Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

More Harmony

A couple weeks ago, we offered a side link to an Eagles track as another example of the genre that once produced exquisite harmonies...which didn't get a lot of clicks.

Like last week, we're repeating the link because it's too perfect not to.

Though painful as hell, "Hole in the World" is, perhaps, one of the most incredible harmonizations of four men from distinctly different backgrounds and musical upbringings you'll ever hear.

Written on the night of 9/11, the voices of Henley, Frey, Schmit and Walsh are hauntingly magical.

On this Music Friday, here's "Hole in the World."

Classical the Music of the Privileged? Think Again...

My friend George Tzougros, who heads up Wisconsin's Arts Board, hipped me to a fascinating article in the Atlantic by Richard Florida. And, like most of Florida's missives, the pushback in the comments section online is even more so.

In the piece, he holds that the notion that heavy metal music is most concentrated among disadvantaged, alienated, working-class kids is wrong. Instead, the nations in which the most metal bands have released albums are among the most privileged in the world...specifically Scandinavian nations.

Rich attempts to make other correlations revolving around the angst of privilege...but the comments are fairly brutal, questioning his logic. The funniest correlation is that it is not because Scandinavian kids are rich...

It's that the kids hate living there because it's so freakin' cold.

Ditching Life Rafts

Fascinating debate going on down under as Quantas contemplates eliminating life rafts from domestic flights.

The anticipated benefit of not providing life rafts when flights are over land is $1 million in fuel savings.

Makes perfect sense...until domestic flights are defined as those that don't travel more than 400 miles over water.

I get that this is about reality (not a lot of flights fall from the sky)...but perception is reality.

I'm not sure a million dollars in fuel savings is worth the perception that, if a plane ends up in water, there's no way to survive without a raft.

Just a thought....

Harmony

In last week's Music Friday post, we featured a harmony-rich track from the '80s supergroup Chicago.

We offered a side link to a Beach Boys track as another example of the genre producing exquisite harmonies...which didn't get a lot of clicks.

I get it...you're in a hurry and the supporting links often get left along the wayside. But...this one is too perfect not to repeat.

The Beach Boys were, quite obviously, fairly omnipresent on the radio in my youth. But, it wasn't until college that I actually connected with their richly harmonic ballads. Part of that was living in a fraternity mostly populated with prep school guys.

In a ritual that is undoubtedly different today, a select crew of music aficionados would hole up in a room to create the "mix tape" (on cassette) for our upcoming lounge parties. These evenings would consume roughly 5 hours of alcohol-fueled revelry to create a 3-hour party tape (our campus policy only allowed parties to last 3 hours). We were recording from record albums in real time...and there were the obligatory debates over segues, order of tracks and funkiness. I still have some of the scribbled playlists, the legibility getting worse as the night progressed.

The Public School brothers would push for a growing crescendo of funk to close the night; Kool & the Gang, the Ohio Players, the Isley Brothers and Marvin Gaye. A hot, sweaty mess on the dance floor was what we thought would create the ultimate pay-off.

The Prep School Boys would always lobby for "God Only Knows," which, to the rest of us, seemed like the ultimate buzz kill.

Damned if the girls that had been wallflowers all night didn't hit the floor. And, the Prep School bros just winked at us.

I've had a soft spot for the Beach Boys ever since...and Memorial Day Weekend screams for those harmonies.

On this holiday Music Friday...it's "God Only Knows."

Party on.

 

Welcome to Daytona

Our longtime friend Tom Caradonio took the reigns of the Halifax Area Advertising Authority (otherwise known as the Daytona Beach CVB) last week. To say that DMO has been troubled over the past few years would be an understatement. But, Tom has the kind of personality that should cause bickering factions in the destination to come together for the good of the region.

Maybe.

Tom's first Board meeting was yesterday. When introduced, he recieved the obligatory round of applause. Then the Board Chair reportedly quipped, “That may be the high point of your long career here. It might be downhill from here.”

Funny guy.

Not.

All the rest of us are pulling for you, Tom. Kick some ass...

 

 

Rage Against the Cancellation

Star Trek (the original series) was one of the first network shows to get a reprieve when the axe was about to fall. Fan outcry and demographic research saved it. Interestingly, it was on NBC.

A number of fan efforts have attempted to resuscitate TV shows over the years. I remember when 24 was on the block in its early years. Today, 24 and Star Trek are two of the most iconic dramatic television shows in history.

And, now it's Revolution, which may air for the final time tonight.

