Staff field trip, anyone?
The Messenger was recently invited to tour the exciting things happening beneath the Chocolate Works storefront located on Oyster Bay Road in Plainview— yes, you read that right.
The not-so-underground production company began during COVID (when the world shut down and Mike and Rich Cave, owners of 1st Equity National Title & Closing Services, needed to provide a different way to communicate and do business).
A vocalist, musician and actor with career experience in marketing and even some background extra work in shows like 30 Rock and Orange is the New Black, Carolyn Benson, of Setauket, has welcomed full tilt the position of studio director after her two kids left the nest for college.
Creative director and graphic designer extraordinaire Michael Zinn has had his work seen and exhibited at many local and national events.
The Tiedin team is confident their keen eye for all things green screens, green rooms and everything in between will only enhance as their operation expands, with another studio location soon coming to Smithtown.
Whether in Plainview, or what’s in store for Main Street, Tiedin studios also comes complete with a multitrack mixing board, a “Joe Rogan” style chatter corner/podcast studio— the whole nine.
Brothers Rich and Mike Cave, owners of 1st Equity National Title & Closing Services, transformed the basement terrain belonging to the aforementioned Chocolate Works into its multipurpose current iteration with “niche” serving intentions. As The Messenger discerned during its tour, it’s chock-full of potpourri potential, alright, its pop culturally picturesque design inspiring us to smile in ways we thought we never could three years prior, where you could only catch a glimpse at such a room in recycled clips. On your phone.
Benson is grateful to Mike and Rich Cave this “amazing opportunity” to help run the studio and expand this nichely-formed enterprise. “I think of anybody that’s staying at home raising kids, husband, wife, or just graduating high school or college— they should know there’s a life after the kids grow up. Even if you’re trying to build your business or figure out your path…we can help. That is why my team loves working at Tiedin.”
“What is your spark? What is your goal? What is your dream? We can help you build your brand and tell your story,” Benson added.
The Team
For this most exciting, but obviously challenging endeavor, the team is composed of Gen-X Benson and Zinn who are partnered with a pair of millennial Five Towns College graduates, Fredy Chica and Nicole Benante, two “amazing videographers, photographers and drone pilots.” On the editing front, they’ve been able to spearhead packages encompassing social media rollouts, event promotions and even commercials.
Tiedin has completed such larger scale assignments all while serving their local community listening in whom they rely on to help boom their brand. “We’re very local and support the communities, and a lot of smaller businesses and everything,” Benante said. “It’s definitely philanthropic.”
When not in the production studio, the team often joins Mike and Rich Cave and other volunteers on food drives that help and support local food pantries.
PinkTie Charities was started by Mike and Rich Cave after their aunt succumbed to breast cancer. Since the organization’s founding in 2012, the PinkTie mission has grown to support causes in New York related to education, food insecurity and health. Due to COVID, Mike and Rich learned that many food pantries had become depleted, so they quickly pivoted to help the growing problem of food insecurity on Long Island.
“We pivoted to food insecurity immediately when the Coronavirus hit and our deliveries to food pantries helped us connect better to wonderful people serving neighbors in need,” said Mike Cave, Co-Founder, PinkTie Charities.” At the Foundation, we believe that you do well by doing good and are inspired by this journey across Long Island’s neighborhoods.”
“Through the pandemic, it was important for companies to support local communities. Local philanthropy is the best way to not only provide assistance, but grow your business. We always remember who stepped up during the darkest days,” Rich Cave, also PinkTie Charities Co-Founder, added.
Since April 2020, the PinkTie Charities’ volunteer food delivery program, composed of local businesses giving directly to the community, visited over 50 local food pantries. Over the two-year period, the Foundation and partners have contributed over $375,000 with 160 deliveries through the pandemic.
‘We’re in the Business of Doing Good’ – PinkTie
“We’re located in Plainview, right. But that’s just where building happens to be. Our reach is everywhere, because nothing is just Long Island-based anymore,” Benson said. “Anything you put out on the Internet has the ability to speak to a larger audience. We are trying to build this foundation to help people get their podcasts out with TV-like production.”
