Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The 3 Rules for Management Success

The rock music industry recently lost one of its greats...and a name that I'd guess most had never heard.

Dee Anthony was the manager for Peter Frampton, DEVO, Traffic, ELP, J. Geils Band, Ten Years After, Jethro Tull and Joe Cocker, to name just a few. Probably the most amazing turn-around he orchestrated was that of Frampton who, after leaving Humble Pie, had popped out four commercially unimpressive albums and was only attracting a couple hundred people to his gigs (where this photo was taken).

Within a year of that shot, he was playing stadiums in support of the amazing "Frampton Comes Alive."

Dee's 3 core Management Rules always cracked me up (but are so true):

1. Get the Money
2. Don't forget to get the Money
3. Always Remember: Don't forget to get the Money

RIP, Dee...you hipped us all to some incredible talent over the years.

Thanks to the Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp's David Fishof for the catch.

Why Do We Ignore Our Nightlife?

One of my recent rants when speaking or consulting on internet marketing for Destination Marketing Organizations is the lack of searchable information about nightlife on so many DMO websites.

Now, I understand that just because I like to go clubbing is no reason to think that every traveler does. But the latest edition of Destination Analysts’ “State of the American Traveler” Study reveals that 20% of American travelers went clubbing on a recent leisure getaway. Uh-huh. One in five of us are looking for something to do after dinner when we’re in your town.

Our websites are generally great at outlining ethnic heritage sites (which only 11% visit), spas (8%), Birding (7%) and Eco-Tourism Sites (7%). Why do we so fall down on an activity that over twice as many people love?

And, one has to wonder how much higher that 20% number would be if our websites would provide the information that our prospective visitors crave.

I'm betting a lot.

Peace, Love and a Blanket

40 years ago tomorrow, something simply amazing was about to happen on Max Yasgur's farm in upstate New York.

40 years ago next Monday, my Mom was gloating because she had heard about Woodstock before her Rock n Roll son (but, then again, my Mom was pretty hip...and still is).

And 40 years ago next Monday, the picture on the left was taken among the carnage of the single biggest rock n roll event to date. And the photo ended up on the cover of the 3-disc soundtrack of Woodstock.

Which meant the woman in the picture had to admit to her Mom that, uhhhh, yeah, she was there.

Great story about the couple that had no idea they were about to be the iconic image of the iconic cultural event of the Summer of Love.

The Power of Viral

When I picked up on this music video rant about United Airlines Tuesday morning from Chris Elliott on Twitter, it had been viewed on YouTube 320 times. Last night it was at 218,000.

The backstory: Last spring, the Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and Dave Carroll's Taylor $3500 guitar was severely damaged. United didn't deny the experience occurred but, for nine months, the airline refused to accept responsibility and finally said they would do nothing to compensate him for his loss. So he promised the last person to finally say "no" that he would write and produce three songs about his experience and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world.

This is the first song. Word on the street is that United is, all of a sudden, interested in talking with Dave.

But, for over 200,000 of their potential customers...it's too late. United Breaks Guitars.

UPDATE (9 July): 10 hours after this post, the video was at 470,000 views :)

UPDATE (10 July): 24 hours later, the video is approaching 1.4 million views. And Dave Carroll speaks out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay7hFIYQFnw  What a class act.

UPDATE (17 July): 10 days after being at 320 views, the video has surpassed 3 MILLION views.

SiriusXM: Fail

I have Sirius in my house and XM in my car. That they are one and the same doesn't seem to matter much. I still get screwed with their pricing.

This week, they are both breathlessly bragging about their new app that will let me listen to SiriusXM on my iPhone. It's FREE, they scream.

Except...err, it's not. The app is...but the service is an additional $3 a month.

I know that's not a lot of money in the big scheme of things. But, when you have as awesome of an iTunes collection as I do? Ummm...no. I'll stick with the music that I have selected...not you guys.

Nice try at attaining solvency through airline-like nickle and diming, tho.

Like Ragu and Spaghetti

Or Lox and Bagels. Or Me and Mrs. Jones (or Me and Mr. Jones, for that matter...or even Mr. Jones and Me). Somethings just go together.

Like Ecstasy and Wine and Music. Which is why Vietnam is moving to ban dancing in karaoke rooms.

According to Le Anh Tuyen, Vietnam Tourism's Legal Eagle: "Ecstasy always goes with wine and music so, if the state doesn’t ban dancing, karaoke establishments will be misused. So we suggested not dancing at karaoke establishments. If someone wants to dance, go to discotheques."

Where, I guess they don't have Ecstasy and Wine...and, umm, Music.

He further explains: "The concept of dancing is very large. Depending on the situation, inspectors will decide who violates the rules and at what level. If someone dances to soft music and doesn’t drink wine, doesn’t scream, the punishment will be gentle."

Kinda like porn, eh? I'll know it when I see it?

"Evils will not be prevented without banning dancing."

I'm hoping that this is funny because of loose translation...but I have a funny feeling it's not.

Staying on Brand in Nashville

You gotta hand it to Butch Spyridon and the gang at the Nashville CVB for their very smart and hip program called "Nashville for a Song."

For the past couple years, the Nashville CVB has been dead on with its messaging that has been all about the city's place as one of the music meccas of America. Now, the Bureau is offering a complimentary performance by a professional Music City songwriter for any meeting that books over 101 rooms peak for a minimum of two nights. And that's Grammy-Award Winner Brett James holding the sign.

Talk about turning what would normally be a plea for business into a value-add that reeks of your brand.

Well played, Nashville...

Turning the Musical Tables

It seems like forever that we have been subjected to listening to watered down rock hits in waiting rooms, elevators and restaurants. Musak (which is now in Chapter 11) was the evil force that had my folks blissfully humming along to songs by Nirvana, Joan Jett and U2 (although, that was kinda funny).

Seether (playing Friday night in Tulsa) has turned the tables, covering the (shudder) Wham hit "Careless Whisper." And they freakin' nail it...and make it their own.

George who?

I feel so avenged.

A Day in the Life of Abbey Road

Great catch by Gadling of a Time-Lapse video of Abbey Road. While I've recreated this iconic cover art twice in my life (once during my days in radio and once a couple years ago for an ad agency), I never realized how freaking tiring it must be for the people that drive that street every day.

I can hear them way over here, screaming "Stop It! It's not bloody funny anymore! Aaarrrgh!"

Yeah...that's me as Sir Paul

When did Foghat become Musak?

As I strolled into the Renaissance Hotel in Chicago's North Shore yesterday, I couldn't help shaking my head at the incongruent (at least for me) music being piped into the lobby.

Joe Walsh and The James Gang's "Walk Away."

Returning home last evening, I swung by one of the several grocery stores I frequent...and heard Foghat's rendition of "Sweet Home Chicago."

Don't get me wrong, I love both artists. But, isn't it a little weird for the music of a subversive era to be the background music of today's hotels and grocery stores?

Of course, Peter Sellars predicted this years ago at an IEG Conference when he told the crowd that today's wild-eyed and subversive art will be etched on tomorrow's dinner plates.

Truer words....