Naked Cowboy
Robert John Burck ( born December 23, 1970 in Cincinnati ) is an American street musicians. Burck occurs predominantly in New York City on, playing guitar and wearing nothing more than a white cowboy hat, a white pants and white boots. Because of its unusually light clothing, in conjunction with his stage name The Naked Cowboy, Burck has been more than ten years, a tourist attraction in Times Square.
Career
The first appearances on the road had Burck in 1998 in Los Angeles on the beach of Venice Beach. After the successes failed to Burck decided, after advice of a friend, only to appear in underwear and make his body which he formed by bodybuilding, his trademark. Since 1999 he performs in New York.
In 2000, Burck made his first television appearance in the rather conservative talk show Moral Court Burck took with moderate success in the talent shows American Idol, Australian Idol and Star Search part. He left regularly in the first round. On 29 May 2002 he was also on German television to see total, with tv.
In the following years Burck was able to increase its visibility in the States through cameo appearances in various television formats such as game shows, commercials, talk shows or music videos.
In addition to his appearances in New York Burck joined several major festivals like Mardi Gras in New Orleans or on holidays such as Labor Day in Cincinnati on.
To date, Burck occurs mainly in the summer months, but also during winter and snow regularly in Times Square on. It requires two U.S. dollars per photo and ensures by an employee which occurs in black suit, for the proper payment of his services. In this way, Burck earns up to $ 1,000 per day. In the winter months Burck occurs irregularly in Venice Beach or Santa Monica.
His stage name and his outfit are trademarked. About himself says Burck: personal branding, that's the point today. The main thing you are known, then you can sell any crap and make millions.
Legal dispute with the company Mars
For headlines, even in the German- made Burck 2008, because of a dispute with Mars Incorporated. Mars brought a picture of a chocolate piece with cowboy hat and boots on the Times Square the Marriott Hotel.
Burck saw it violated its trademark rights and sued for $ 100 million compensation. The court dismissed the claims of Burck back substantially, but Mars undertook to remove the display. Mars urged the trademark claims Burcks as to annul, even this desire was rejected.
Political Activities
On 22 July 2009 Burck announced to apply for the post of mayor in New York City. He said this in a press conference: " No one knows more about how to make more out of less than myself and this kind of thinking I want to share with the New York citizens, they should choose me ." With this plan, he wanted to free himself from the incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Before the election, on 3 November 2009 but he withdrew his candidacy.
Furthermore ran Burck for the 2012 presidential election. Announcing he described his political direction as conservative and announced, this time seriously to approach this choice.