Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Two Good Guys Gone

Last Friday sucked.

The events of last Friday hurt even more in the cold, hard light of Saturday morning. Our industry lost two Destination Marketing pros from the same state within 24 hours. One name was "household" in our industry, the other, not so much. Regardless, losing either one sucks. Losing them both sucks more.

Destination Marketing was in Orlando's Gary Sain's blood, as his Dad set the stage for Las Vegas becoming the iconic destination it is today. And, yet, it wan't his pedigree that earned him the top spot with the DMO with second largest budget in country. Instead it was that he had sensational marketing chops...and, he was a truly good guy.

OK, I may be biased on that one...'cause I still think good guys should win. Especially in a world that seems to honor cut-throat, ethically challenged narcissists. But, yeah...Gary was one of the good guys. And, he will be sorely missed. The world is a less cool place today, with his passing.

I was contemplating Florida Tourism's other loss when the news of Gary's passing arrived. Emerald Coast CVB CEO Mark Bellinger may have done a lot of unusual things over the past year...but he saved the most unusual for Thursday night. He committed suicide.

When the story broke earlier last week that he had purchased a $710,000 yacht with DMO money...and then allegations that he bought his $750,000 house with BP funds hit, the media (and the DMO world) was abuzz. There was laughter. There was head-shaking...both of the WTF variety.

That all stopped Friday afternoon when police announced that he was dead.

The comments on the Florida-based online news stories generally villified Mark, who by most accounts had done an outstanding job for the Emerald Coast during the BP disaster. By contrast, the comments in the Palm Springs-based online media (he had been their DMO Director a few years ago) were shocked, saddened and supportive. That he was such a great guy. And, how could this have happened?

Of course, it wasn't their money. But, it begs the question...how can a good guy so lose his way? And then, when called out, believe that suicide is the only viable path?

I struggled with that all weekend. We all should.

Two good guys gone. One taken. The other by his own hand.

We'll miss them both. I'll miss Gary more.

Karla

Last weekend, I had the sensational pleasure to be in the musical presence of one of my favorite artists in one of the most intimate settings around. You've likely never heard of either.

The hall was the Thrasher Opera House in Green Lake, Wisconsin. And Karla Bonoff opened her set by saying how nice it was to be "in the middle of nowhere." True dat.

Karla is a songwriter extraordinaire that inexplicably never made it big on her own. From Linda Ronstadt's most evocative hits to movie soundtracks, you know her work. But there is so much more.

The performance was simply magical (and there are a couple videos from somebody that clearly sat near me that night on YouTube)...but there is so little compelling video of her amazing body of work.

Thus, on this Music Friday, I'm going to send you to her site's video page to experience several clips.

If, however, you don't mind YouTube video that has no video, I'll direct you to my two favorites from this exquisite talent: The Letter and Daddy's Little Girl (and, guys, if you have daughters and don't cry at the latter...there's something seriously wrong with you).

Both are as compelling as a lyric and its music can be.

Thanks, Karla. Please come back soon.

And thanks to the Wisconsin Arts Board for making her appearance possible.

The Loss of an Icon, Mentor and Friend

John Lennon once said, "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Death too.

I had planned to pay a long overdue visit to one of my many mentors in this industry after missing a chance to do so when a bunch of veteran Wisconsin DMO CEOs reunioned recently. And, now, I've waited too long.

Bill Brault was a mentor to so many of us...and he departed terra firma yesterday for the next adventure in his incredibly blessed life. Beyond the consumate marketer, he was just as amazing at idea generation and political advocacy. He was the vision behind the Packer Hall of Fame, created one of the most unique DMO structures in the nation and spearheaded a vast improvement in Wisconsin's then pourous Room Tax law.

Most importantly, he always had time to talk to newbies and always had an encouraging word when the cause appeared lost.

I know better than to wait so long to tell my friends how important they've been in my life. Yet, I've done it again.

Here's hoping he has WiFi in DMO Heaven. Bill, you rocked, I love you and I so hope we end up at the same destination when it's my time.

RIP, my friend.

Nailed it Again

Readers of this blog know of our affection and respect for Brad Dean, one of the brightest, most driven Destination Marketing CEOs in the country, if not the world.

In the past four years, he has led the effort to quintuple his budget, donated a kidney to a complete stranger and secured, not one but, three National Presidential Debates for Myrtle Beach SC. The most recent was last night...and, as per usual, it was a huge win for a destination that has seen record successes in the past few years under Brad's leadership.

And, while a lot of rooms were sold to candidate entourages, media from around the world and hopeful attendees during an off-season month that can always use a shot in the arm, the real success came from the visuals during the broadcast and the consistent line, "Live from beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina."

