The Duckmaster of the Peabody: A March Like No Other

Glenn: Hey, everybody. It’s your hospitality friend Glenn here. And every once in a while, I like to showcase some of the coolest jobs in hospitality. I got Kenan here who has a very special and unique job. Duckmaster here at the Peabody Memphis. So great to see you. And I got to start off by saying I got to be honorary Duckmaster today.

Kenan: Duckmaster family. Officially, yes.

Glenn: Dream come true. How cool is it for you to be carrying on such an incredible hospitality?

Kenan: It’s an honor. It’s a complete honor. You know, I mean, I’ve been doing this for six years. February 23rd was my six-year anniversary of being duckmaster and man to be able, especially as a Memphian. I was born in Memphis, so to be able to carry on a legacy that’s been going on since 1940, you know what I mean? It’s it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. And the fact that I get a chance to put genuine smiles on people’s faces for a living, man, it never I never take it for granted.

Glenn: No, it’s really, really special. And you’re a real artist and a performer out there, but you’re also a trainer because you make sure these ducks are chilling downstairs. They’re happy in their little their little house up here.

Kenan: Absolutely, absolutely. There’s a lot of training that comes involved. Keep in mind, we get a new team of ducks every 90 days. Every 90 days. They’re one year old when I get them. A healthy mallard duck can live 28 years. Wow. So we keep them three months and we don’t domesticate them, right? We trim the flight feathers to grow back, you know? I mean, just they don’t fly while they’re here, and then we send them back to be released. But the first thing I have to do, I got to get them comfortable. You know what I mean? Because when I get a new team, they’re scared. They don’t know
who I am.

Glenn: Well, they’re at a luxury hotel, so.

Kenan: It’s kind of shocking to the system, you know what I mean? So you just kind of give them about 3 or 4 days. You kind of give them a little pep talks, get them used to me, let them see me interacting with the previous team. There’s about two weeks where I have both teams, so we have to keep marching the veterans while I’m training the rookies up here.

Glenn: What are you doing right now?

Kenan: Right. That’s right. Today was day number one of training for my brand new team. But then. But I always wait until they’re comfortable. Once I see they’re comfortable. And I formed a bond with them. And that’s how I teach them how to get from the duck Palace to the elevators, just marching back 2 or 3 times a day. After about a week, they start leading me to that elevator.

Glenn: Yeah. These guys, they ride right to their duck palace today coming out of the elevator.

Kenan: But then once they can lead me to that elevator instead of me guiding them with the cane, and that’s when I take them to the lobby. But that 1st March in that lobby happens in front of everybody. There’s no practice down there. I’ve literally had to chase entire teams of ducks into the gift shops, the bathrooms behind the bar, up the valet ramp. So I get a lot of cardio working with the new ducks. Yeah, but as long as they don’t get hurt, that’s the main thing.

Glenn: No, that’s that’s the main thing. What an incredible experience. It must be so wonderful to bring joy to people every single day.

Kenan: It never gets old. Like six years of doing this, I think I never take for granted is that it’s always someone’s first time. And you never know what led people here. Some people just want to be entertained. Some people are curious. Some people are going through something. Some people have a real sentimental attachment to this hotel and to this ceremony. You never know who’s who, you know what I mean? But when you show up and you and you give your all and it comes from a genuine place, people can feel that. And a lot of times people will come to me after the ceremony and tell me, man, my mother brought me when I was a kid and she’s no longer here, so I’m coming in her memory. Wow. Or I got kids from Saint Jude that come to meet me when they can leave that hospital. And when you know that you’re providing something for people that they can’t get anywhere else, that’s not a it’s not a job. That’s a privilege. And I’m just so honored to be in the position to provide that for people. I mean, that’s awesome.

Glenn: And that’s why this guy is in hospitality. Thank you so much, Keenan Glen. You’re welcome. Awesome.

Kenan: And welcome to the Duckmaster family. He’s a part of Peabody history now, y’all.

Glenn: Thanks for the privilege. The coolest moments of my career. Thanks for watching. Like, share comment on this video. We’ll see you all next time. Bye bye.