From Pizza Delivery Boy to Celebrity Security Guard: The Journey of Samuel Schmucker

Ready to hear an incredible journey from pizza delivery boy to celebrity security guard? Buckle up, as our guest for today, Samuel Schmucker, shares his enticing story of securing stars for his security company. This episode is a fascinating blend of interesting accounts, unexpected encounters, and the sheer grit it takes to make it in the challenging world of entertainment security. Trust us, this is not your everyday security guard tale!

The intriguing narrative continues as Samuel opens up about his volunteering for ComCon, one of the world's largest gaming conventions, and his regular participation in charity events like Feed the Hungry. But wait, there's more! Samuel's colorful life also includes an acting career and an award-winning short film, Just One Good Day, to his credit. Our conversation with Samuel offers an unusual peek into the glitz and the grind of the security industry in entertainment, making it a must-listen! So plug in those earphones and get ready for an enlightening chat with one of the industry's most unconventional but awesome security guards.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

and one. Hi, hello, welcome to Zenith Harmonies, the show that talks about how music and entertainment has influenced the world towards good. I'm Dr Mary Anderson, the creator of Zenith Harmonies podcast. In today's episode, we will discuss some interesting topics with Samuel Schmucker. We'll discuss the ends and outs of the positive updates in the world of security. So today's episode will be about security and the entertainment industry. We offer a very unique perspective into this world, so be sure to listen all the way through for the interesting topics we will discuss today. Our guest today is Samuel Schmucker. They are in the security industry with a passion for security services. They are going to share with us their unique experience. Hi, samuel, thanks so much for joining us and welcome to the ZH family.

Speaker 2: 1:09

Hello, thanks for having me.

Speaker 1: 1:14

I'm gonna start off by asking you a few questions and introducing you to our audience. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, Samuel?

Speaker 2: 1:28

Well, I'm 45. I live in Indiana, I've got a family and kids, and I've been in the security business for a little over a year and a half almost going on a year and a half now and I'm enjoying every minute of it that I've been in it.

Speaker 1: 1:57

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. How did you get in this line of work? You have a very interesting story.

Speaker 2: 2:07

The way that I got into the security was a fluke. It was a complete accidental mishap. I was delivering pizzas for a hot box pizza right next door to a music venue Probably had two, maybe three concerts and events each week, and I was one of the only people in the restaurant that was heavily into music, and so when the call came in for around a hundred and some odd pizzas, oh goodness.

Speaker 2: 2:51

Yeah, it was one of the biggest stories we had. It was like, hey, you want to take this next door? It's, they got a big concert going on. They just catered to us and you probably the better one to go over there and deal with this. And I'm like, yeah, sure, I wasn't expecting anything out of it. I didn't know who was playing. I had never heard of them.

Speaker 1: 3:14

Who was?

Speaker 2: 3:15

playing.

Speaker 1: 3:16

Remember.

Speaker 2: 3:17

It was a combination of a group that's called well, not called, but they're part of a media outlet in Indianapolis called Gang Gang and 45. Okay 45 is like the record label or the producers and the motors of gang gang, and it's R&B, rap and soul music. So I never heard of who was playing.

Speaker 1: 3:55

Okay, so you're walking into here not knowing really what's going on. What happened next?

Speaker 2: 4:01

They directed me to the green room, escorted me down and I was in and out. I could only bring over like 10 to 15 pizzas at a time in the bag, so I was taking them in, setting them up, going back next door, grabbing more, coming back, and it was repetitive for about 30 minutes and I had to go upstairs to the main office and have somebody signed for everything. And throughout that I've been there I've been delivering pizzas for about a month then, and every time I took a break I went out back and kind of sat and listened to the music that I could hear through the stage door and I always talked to the security guard. It was based at the door and we just got to talking and talking and Eventually they started getting more orders. After that big one they started catering more and come to find out that hot box and the music venue had made some sort of contract deal that you know you cater through us, you'll get a Huge discount. So I Start. I was in there two, three times a week.

