Max

CASE SUMMARY

Max is a former Hyatt Cleveland front officer manager. He was first called in early 2023 with Ed Powell and The Cops. He is known for his iconic vocal fry and his intense confusion at Powell’s various demands and quick-fire questions. Max’s ‘steady’ manner of speech and his intention to figure out the situation led to many unique and useful lines. Max often succeeds in keeping victims on the line, and causes intense confusion with his meandering explanations of the call’s unclear motive. Max often passes calls onto his “manager”, with the open-ended statement providing the perfect transition for a wide range of soundboards to act as such.

ORIGINS AND HISTORY

Max was first called on the Kimble livestream in 2023. His number (the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade) was requested by a viewer. While initially a different front desk attendant answered, the call was pawned off onto Max, presumably due to his seniority on the Hyatt totem pole. Max’s ‘stoner’ cadence and vocal fry were instant fan favorites. Max was extremely confused as to why Powell had called the hotel, and seemed to think that a guest had called 911. He stayed on the phone in the original call for around 20 minutes, often attempting to pass Powell to his manager, although his repeated requests to do so were fervently denied by the officer. Max also spoke to Officer McLain, leading to another useful line in which he clearly says “Mr McLain” – often used as the name of his so-called manager or GM.

Soundboard and Prank Calls

Shortly after the initial call to Max, soundboard engineer Ye24 created the first soundboard of him. Due to Max’s way of speaking, often leaving long pauses and breaths between words, many different lines can be combined to create custom sentences on the fly.

Also on the soundboard are a number of custom “diatribes” in which Max will attempt to offer an explanation for his call, although they end up raising more questions than they answer.

The M.O. for Max soundboard usage is generally creating cycles of inducing confusion, enticing the victim to stay on the line by offering a modicum of ‘useful’ information when the victim is at their wit’s end, and then repeating until they have enough or Max passes the call to his ‘manager’ or ‘GM’.

Max has re-called the Hyatt Regency Cleveland several times since his inception, and is often recognised by his former colleagues. Max’s soundboard has also called his own father, who seemed concerned as to his son’s mental state and inquired if he was drunk.

Personal Life

Max lives in Cleveland, OH. He graduated from Cleveland State University. He formerly worked as a front desk manager at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland before becoming an intern at the Kelley Ferraro Law Firm in the city. In contradiction to his soundboard persona, Max states on his LinkedIn that he “clearly articulates interests in a concise manner”. Max has a father who was called with his son’s soundboard, and appeared to be concerned for Max’s welfare.