the casino bussiness? | 1/2.) Just needed a job and applied to a very entry level job and worked my way up. |
| Did you set out to work at one or did it come about another way? | 3.) It can be fun and exciting. |
| What do you enjoy most about your job? Least? | 4.) There's a lot of pressure to make money/meet your budget so all of the bullshit that goes along with that. Dealing with politics, having to adjust staffing, etc. And I don't like that at my level the usual tenure is 2-3 years so you move around a lot. I'd like to be more settled, especially in a place I'd really want to live for a long time and I don't feel like I have much control of that in this business. |
| 1) When you talk about being moved around a lot, is that relating to being moved around in what you do at a particular casino? or more like which casino your working at? 2) Do you feel that your skills at this current job gives you fallback options should your tenure run out? ( Such as in other service based industries?) | 1.) I mean there is only one of me at every casino so if something happens whether I don't like where I work or what something different (e.g., more money) or they don't like me (shocking, it happens!) then the likelihood that I have to move is high, especially if I'm in a city that only has a handful of casinos. 2.) I obviously feel like my skills could take me anywhere! But in reality, it has been tough to change industries when I've tried. Usually places like hotels don't pay as much as casinos and look for more sales-related skills and restaurants don't really have marketing people except at the corporate office whereas my skills are more analytics-oriented. And both usually pay less than casinos. |
| time I went to Vegas (around 30 years ago) it still had that "mob" vibe. When I got married there in the 90s (I joke now that I gambled on marriage in Vegas and lost half my stuff) it was much more "corporate" and "family friendly." The "What Happens in Vegas" campaign seemed to try and change that perception. Do you think there's value in returning Vegas to a more "wise guy" kind of feel...playing up the classic vibe, or is it just a big collection of theme parks with gambling? | The problem with returning to that type of vibe is that it's difficult/impossible given how big the casinos are. Sure it was easy for Benny Binion to control everything and not be "corporate" when the old Horseshoe was literally 1/10th the size of MGM Grand. |
| What was UNLV like? Did you live in the dorms? It seems like a strange school where everyone commutes and there's no college life around the campus. What are the pros and cons of going there? | I went there for grad school so was older and had a wife and a house. It is definitely a commuter school so there's not a lot of school spirit. I went to undergrad a school with a huge, huge, huge, football program so it was a bit of a change for me. I also didn't find the students to be terribly bright (with exceptions, of course). On the upside, a lot of people like living in Vegas and the Hotel Administration College (where I went) has very, very good brand recognition. |
| Do you find people have lots of misconceptions about the casino industry? | That the games are rigged and that we love giving away a lot for nothing/little in return are probably the two biggest. |
| So what's up with prostitutes and the casinos? I understand that prostitution is illegal in Vegas, but that they're still there. Is it like the movies, where they're just hanging out in the casino bars waiting to be picked up? | Yes, they hang out at the bars and then there are services you can call and have them sent to your room. If it's overt, casino security will clear them out of the bar area but the vice cops generally focus on human trafficking kind of stuff. |
| As an insider, what do you think the job prospects are in the industry for someone with a similar education background, but no casino experience? | 1.) The industry relies heavily on industry experience so job prospects are good if you're willing to start in a low position and work you're way up. If you go to UNLV and get the degree I got and expect for some casino to make you a Director of VP with no experience then you're going to be very disappointed. |
| Is that just bizarre luck? | 2.) Bizarre luck. |
| What does the industry think about states with Indian reservations that prohibit casinos like Texas? | 3.) Definitely potential opportunity. I've read about that small tribe in Texas. It'll happen eventually in Texas. The people in Louisiana will not be happy, though. |
| Is it viewed as a potential opportunity for growth with a small tribe, more competition, or a wedge to open the state to gambling? | 4.) No problem! |
| For every average person out there, would you suggest not playing? I mean, in the sense that, it's just not a viable option? | Viable for what? Making consistent money? Then definitely not. If you are entertained by thrill of gambling and have the discretionary funds to do it, then by all means. |