Speaker 2: 5:16

They got so used to seeing me coming in and out that the one of the managers of the venue was like hey, you've been. You've been super nice with dealing with Happening. Come and go, and come and go all day long. You know, if you want to come to a show, you're feel free. Anytime you want to come, just come to the back door. They know, you know right. Okay, you just gave me a ultimate backstage pass. Oh yeah.

Speaker 2: 5:45

Yeah, that's pretty cool and I was over there one night during a break and the manager said we're kind of short staff. Would you like to, you know, kind of help out when you're not next door? You know, just checking some IDs at the front door and.

Speaker 2: 6:08

I was like, yeah, what's it? Pay Twice what you make next door. So I said, all right, I signed up, got approved, got my background check approved, started three days later and my first concert was within. At that time he was Wasn't as famous as he is now. He was in the spotlight. Yeah and I Heard of him. So I was like, all right, this is cool and I got to meet him and get a picture with him and hang out for a little bit.

Speaker 1: 6:50

Who was that?

Speaker 2: 6:52

Yeah, his name was Zach Williams. Okay, I think he's a country Small rock-style.

Speaker 2: 7:01

Mm-hmm country singer and we were hanging out and he was so impressed by the way I was just treating him like a normal everyday person and not a Celebrity. Yeah, he told the manager. Hey, I like that guy. He didn't treat me like the other security guard that you had on earlier this morning. You know this guy's real nice and just treated me like Anybody and that and I appreciate that that in turn pushed me from doing ID checks and Stuff at the front door to get in a position at the back door.

Speaker 1: 7:44

How cool.

Speaker 2: 7:45

I was like what's the back door and tail really? Because I hadn't. I'd only been there a few days so I really didn't know what was what yeah and I said you're gonna be in charge of the other celebrities and the guests.

Speaker 1: 7:58

That's cool.

Speaker 2: 8:00

Oh yeah, I was like, excuse me, I don't Say what. And he said, yeah, you'll make sure if you're here if they need it. You'll be here when the buses arrive, help them get part, put the barricades up. The audio and visual team or a Secondary contract? They're not part of the venue, but they basically are the ones that deal with the payments and the bookings.

Speaker 1: 8:31

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 8:32

Make sure the talent gets in and gets what they need to set up. That's true, that's true, my job was to make sure nobody mess with the bus Mm-hmm, nobody messed with the gear or anything that was outside why they were taking stuff in. Then to make sure that the runner and the driver to do their running around was on point and there and get them going. I.

Speaker 1: 9:01

Bet you have seen some pretty awesome people and have you ever dealt with any weird situations or like you just shake your head out like how did that happen in your line of work?

Speaker 2: 9:27

Yeah, more than I thought was normal, because I've been to a lot of concerts and a lot of events for music and wrestling and movie and movie stars, so I never really dived into security and knew much. So now that I'm in that line of work I was like you know. I've seen there has been some fans that are just the dumbest and most ignorant type of offers to close to these people.

Speaker 1: 9:58

Really, what's the weirdest thing you've come across? Can you share it?

Speaker 2: 10:04

Yeah, one night we had a super famous musician and band that was playing that night. I can't tell who it was. I can say the name of the song. Their most famous song is Artender.

Speaker 1: 10:25

Okay.

Speaker 2: 10:28

So when they were inside I was out back where they were playing and a couple of fans had left early to be out back and be in the front of the line to try to meet them. When they came out to their bus and there were two girls and a guy, the guy wasn't really enthused, he was just kind of hanging out. But the two girls were like, I'm sorry to say, but they were real childish, but they were in their 40s and 50s.

Speaker 1: 10:58

Oh, okay.

Speaker 2: 11:00

The one woman was like is there any way that when they come out, that I can say, hi, maybe get a picture, or have him sign my album? And I'm like, I'm just here to do my job. Ma'am, if whatever they want to do when they come out, that backdoor is on them, I can't ask them to do anything. That's not my job, even if I give you $100, you can't ask him and I'm like, no, I can't. What if I did? And then she offered a sexual favor.

