Page 44 - MN

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"Because," he said, "Ann Margret never puts the opening act on the marquee. Never. Now let's go look."
We went out, and there on the huge marquee was Ann Margret and underneath, my name. Yes! I hadn't bombed! I was a Vegas act!
A couple more things. I went to a some after show parties at her suite, and they consisted of her and the cast drinking, talking and watching dance videos. I fit right in. You bet. I can't dance, I couldn't think of things to say, so I just sat quietly and tried not to drink too much and turn into John Wayne.
Maybe a month later I got booked on the TV Show, Live at the Improv, in L.A. In the afternoon before the show, the director, who had no clue who I was, asked me for some credits he could use when they introduced me. I'm sure he thought I was going to say something like, well, I just played Boise, Idaho, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, which would've been true a couple months before. This time I was able to say, "Well, I just opened for Ann Margret at Caesar's in Las Vegas". His eyes grew wide. I was no dirtbag entertainer. My status went way up.
I didn't mention I'd bombed on Johnny Carson. I figured it was none of his business.