| Aw okay! cool. Any idea why people do it? Is it just a thrill? Would being a "whale", make more of a difference? | For the people that do it for entertainment, it's the thrill of anticipation. |
| Was it hard getting a job with such a detailed degree? | My undergrad degree is pretty bland, political science, so it wasn't hard at first. I did my grad degree in casino management because I was living in Vegas, wanted to get an MBA, didn't want to take 2 years off from work to get a full-time degree, didn't have the support of my job to get an executive MBA, and didn't like UNLV's MBA program. |
| EDIT: Thanks for answering my first AMA question! Really good answer too! | NP! Keep asking away! |
| What's your favorite aspect of your job? And do you like to gamble yourself? | 1.) It can be exciting. Picking new acts to play in your showroom seems more exciting to me than selling propane. 2.) Yes... |
| What is the best way for tourist to get the best bang for buck in your casino for entertainment, food, gambling etc to have a good time and not go broke? | I'm currently working at a Vegas strip property. |
| If you can answer in terms of Vegas, that would be great also. | Unless you have something more specific in mind, the first place I'd direct you to is the Las Vegas Advisor Top 10 Deals List. |
| With legal online poker gaining momentum which might mean eventual legal online gambling for other house games online; are the casinos doing what they can to kill this before it starts or your thoughts on this? | Las Vegas Sands / Venetian is actively trying to kill it (which I don't really understand) but everyone just sees it as a means to make more money so are ready to pounce when it's legal. |
| I don't know if you're still answering questions, but what are the qualifications for being, say, a Texas Hold'em Dealer in Vegas, specifically your casino, and are the dealers specific to just one game? I.e. omaha, hold 'em, pai gow, stud... Also, without being too specific, what is the average annual income for said occupation? Are the dealers payed solely by tips/do they get to keep all tips? | 1.) Generally there are poker dealers and table games (e.g., blackjack) dealers. Few do both. Among the table games dealers, most know multiple games as the more you know the more hirable you are. In terms of the qualifications it's just that you've gone to some sort of dealer school (there are commercial ones and some casinos do it in-house), experience, and a live audition. 2.) Really depends on the market and the casino. At the high end like Wynn or Venetian they will do close to $100K/year but at an entry-level place it could be more like $25K/year. It's base salary plus pooled tips (aka tokes). |
| 3.) You've never thought of dealing the WSOP? They need as many dealers as they can find. | |
| Do Casino's design their decor for different target groups? | Of course. Hard Rock and Cosmo are designed for younger demographics and Wynn and Venetian for older affluent ones. |
| I find all Casino's to be outright horrible to my senses due to the noise/flashing lights. | Encore and the new Barrymore are definitely designed for the Asian gambler. And you'd, obviously, have to assume the casinos in Macau are, too, although I've never been. |
| Could you describe your typical work day? also I've had some great times a Joker's Wild! | Ha! I honed my dice skills at JW! |
| Typical work day is get to work and look at the previous day's financial results and react accordingly. I.e., ask the analysts to pull numbers, talk to the head of a certain department about their opinion on something, etc. | |
| Emails emails emails. | |
| Then it's usually a lot of meetings about upcoming things whether it be planning an event, approving new advertising, doing the strategic planning for the property for 2015, meeting with vendors, etc. | |
| Emails emails emails. | |
| By this time the numbers or reports I've asked to be run are ready so I sit down and look at them and act accordingly (e.g., hey, looks like we're spending too much on postage to mail to customers too far away, let's change the way we do this for next time), etc. | |
| Emails emails emails. | |
| Then it's usually time to go home but 2-3 times a week I'll have a dinner or event to go to with a vendor or colleague or someone from the press. | |
| Emails emails emails. | |
| Probably 2-3 Saturdays a month I'll go in and work for a few hours just to catch up on stuff or if there's an event to meet and greet players, make sure everything is going well, etc. | |
| Emails emails emails. | |
| Has the rise of 6:5 blackjack been hurting the game's popularity, or are there enough people who don't "get" the odds change (or don't care) that it all works out in the end? Is the odds change enough to swing the game back in the casino's favor in the long run even if players count cards? And what about continuous shuffling machines: have any of the casinos you've been with used them, and how did the players react? | The masses don't care about either especially if you're able to offer low limits. The limit and the number of decks is what attracts people to a bj game. Still never going to allow counting. |
