David Holmes probably needs no introduction. But just in case you haven’t heard of him, he’s the 40-year-old Southwest Airlines flight attendant whose in-flight safety announcement is making the rounds on YouTube. I asked him how he became the rapping flight attendant.
Q: Where did you come up with the idea of rapping an in-flight safety announcement?
Holmes: I did my first rap for our flight attendant graduation class. And I quickly realized, as I began flying, how many customers tune-out when we start demonstrating that very important information. I wanted a way to keep their attention. From there, it just took off.
Q: Whose idea was it to tape your in-flight announcement and put it online?
Holmes: The one that started all of this was recorded by a customer on her cell phone. We were having a great time and, at the end of the flight, she said “I’m going to put this on YouTube.”
Q: It sounded like you had a lot of practice with that particular song. Have you delivered that safety announcement before?
Holmes: It’s been an evolving performance. I have several versions to mix and match through any part of the flight.
Q: Did you expect the reaction?
Holmes: The reaction almost always surprises me because it’s just so much more than I expect. I read the room, you know. Some flights are all business. But most of the time, I know they’re going to like it and it’s going to make the flight more fun.
Q: I hear some Old School cadences in your rapping. Who are your musical influences?
Holmes: As you said, anything Old School — LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Lil Chris.
Q: When you have an idea for something like this, what’s the standard operating procedure at Southwest? Do you ask for approval from a supervisor? Do you have to run this by anyone before delivering it?
Holmes: The very first flight I rapped on happened to have a Southwest Airlines flight attendant supervisor on board. When she said ‘nice job,’ I knew it might be a hit.
Q: The Federal Aviation Administration has some pretty strict requirements about in-flight safety announcements. How did you ensure that you met those, while still maintaining your artistic integrity?
Holmes: Everything we have to say is carefully scripted for us — all the safety information. As you know, one challenge is getting people to listen — the other is making sure they have all the info. Why shouldn’t it be fun?
Q: How have your colleagues reacted to your YouTube stardom? How about other passengers?
Holmes: I know it’s catching on because on almost every flight I get a customer or a fellow Employee saying ‘Wow! I just saw you on YouTube or TV.
Q: What’s next for you? Has anyone offered you a contract?
Holmes: Still waiting.
Q: People will want to know where they can catch your next in-flight safety announcement live. What flights are you on these days?
Holmes: I’m based in Las Vegas but I’m all over the map — and I don’t know where I’ll be until a week-or-so out.
Q: Would it be asking too much for an encore performance?
Holmes: This is flight 372 on SWA
The flight attendants onboard serving you today
Theresa in the middle, David in the back
My name is David and I’m here to tell you that
Shortly after takeoff, first things first
There’s soft drinks and coffee to quench your thirst
But if you want another kind of drink then just holler
Alcoholic beverages will be four dollars
If a Monster energy drink is your plan
That’ll be three dollars and you get the whole can
We won’t take your cash, you gotta pay with plastic
If you have a coupon, then that’s fantastic
We know you’re ready to go new places
Open up the bins and put away your suitcases
Carry on items go under the seat
In front of you so none of you have things by your feet
If you have a seat on a row with an exit
We’re gonna talk to you so you might as well expect it
You gotta help evacuate in case we need you
If you don’t wanna then we’re gonna reseat you
Before we leave, our advice is
Put away your electronic devices
Fasten your seatbelt, then put your trays up
Press the button to make your seat back raise up
Sit back, relax, have a good time
It’s almost time to go, so I’m done with the rhyme
Thank you for the fact that I wasn’t ignored
This is Southwest Airlines, welcome aboard
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
They played David’s rap on YouTube at a recent travel conference I attended. Southwest founder Herb Kelleher was up onstage and I asked him, via Twitter, whether he would be the next one to rap — and he did. He said he’s been rapping for longer than David. Wish we had a YouTube video of Herb rapping. Maybe this will inspire him to do one. Maybe not:)
I love this guy! Glad you featured him!
I miss the days when they used to to schtick on Southwest. (I heard that in the early days, they would sing the safety instructions.) The one I remember:
For those of you who have not ridden in an automobile since 1968, we’re going to show you how to use your seat belt… the compartment above your head will open automatically. Stop screaming, reach up and grab the nearest mask… if you’re traveling with a small child, or someone acting like a small child, put your mask on first. If you’re traveling with two children, decide now which one you love more… Pushing the picture of the light will turn on the light, however pushing the picture of the flight attendant will not turn on the flight attendant.
Ah, those were the days.
Love the positive news on a happy flight attendant. Wish I could plan to be on one of his flights. Our daughter flew SW this morning, I forwarded this video to her so she can be on the look out for David.
Thank you!!!
Fun. Nice to know people still enjoy their work!
Priceless!
Didn’t Delta’s Song Airline routinely have funny in-flight accouncements?
I was on a recent Continental/ExpressJet flight and our FA Elise turned it into a quiz. She asked passengers which was to turn if they had to use the over-wing exit (right and forward, not left and rearward towards the engines) and other questions like what type of aircraft (an Embraer 145). And as a reward for doing so well, we all got a “free” coca-cola product! (Which was free anyway, but more fun for earning it.)
I’ve had that experience on Southwest as well…but my favorite was on Frontier one time between Seattle and Denver.
I really don’t remember the “routine” exactly, but one of the FA’s treated the announcements as a comedy routine which made everyone pay attention ( I looked around and NOBODY was reading a newspaper or magazine) and resulted in a round of applause and whistles when she finished! It was awesome….when was the last time you had THAT happen?!?!??
I don’t read while they talk (that would be rude, doncha know) but I often space out whilest they talk….when they jazz it up I listen!!!
One other thing flight attendants should do is make sure some passengers are not making so much noise that other passengers cannot hear the safety announcements.
Maybe some won’t pay attention, but there are others I’ve recently observed that prevent others from hearing.
Whether the SWA attendants rap or not isn’t an issue for me, but make the other passengers shut up for it. Thank you.
One of the reasons I like flying Southwest – their flight crews. One of most memorable flights had a flight attendant singing boarding instructions to the tune of ‘Rawhide.’
I remember a particular SW flight attendant singing a landing song to the tune of Zippidy-do-dah….. hilarious.
Almost as good as the Qantas flight attendant who, after a bumpy landing, started with “Welcome to Cairns. Please remain seated while Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.”
Or the famous Qantas flight in the 90s from Sydney to Brisbane which ended “Welcome to Brisbane. Local time is 1958.”
@chicky- totally agree! This is great! I hadn’t seen or heard about this, but love it! I hope I get David the next time I fly SWA – he makes me smile =)
The last time I took SWA the flight attendants gently sniped at each other over the intercom everytime they had to make an announcement. It was definitely done in good fun and folks were laughing.
My favorite, however, was a slightly grumpy United captain who got pulled into a last minute short hop from ORD to PIT at midnight. Among his announcements were that “For your entertainment pleasure, if you don’t sleep, this aircraft is equipped with windows” and “This flight is supposed to be [however long] but I say, heck, let’s burn some of the CEO’s bonus and see if we can beat that time!” all said with a heavy southern accent. He finished off with, “And thank you for flying United, we sure do need the money!” Our flight was originally supposed to take off from ORD at 19:30 so his humour was much appreciated.
Brilliant. I loved his video. I always like it when the pilot or flight attendant cracks a joke – gives a human feel to the usual stiff and boring on-flight announcements.
We want customer service people to be people, just like us. Simple!
Southwest clearly get it. What great coverage for them!