Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Coolio

While uncredited sampling of original works is generally seen as stealing, collaborative and credited sampling can produce art that takes the original work and builds something magnificent around and through it. Such is the case with Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise.

If you knew Stevie Wonder's classic 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life, you likely knew the deep track entitled "Pastime Paradise." And, if you did, you may have said to yourself, "hey," almost two decades later, when Coolio released "Gangsta's Paradise." But, Stevie had given him his blessing (and took a big chunk of the royalties) to make this a true collaboration that was put on display at the 1995 Billboard Music Awards for the world to see.

We sadly lost Coolio earlier this week and, on this Music Friday, want to go past the mega-hit he said was both a blessing and a course. We'll miss the lyricism of tracks like "The Winner" and "Too Hot (sampling Kool and the Gang) And, especially "C U When U Get There."

Coolio helped rap crossover to an audience that had tried to resist. They couldn't when they heard "Gangsta's Paradise."

RIP.

Phoenix Rising

As we breezed around a corner into the trade show area of last week's Upper Midwest CVB Fall Conference, what to our wondering eyes would appear but our friend Staci Wilken (the former CEO of Visit Kankakee County). 

As we talked about the tumultuous year that she's had, I thought back to a DMO CEO with whom I worked during my days in Madison. When I asked why she abruptly stepped away from what was (at least outwardly) one of the choicest gigs in the Midwest, she replied, "you can only be told "fuck you, you suck" so many times a day before it's really not worth it anymore." And, this was an individual that rarely swore in public.

That's pretty much what happened to Staci at the hand of a micro-group of community "leaders" who wanted her gone...despite the incredible work she had accomplished in her time there. So, she left behind the sickening bullying to recapture her life.

And, like a phoenix, there she was, launching her new venture called Experience Edit, an experience-based management agency. A what, you ask? Check out her Facebook page to get a more nuanced understanding of how Staci can assist you and your organization.

And, welcome to this side of our world, my friend. 

Even Stranger Titles

As featured on last week's Travel Vertical podcast (as well as on DMOU), we've been casually tracking the evolution of job titles in the Destination Leadership sector. But, it's not just us.

According to The Daily Dose from Ozy, some governments have gotten "creative" in establishing ministries that also weren't a thing just a few years ago. Such as:

Japan: The Ministry of Loneliness (and one dedicated to public toilets).

India: The Ministry of Yoga.

Bolivia: The Ministry of Cultures, Decolonization and Depatriarchalization.

Afghanistan: The Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (i.e., removing women's rights).

Maybe America could use a new Ministry...

A Ministry dedicated to Truth.

Just a thought...

The Evolving DMO Workspace

Honored to be a guest of the Travel Vertical podcast last week, discussing with Laurie Jo Miller Farr and Adam Stoker how the Destination Marketing and Leadership Organization world is evolving with new job titles and responsibilities that were generally unheard of five years ago.

As I suggested during our conversation, one of the hardest parts of the Plague was saying goodbye to DMO veterans that have since transitioned to other jobs or industries. While we miss them, it also has provided the opportunity for DMO CEOs to re-evaluate their Org Chart and deployment of human talent.

Not a topic on which I traditionally riff, but a fun conversation all the same. Thanks, Travel Vertical!

Jim Post

A fixture on the Chicago folk and music scene for decades, Jim Post recently passed from this mortal coil. If you're not from the Windy City, you may not know the name...but he was a fixture at the Earl of Old Town and other folk haunts throughout the city during those days. It was not uncommon (but rarely documented) for Jim to share the stage with Steve Goodman, Rita Coolidge, Bonnie Koloc, John Prine and a who's who of recording artists.

And, while you may not know the name...you know the song for which he is best known. It was the summer of 1968 when his duo (known as Friend and Lover) released "Reach Out of the Darkness," which became a Top Ten anthem of the Summer of Love and the transformation of American culture.

As noted, there is precious little video from that era...so we're going with this fan video of scenes from the movie 1969 to say farewell to Jim on this Music Friday.

Godspeed.

DEI is also Visual

As we noted yesterday, addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is so much bigger than ethnicity and gender. It also can extend to how Destination Leaders address ensuring that visitors with sight challenges are able to enjoy the experiences we offer. 

Travel Yukon has partnered with EnChroma to deploy special glasses designed to help the color-blind among us to see the Northern Lights in all their radiant glory. As the news release from EnChroma notes: "Ten tourism operators in Yukon, and the Yukon Visitors Information Centre, will loan EnChroma glasses to color blind visitors. This partnership will enhance accessibility and inclusion, help attract more tourists and make the visits of those who are color blind more colorful and memorable."

Wanna experience what one man saw? Click Here.