| Is is harder to get jobs in the background or management functions of the casino? | Well certainly there are more what we call "front of house" positions (dealers, porters, servers, bartenders, etc.) than "back of house" positions (accountants, IT, warehouse, etc.) so in terms of pure numbers, yes it's easier to get -any- FOH than -any- BOH position. |
| I'm an IT grad looking to move back to Vegas and wondered if there were more "non-floor" jobs than actually functional jobs. | That having been said, if you're wanting an IT position shouldn't be too hard if you're willing to work anywhere and have a little experience. If you're wanting to just jump into the CIO job at Bellagio, more difficult. |
| Great! thank you. I've got about 8 years under my belt, but dear god...no CIO for me. This really eased my worry about options. thanks. | You should be OK as long as you're not too picky. |
| Just how rigged are the automatic roulette machines? | They aren't. The games have to go through pretty rigorous testing by the state or an agency of the state to be allowed to be sold. Gaming Labs International is one such company. |
| I would think that SEO campaigns and similar web based marketing would be ineffective techniques for a casino in a place like Las Vegas. Is this the case? I know I'm quite late but I would love to know if you have time. | We definitely do SEO/SEM campaigns but primarily for hotel related keywords for people looking for hotel rooms. I worked at a place a little outside of the main city in the south one time and we'd buy broader search terms for people looking for "entertainment in main city" in case they didn't know there was a casino nearby. |
| Thanks for the response. I was just curious about engaging people in person in public? Do you operate campaigns on the street such as call to action flyers or similar? Are there laws specific to this type of promotion in Las Vegas? | Not a typical marketing channel most casinos explore, but it's not entirely unheard of. Sorry I'm not entirely sure of the laws. |
| Who owns the casino you work at? Is it one guy or a publicly traded company? | I'd rather not say as I don't want to be outted but I have worked for large publicly traded companies, privately held companies (e.g., owned by hedge funds), and publicly traded companies where one individual owns the majority of the shares. I've never worked at a privately owned casino owned by one individual, though. |
| How do I get over 65 year olds excited about my product? | Without knowing what said product is, the best thing I can say is to figure out how to make it relevant to them. |
| What does a marketing exec. at a casino make a year? | Depends on the size of the property. 75 at a small riverboat casino to 250 at a large place like Bellagio. |
| To succeed in marketing, what is the first step to landing a successful job? and what should be the over arching goal in mind to maintain a competitive advantage over fellow competition as well as new shifts in market trends? | 1.) be tenacious. take any job you can get. be a sponge and learn everything you can. |
| 2a.) don't be afraid to fail, but be smart (and profitable) about it. | |
| 2b.) don't rest on your laurels. stay in touch with your customers. | |
| Go on ... What does a casino do in that regard? | From a gambling standpoint, people in that age range like penny slots so we offer a lot of penny slots. We put on shows that would appeal to them. We would make the decor more classic vs hip. Etc. |
| I've always wanted to work in the gaming industry. I have a strong sales background and a B.S. degree... which department would you recommend to get my feet wet? | Probably player development which is the department that deals with VIP guests or maybe special events/promotions. |
| What's the best movie you've seen this year? You did say we could talk about life in general... | Absolutely! 12 Years a Slave. |
| Edit: Also, Dallas Buyer's Club. | |
| Dang, haven't seen it yet...will have to wait for it on DVD or streaming. Edit: Haven't seen that one either. I'm starting look like a Philistine. | It's pretty heavy but sometimes that's good. |
| Do you prefer to market for families or adults? Casinos are adult fun, but I've noticed a shift in the past decade. | Definitely adults. |
| Your AMA was one of the best, you answered almost every question, so if you're still answering here's one: If a young person comes in and wins more than 100k and then just leaves, would you suspect him/her of anything? | It really depends more on the manner in which you win and how you behave. We're required by law to fill out a Currency Transaction Report for transactions over $10,000. So if you got to that point you would have already given us your ID, etc. We'd obviously make sure that surveillance is watching you to make sure you're not cheating but if you're on a random hot streak and betting $10K/hand then it wouldn't be a huge deal at most strip properties. |
