Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Bigger than the "Big Game"

What does it say when an event that simply picks future winners and losers without a resultant highlight reel is more important than the Super Bowl?

That's what the Mayor of Detroit said yesterday in announcing updated plans to hold the NFL Draft in the Motor City next April. “This is potentially bigger than the Super Bowl,” Mayor Duggan said. “Only 60,000 people can get tickets to the Super Bowl. But for the NFL Draft, hundreds of thousands can get in — and they stay for the weekend.”

That's why Detroit is reportedly changing the playbook from past NFL Drafts and concentrating all its events downtown. According to Duggan, “When you have 300,000 or 400,000 people coming from across America, we want to change the image of Detroit in their minds once and for all. We felt like to do that, we had to build the draft into the city.”

And, ain't that the whole point of events? To change perception of a destination?

Like Detroit did in 1896...when it launched a never-before utilized Convention Sales strategy to land national events to showcase the city to potential investors.

Brilliant...or WTF

Word out of Baton Rouge is that the Louisiana Office of Tourism is going to deploy a $10 million appropriation in a highly innovative set of initiatives:

$300K for local recording artists to go birdwatching with writers from Rolling Stone.

$650,000 to "takeover" the Sphere in Las Vegas for two hours...plus off and on for a week.

$200,000 for a Visitors Guide (ostensible online) based on users' Zodiac signs.

$500,000 for Super Bowl advertising.

A million dollars for floats in the Macy's and Rose Bowl Parades....and a bunch more.

And, you know what? Given the obligatory State TV ads that all pretty much look the same (except Michigan, North Dakota and California)...I think this strategy of changing the narrative might actually work.

WTF.

 

New on the DMOU Podcast: The Illinois TID Win

It was 2011 when several DMO pros in Illinois began discussing the potential to introduce State legislation to add Tourism Improvement Districts into their funding mix. Earlier this year, that legislation finally passed and was signed into law. Rockford Area CVB CEO John Groh and Visit Quad Cities CEO Dave Herrell return to DMOU to share the up and down story of persistence, negotiation and being ready when the political winds were right. Even if your State already has TID legislation in place, this episode is a fascinating primer on moving an initiative through the political process.

It's just one of over 125 conversations waiting for you in the DMOU Vault.

What a Concept

Rather than focusing on building walls to keep immigrants out...why not find a way for them to earn citizenship other than taking pointless classes on American history and our government (which, of course, is a global joke) and a final exam?

Greece has just announced it will use migrants to build an airport and subway station (as well as other public works projects) as a pathway to citizenship.

You wanna live here? You gotta earn the right.

Fascinating concept...

Gary Wright

The Dreamweaver has entered his eternal sleep...at least on terra firma. I'm guessing Heaven's House Band just got a bit more ethereal.

Gary Wright left us earlier this month...and while best known for "Dreamweaver" and "Love is Alive," he played over the years with a veritable who's who that included George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson (that's him on Piano in "Without You"), B.B. King and scores more.

With the exception of a searing guitar solo by Ronnie Montrose and drums, the Dreamweaver album was one of (if not) the first that was completely keyboard and voice. I remember my friend and fellow WKCO-FM DJ Jeff Jurca rushing to my college dorm room saying, "you gotta hear this."

I loved the hits and the album tracks to follow...but, on this Music Friday, the song I dug most was "Can't Find the Judge" off that seminal album. And that's the song Gary closed with when he played the Taste of Madison in 2005.

Sleep sweetly, dreamer.

 

On Board Leadership

As the host of the DMOU Podcast, it's a little surreal when I'm on the other end of the microphone. But, here's a shout out to The Tourism Teacher, which recently had me on as a guest to talk about DMO Boards.

Tourism Teacher is a podcast that aims to engage and inform those new to the Destination Marketing space and it was an absolute joy to talk with host Andi Jaspersen on this episode.

Thanks for the opportunity to share our thoughts...and we hope you enjoy the show.

Richard Davis

After over 650 Music Friday posts, I know that unknown musicians get very few likes...some are even ignored.

But, when it comes to Richard Davis...I really just don't care.

I had the opportunity to meet and interact with one of the most accomplished jazz musicians in the world when I led what is today know as Destination Madison. He was one of the most genuine, grounded and empowering men I have ever known.

And I didn't play. So many of the individuals you will see if you click on the links below are musicians, with whom he imparted his unbelievable gift and effervescent encouragement. But, for me...it was the essence of confidence, compassion and empowerment, regardless of whether you played or not. I loved the all too short moments in his presence.

I get that you likely don't know the man who left us this week; the man who played with Sinatra, Van Morrison and Springsteen, to name just a few. But, I ask that you honor this rare talent by clicking on a few of these links:

His TV Obit on WISC-TV.

A feature on the NEA Masters Series.

And, if you only have time for one, this is the one.

Rest Sweet Prince...you have had such an impact on so many. And I was blessed to have known you.

Owning Your Space

You show me a record store in any town...and I'm there.

But I've never seen a record store own their brand essence like Black Hills Vinyl in Downtown Rapid City.

Most record stores use standard dividers between artist collections. Black Hills uses old LPs (click image to enlarge).

Yeah, I know. It may be a little thing. But we absolutely loved it.

Well played, Black Hills. Well played.

New on DMOU: PCMA's Sherrif Karamat on AI

PCMA CEO Sherrif Karamat is one of the deepest thinkers in the business events space on the planet. And, not unlike those old EF Hutton commercials, when Sherrif talks, I listen. So, when he said that DMOs were falling behind his members in the adoption of AI at Destinations International’s Annual Conference this summer, that was more than enough to earn an invitation to DMOU. Join us for a fascinating discussion of how he believes AI can reduce the mundane and better connect us to our clients…and where Sherrif believes the future of DMOs lies.

It's just one of over 120 powerful conversations you'll find in the DMOU Vault.

New on the DMOU Podcast > True Ambassadors

I was honored to moderate a panel at a PRSA event this summer in Madison...and it was a pleasure to reconnect with my friend Kelly Barbery, VP of Marketing and Communications at ExperienceColumbiaSC.

I was just the moderator...and was not responsible for the content. So, I was unprepared and mesmerized by the story Kelly and Director of Communications Charlene Slaughter shared regarding their "Ambassador Program."

Trust me...this is not your garden variety Ambassador Program.

A cool conversation that also touches on their Pimento Cheese Passport and their first steps into NIL.

Check it out...and over 120 other conversations in the DMOU Vault.