Sandy Hackett Interview

An actor, comedian, singer - that best describes Sandy Hackett. He's and emcee of the Sahara Hotel's Monday Night Talent Showcase In Las Vegas for the past three years. He grew up in a show business atmosphere, as his father is famed comedian Buddy Hackett.
We chatted with Sandy recently about his life and ambitions.

Q. Has anyone achieved any type of success from the Vegas Talent Shows you produce?
A.   Maybe 200 - 300 people have gotten work out of it but there would be no names you'd recognize yet.

Q. I see you have your own management company, that you manage Gary Mule Deer. How do you find the time to be a manger and devote enough time to your own career?
A. With Gary, I met him at a showcase and I started getting him booked into lounges. I have a band called Horizon who are like an Eagles group, a super band. And there's Richie Sacks, an incredibly talented guy. By the end of the year, I'll be out of that part of the business, as I devote more time to my career.

Q. You were on Carson's show only once. Why were you never asked back?
A. I was on the show when I was fifteen years old. I didn't do comedy then. My father was on the show and he mentioned my name, so Johnny said let's bring him out here. In the four or five minutes I was on, a lot of people saw me. I did a bunch of cameo appearances, twenty or thirty, on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In Show.

Q. Are you pretty good at handling hecklers?
A. I'm pretty efficient at it, and able to deal with it. I don't have any one line I use. I'd be happier if no one ever picked on me. But that's something you have to deal with when you're an entertainer.

Q. Is it a curse or a blessing to be the son of a famous celebrity?
A. It's just something that's part of the deal. My father and I always talk. We get along great.

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