Arny Granat, co-founder and president of Jam Productions, got the call to help bring to Chicago Wallenda’s stunt to high-wire walk between two skyscrapers.

The Chicago-based company is the largest independent producer of live entertainment in the United States. Jam produces concerts, Broadway shows, and special events. Over the past 40 years, the company has worked with thousands of artists, including Frank Sinatra, The Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Michael Jackson.

Wallenda’s agent, Winston Simone, contacted Granat last October. They had been looking in New York for skyscrapers but the city was distracted by a mayoral election coming up on November 5 and was slow to help.

Granat, however, needed just 40 minutes to contact Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which expressed interest. The first meeting between representatives of Wallenda and the city was on November 6, 2013.

“We started having meetings, and that was a year ago, and probably about two or three months after those initial meetings, everything was confirmed, and the city’s been wonderful, as usual.”

In Chicago, Wallenda looked at various locations such as Willis Tower and Trump International Hotel & Tower but an early favorite was the Chicago River and in particular, Marina City and Leo Burnett Building.

“This is the one I personally liked,” Granat said last Thursday in the lobby of Leo Burnett Building. “You’re going over the river. You’ve got an iconic building, Marina [City]. You’ve got the Leo Burnett Building, which is advertising to begin with.”

Over the next several months, Wallenda secured from the city a special event permit and a filming permit. Meanwhile, according to Granat, negotiations with Leo Burnett Building and Marina City went well.

“They had to get approvals, go through all the steps you must go through, legally, and get all the conditions met,” said Granat. “They’ve both been wonderful to work with.”

Simone also says the city was supportive and encouraging.

“They have an unbelievable love and respect for the city, that we really responded to, and their enthusiasm was really the main reason that we said, ‘Let’s not even bother with New York.’ And I say that as a New Yorker.” (Right) Talent agent Winston Simone (left in photo) and his client, daredevil Nik Wallenda.

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