Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Roger Daltrey

Was thinking recently about the friends I knew in my 20s and the rockers to which we were drawn. Of course there were the Beatles and Stones. Freddie Mercury, Elton John, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen. Prince. And the list goes on.

One of my friends was completely into Roger Daltrey (who is doing a short tour of America this Summer). Maybe it was his album cover for Ride a Rock Horse...or just how he owned the stage as the frontman for The Who. I guess I never asked.

On this Music Friday, we share a few of our faves:

With the Chieftains in 1992 on Jay Leno: "Behind Blue Eyes."

From McVicar: "Free Me," recorded in Montserrat.

And, as cheesy as the video is, there is "The Fire Still Burns."

Where Design and Execution Collide

So...there are those hotel brands that provide free breakfast. And there are those that charge. Some of the ones that charge offer buffets; others offer servers to take your order and deliver your food. And then there are those trendy bars adjacent to the lobby that serve made to order breakfasts and, in some cases, lunch and dinner.

I can't imagine that the designers of this week's hotel ever imagined the scenario I witnessed yesterday...or if it never dawned on them what could go wrong, I can't believe a legacy brand would have ever hired them.

It's dinner. I've already exhausted the restaurants this week within a 10 minute drive that have at least 4-star Yelp reviews that look remotely aligned to my tastes. It's starting to rain. Screw it, I'll just order a hamburger here in the lobby and watch SportsCenter.

The person behind the bar takes my order, turns to retrieve a frozen patty from refrigeration, slides it into a fast broiler and waits for the timer. Hey? I'm standing here. I can see what you're doing.

When the timer chimes, she takes it out, lays a slice of processed cheese on one side of a bun and puts the halves in the broiler to get a slight char on the bun (a nice touch, to be sure). She assembles the pieces and then looks at me and says, I'll get your fries...and goes back into the kitchen. Five minutes later, she returns and delivers my now cold burger with my now steaming fries. 

As always, I'm gonna side with her...and challenge management with horrible training. Put the fries in first and unfreeze the burger second was clearly never communicated to her. But, therein lies a deeper issue. If you have a working kitchen behind the wall, why would you put on display that you are serving frozen meat by cooking it in front of a guest in the first place?

C'mon, Marriott. Shouldn't we be able to expect more from you?

Next on DMOU: Denny Edwards

One would be hard pressed to identify a destination with more assets in the pipeline than the Greater Raleigh Region. $400 million Convention Center expansion, $75 million HQ Hotel, $300 million in Arena Upgrades, $75 million Sports Complex…and more. Visit Raleigh’s Denny Edwards joins us to tell the stories behind how so many projects came to fruition. From Conventions to Sports to Major Events…you’ll hear it all.

Band of Brothers

Having drinks the other day with someone that professed a degree of skepticism of the value of fraternities, knowing that I am a member of my fraternity's alumni council. I stated my reasons for initially joining and then staying involved decades on..and we moved on to other topics of more import.

But, it got me thinking. Why really? I had tossed off the usual reasons in our conversation. But, really...why?

As I thought about it over the weekend, I boiled it down to one thing: Shared Experience. I imagine it's the same principal behind Veterans Reunions (not that we were even 1/100th as noble as those that served). But, for those who did serve in combat, why reunite with others with whom you shared an experience that most would rather forget? Shared Experience.

For those that didn't do time in the "Greek world," you probably had a posse of three or four close friends with whom you stay in touch (or should) that you together entered adulthood. For me, it was closer to 30 guys that lived together, ate together, drank together and committed minor acts of rebellion and petty crime together.

We were a Band of Brothers, standing together against the other fraternities for bragging rights on the intramural football fields, who had the best parties (and dance mix tapes) and who could score the best men of the incoming class (our version of this week's NFL Draft). Together we watched the lotto-style real-life draft telecasts deciding who would go to Vietnam, sometimes hugging out the results. We had rituals that bound us together (sadly lost to today's culture of political correctness) because it wasn't hazing; each had a profound message, some that I still draw upon decades later in my business and my life.

And, like the lyric in the Bon Jovi song, "If I got that call in the dead of night, I'd be right by their side."

Which is why we are drawn, like moth to flame, to our annual reunions where, yes, the conversations flow like we last hoisted one yesterday. 30 guys with a shared experience. Something that should be celebrated.

And we do.

Dickey Betts

The Allman Brothers Band was that moment when Rock transitioned from shiny to something more organic. It was an entirely different sound that the majority of Americans had never heard. But we embraced it instantly.