| How about a free load just this once? lol. But hypothetically what would 10 grand get you :( | At my place, (which is not an uber classy place like Wynn or Venetian), you'd get pretty much whatever you'd want. Suite, dinners, limo from the airport, show tickets, etc. We'd generally reinvest in you 30% of your loss so just figure out what $3,000 in comps would get you. |
| What advice can you give to new grads who want to get into marketing, but can get work due to lack of experience? | As I mentioned in a previous post, I believe you really just need to be tenacious and take anything to get your foot in the door. It's a very crowded field, especially on the what I call "pretty picture" side of marketing. I wish I had a more specific answer to give you. |
| What does being a marketing executive involve? | I usually say I'm in charge of driving profitable revenue. The departments that report up to me are charge of advertising, promotions, entertainment, public relations, direct mail/database marketing, and VIP marketing. |
| I'm coming to Vegas in December from Australia, can you PM me your email address? | Just PM me. Happy to see if I can help |
| Do casinos hire interns? I'm currently a student at a public university. | Absolutely. I think most of the major companies have management training/internship programs. Go to their careers websites. Caesars Entertainment, MGM International, Pinnacle Entertainment, Penn National Gaming, etc. |
| Would you recommend a job in marketing? what skill sets would be helpful for marketing? i'm interested in it but not entirely sure what it's about. | I think the best combination in today's world is to be more right brained with a creative bent as more and more the question asked of marketing folks is "quantify how your idea makes me money?" and less and less "what's the most most creative idea you have?" |
| It's a crowded field especially on the left brained side (e.g., advertising and public relations) because people think it's "cool". So if that's you're interest, I'd say being tenacious and creative is what is going to get you far in that world because it's tough to get your foot in the door and you have to have thick skin and then when you do get your foot in the door you are going to have a very short leash to prove yourself. | |
| Any specific company you recommend? | If you're at the intern stage, apply liberally. |
| Do you have the sides backwards, or do I? | Um, well I think of left brained as creative and right brain analytical? |
| How selective is the casino management program at UNLV? | The hotel management program in general is not selective but the casino management program is difficult because it's pretty quantitatively-focused so there's a lot of attrition. |
| What do you do for family entertainment in Vegas? | I'm single so that having been said, there's all your typical family stuff to do here: parks, camping, hiking, movies, bowling, etc. |
| You don't have any family in Vegas? What's something that you go do with your friends, then? | I'm not from here and my ex-wife hated living here thus why she's my ex. My friends and I go and see concerts, go to bars, we like guns so go shooting sometimes, and most Sundays cook for each other. |
| Sounds like a nice life! | It's OK. City is kind of soulless and superficial. |
| One of my favorite aspects of Vegas is that if you want your experience to improve, it's usually a strategic $20 tip away... whether that be a tip to upgrade your room when you check in, to skip the long line at a club, to get a table with a great view at dinner... What potential 'Experience' improvements would you recommend in Vegas? | Link to thetwentydollartrick.com |
| Vegas or Macau. Which is better? | Better for what? |
| Have you read The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester? | I haven't. |
| So basically I should just buy from the half off kiosks? | Yes. |
| How do you feel about those who are addicted to gambling and those who have lost everything because of it? | Bad, obviously. |
| Late to this ama, are you still taking questions? | Sure! |
| Sure buddy. | Do you mean to say that you don't believe me? |
| I just got started in hospitality marketing, any advice? | Doing what, exactly? Just be willing to make not a lot of money for awhile and be willing to relocate frequently if you want to move up the ladder. I guess those are the first things that come to mind. |
| Have you had any good marketing ideas that you couldn't do due to marketing regulation. | Not necessarily due to regulation but a lot of times you're gun-shy to do a promotion because well, what happens if no one shows up? |
| Bastard. | Danka. |
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| What was the experience like on the set? Were you a Star Trek fan before accepting the role? If you could replicate any human, who would it be? | The best part of the entire experience was working with Brent Spiner. That guy is amazing actor! It's more than just gold makeup. Also no matter where I go in the world people bring that up to me more than any other role I've done. |
