Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

The Next Chapter

For those who don't follow our e-mail newsletter, we made a fairly big announcement last week. Terri and I are sunsetting the corporation known as Zeitgeist Consulting / DMOproz at the end of this calendar year.

That doesn't mean we're retiring...just shifting gears. As I recently told some friends, as we dined prior to catching the sensationally superb "Fallen Angels" at American Players Theatre, I am a victim of COVID...but not in the way one might think. COVID taught me that a life of 180 days on the road wasn't how I wanted to live the rest of my days (and nights). And, when that insane schedule kicked back in with a vengeance in 2022 and 2023, I knew it was time for a change.

Here's the official announcement. The new website just launched. And, we are excited for the next chapter.

I hope you'll join us on the back nine.

Bobby Sherman

Whenever we go this far back in time, clicks and likes slow to a crawl. But, the recent passing of Bobby Sherman stands as a signpost of what the late sixties looked and sounded like. To be sure, the era was the beginning of FM Rock and psychedelia...but the music landscape also featured pop with a healthy dollop of R&B. Teen idols like David Cassidy and Bobby Sherman drew crowds of screaming girls to shows around the world. It was, to be sure, a different time.

But it's one that I think deserves a look back on this Music Friday. Bobby Sherman was hoping to be an actor (which he ultimately became)...but was asked to audition for a TV show called "Shindig." It was network television's attempt to attract a teen audience by showcasing new pop talent.

One of his first appearances was one of his best: I'm Into Something Good.

And then, the hair became iconic: Easy Come, Easy Go.

And then: Little Woman. And then, television.

And then...Bobby chucks the limelight to become an emergency medical technician. So amazingly cool.

RIP Bobby.

New on DMOU > Mike Testa

Sacramento is a city that had traditionally looked to meetings and conventions as its target market. But Visit Sacramento CEO Mike Testa saw that as a one-trick pony approach. In this conversation on the DMOU podcast, you’ll hear Mike’s take on building a leisure brand based on culinary excellence and major magnet events that have transformed Sacramento’s image as a government town to a fun town. It’s a very cool conversation. Join us.

Time to Start Paying Attention

Each month, Longwoods International releases its American Travel Sentiment Study, in which it shares the latest consumer research regarding travel in North America. And we offer our enduring thanks to Amir, the folks at Miles Partnership and the teams that compile this data each month, long after the study launched during the early days of COVID. You all rock.

I'm sure each of us who spends time with the research and analysis takes something different away each time. And it was the confluence of yesterday's data release and an op ed piece I saw in TP&B that made me think about all those conversations I have had as travel has rebounded (post-plague) with people from smaller destinations across America. When I talk about the pressures that poorly managed tourism (often referred to as over-tourism) has been having in destinations around the world, most waved me off and said that could never happen here.

Really?

If the Longwoods research and analysis is to be believed, this is gonna be one hell of a great summer for America's lesser-traveled destinations (unless we start lobbing nuclear missiles at each other). And that means visitor levels never before seen in many of our communities, as almost a third of consumers say they are choosing destinations closer to home, meaning that regional drive markets will be big winners this year. Which means all that work that you have done over the years will be rewarded.

But, how will your residents feel about it? The author of the op-ed piece in Bentonville isn't calling for water pistols...but he raises some interesting points.

Time for every DMO pro to start paying attention...not just those in high-traffic destinations.

Back to Reality

In a moment of seeming clarity, the President announced a couple weeks ago that deportation efforts would no longer target hospitality and farm workers.

Then, last Wednesday, a spokesperson for Homeland Security said, essentially, "yeah....no."

So...we're back to where we started, with even legal citizens being terrified to go to work for fear they would get rounded up for nothing more than the color of their skin.

And, like every other story that comes out of the Administration, this issue will now be lost in the wind, given this weekend's military action over Iran. New story. Move on. Nothing to see here.

Sigh...