Social media and comment boards are ablaze with indignation that NBC has pulled the plug on the post-apocalyptic drama. Many point at NBC executives as being beyond clueless regarding the decision. One post acknowledged that, while recent episodes only attracted 3-4 million viewers, over 14 million had downloaded last week's show from the internet. It's not worth my time to track down the truth of this post...but, one would think NBC should.

For, if it's true, a pretty good show (I'd say great...but the supernatural story line has gotten old) will die needlessly.

It's one of only a handful that we make time to watch...and after tonight, it's gone.

Likely because NBC doesn't understand where its audience resides.

The Resistance Economy

For those of us that advocate for increased International Tourism to America, there are a number of reasons behind our support.

Clearly, we understand that the balance of trade tips in our favor when more people visit here than our residents visit there. But, there is also that understanding that international tourism breaks down politicaly driven ideological barriers. The more those that dislike us come to know the people of this country (and not our batshit crazy politicians), the more they'll understand that we are far more alike than different. Tourism, indeed, breaks down those barriers.

And, apparently...Iran understands that concept, as well. Iranian Intelligence Minister Hojatoleslam Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi has said that development of his country's tourism industry should be taken seriously, since it can be one of the cornerstones of the “resistance economy.”

The Resistance Economy is a way to circumvent international sanctions by appealing to those that may be sympathetic to a cause to spend more with the aggrieved economy. The Minister has gone on to say that foreigners who have visited Iran and seen its “realities” have been defying the media war launched against Iran by its enemies. In fact, he said, they have been acting like “ambassadors” for the Iranian culture, according to eTourbo News.

So, if America and Iran agree that Tourism is a way to break down barriers...who can argue that Tourism should be at the top of any politcian's agenda?

Hey Paul...you getting this?

The Last Word on Brandworks

Honestly, it's the best educational conference I attend each year...hands down.

I may do more networking at DMAI...but, for getting a handle on the future of marketing and today's consumer, nothing beats Marsha Lindsay's sensational Brandworks University.

The conference wrapped Thursday morning with the amazing BJ Foog...who challenged the audience to help consumers do what they already want to do instead of what most marketers do: Try to lure them into an area in which they are not predisposed.

And, how well is THAT gonna work?

Other key learnings:
• Nothing happens without a trigger. If you're not getting the response you want, you haven't designed an effective trigger.

• Behavior happens when Motivation, Ability and a Trigger occur at precisely the same moment.

• To capture a consumer, you must identify the habits they currently possess and find a way to insert youself into that habit.

Can't wait for next year. And, if you want in...let us know. We can likely facilitate that invitation.

A Hard Habit

Over the past couple days, I've been posting learnings from the 2014 edition of Brandworks University, the annual event here in Madison where I learn more over 2 full days than I do in virtually all the conferences I attend each year combined.

The theme of this year's event was Habits...how to break them, create them and leverage them to get the consumer to make you one. As each speaker mounted the in-the-round-stage, they were feted with the chorus of the 80's classic "Hard Habit to Break," which I now cannot get out of my head.

So, on this Music Friday, I'm going to go all soft and retro on you with Chicago.

But, in my defense...I dare you to listen and not marvel at the harmonies. Sappy Adult Contemporary, maybe. But, along with the Eagles and the Beach Boys, Chicago could nail a harmony better than almost anyone.

And Peter Cetera? One of the most distinctive voices in music...partially because he learned to sing with his mouth wired shut after getting his jaw broken in a brawl as a teen.

C'mon...admit it. It may not be rock...but it does.

This is Chicago...with "Hard Habit to Break."

Strong Brands = Less Work

I have yet to read Phil Barden's "Decoded," but it is so next on my list after seeing him yesterday at the "you-gotta-go-next-year" Brandworks University.

He hit the high points of the research that forms the backbone of the book during a two hour presentation that had every one of us wanting more. Nuggets such as:

• You'd think that brain synapses would fire when exposed to a strong brand...but just the opposite happens, as a strong brand allows the brain to slip into auto-pilot.

• When the brain is in auto-pilot, it reacts to stimuli based on past experience. Thus, the brain often ignores offers containing the word "free" because it has learned that "free" means "there's a catch."

• The recognition of a preferred brand triggers the reward sensation of habit. Seeing the price triggers pain. The brain computes the net value of reward minus pain...and, if the net value is positive, we buy.

Nick Southgate may have had the best quote of the day: "Dont ask 'what is the consumer thinking?' Ask 'what are they not thinking,' to tap into their auto-pilot.

And the Wall Street Journal's Robin Riddle nailed it when he closed his session by saying marketers should think Mobile first...then video.

And, if the copy is more than 500 words...you need to think again.

Which is why, despite tons more content to share, I'm stopping at 235.