| Did you ever do your Sinatra impersonation for Sinatra? If so, did Frank approve? | Yes -- at the Friar's Club. He LOVED it (which is why I'm still alive). And, on an old show called "Solid Gold" where the man himself introduced me and I did him in full make-up. He used to refer to me as the "Vice Chairman of the Board." |
| What was it like to fight Chuck Norris in Sidekicks? Was there a third fist hidden under his beard? | Very funny! |
| It was a privilege and an honor being beaten up by the bearded one. | |
| I had never trained so hard in my life because of my respect for Chuck. He's a great guy and a great athlete. And, as silly as my character was, we took the fight scenes seriously. | |
| Even though I signed a contract saying I wouldn't tell: yes, there is a third fist in his beard. | |
| Why'd ya ditch the mullet? you rocked that 'do out of the park. | Literally laughing out loud right now. |
| The truth is that Jon Stamos asked me to cut it off so that he could be the good looking one... ;) | |
| Who were your least favorite people to work with on SNL? Favorite? | Favorite person is easy: I can never quite describe the thrill of working with Eddie Murphy live on the set of SNL. He had a reckless abandon that was contagious. |
| The recent set of interactions with O&A was brilliant from beginning to end. It made my appreciation for you grow even more. | And, really, thank you for the kind words about O&A -- getting my ass kicked in court wasn't fun, but you guys helped me get through it! Thank you! |
| I know that this is an AMA and I want to be honest with you all, but I'm a guy that just doesn't like going negative. GGJP. | Oh, if this could become a new meme... I would be so happy! |
| Joe, you are a great performer! Truly enjoyed your SNL stuff! | That's a fair question. |
| My question is regarding your name being synonymous with a great actoperformer expected to be huge post-TV and never attaining the same as, say, an Eddie Murphy or Julia-Louis Dreyfuss (strictly SNL alum speaking). What are your thoughts on that? Does it bother you? Are you satisfied with your work post-SNL enough that you can just let it wash over you? | After I had Thyroid Cancer in 1981, my outlook on what "success" is changed. I lost my single-minded focus to succeed in showbiz and wound up focusing way more on my family. So, if you're asking if I'm happy with my career, I think the bigger question is am I happy with my life -- and the answer is, I'm here, I'm alive, and YES! |
| What's your favorite story from the set of Johnny Dangerously ? | There's a scene in JD where there's a dead body -- someone was cleaning his gun and I accidentally shot somebody. Michael Keaton and I are talking and, as an adlib, we both rest our feet on the body. We could hardly stop ourselves from laughing. I'm not even sure it made it into the final cut (I haven't seen the movie in a while -- any redditors remember if it's in there or not)? |
| Anyway, just working with a guy like Keaton -- every day was a struggle not to laugh! | |
| So my question is, what is your favorite filming location of all the films you've been in, and why? | My favorite place to shoot was the exotic... Newark and Jersey City when I was shooting Wiseguys with Danny DeVito. It was the dead cold of winter, the scenery was oil refineries and cemeteries, and man... it just doesn't ge better than that. For a Jersey boy, it was nice being around what I grew up with :) |
| You're on the road a lot, can you share some of those experiences and tips on how you deal with that? | Here's the trick: I seem to seek out women who are really mean to me, and that makes everything else in life a lot easier to deal with. Those same girls, though, they make the road very... accommodating. |
| How did you react after your long Time friends opie and Anthony reacted to your hbo special? | There are times when I don't disagree with Opie and Athony but I have to stay politically correct because of the good people I work with. |
| Why sit there shirtless while talking?? | By the way -- what are you talking about me being shirtless? I don't remember having done that... |
| We can see through your webcam. You're shirtless now, Joe. | Well then you're going to have pay extra... |
| What's your favorite joke? | Howard Hughes type guy, old, rich but just a mess. He decides to change his life -- gets spiffied up -- he cuts his hair, gets a shave, buys a suit, some plastic surgery, a red Ferrari, a young hot blonde at his side. |
| They're driving down the highway and BOOM, he's struck by lighting. He gets up to heaven and he says to God -- I just started learning how to live my life! Why did you take me. | |
| And God says, "well, to tell you the truth, I didn't recognize you." | |