Speaker 1: 11:33

Oh Lord, she offered some favors, okay.

Speaker 2: 11:38

Absolutely not. And then the guy came over and was like hey, man, my wife's been trying to see me greet this guy for like the last six times. He's played and I'm like I'm sorry, but that's not my problem.

Speaker 1: 11:53

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 11:55

I said they had a meet and greet in here today. Why don't you guys buy some tickets for it? And he's like I wasn't going to pay that much money for it. I'm like it was $125. She just offered me $100 and a little favor for that. So you couldn't afford to buy that, but you can afford to do it back here. I'm like, no, I'm cool. And so when the artist came out and I told him he goes, yeah, we need to keep them away.

Speaker 2: 12:24

I'm going to come over to the barricade. I am going to meet and greet, but I need to go on my bus. Calm down a little bit, clean up and then I'll be out. So you want me to get them away. He's like, can you? I'm like, yeah, this entire property is ours, so I can tell them they have to leave because the show is over. He's like, please do. And so it took about four or five of us to actually get them to leave the property to get to the bus.

Speaker 1: 12:49

Wow.

Speaker 2: 12:50

And one of the biggest weird things that I was offered about.

Speaker 1: 12:55

Wow, have you ever seen a fan cross over the barricade and go to hug your star or anything like that? Like, what's the protocol for that? I've always wondered what's the protocol for that? Like, what do you guys do?

Speaker 2: 13:11

Well, it all depends on the artist and it also, like at the venue that I was working for, we have a note violence tolerance. So that means that if they try to get physical with you, you have to try to risk, assess that and defuse it as much as possible. But if they put their hands on you, then you're supposed to submit them and try to get them to, not if they hit you, then you have the right to do what's necessary sure and they can press charges, but you know the police are so used to the venue, right there

Speaker 2: 14:00

that they're like. So you hit him and then he hits you and broke your nose and you now want to press charges against the security and no, don't sell them. You know you should just go get in your car and go home, because you never should have did what you did anyways. Yeah, he had every right to punch you in your mouth, so you need to leave. Well, I have had a couple fans. I had Debbie Gibson I'm not, I'm sure you know who that is right mm-hmm.

Speaker 2: 14:34

Yep she was there and there was two guys that while I was with her by her bus, she was refreshing up and these two guys had snuck in and got behind the bus because they also have a trailer with it, so they were no kind of hiding and I didn't notice them at first.

Speaker 2: 15:00

But when she came up with us and we were walking back to the barricade for her to do her meet and greet with them, the two guys I seen one for the same on the side of the bus and I've seen that shadow and I'm like hold on, miss Gibson, let me look around here. And I seen them and I thought I'm a man. You guys got to get across the barricade and they're like what do you mean, man? We got a VIP pass. We paid for us again, that was inside mm-hmm shows over with.

Speaker 2: 15:30

They don't count out here right, yeah and they got a little belligerent and I was like you know you're on the inside of the barricade right now. I have every right to put you on the ground and call the police. He's right up front here and come and get you cuz your trespassing now yeah and it went.

Speaker 2: 15:52

It got a little crazy. We had a little push-and-shelf match and then finally I was like, if you don't go across the barricade, I'm gonna put you across the barricade and then I'm gonna have to call the ambulance for you oh goodness yeah and they didn't believe me and I did a.

Speaker 2: 16:08

I pushed him, but I also looked his foot to where he fell backwards. And when he fell backwards he hit his head and it didn't really hurt him, but it busted him open a little bit and he ended up walking away from it and she felt safe and get a little meat and Greek yeah, yeah, it's so important when celebrities, musicians, anybody that's famous, to keep them safe, and thank you so much for doing that.

Speaker 1: 16:40

I mean, you've had some really famous clients. Can you, are you allowed to say any of their names?

