Uh, is that our Tommy?  Um, hum, yea... 
And, where is he now?????

Tom Cantone congratulates Ashanti on her sold out show at Foxwoods Resort and Casino.

Industry Profile: Tom Cantone

— By Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen

Twenty-five year veteran of the casino, entertainment, hotel and resort industry Tom Cantone, is vice president of entertainment & marketing of Foxwoods Resort Casino, and has been recognized as "revolutionizing casino entertainment" by numerous media.

Tom began his career and rose rapidly up the corporate ladder at the Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company, winding up as director of corporate marketing for all of Hershey's 16 operating divisions including its sports, entertainment, theme park and resort hotels. During the 70's, its theme park ranked among the top 10 attractions in the country.

Atlantic City's reemergence in the early 80's as the nation's top tourist and gaming mecca prompted the Sands Hotel and Casino to recruit Tom as its vice president in charge of entertainment, promotions, advertising, public relations, bus and slot marketing operations. By ushering in a new wave of stars and attractions, Tom was widely credited for changing the face of Atlantic City's traditional marketing. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that his originality produced "The best shows ever staged". The Philadelphia Inquirer called him "The most innovative…", and Philadelphia Business Magazine credited him for "Revolutionizing casino entertainment and bringing it into a new era."

The new era in the mid 80's gave rise to developer Donald Trump, who recruited Tom for his top-spot as corporate vice president of entertainment for all three Trump properties: Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Marina. Tom's use of television, major events, promotions and timely bookings propelled him into the national scene as one of the most successful and respected entertainment executives. The Philadelphia Daily News called him, "The most influential booker of talent in the U.S.".

Tom left the gaming industry for a brief period but returned in the mid-90's for the Dallas-based Hollywood Casino Corp. as vice president of studio and retail marketing for its properties in the Chicago and Memphis markets. In addition to his corporate role, he also was named vice president of the Sands as part of their Atlantic City holdings. He formed strategic alliances with corporate sponsors, which The Wall Street Journal called "a coup", and launched a new joint retail merchandising venture with Hollywood's top studios that Video Business Magazine called "astounding".

Adds ICM agent Steve Levine, "I've worked with Tom almost my entire career and he's always the same. Professional, reliable, and his word is his bond. I've never hesitated in bringing him top talent, as he really knows how to treat stars."

By the late 90's a new casino powerhouse was now on the national scene as the number one gaming operation in the world. Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, recruited Tom in 1998 to join its senior management team as vice president of Foxwoods Entertainment Group. Tom now directs the country's largest casino entertainment operation, which includes the 1,400-seat Fox Theatre for headliners and boxing (opened by Frank Sinatra), B.B. King Nite Club (blues/comedy), B.B. King Dance Club (dancing/DJs, special events and parties), two lounges - Intermezzo Nite Club (jazz) and Atrium Nite Club (pop and cover bands), and the 4,000-seat Fox Arena (major fights/concerts).

He also created the Foxwoods News Network (FNN), which won a Telly Award for excellence in employee communications. Tom serves on the executive committee and senior marketing committee.

In 1999, Tom, a graduate of Penn State University, received the Penn State Alumni Achievement of the Year award for leadership in his profession and community.

How has the casino entertainment business changed in the past 25 years?
The biggest change is the talent. It's younger, more diverse and varied; R&B acts in particular, which are more "mainstream" than they were years ago. Production value is better. The quality of lighting and special affects and video support give more energy to the stage.

What has been the impact of casino concerts on the music industry?
It's an economic impact. Artist management wants a piece of a $41 billion casino entertainment industry that is far bigger than the movie industry today. The collective firepower of new casino venues in key and support markets has increased play dates, ticket revenues and merchandising of artists nationwide. Who doesn't want in on a chance for this magnitude of incremental revenue opportunities that's in every state now except four. Casino showrooms now represent a powerful new entertainment segment everybody wants a piece of today. With CD sales down as much as 14 percent, I'd be looking to route my act throughout the entire casino network.