| Okay not a great joke, but my dad loved it. And, uh, don't tell /atheism about it. It's just a joke. I don't need them coming after me! :) | |
| Who do you think has been the best SNL host of all time? And, follow up question, who's been an epic fail? | Eddie was the best host I've ever seen -- if you'll remember, Nick Nolte was scheduled to host and backed out at the last second and Eddie stepped in for him. There have been a lot of SNL articles and books about this incident, but I can tell you Reddit none of them got it right: Eddie Murphy was the single best host in the show's history. And... he saved our ass that week. |
| Epic Fail: we already talked about Spruce Burn. | |
| I imagine the hilarity of the script made it hard to get usable stuff on film. Who was the funniest on set, and how much of the movie was improvised? | Peter Boyle was great. And Richard Dimirti who played Roman Moronie is truly one of the funniest people I ever worked with. He kept all of us in stitches on the set. |
| How long did it take you to compose Kimberly, and why was it never released as a commercial single? IT ROCKED! | Again, literally laughing out loud. |
| All I can say Reddit is that when you're in love, sometimes you do stupid things. | |
| Suffice it to say, if that song were released today, it would have significantly different lyrics. | |
| What was the best and worst part about working at SNL? Who were your favorite and least favorite guest hosts? | Coming up with new material every week was as daunting a task as I ever encountered. |
| I can remember Eddie and me staying up all night trying to come up with new material. We were like two college roommates cramming for a final -- we both got punchy and started riffing and some of the best stuff came out of that. | |
| Some bad moments -- having to do a sketch that you knew wasn't really funny, but they needed to fill time. And then on Sunday hearing all my boys back in Jersey calling me out on how terrible the sketch was. | |
| Favorite Guest Host -- Jerry Lewis, Robin Williams, and Don Rickles. | |
| Least Favorite Guest Host -- I said before, I didn't want to talk bad about anybody. But let's just say that if I had to say something about somebody, his name would rhyme with "Spruce Burn". :) | |
| Do you ever get tired of people asking you about SNL or Johnny Dangerously? | Never get tired of SNL ever. Keep asking all you want! |
| I know you guys want to talk about the new movie, not stuff that happened in the 80s, right? | There's only ONE Sinatra, but I gotta tell ya -- I was at the Sinatra restaurant in the Wynn in Vegas last night and I asked for a table and they told me it was a half hour wait. My first thought was WWFD -- What Would Frank Do -- but since I figured I would get arrested for killing a maitre'd, we went to a Chinese joint. |
| Also, who does the best Sinatra impression...you, or Joe Piscopo? | But seriously, if you want to see me channel the old man, come out to one of my shows! He would have wanted it that... |
| Any plans of returning to SNL, even if it's just a quick cameo? | Lorne Michaels offered me a shot on Weekend Update. If and when I announce my candidacy for the governorship of New Jersey, I'll take him up on that offer. |
| How much can you bench? | I love this question. Here it is, straight from the heart: I suck on the flat bench. MAX, INCLINE: 225. I've always admired the beef monsters who can bang 345. |
| UGH, I feel like such a wuss. | |
| In the major motion picture Sidekicks how was it like to fight Chuch Norris? also, Did you ever happen to stay in touch with young Johnathan Brandis? If so did he ever show any signs of depression or an signs leading to his suicide? | That's a great question. He absolutely did not seem depressed ever. He was one of the most positive, nicest kids you'll ever meet. Which just goes to show you, you never know how and when the depression is going to hit. |
| I'm only curious because I enjoyed the roles he was in. good actor. | Jay is telling me about reddit and I love the sense of community you have here. Things like /suicidewatch are a great resource for people needing help and I urge any of you who might be feeling bad to seek help. Johnathan was a great kid and I miss him. |
| When's Dead Heat 2 coming out? | Seriously, I get more requests for what you just asked than anything else! As soon as I'm done with this AMA I'm calling my agent and suing the makers of RIPD! :) |
| I Thought You Were Dead!? Well Anyways Your Pretty Funny. | I'm new to Reddit, but shouldn't that be "You're". |
| Who is your favorite stand-up comedian? | Well, I have to say Jay Black because he's here. |
| Lewis Black Gilbert Gottfried Colbert Sinbad George Lopez Louis CK's last special was awesome and very smart. | |
| What are your thoughts on Chris Christie? Would you ever run for office? | I would run for office, but not against him! We're not of the same political persuasion, but he's the smartest politician on the scene. You can't help but love his flippant Jersey style. |