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson. One of the most gifted composers of the rock era. And, as this fascinating piece in The Ringer suggests, a man who heard sounds that most of us could not. And, that's why he is so missed today.

What else can be said that hasn't been of this rare talent?

Yeah...pretty much nothing. So here are our faves...and they pretty much center on the coolest song of all time:

God Only Knows (the original)

God Only Knows (a cappella)

God Only Knows (Pentatonix)

God Only Knows (Cynthia Erivo)

God Only Knows (Bryan Adams)

God Only Knows (the incredible BBC Version)

And then, almost like the alpha and omega, is the song One Kind of Love.

Thank you, Brian.

Sine Die

It means to adjourn with no plan to reconvene. And, that's what it says today on the webpage of the Florida State Senate.

And that means the bone-headed bills that would have gutted Florida's DMOs will die in the Senate. Which is cause for celebration...but, a measured one, to be sure. Because no one can be allowed to forget that the Florida House voted nearly 2-1 to move those bills over to the Senate earlier this year. 

That means a meaningful program of education of elected officials (and those who line their campaign coffers) begins tomorrow.

 

The Sudden Realization

It was Mike Tyson who famously said, "everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face." And, I get that the President had a plan to deal with undocumented residents of this country...he just hadn't thought it through very well.

Which always amazed me...how a man who makes a sizable part of his income from travel and hospitality wouldn't understand that deporting (or terrorizing to the point they won't show up for work) his workforce would cripple the industry that contributes to his wealth. But, so it was...until this past weekend when the President ordered ICE to stop targeting hospitality and farming interests.

Kinda reminds me of when Bush I was reportedly mesmerized by grocery store bar code scanning that we mere peasants had become accustomed to for years.

Sly

Two of the most influential musicians of the past century departed terra firma this week, both at the age of 82. Sly Stone revolutionized what was to be black, funky and rock. Back then, we didn't bifurcate the genres. It was just music...and we loved it all. Sly, Clapton, Hendrix, Beatles, Marvin, the Stones, Santana....and on and on.

And then, there was the sonic brilliance of Brian Wilson. And we'll feature him on the next Music Friday.

But Sly...enigmatic, volatile and a sensational talent. He had the ability, not unlike Pink, to playfully take child-like melodies and turn them into anthems...like Hot Fun in the Summertime. Or, Everyday People.

Or, one of the funkiest grooves ever: Higher.

And, my All Time Favorite: Dance to the Music.

Yeah...All the Squares go Home...

Strategy & Creativity Matter

Carl Ribaudo of SMG Consulting is one of the most prolific content generators in the Destination Marketing and Leadership space. In November, he kindly forwarded a copy of his new book, Strategy and Creativity Matter: Notes from the Road. I consumed the book over the holidays, highlighter in hand and vowed to myself that, after the first of the year, I'd write a review in this blog.

Alas, it's been six months, and maybe that gives you a sense of how insanely busy we've been here at the DMOproz compound this year. But I had a stray breather over the weekend and finally made good on my pledge to myself.

Strategy and Creativity Matter is a fascinating compilation of thoughts from a consultant, much like me, who believes that our sector is best served by the small consultancies… or, as he calls us, “craftsman.” And, that's how he goes about analyzing and commenting on destination marketing.

And, he doesn't waste any time setting the tone for the book. On page one, he says, “too many DMOs focus on implementing programs. I think more effort needs to be put into answering the fundamental question: how are you changing the playing field (not unlike Visit Myrtle Beach CMO Stuart Butler, who we featured last week on the DMOU podcast).

Carl believes Strategic Planning isn't an analytical exercise but instead an artistic experience, more organic than formulaic. And we definitely agree that strategy is “messy and intangible.”

As these are a collection of past email posts and writings, there is some repetition of thought throughout the book. But that's actually OK, as these are Carl's most important concepts.

Looking for a companion to Destination Leadership? Strategy and Creativity Matter by Carl Ribaudo is absolutely worth the read.

Thanks, Carl, for continuing to push us all forward…