Tiedin is responsible for producing and coordinating a few popular podcasts, but really “vodcasts,” including The Lineup hosted by former professional baseball players L.J. Mazzilli and Mike Olt; and Stand-Up Memories hosted by Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, former head writer of The Howard Stern Show, and his partner in envelope-pushing comedy crime, Peter “the Professor” Bales.
The Lineup
The Lineup — now 11 episodes in, and featuring notable guests such as former New York Met player and Yankee coach, Lee Mazzilli — records in-studio, and even makes alternative location “pop-up” appearances. Its hosts L.J. and Mike thrive off trading “war stories,” going back down the rabbit hole of the athletic grind as they acclimate themselves to “life beyond the game.”
After listening to the first few episodes, The Messenger detects clear chemistry between the soon-to-be-family members — Olt is actually set to wed L.J.’s sister – and commends the way in which they make a shared vernacular amongst former pro athletes mass-consumable.
From their UConn alma mater, Mazzilli and Olt note the importance of coming back, and giving back — both for those on the current squad they visited, and for their own peace of mind.
They go on to name-drop many of the stars they’ve crossed paths with, with L.J.’s father Lee joining in episode 2 to recap the scope of his fascinating baseball life as well. In the next episode, current Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed advises today’s kids to focus on improving themselves more, because they are losing sight of the ball, and “starting to lose their perseverance.”
“The 1% mentality,” Ahmed says, “everyday, show up at work and try to get 1% better.”
“L.J. played for the Ducks the past couple of years, and he just stopped playing this year— that was a big decision for him,” Benson said. She notes that he and Olt, who left earlier after a brutal head injury, “train all their life to get to the majors… and they can be out in one inning.”
The Lineup sees Mazzilli and Olt reflect on a chapter in their lives that isn’t over anymore— but rather taking an unforeseen turn, one that certainly couldn’t have been made possible in an earlier era.
Stand-Up Memories
Elsewhere, you may not know his name, but you know his work. Meanwhile, Long Island locals of a certain age have long-held a special place in their heart for Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling.
Martling and Peter Bales exchange memories growing up on Long Island and growing up in the comedy business in their Stand-Up Memories vodcast. Currently entering their fourth season, the duo spend a decent amount of time dissecting their roots. On his upbringing, the Bayville resident Martling insists that you never really realize how influential all of your experiences are until you’ve reached this stage in his life and career.
Throughout the show, they joke about advising Eddie Murphy to stay in college so “he could have something to fall back on,” seeing their peer Rodney Dangerfield achieve rockstar status and so forth. All the while, they say “nay” to a notion espoused that dirty jokes are dead. Stand-Up Memories, moreover, runs tantamount to Tiedin’s efforts in rallying older demographics that may be turned off by the mere concept, because they identify podcasts as a younger man’s club of which they’re not a member.
Jackie, though, as always, is here to say that he speaks for, and to them, as bluntly as he does in his fondly recalled on the pod eighth-grade Oyster Bay class photo wherein he’s flipping the birdie.
“We’re playing ‘Gimme Shelter’ by The Rolling Stones — then I’m telling a dirty joke,” Jackie recalled of his comedy origin story, working crowds between sets as a musician. “Everyone has done all kinds of podcasts — [with ours] I really would like to go back and find out what got people going. If you’re a singer, a Broadway performer, a comedian, I’ve always said, ‘you face the wrong way. You’re here, and we’re here….’ What lit that spark?”
The Future
Benson summarized: “At Tiedin, we understand the power of effective storytelling and the impact it can have on your brand. We take pride in our ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with your target audience, elevating your presence in the digital landscape. Whether you’re a startup seeking to establish your identity or an established brand aiming to revitalize your image, we have the expertise to help you make a lasting impression.”
A small-company with big-time dreams— a beautiful scene a few years removed from quarantine.
Tiedin Media is a studio and creative agency located at 371 South Oyster Bay Road in Plainview. Their podcasts ‘The Lineup’ and ‘Stand-Up Memories’ are currently streaming on Spotify, Apple and additional platforms. Visit www. Tiedin.com and follow their company at @Tiedinmedia on Instagram and Tiedin on Facebook for more information.