| I mean, how many politicians can get into a verbal altercation on the boardwalk with an ice cream cone in his hand? Maybe Lincoln... | |
| What can you tell us about the new flick? What was your favorite part about filming? | My favorite part of the new movie was working with Paul Sorvino -- that was thrilling. And, intimidating -- he's a friend, but he's so serious in his role as a tough guy that there were points I actually got scared of him. |
| Also, dancing and singing with the star, Erich Bergen was amazing. It was nice to show off my chops. But don't worry, I'm still Jersey baby. | |
| Nice. | He's a fine young man who I know is married, so that means he's sexually frustrated. That means his testosterone level is probably through the roof. Let's not anger him! |
| Approximately how many schools can the .88 magnum efficiently penetrate? | I love Johnny Dangerously -- great movie. Shout out to Amy Hecklerling for directing it. And Norman Steinberg for writing it. But clearly, we would have left that joke out if the movie were made today... |
| Do you think there are as many talented comedians performing nowadays as there were back in the 80s and 90s? If not, why not? ( I would say no and I do not know why. Maybe performers are a lot more phony and formulaic than they used to be. ) | Wow, what an astute question! |
| I actually think that the best time for stand-up was before my time. Guys like Robert Klein, George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor, Woody Allen, Dick Cavett, and Bill Cosby. Those guys were the true pioneers. | |
| Since I hit the scene, it's all be downhill since then! :) | |
| What is the most memorable thing that you saw or were part of on your appearance on Startrek TNG ? | LeVar Burton never took that thing off his head. That's all I have to say. |
| Joe, can you talk about some behind the scenes memories of that awful strange transition when everyone got fired but you and Eddie Murphy? | I felt so bad that we were ruining America's favorite television show. And when they decided to keep Eddie and I, we were just two cocky comics from the clubs and, at the time, we couldn't care less. |
| I think that it was that cockiness that kept us funny and appealing to the producers. | |
| Thanks for doing this AMA Joe. A fan of your work, and thanks for all the laughs over the years. What comics crack you up the most today, and who were you favorites in the past? Lastly, what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? :-) | Link to youtu.be |
| What is going on the Howard stern show like? | Part psychotherapy. Part interrogation. Part waterboarding. All in all, a good experience... |
| In that famous clip of you playing the drums, and dying from cocaine, A) Were you really playing the drums? B) Was it real cocaine? | Really playing the drums, but not real cocaine. But according to some of the people in this AMA, I really did die :) |
| I'm honestly not trying to insult you, but did/do you use PEDs? | Fair question. Does Lipitor count as a PED? |
| I never, not once EVER used a PED. I used to work out with the big boys at the gym and they would say, "Why would you work out so hard, just take a shot in the ass!" | |
| In principle, I was against it, but not to mention I had the cancer and any PED would accelerate the growth of any latent cancer cells. | |
| That was back in the early 80's right? Everything still OK, Mr. Piscopo? | They tell me I was "cured" in 1991 (10 years cancer free) -- but you're always looking over your shoulder and to this day, I'm an absolutely hypochondriac and I get tested regularly. For cancer. And STDs. :) |
| Who was the biggest douchebag on SNL to work with? | I am Italian. I have taken the SNL code of Omerta. |
| I only have one question: "Hey yo, beanpole! Yooouuu wanna show me what you got?" | Another literal laugh out loud. |
| The basketball players were standing on apple boxes so that they could make me look shorter than I was -- but I have the fondest memories of shooting those Miller Beer spots. | |
| By the way: I must be the worst white basketball player on the planet. | |
| Who would you say is the best living New Jerseyan? (I'm assuming Sinatra would be tops of the all-time list.) | Re: Sinatra -- true dat. |
| Right now, Springsteen is the living legend. Hands down, no contest. | |
| You opened up a Piano Bar at the Resorts casino in Atlantic City and I so badly wanted to go but found out about it on the day we were leaving. Is it still there? | We took "Club Piscopo" on the road. We will be at McCloone's in Asbury Park June 6th, July 10th (with Jeff Norris), and if I can afford him... Jay Black one day. C'mon out and see the show! Would love to meet you! |
| What was your single favorite skit that you performed in on SNL? | Solomon and Pudge -- where Eddie and I played those two old guys in the neighborhood bar. It was always placed in the 12:55 slot -- it was so organic, I always felt that it embodied the relationship of Eddie and I more than anything else. |
