Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

JoBo Rocks

I've been a fan of Joe Bonamassa since I discovered the SiriusXM Blues Channel five years ago. I finally got to witness the magic earlier this month...and it was an amazing experience.

Whether you are familiar with this incredible talent or not...our Music Friday offering is another two-fer. The first is Joe in the studio in HD. The second is Joe Live.

And, after you've sampled these...I know that most of you will search his name on YouTube for many more videos of this amazing artist.

I feel like the hyenas in Lion King saying "Mufasa"...''cept i keep hissing "Bonamassa."

When the Voice of Hundreds Means Nothing

I'm hoping there's a good reason behind the City of Hannibal MO taking over the managing authority of its CVB...besides just the absence of a Director since Beau Hicks stepped down.

Because the support for the Bureau Board in this town of 17,000 people is pretty freaking amazing. 540 people signed a petition opposing the City's takeover. Yeah...540.

The Council vote was 6-1 to ignore the petition and take over the Bureau.

Guess all 540 must live in the same ward.

Or, the Council isn't paying attention to its constituency.

Can You Keep a Straight Face?

No visit to Indianapolis is complete without a stop at the iconic St. Elmo Steakhouse. Readers of this blog know it's one of my favorite restaurants in the entire country.

Beyond incredible ambiance, steaks and service...there's another reason to go: their "World Famous Cocktail Sauce." And, to pique your interest, check out this great video of Sugar Ray Leonard, Hugh Jackman and others with their "Shrimp Face" after trying the sauce.

Besides funny...this is a great example of brilliant restaurant marketing. Don't show me the food...show me what my reaction will be.

Perfect.

The Hideaway Trilogy

Now that Wisconsin's Runaway Senators heve returned home, the air under Rockford's viral video campaign will start to disappate.

But, not before the funniest of the trilogy completes one of the most successful Destination Marketing Viral plays in history. In the third installment, Rockford's Mayor appears once again (and may have a career on the silver screen), along with a few other past characters in the series...and a surprise appearance from, well, we don't want to play spoiler.

Congratulations to John Groh, the gang at the Rockford Area CVB and their whip smart agency Graham-Spencer. So well played.

Ooops, I Did it Again

South Carolina's rookie Governor caught most tourism interests along the Grand Strand off guard a few weeks ago when she blasted the 1% Sales Tax that now powers the promotion of Myrtle Beach.

Last week, she did it again...this time in destination, saying "you can't tax your way to prosperity." Which, of course, are good tea party words. But, when that tax is invested in marketing and promotion (as it has been in Myrtle Beach), prosperity is exactly what you get. Case in point: Myrtle Beach has had record breaking tourism receipts since the tax was enacted...despite a paralyzing recession.

You gotta love Chamber CEO Brad Dean's response: "Until she presents us with her plan that guarantees to deliver the results we've created along the Grand Strand, we will continue to guarantee them for ourselves."

Hell yeah.

Kyle's Aeroplane

It's just one of those cool things I love about living in Madison. You serendipitously bump into amazingly creative people all the time.

A few months ago, I met a guy that was in a band that we played the shit out of when I was in Chicago radio in the '80s. They were called The Producers and were, by most accounts, a band with which Portrait Records clearly whiffed. Great hooks, great lyrics...and no label support. And, back then, label support was important.

Still, they had some great moments.

Today, Kyle Henderson calls Madison home...and recently gathered some friends to create a band that does cool (and often overlooked) R&B covers, as well as a few originals.

This is one of the originals that I simply can't get out of my head. And Kyle was gracious enough to let me record and share "Aeroplane" on this Music Friday.

Enjoy.

And Coming...

With their first video reaching 92,000 views on YouTube in just a couple weeks, the Rockford Area CVB is back with the follow-up...this time chronicling the fictional adventures of two runaway State Troopers that had been sent to find the missing Wisconsin Senators.

And again, Cheap Trick's Rick Neilsen makes a very cool cameo.

Who was it that said a crisis is a terrible thing to waste?

And the Hits Keep on Coming

Wisconsin's runaway Senators, hiding out in Illinois to avoid a State budget vote that they are likely to lose, have provided the Rockford Area CVB some excellent opportunities to insert their destination into the spotlight.

First, it was that sensational viral video that is now at over 90,000 views on YouTube. And, yesterday, the RACVB and Rockford's Mayor offered to play host to proposed "border negotiations."

According to the news release, "Rockford’s location between Madison and Chicago makes it the perfect ‘middle ground,’ something that has eluded Wisconsin lawmakers of late."
 
To conclude the Border Summit, Republican and Democratic members of Rockford’s City Council have even offered to host a Caucus Cocktail Hour featuring wines, beer, cheeses and meats from Wisconsin and Illinois.

And...on a completely separate front, the Rockford-based band Emery Christiansen has just released a video called "Hiding Out in Rockford" that promotes Rockford...as well as Madison and a bunch of Wisconsin destinations. Great song, great video...and a great tip of the hat to Wisconsin's own Steve Miller at the very end.

Where Do These People Come From?

In most states, it's stoopid season...as politicians wield their newfound partisan power like a meat-cleaver in the budget process. And, I get that everybody is broke. But, some of the ideas that are being introduced are simply nuts.

Like this one from the State of Washington: a permanent restriction on state agencies from using funds for travel and renting private facilities like hotels for meetings.

Really? REALLY? And do the politicians behind this simply clueless manuever believe this will solve their budget crisis...or is it just a punitive poke at State workers?

Because this won't hurt State workers. Hell, most don't want to travel. Who this will hurt are hospitality workers across the State that rely on business and government travel to keep the economy strong.

But, would we expect anything more from a Legislature that is also preparing to close its State Tourism Office?

Make You a Deal

I always get a chuckle when politicians question the ROI of destination marketing. And, it happened again last week in Jacksonville IL.

A couple City Council members were challenging their CVB executive's presentation on the impact of her organization. One of them said “I like tangible items. If I buy insurance, I know I have it. If I buy a car, I can see it in my driveway. I’ve never had a good feeling we’re getting anything (from the CVB).”

Another, rejecting the fact that inquiries to the CVB have tripled in the past four years, said, “You can put all your numbers and percentages on the board, but you never know what you’re going to get.”

Hey guys? I'll make you a deal. You can cut the Bureau's budget all you want...but you have to agree to not advertise during your future re-election bids.

Because, after all, such an expenditure isn't tangible...and you never know what you're going to get.