And, for the millions around the globe with colorblindness, this is so very cool.

DEI is also Lingual

As Visit Baltimore's Al Hutchinson said on stage at this year's Annual Convention of Destinations International in Toronto, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion "is never about pushing anyone from the table...but bringing more people to the table and expanding opportunities for all.”

While the majority of DEI work has been focused on race and gender...one cannot forget the inclusion of language as a means to accessibility. Visit Sacramento has just launched a Spanish-language section, saying they "understand and acknowledge the many contributions of Latinos in Sacramento and beyond, who trace their cultural heritage to Mexico, Central and South America and have shaped the “Farm to Fork” capital with rich culture and tradition.” 

As over a quarter of Californians speak Spanish in their homes, this kind of outreach positions Sacramento as a welcoming destination to a significant portion of its target market.

Well played...

And, to hear more about Visit Sacramento's DEI initiatives, check out the DMOU Podcast with VP of EDI Sonya Bradley.

The Most Cost-Effective Path Forward

This just in...the Destination Marketing Organizations in Manitowoc and Two Rivers WI have announced they will be collaborating on a joint Visitors Guide next year.

According to the Interim Director of Explore Two Rivers, such a collaboration “provides the most cost-effective path forward for businesses to market themselves to tourists with the distribution plan and the power of a joint visitor guide.”

Ummm, tell me again why y'all thought breaking up the DMO that represented both communities last year was such a great idea? 

Because it never sounded like a cost-effective path forward.

Just sayin...

Ramsey Lewis

Of all the decades, the 60s were the most fascinating in pop culture. Never before or since have so many stimuli collided and yet co-existed. From Top 40 Playlists that would include (in the same week) rock, pop, adult contemporary, R&B, jazz, easy listening, country, vocals, instrumentals, singles and album tracks to TV shows like Leave it to Beaver co-existing with the irreverent Laugh-In and Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour along side variety shows hosted by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones and Sonny & Cher and cutting edge dramas like the Mod Squad. Imagine growing up and watching your parents dig it all.

I remember looking up to them as the coolest people I knew (well, until I turned into a rebel without a cause). It was the transition years of (the original) Rat Pack cool to Playboy After Dark. Martinis, high fashion, and clubbing in Chicago. When my folks would host parties at the house, jazz was always on the turntable. And most often, I remember them playing Ramsey Lewis.

We lost this amazing talent this past week at 87. Always a fixture on the Chicago music scene, my first remembrance was "The In Crowd," a perfect time capsule of the day. As jazz evolved in the 70s and 80s, Ramsey led that revolution with a series of albums that stand up today. "Sun Goddess" (the studio version of which includes the inimitable Earth, Wind & Fire) was a staple at the FM rocker I programmed in the shadow of the City...and not just on our Sunday night jazz show. And, his connection to EW&F? Maurice White was his drummer first.

As we bid Ramsey Lewis a fond farewell from this reality, we can only imagine the jam he has going behind the pearly gates. 

Thanks for the memories.

That's a Wrap

Just back from the 25th Annual Upper Midwest CVB Fall Conference in Champaign County IL. And, as we kick back on the porch on this beyond beautiful late summer evening, we marvel at what a long strange trip it's been.

Created as a momentary response in a year that our international trade association chose to locate its annual conference in Hong Kong (yeah, the optics would never work back home for most DMOs), three sector veterans decided to create an alternative conference for those of us staying home. The late Bruce Riley McDaniel (Quad Cities), the now-retired Cole Carley (Fargo) and I (launching my consultancy after serving five years in Madison) got together over beers (natch) and drew up plans for that first conference in Dubuque IA. It was originally envisioned as a one-off, as we all expected to return to the mothership's Annual the next year in Detroit.

But, a funny thing happened. Industry peers reached out from across the Midwest telling us how much they liked the format and focus. So, we rolled the dice and took the show to Cedar Rapids...and then Eau Claire. Terri joined the team in 2000 and managed the conference stops in Peoria, Rochester and Rapid Cities before UMCVB contracted with a professional management firm.

And here we are, 25 years later...talking about the great presentations from Visit Indy's Leonard Hoops, Tourism Diversity Matters' Greg DeShields, Madden's Matt Clement and closing keynoter Berkley Young (honestly, one of the best line-ups in years). About the cool thought leadership in breakout sessions from a who's who of industry veterans too numerous to mention here. And, the great networking events at iconic U of I and Champaign venues.

Thank you to Conference Coordinator Erin Bowers for making it all come together. Having done it years ago...we know how many moving parts there are that can go so wrong behind the scenes...but you made it all seamless in our eyes.

And, here's to 25 more!