| But swinging with the SNL band doing Frank Sinatra was Ring-A-Ding as well... | |
| In your opinion what was the "Golden Era" of SNL? The ONE period where the perfect storm of actors, writers, hosts all came together to make the best shows. | Great question: the original cast. That's inarguable. One of the greatest collection of actors on the planet. Great writers. Lorne Michaels! I am awed by what they accomplished. The fact that I got to even place a few steps on the trail they blazed was an honor. (Was that too dramatic an answer?) |
| Why are old rich people afraid of typing? | I'm not that old, I'm not that rich. |
| Side note: Jay is typing this because he has a full keyboard and because if I tried to type this out on my iPhone 5 it'll be 2016 before this AMA is done. If Apple ever makes a phone for people with normal sized hands, I think that little upstart company might have something... | |
| Hey Joe! Thanks for doing this! What has been the biggest letdown of your career as a comedian/actor? | I did a show for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce YEARS ago and it was a train wreck in every way conceivable. But, in true Jersey fashion, all is forgiven... but not forgotten. |
| What do you think of that show jersey shore? you know the show with snooki aka the evil midget. | If you're from Jersey or if you're Italian, you can make all the jokes you want. If you're not, fuggedaboutit... |
| Do you have a podcast or have any favorite interviews that you have done this year? | Link to mobile.twitter.com |
| And, Paul Rohrer in Denver is great as well! | |
| Is Howard stern as large of an ass hole that he seems? | Howard is one of the nicest guys on the planet -- off the air. His on-air persona is appealing to millions, but what's most appealing to me is how down-to-earth and insecure the guy really is. He's a human being doing a show. |
| Is the fact that this AMA only has 96 upvotes in 3 hours disheartening? | Seeing as I didn't know what an upvote was 4 hours ago -- no. |
| "You are black and I am white, you are blind as a bat and I have sight." /fucking hilarious. | The one and only time I ever (respectfully) upstaged Eddie Murphy. |
| I love your recent appearances on Opie and Anthony. You were hilarious and had some great stories as well as a fantastic sense of humor about everything, including yourself. Great sport mate, hope to see more of you. | God Bless you Brother. Thanks, I'm trying. |
| Joe really did a great job on O&A. Not many can keep a cool head when dealing with them and their hilarious antics. | I truly appreciate that. Thanks. |
| Now I am looking up Johnny D on Netflix. Haven't seen that movie in years but one my all time favorites. Great job in that movie! | You can't just see that movie once... ONCE! |
| Joe, youre the man. Ive enjoyed everything Ive seen you in. I wish I had a question, but in lieu of that, Ill just say good luck with your new flick and all your future endeavors. | Thank you brother. I'll take this opportunity to plug where the movie is at. Please, if you're near one of these theaters, go see it. Or, maybe just go buy a ticket and then go watch Iron Man 3. |
| We're playing at the AMC in... | |
| Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, NJ AMC Loews Village 7 on 3rd AVE in New York. AMC Norwalk 20 in Norwalk, CA. | |
| You shouldn't have done this IAmA, Joe. Stephen Colbert did an IAmA. ONCE! | Need to say something here: Stephen Colbert is one of the smartest, most talented human beings on TV today. I am a HUGE Colbert fan! |
| Sidekicks was such a fun movie to watch when I was younger. I'll have to see if I can find that on netflix or something. | Technically that's not a question, but every time you watch it on Netflix, I get a check for 4 cents. So if you could please watch it like 84,000,000 times today, I'd appreciate it... |
| My favorite SNL was when you were throwing stuff at Eddie Murphy during a velvet Jones skit. Did you guys happen to be intoxicated or something, or was it just that crazy on the set. | Oh my God, I remember that! That was wild! The sketch was BOMBING and Eddie and I were trying to pull it out and make it work. So, we weren't intoxicated, just desperate. |
| But that was such a great time, thanks for reminding me of it! | |
| No questions really, but my buddies mom used to fuck you wayyy back in the day. She's pretty MILF'y and seems like she'd be a freak in the sack, so good job, Joey. | Stay classy Reddit. |
| Please give us the behind the scenes gossip from the movie Super. edit: just realized it's The Super, and it starred joe pesci...not joe piscopo. still though, i stand by my question. | I wasn't in the movie "The Super!?" |
| Howard is one of the nicest guys on the planet -- off the air. His on-air persona is appealing to millions, but what's most appealing to me is how down-to-earth and insecure the guy really is. He's a human being doing a show. | (by the way, he's the guy who told me I should marry Kimberly!) |
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