Speaker 2: 16:49

I can say a few, but there's some higher, more well-known people I can't say, but I will say this do the fact that this is a podcast and it's going across platforms? I I feel that the privacy and of them sure to be reserved, oh yeah, the airwaves, but anybody can go check out my website and see everybody I've worked with and for absolutely for my listeners, if you guys will go check out his website.

Speaker 1: 17:31

I'm about to give you the address because I know you guys are intrigued right now, thinking, oh Lucy, see new CC, so let me pull that up. In the meantime, can you tell us a little bit more about your next venue? Or maybe you can't do this privacy, but what have you got coming up in the future?

Speaker 2: 17:58

next Friday and Saturday and Sunday I will be in Louisville at Popcon.

Speaker 1: 18:07

Tell us about Popcon.

Speaker 2: 18:10

Popcon is kind of like a Comic Con, but with pop culture, so it'll have celebrities who have been in the movies, television, radio, voice overs for like cartoons and anime and Disney movies. There'll be a ton of vendors and I'm gonna be a driver picking up the celebrities from the airport, bringing them to their hotel, then taking them to the convention, and that'll be my job for the entire weekend. And then the weekend after that, which is two weeks away, will be Outlaw Nation with Jesse.

Speaker 1: 19:02

Howard and New Breed. I love them. Jesse, if you're listening, come be on my podcast. I love Outlaw Nation.

Speaker 2: 19:11

I will actually pass that on to them so they can try to reach out to you. Sweet, sweet, they're gonna have Justin Time.

Speaker 1: 19:28

Hitman your Boy.

Speaker 2: 19:30

Dirty. I think his name is Charlie Kingery and it's gonna be in Norwalk, Ohio, on June I want to say the 24th, I believe yes, June 24th at the Fairgrounds there in Norwalk.

Speaker 1: 19:55

Very cool, you're also an actor, is that correct?

Speaker 2: 19:59

I'm an up-and-coming actor. I've only got a couple credits on my IMBT, but one was for a short about a 22 to 25 minute YouTube short about mental health. I was a very small part in it but I played a man named Michael Irvin who started a fight with the main. Two actors Got knocked out. The other one that is on there has not yet been released, but it is on IMBD. It is called D-Tour. I play a bouncer and I believe it is a movie and not a short.

Speaker 2: 20:51

The other one, the 25 minute short, was called Just One Good Day. I won an award for that for best supporting cast nice. And then I'm I was a an extra in the audience of another. It's kind of like a series and it's a quirky style series. It's called hashtag and Not not spelled the actual hashtag symbol. It can be found on YouTube and it's I'm not sure if it's naptown films is the channel, but I believe that is it very cool. I've got another one that I'm getting ready to go Film that I haven't really got much information about it yet, so that is.

Speaker 1: 21:49

I mean, that is just so cool. Like your security guy, you have your own business, you're an actor and sometimes, as you know that all that kind of goes hand-in-hand because you're already on set to a lot of things. That is so interesting learning about that.

Speaker 2: 22:09

We could probably do a whole show and what it's like to Be an actor, I mean, or an extra the short was, you know, a Cell phone with a tripod, a Lot, of, a lot, of, a lot of takes and stopping and moving the camera and all that. But other one detour was more of a upper-scale Film because the gentleman who did it was actually one of the directors or producers on the last Transformers movie.

Speaker 1: 22:46

That had mark wallberg in it.

Speaker 2: 22:47

Oh my goodness yes. He was in charge of the Detroit part of the filming so it was an honor to work with him, because he's worked on major films.

Speaker 1: 22:58

He is awesome. I have met him once when I was in California and I believe they have a chain of restaurants, him and his family and it's what a burger. Well burger, well burger, that's it, well burger and I know they show up at their restaurants all the time. They just opened one here in the town and that is just so cool.

Speaker 2: 23:23

They open one in my town too, and I think only two of them showed up for the opening.