The last of the three founding members has departed terra firma. Dickey Betts was the counterbalance to Duane and Gregg Allman, not unlike Lennon-McCartney. And when Duane died, the counter-balance was lost. His sensibility was different. His style was different. But together, it so worked. For a time...but there were moments of reunion.

As we bid Dickey farewell, a few links on this Music Friday:

The best known song (and one he originally wanted to give to Johnny Cash): Ramblin Man.

Here's a great appearance on Letterman with Jessica.

A reunion with Gregg and the boys with Melissa.

And one of my faves...the song Seven Turns.

You're free, Dickey. Fly.

Where and When?

Maybe it's just me (or the crap that fills my inbox). But I am increasingly getting e-mails promoting stuff that I may actually have an interest in...but they fail to say where or when the experience will occur.

Two are restaurants, one I think is here in Madison; the other I'm pretty sure is not. Their special events look compelling...but neither one bothers to include an address.

And then, there's the NFL...breathlessly filling my inbox on the run-up to the 2024 Draft. And, nowhere in the e-mail does it say when the Draft begins.

C'mon...where and when, people.

Or don't they teach that anymore in marketing school?

Next on DMOU: Esports

Mystified by the explosive growth of esports? Prepared to be de-mystified as PLAYHRDR Advisors’ Ed Tomasi joins us on the latest episode of the DMOU Podcast. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ed explains how both large and small destinations can break into this growing market and shares the steps DMOs need to take to understand their opportunities in the esports ecosystem.

And PLAYHRDR has just released a study on trends in the esports tournament arena. You can find that report HERE.

On Tax Day 2024

I remember a time when I did my own taxes that there would be a line at the Post Office at 10pm on the 15th where you could drive your return up to a postal employee to get that all-important postmark. While it was a shared moment with others like me (not unlike voting), I now look back on that moment with utter disdain.

That our government requires its citizens to spend hours of our lives to justify the information they already possess is beyond obnoxious. For the vast majority of us, they know how much we make. And that it requires otherwise law abiding businesses to pay experts to do the same is offensive.

To pay some company for the right to pay my taxes (which I'm not sure I'm all that good with how they are spent)?

According to this report by the New York Times, the citizens of this nation spend $10 Billion for the right to pay their taxes. Not to mention the hours required to sift through all the requirements and paperwork. Being a citizen of this country should not require that I spend hours of my life proving that I'm not cheating them out of their dowry.

The Government already knows how much I make. Just send me a fuckin' bill. Please?

Would that be so hard?

Proud Dad

The pride I have in my three girls is virtually indescribable. As I'm sure many fathers share.

All three have blazed paths that make me smile...and I trust that I had some part, however small, in their evolution into the sensational women they have become.

One, however, was recently recognized in a public fashion (the other two rock in less visible roles). Liz was just named EVP of People & Culture and Chief HR Officer for the Chicago Bears Football Club. And, in the Team's announcement of the promotion, I was referenced in the opening paragraphs.

Yeah...proud Dad.

It references our collective love of the Bears from my childhood through hers. How it was one of our many connections. Sadly, the article outs me for "flipping" to the Packers after moving from Illinois to Madison. In my defense, the Bears sucked in the late '90s, were rarely on TV in this market and Brett Favre was really fun to watch. But, when he left, I came back.

The story that wasn't told, however, is one that I remember fondly (and, I believe, solidified Liz' unwavering love of the Bears). 

On the run up to the '86 Super Bowl, Bears players were actually allowed to do in-store (and in-bar) appearances and play on charity softball teams (that shit isn't permitted today). Because they rarely could get 10 Bears to show up to play suburban Police or Fire Departments, I was often introduced as the walk-on from Clemson at those softball games.

Liz often accompanied me to those games...where she met Otis Wilson (and his son), Dennis McKinnon and a number of Bears at the after-parties. It was an amazing time where you could hang with the players you loved.

How could she not have stayed loyal?

And how didn't I?

Liz...you rock. And I couldn't be prouder of all of my girls.

FireHouse

FireHouse was one of those Hair Band era artists that received MTV play and some Rock Radio attention...but never quite became a household name. That said, they're on a pretty big tour this summer...so somebody remembers them enough to slap down a few Jacksons to see them.

But...you do remember their songs, especially if you were into Rock Ballads.

We lost their lead singer C.J. Snare this week...and, on this Music Friday, we remind you of some of their best.

The ones that appeared on my Mix Tapes for Terri: "Love of a Lifetime" and "Sleeping with You Tonight."

And one of their best rockers: "All She Wrote."

Yeah...you remember.

Thanks for the memories, C.J.