Sneak Peek: Reginald “Reggio the Hoofer” McLaughlin podcast

Jo Reed: I think that tapdancing in the subway would really really help to figure out very what people liked and how to connect with the people.

Reginald McLaughlin: Oh, that’s where it all begin. That’s where my whole stage persona come from down there and I loved it because I developed an intimate relationship with people and I bring that to the stage. Because you right there on the same level of the people, toe to toe and “hey, how you doing, hoofer? Man, I ain’t got nothing to give you today, but I get paid Friday if you’re down here I’ll toss you a little something.” And you discover what steps and combination the people like when they clap. Yay! That’s it. You write that down. Okay. I got to keep that over the top. They really like that one and it makes you work. Them people down there they clap. “All right. Get it, brother. Go ahead. Oh, man.” And root you on and what not like that, but my whole stage persona came from in the subway and being with people and even now when I perform on stage if I had a choice I do a lot of school performances and they say “Do you want to be on the stage or do you want to be on the floor?” All the time. I just want to be on the floor where I could talk with people and I have a lot of audience participation and student participation. I’m able to get them right up and dance with me and the people when it’s like that they become more a part of your performance than just being a spectator.