Speaker 1: 23:28

Mm-hmm. Yeah, they're. They're extremely busy family. So you can find Samuel and his information on his security company at HTTPS slash smucker security web VORcom and that will actually be and the information on the podcast. For those that listen to this, they can also.

Speaker 2: 23:53

They can also just Google smucker security and it'll there. There's like five or six Google things that will direct you from. At least eight different places to it.

Speaker 1: 24:06

And you've received some awards. You've received the global recognition award, the GRA, for Business and security. Is that correct? Yes that is awesome. That's just not given to anybody. You have to meet certain criteria, you have to be involved in the community, you have to have a business that specializes, and you have won that award. So congratulations to you on that.

Speaker 2: 24:34

Thank you. Like when we were talking a minute ago, I wanted to make sure that everybody knows that the word security is synonymous with what everybody thinks it is. But I'm not your typical security company. No, you're not so that out, because I do stuff that you just don't see other security do.

Speaker 1: 25:00

Yes, you, you Specialize. Why wouldn't, he would say, specialize you? You take care of a lot of stars and celebrities and venues. But what is special about you not being typical?

Speaker 2: 25:19

When you think of security guards at anything that for famous or infamous people for that matter they are the ones that stick beside them. They keep the crowds away, they do ID checks, bonding, making sure nobody has weapons, escorting. What separates me from those certain types of security is I can show up at the venue, meet you when you get there, help you load in all your stuff, help you set up. What I can help you set up with, because I'm not a technical person, so I don't mess with the audio visual, the setting up of the trusses and the lights, and so I don't do none of that because I'm not specialized in it. But I help you bring in your gear. I help you bring in all your stage stuff and give it to the team that sets up. I help you load it out. I can drive, I can run for them.

Speaker 2: 26:34

I worked for CC Winans and I was her driver so I picked up her and her team from the hotel, brought them back to the church where she was performing, made several runs throughout the town to get stuff that was needed, and then I did the security while she was on stage Seeing that performance. That night I actually got to meet David and Tamela Mann, which plays Pordelia, I think her name is, and Mr Brown on Tyler Perry's yes, yes, oh, my goodness, how was that?

Speaker 1: 27:22

I heard they are such awesome, down-to-earth people.

Speaker 2: 27:26

They are. I'm very professional. Even when I met Leanne Rimes, I was professional. I didn't go stupid or dumb, but I was working for CC. I had just went to Walmart to get some things that was needed and when I came back I was walking down the back hallway of the church to go into the catering room and all I did was see Tamela, but I didn't recognize her. I was used to seeing her as she was on the movies. So I'm looking at her like I know who that is. Who is this? And as I'm starting to get closer and closer, I'm like I don't know who that is. But the minute I walked in the door and I see her husband, david, I'm like, oh my lord, it's Mr Brown. I lost all professionalism.

Speaker 1: 28:16

Oh my goodness Starstruck.

Speaker 2: 28:18

Mr Brown. He started doing the little dance like he did on the movies and I lost it and we had a little conversation and I said my wife is going to be so upset that I just met you too.

Speaker 1: 28:29

Oh my.

Speaker 2: 28:31

Would you come here and take a?

Speaker 1: 28:32

picture and send it to her right now.

Speaker 2: 28:36

That's cool.

Speaker 1: 28:36

It was a nice night and a nice surprise for working, so yeah, yeah, speaking of community, how do you give back to the community?

Speaker 2: 28:48

I live in Indianapolis and it's as everyone knows. It's the racing capital of the world. We have a lot of events that go on there for racing, wrestling, music, movies. I give back to the community by volunteering my time at almost anything I can volunteer for when I have a downtime. I volunteered at GenCon, which is one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world.

Speaker 1: 29:27

Do you ever I'm sorry about that do you ever give back like to charity events and do you volunteer your time there also?

Speaker 2: 29:37

I have volunteered my time for charity events such as Feed the Hungry. A lot of the music venues that are Christian and gospel music through transparent productions come in and they always are seeking someone to help out with Feed the Hungry.