Branded in the buff

Buckle up, there is no messing around with a singing cowboy who is firmly in the saddle with no thoughts of hanging up his boots any time soon.

ROBERT Burck has little modesty, that’s for sure. On his website, he calls himself an American legend and a New York City icon who has had photographs taken of him at a rate of about 8,000 snapshots an hour.
But he has surely earned the right to be immodest. As the Naked Cowboy of Times Square where he performs, wearing nothing but briefs and a cowboy hat, his fame was sealed once again when news about him suing a copy-cat busker was reported last month throughout the world from South Africa to New Zealand.
Burck is no ordinary busker. His “career” has grown leaps and sounds since he branded himself about 10 years ago as the Naked Cowboy.
Now, he has a manager and his Naked Cowboy Enterprises focuses on licensing stuff “from Naked Cowboy oysters to Naked Cowboy merchandising” to image licensing.And there is always hope to develop a TV show or to become a screen actor, said Todd Rubenstein, who has been Burck’s manager since 2007.
“It is now basically about staying focused on building the brand and growing its value,” he said in an e-mail.
Which explains why former stripper Sandy Kane got a a cease-and-desist letter when she persisted in busking at Times Square wearing only a bikini and a cowboy hat. It was, apparently, an infringement of the Naked Cowboy trademark.
“We have been trying, in a friendly manner, to get Sandy to participate legally when she first came on the scene about two and a half years ago,” said Rubenstein.
Kane had refused to sign a franchise agreement drawn up by the Naked Cowboy Enterprises. It is a nine-page deal which requires signatories to pay US$5,000 (RM16,100) a year or US$500 (RM1,610) a month, besides a 20% royalty fee of any appearance arranged by the company.(Kane was quoted in press reports saying that she did not owe Burck anything. “I’ve been naked for years,” she reportedly said.)
Being the Naked Cowboy, clearly, is damn serious business.
Two years ago, he sued a candy manufacturer for trademark infringement when it put up two billboards in Times Square which depicted a cartoon character in the likeness of the Naked Cowboy image.
The case was eventually settled although news reports then noted that the terms were not disclosed.
Burck, who has a degree in political science, also announced last year that he wanted to run for mayor of New York City. His campaign tagline? “Nobody has done more with less.”
But his political ambition was shortlived as he quit the race when the red tape in launching a political campaign became too overbearing for him.
According to a report in The New York Times on Sept 4 last year, a financial disclosure form which he filed as part of a campaign requirement listed his job as a “travelling entertainer” who earned an income of between US$100,000 (RM322,350) and US$250,000 (RM805,800) in 2008.
Clearly, his job has its moments.
“One time, he took a shower with two beautiful naked women in the middle of Times Square as part of a promotion,” Rubenstein said.
Asked whether Burck gets propositioned or harrassed by women, he said: “Hundreds of times per day.”
The 39-year-old Burck, however, has been “in a relationship with the same woman for five years.” She has three children.
Rubenstein noted that Burck faces occupational hazards as well in the past decade as the Naked Cowboy.
“Once, a man stopped his car in the middle of the street, jumped out, ran up to Robert, said nothing and punched him in the face.”
The Naked Cowboy also had to deal with psychopaths, jealousy and dog bites, Rubenstein said. He mentioned terrorist threats, too, likely in reference to the May 1 car bomb attempt at Times Square.
Burck, according to his website, claims to read about 50 books a year.
Asked about the best tip he had ever received, Rubenstein replied:
“Someone suggested that he read self-help author Anthony Robbins’ Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement.”
That book, he said, changed his life completely.
But aren’t there days when Burck doesn’t feel like coming out to sing?
“Robert Burck is Naked Cowboy every single day, for the most part,” Rubenstein said. He said Burck held firm to the 3Ds – discipline, diligence and determination.
“Every day can provide a reason not to work but those thoughts must be overcome.”
As Burck’s manager, he gets asked all the time all sorts of questions about the Naked Cowboy.
The common ones are: Does he ever leave New York? How does he do it in the winter/snow?
Is he available for (event)?
Apparent, Burck is also a registered marriage officiant which explains why his website invites couples to be married by the Naked Cowboy in ceremonies priced at US$499 (RM1,607) and above.
As for Rubenstein, he loves being Burck’s manager.
“I work with many celebrities for years. There isn’t a more unique circumstance that covers as many different opportunities as Naked Cowboy’s,” he said.
“The best part about working with Naked Cowboy is: He is the first person I’ve met that works as diligently as I do (and more so) on his career.”
Yee-hah!