Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Smelling Like Weed

Over the past few months of being back on the road after over a year-long hiatus, we've noticed a distinct difference in the air quality at many of the hotels in which we've stayed. Over half of the hallways we've walked smelled like weed.

When I've asked Managers if they enforce the same smoking fines as traditionally applied to tobacco, most affirm that they do. "But they don't care," said one in Florida. "What's a $250 fine if it's split 10 ways? You get to smoke weed all night with your friends for $25? It's a deal."

Flash forward to a conversation I had recently about how a silver lining of COVID was that some hotels welcomed more locals trying to break the monotony of lock-down with a weekend getaway. I asked if this would continue as a target market for the next few years. He shook his head sadly and said:

"Local Equals Marijuana."

Sad, really. But I smell a market opportunity ahead.

Getting Past Ego of Place

For Destination Marketing Organizations, the heritage side of our product line is often a challenge. Museums and heritage sites are decreasingly valued by the consumers we court...and yet, we know that the compelling stories these assets tell differentiate us from other communities and celebrate our history and diversity. Adding on to this conundrum are often site managers that press DMOs to do more to promote these assets, as their livelihood depends on visitation. 

In our recent work with a destination, we interviewed a museum director (among scores of stakeholders) to determine his view on the efficacy of his DMO. Initially, he shrugged off the question, saying that destination marketing wasn't going to be the key to his future success. This museum, he said, isn't enough of a magnet to draw visitors to town.

And then, he nailed what he really needed. "I need people in this community to have enough pride of place that they invite their friends and relatives for a visit," he said. "Because if their friends and relatives come for a visit, their host will bring them to the museum."

Breathtakingly brilliant.

And, another reason why a DMO's work often starts at home...and not 50 miles away.

 

It's Still a Wonderful Life

This week, 75 years ago, the classic Holiday movie "It's a Wonderful Life" was released...to a fairly ambivalent reception at the box office.

Thanks to cable television, it found new life and became one of the most loved Christmas movies of all time after it was put into the public domain, which allowed it to be broadcast without licensing or royalty fees. So much so that a flick one could watch virtually every day of the season on a myriad of channels is now regulated, with NBC having exclusive rights to show it...which they do only on a handful of occasions to drive viewership.

In a world in which so many classic movies get a refresh, that there hasn't been a faithful retooling of this movie simply says this is one that got it so right that there is no need to go there.

Happy Holidays...and ring a bell so an angel can score their wings.

Michael Nesmith

To honor a true musical talent that left terra firma far too soon AND stick with the Holiday motif of December Music Fridays can be a challenge. So it was with Michael Nesmith, who passed over the weekend, just weeks after completing a leg of the Monkees Farewell Tour with Mickey Dolenz. But, Mike gives us the chance to celebrate his craft as well as share a Holiday tune.

For those too young to remember, the Monkees were an artificially created band designed to capitalize on the video successes of the Beatles on American TV in the '60s. The only problem was that the four actors chosen to become the Monkees actually had musical chops...none more so than Mike, who had already written songs like "Different Drum" (ultimately a breakout hit for Linda Ronstadt) and "Mary Mary." And Michael rebelled against the prefab format dictated by show producer Don Kirshner...ultimately wresting control of the band to its members.

While the Monkees benefited from some of the best songwriters in LA...it was always Michael's songs to which I most gravitated. "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" and "You Just May Be the One." were faves.

And then, there's this. A track from a live Christmas show in which the Monkees sang an a cappella version of the classic 15th century Spanish tune, "Riu Riu Chiu."

I have no memory of this track...but am so glad I went into the Wayback Machine to find it.

And look at all that tinsel.

Godspeed Michael. Give that heavenly house band some sass.

 

Shopping Local this Year

Online holiday shopping exploded last year, in large part because many of us had no interest in being in stores during the height of the plague. And, while many of us are still not enthralled with the idea of being shoulder to shoulder with other shoppers...this should be the year we encourage everyone to shop local.

Not just because it is the right thing to do (and that many Destination Marketing Organizations have gotten good at it)...but because there's an increasing chance that online purchases won't arrive in time this year because of supply chain issues.

Consider this great quote from Durham's Dave Wofford (owner of the Horse & Buggy Press): "the work of local artists is not sitting on cargo ships."