And, of course, making the New York Times, Fox News and countless other sources with pictures of a massive, 525 ton Mount Rushmore-esque sand sculpture of the Republican field?

Priceless.

Brad and his stellar team rocked it again. Congratulations, my friends.

A Last Thought for 2011

Even before Music Fridays, we occasionally offered end-of-the-year songs to encourage readers to ponder the human condition and, hopefully, pledge to do something about it. Like Living Loud in 2006 and Jimi Jamison in 2008.

Michael Jackson so jumped the shark for me in the '90s...but this anthem is worth bringing back.

It's "Earth Song" from 1995...with a hope that we all get serious about saving our world in 2012.

Join you then...

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

I've always loved that song. The hope. The trepidation. The possibility.

"Maybe it's too early in the game." Yeah...it's a scary move to lay yourself out like that. But, at this time of the year, isn't it worth it?

Hell yeah...

Just like Mexico. Asking what you're doing next December 21st. Because, ummm, that's the next end of the world (according to some). And, if you believe that to be true...wouldn't you want to be at ground zero, like Tapachula or Xunantunich? They're preparing the welcome mat.

Actually, I'd like to be at the polar opposite of ground zero (Madagascar works) so I could watch it unfold...and have a few moments to say "Shit...the Mayan's were right."

And then, have a few minutes to do what we all say we want to do when the end of the world is near.

The Gift of the Magi

I can remember when this became my favorite Christmas story tradition.

The radio station for which I once worked would buy the pre-recorded "36 Hours of Christmas" package of holiday songs and stories to air each year. That way, we could have the part-timers work Christmas Eve and Day without too much fear that they'd screw up the format. Yeah...we didn't do it for you. We did it for us.

Anyway...early in the 36 Hours ('round about 4pm on Christmas Eve each year), the pre-recorded reels of tape would issue up a recording of Lorne Greene doing a reading of O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi." I had never heard the story (despite my mother putting the greatest works of literature in my hands during my wild, mispent youth). And, I was inexplicably mesmerized. Year after year, I would make sure I was either "running the board" or near a radio when Lorne's rendition would appear.

Sunday night, I caught the American Players Theatre's final performance of their simply sensational version of this incredible classic. If they do it again next year (and I so hope they do)...you must go.

But, here's the thing. I have always regretted not recording that Lorne Greene version. Now, decades later, those reels of tape are surely gone from terra firma...and I figured I'd never hear it again.

However, the internet is a wonderful repository for the sharing, caring people of this earth. And a search this Holiday Season uncovered the masterpiece that transfixed me 30 years ago.

I hope you have 15 minutes to spare this weekend...because here it is, "The Gift of the Magi" read by Lorne Greene.

Yeah...I'm a hopeless romantic. And I hope you are, too.

An Inspiration

The best part of this gig is the people I get to meet. Sure, I've gotten to see way more of this country than most and marvelled at how each region has such unique beauty. And, yeah...there are those times when what I see simply takes my breath away.

But, so do some of the people I meet along the way.

I was recently asked who most impressed me in the new crop of Destination Marketers coming up. It's pretty easy to come up with quite a list...which is exciting as hell for our industry.

Included in that list is one Brad Dean, the CEO of the Myrtle Beach Chamber/CVB. I have had the very real pleasure of working with Brad since he took the reigns from the inimitable Ashby Ward. And, I have marvelled at his approach to Destination Marketing...so unlike the traditional approach we all know.

I love the way the guy thinks...asking questions that so many of us don't. And seeing a bigger picture than just Room Tax. Indeed, he helped spearhead a penny sales tax that took his DMO from $6 million to $30 million...and they have been breaking records ever since, despite this pesky recession.

We talked about another really cool concept he had (that, honestly, could change the way we all market) last week. He asked me to think on it as he was going to be out for the next couple weeks. I thought that he was taking a well-deserved vacation with his family.

Instead, I get an e-mail on Sunday telling me he was going to donate a kidney to someone he doesn't even know. Because it's the right thing to do. Because he's been so blessed that he wants to give back.

There are so many people in this industry that I admire. That inspire me. That make me love this gig.

This week...Brad Dean is at the top of the list.

And he gives us all a lot to think about this Holiday Season. Of what's really important.

Thanks, Brad. You so rock.

Come back stronger than ever. We need you, too.

Such a Pretty Planet

"Such a pretty planet, coming back from the moon," is the opening lyric in an obscure John Hall track, "Earth Out Tonight."

And, for as beautiful as past video and photography of terra firma from space has been, I've never seen anything as breathtaking as this new video, compiled from recent expedition teams of the International Space Station.

As Gadling suggests, stop what you're doing and witness the awe-inspiring beauty that is this third rock from the Sun.

Truer words...

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life…have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” - Steve Jobs