Does casino entertainment set a trend for the industry?
Not really. But our job is to catch the trend before it happens. Timing is everything when booking talent or an event.

Why should casinos be attractive to talent?
Today's modern casinos probably represent the newest and biggest retail distribution network in America. It has an immediate and direct impact on newfound ticket and merchandise revenue. More importantly, it's the casino that also pays for a lot of the overhead related to touring and on top of that, spends expensive adverting dollars promoting the act. It's a no-lose engagement.

How important is comedy to Foxwoods?
Comedy is rated among the top three most requested shows from our research. My line-up is very strong with comedy and we have had everyone from Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Damon Wayons, Kevin James, Carrot Top, Jamie Kennedy, Dennis Miller, David Spade, etc., and added more in the B.B. King Night Club.

What about the stigma placed on acts performing at casinos as "has-beens?
Years ago a "casino" gig was the last stop and now often is the first stop. An agent once said to me, "We won't play a casino." And I said, "I'll give the other Grammy winners who play here your regards..."

That some 85 percent of Americans say casinos are not only acceptable for themselves and others, but that people spent nearly three times on this form of entertainment than what was spent at the box office for movies last year. To say you don't want to go where 26 percent of the U.S. population goes for entertainment is not a good business decision. You also need to know that people aged 21-39 rate casino entertainment at a 91 percent approval rating. It's a new day and a new generation that I do everything I can to market to.

It's 2003. MTV goes to Vegas. Entertainment and casinos are today's contemporary programming boom. The education is over. If you don't get it now you lose. What's at stake? The largest concentration of fan economics in the world. The new wave of today's stars has cashed in on casino venues and the next generation has arrived. Yesterday's casino image of buses, blue heads and bingo, is transforming to crazy cars, cool heads and concerts.

Is there any talent you have tried to book and could not?
I'm the 6th Beatle, and would have loved to book Paul McCartney.

Why are you recognized as the guy who revolutionized casino entertainment?
I was the new kid on the block - a walk-on when I got to Atlantic City. We just did most things differently which was so opposite from what was being done in the early 80's. From producing our own shows to booking the latest movie stars to personal appearances like Sly Stallone (Rocky parties) Don Johnson (Miami Vice parties) to Vanna White to so many new headliner names who were in the news, that it captured the attention of the Las Vegas Sun who claimed we have taken the title of Entertainment Capitol of the World away from them. I guess from that time on we started some ideas that the press considered revolutionary for its time.

What types of acts work best at Foxwoods?
The best are on two levels: ones that are happening now on the charts, in the news, making a lot of noise that you can ride the promotional coat-tails of. The others are proven names who do consistently well with players, which is the reason we do it in the first place. The problem is the talent pool in this group is becoming smaller and over time will be gone. That's why you need to develop the next generation of acts for the next generation of players.

What is Foxwoods' competition?
This market is literally a duopoly - two of the biggest casino operators in the world (Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) going after much of the same talent pool. But it's not in both our best interest to over react to buying talent. There are those who try and pressure us into a competitive panic buy, and we just won't do that. We're smart operators, and today we're more in control of what we want. If I hear, "I know I can get more over there," then I say, "go there." But, that's rare. I've known most of the players for years, and they're good friends. They would not put me in that situation. The good news is that between Foxwoods and Mohegan, we're bringing in more entertainment than most Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos. So from that standpoint, competition is a good thing.

The weather, the economy, homeland security alerts, other casinos, arenas and sometimes our own success, are also our competition. People say that we're recession proof. That's not so. We're resistant to a recession, but less money in your pocket affects everybody. Keep in mind, Foxwoods alone has put some $900 million back into the state's economy. Works both ways.