True dat. Shop local.

The Power of an Iconic Event

It's not that surprising for many destinations to say that hotel bookings are up over last year. But to see a 41% spike on New Year's Eve in a destination you can only access by air or boat? That's the power of landing an iconic event.

As we noted a few weeks ago, Puerto Rico will host the first countdown of the 50th anniversary of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve...an hour before the traditional New York City countdown. Discover Puerto Rico worked three years to land that deal. Bookings are already up 41% from last year...and the majority of the spike has happened since the announcement of the event.

Regular readers of this blog know that Terri and I love New Year's Eve. And, outside of last year, I can't think of a year we didn't find a funky band to get silly sweaty with on the dance floor (Hey, Dancing Noodles...please bring back your NYE extravaganzas).

However, this year, I do believe we'll be watching San Juan get down on ABC, in front of a roaring fire.

History, babies.

Paul Simon

My friend George Tzougros (CEO of the Wisconsin Arts Board and an early guest on DMOU) sends me (and thousands of others) a daily e-mail with inspirational quotes, great musical finds and news of the Arts. Earlier this week, he shared this quote from Paul Simon:

“I write from instinct, from inexplicable sparkle. I don't know why I'm writing what I'm writing. Usually, I sit and I let my hands wander on my guitar. And I sing anything. I play anything. And I wait till I come across a pleasing accident."

There have been so many pleasing accidents in the over 60 years he's been making magic that it's impossible to pick just one. So, on this Music Friday, I'll go with three (and still miss a pile of his genius).

One of my first loves was "America," here exquisitely performed when Paul and Art Garfunkel rejoined for a concert in Central Park.

Then there's the title track to his pivot album entitled "Graceland," one of his most haunting lyrical explorations and backed by a South African band.

And then there is this. The song that always stops me in my tracks and conjures up the memories of time cherished with my daughters. This is "Father and Daughter."

Pleasing accidents, indeed.

Happy 80th, Paul.

The Hits Keep on Coming

Since transitioning to Discover Puerto Rico for its Destination Marketing and leadership, the island, despite natural and man-made setbacks, has made significant progress in becoming a top-of-mind travel destination.

And, they've done it again. Last week, it was announced that the 50th edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve will ring in its first Spanish-language countdown from San Juan's exciting new entertainment district.

Cheers to Brad Dean and his team for another transformative win.

Charlie Watts

Doesn't take a Harvard grad to know where we would take Music Friday today. While we've lost icons like John Lennon, George Harrison, Keith Moon, Prince, Tom Petty, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury...this one feels different as we bid farewell to Charlie Watts.

Maybe because he was, as Stuart Berman wrote in The Pitchfork: "the least rock’n’roll member of the World’s Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band—which automatically made him the coolest one."

Of all the tributes to the drummer that defied Rock stereotypes, I like the Pitch's Top 8 Charlie Watts moments best.

But, this moment in Martin Scorsese's epic film "Shine a Light," when the boys are out front making the crowd nuts on "Jumpin' Jack Flash," is possibly my favorite...because the song is shot from the drum kit.

Heaven just welcomed an extraordinary addition to the House Band.

The Stones will never be the same.

Dirty Words

An interesting survey surfaced yesterday on the top 10 swear-word musicians...and the bottom 10. Leading the list were DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion and Juice WRLD. On the other end, it was Harry Styles, Dan+Shay and Taylor Swift.

As we enjoy the porch, a fire and tunes on evenings at the compound, Terri has occasionally commented that my playlist has a lot of songs with naughty words. That might be a product of my previous career in Rock Radio where we had to play edited versions of songs from which the LP version had "bad" words. Freed from that environment, I may have over-compensated on my playlists. J'excuse.

But really...the rules of what is foul have never been universally applied. Radio (and the FCC) was apparently OK with Sarah McLaughlin saying "beautiful fucked up man" on "Building a Mystery." But, saying "dick magnet" is apparently verboten for Theory of a Deadman's "Bad Girlfriend."

Me...I'm just gonna camp out in the middle with a song that sounds dirty...but isn't. 

On this Music Friday, it's Kiss with "I Just Wanna."