Have there been televised concerts from Foxwoods?
That's one of our marketing goals - to promote the brand to a national audience. So far, we've done 13 televised concerts and close to 50 fights on TV. The fights alone have reached some 33 million people on HBO, ESPN, FOX, etc. Our biggest televised concert was to a worldwide audience of 165 million viewers on ABC's live coverage of the Millennium, which carried Barry Manilow, live from Foxwoods. Other TV specials include: PBS: British Invasion (groups that followed the Beatles/Rolling Stones) "Hey La Hey La" - famous girl groups of the 60's, An Evening with Gene Pitney, An Evening With Mirabal, an NBC taped Christmas Special - Ice Spectacular with Aretha Franklin, MTV's Fanatic with MYA, VHI Behind the Music with Peter Frampton, and others.

What kind of personal appearances has Foxwoods done?
Everyone from the Sopranos to Super Bowl MVP's like John Elway to super models like Heidi Klum to NBA MVP's like Shaq, to Baywatch babes, and of course, my favorites - players from the New York Yankees.

What is the story behind the two B.B. King clubs?
I approached B.B. King and his manager one night after the show in B.B.'s dressing room, and asked casually if they wanted to do some type of entertainment partnership. We were already going to build two new nightclubs, and I thought the association with an American entertainment icon would give us instant recognition and define what the product would be. They never hesitated, and a year later we opened the first outside joint venture in Foxwoods' history. The clubs have done very well and have been named the best Night Clubs in America by the readers of Casino Player Magazine.

First industry job
V.P. Entertainment - Sands Hotel/Casino, Atlantic City.

Career highlights
Signed over 400 casino debuts - Eddie Murphy, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Crystal, Elton John, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosanne Barr, David Spade, Dennis Miller, Norah Jones, Ashanti, Macy Grey, Dixie Chicks, Enrique Iglesias, Seinfeld, Diana Krall, Alicia Keys, Pink, Gloria Estefan, Musiq, LL Cool J, Jon Stewart, India Arie, Sheryl Crow, Peter Frampton, Kevin Bacon, Jeff Foxworthy, Wayne Brady, Damon Wayons, Billy Idol, Heart, Nas.

Career disappointment
Booked Elvis the day he died. I guess that makes me the last man...

Greatest challenge
After all this time, I still have to convince some of today's hot contemporary artists to play a casino venue. It takes me back to the 80's when it was the age of enlightenment.

Best business decision
Created a joint entertainment partnership with B.B. King to open two nightclubs, voted Best Nightclub in America this year.

Best advice received
To "keep 'er going" from my old boss, Bruce McKinney, president of Hershey Entertainment & Resort Co. Whenever I needed encouragement, that's always what he said to me.

Best advice to offer
Live your life the way you want to be remembered.

Most memorable industry experience
Opening night of my first casino entertainment event in 1984 at the Sands in Atlantic City. It was an original in-house production show called Celebration, with a show cast of 12, including Clint Holmes. The entire show was created, designed (sets, costumes, choreography) and produced in-house. All eyes were on the show and on me because up 'till then - all shows were pre-packaged from Las Vegas producers. It went on to win Best Show of the Year. I'll never forget how happy everyone was that night, including the press.

The Atlantic City Press wrote: "The Best Show Ever or for that matter - Anywhere". More importantly, it was my first major entertainment project and my debut as well. I was a walk-on, a rookie to A.C., with no political ties to protect me, and my reputation on the line. After that, I felt that Atlantic City was now my new home.

What friends would be surprised to learn about you
That I actually was with someone my own age once.

Industry pet peeve
To hear someone still say, "we don't want to play a casino," forgetting that the fans in those seats are the ones who buy their CDs and concert tickets. I think it's funny to limit your revenue potential no matter what you're selling.

Office paraphernalia
Globes. I collect the planet, no celebrity photos on the wall.

If I wasn't doing this I would be…
…living a life of regrets - - because you're not old until regrets takes the place of dreams.

Industry mentors
Bill Weidner, president, Venetian. His insights and instincts taught me much about the casino business.