Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Thank You

When I think Labor Day, my first thought is to Unions. Maybe it's the annual LaborFest here in Madison that is put on by local unions. Maybe it's the image of people laboring hard to produce the products we need and love. And, part of it is the image of those workers who were taken advantage of over the years that collectively stood up and said, "no more."

That's what Labor Day is...and today is the 125th celebration of the American Worker, a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Maybe it's just me...but when I think Labor Day, I think brawn and sweat. But, on this Labor Day, I also think of the millions of people in the Hospitality Industry that are in service to millions of other people, often too self-absorbed to appreciate their dedication to their craft and the hours of dealing with thoughtless or condescending malakas. 

On this Labor Day, let's all say "thank you" to those in the Hospitality Industry who serve us and clean-up after us. We owe you a debt of gratitude that tips simply can't convey.

Here's to you all.

Best Out-of-Office Auto-Response Ever

The Out-of-Office e-mail Auto-Response is fairly ubiquitous...and generally ignored.

Get a load of the Auto-Response from Visit Pensacola CEO Steve Hayes:

I am taking the advice of the U.S. Travel Association and taking a vacation! Vacations help our economy and make us more productive. American workers lost 658 million vacation days last year! 222 million of them are lost forever. Those days cannot be rolled over, paid out or banked for any other benefit—they are purely lost. To learn more about Project Time Off go to: http://www.projecttimeoff.com/ 

Love it!

Johnny Clegg

Imagine, if you can, meeting a fellow musician, finding common ground and wanting to perform together...but because you were of different races, the government wouldn't allow it.

That was apartheid South Africa in the late '70s when Johnny Clegg met Sipho Mchunu and began performing together (and getting arrested for being a white man and a black man together after hours).

What ultimately evolved was the band Savuka that was pretty huge in Europe...but not so much in the States. Indeed, Michael Jackson actually canceled a concert in Lyon when he found out that Johnny and Savuka were to perform on the same night, believing he'd play to a meager crowd.

I was on the road last week when news of Johnny's passing may (or may not) have been reported in the American media. Likely they were too busy covering a President that suggested that people of color should go "home."

On this Music Friday, we pay tribute to Johnny Clegg with one of my favorites, "These Days."

 

Do The Wilbury Twist

Returning home from our international association's annual convention, we are awash with smiles. Getting to reconnect with so many of our friends and clients in one space over three or four days is what makes Destinations International such a valuable part of our lives. Toss in a simply great closing keynote from Jamie Clarke...and it was golden.

We got to reconnect with our friends Cole and Laura Carley, as he was being inducted into the association's Hall of Fame. And, he slipped me a link to a forgotten song that is too fun not to share.

As we make our way home on this Music Friday, this is the Travelling Wilburys...a '90s collaboration between Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. The video features cameos from John Candy, Woody Harrelson, Whoopi Goldberg, Milli Vanilli, Cheech Marin, actors Fred, Ben and Kala Savage and Monty Python's Eric Idle.

This is the "Wilbury Twist."

Family Values

Often, in this rough and tumble world of full-contact Destination Marketing, it is easy to forget what really matters: Family.

I direct you to a story posted last evening on nwi.com, the online version of the Northwest Indiana Times. It chronicles the genesis and evolution of a program initiated by South Shore CVA CEO Spero Batistatos that firmly underscores that agency's dedication to its employees and their families.

For the past 22 years, professional members staff have been able to bring their newborns to work, rather than take time off or leave the company. The image upper left is of Carolyn and Reagan, the first two kids in the program.

For those that think this is but a thinly veiled way to squeeze more work out of parents, you've never spent time with the CVA staff. It is one of the most family-like cultures I've ever experienced in 24 years of working with Destination Marketing Organizations all over this country. This program is just one of several examples of how people come first for the South Shore's DMO.

To hear more on the story, swing by the resurrected DMOU (it's now a podcast) and listen in as Spero talks about his daycare initiative, as well as the "Grass is Greener" program the CVA helped launch last year.

Good stuff.

 

Purple Boss

To say that the death of Prince three years ago was an unexpected punch to our collective gut would be an understatement. And, the grief we experienced during those next few days produced a number of tributes. But, this is one I had missed until just the other night.

On this Music Friday, we offer you a performance by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, just days after learning of the death of a man that the Boss described as "never anyone better." As they closed their North American tour at the Barclays Center, they opened their shows, bathed in purple light, with "Purple Rain." While the performance is incredible, it is Bruce's somber stoicism, juxtaposed with the ethereal guitar solo by Nils Lofgren that captures my heart.

So, let's do a two-fer. Here's Bruce and the band in Brooklyn.

And, here's Prince at the Super Bowl.

RIP.

When Tourism and Residents Collide

It's like that Def Leppard song.

Both sides in their respective corners...one side acting like they want to work it out, the other saying there cannot be a solution as long as the other takes breath. So, maybe it's more like the theme song of Rocky IV.

My friend, brand-meister Duane Knapp, and I have been bouncing this conversation around for a few months: the term "Over-Tourism" needs to be stricken from our shared lexicon. It does nothing but inflame...and isn't even accurate. Communities do not suffer from too many tourists. If they suffer, it is from poor management of the visitors that, at one time, sounded like a pretty good idea.

After all, let's not forget, the residents causing the most ruckus surely benefit from non-resident taxes, lower unemployment and more cool stuff to do in their towns than if visitors didn't drop off boatloads of cash each year. And, yes...their counter-arguments are just as valid. Tourists can be self-absorbed pigs.

But, a recent story from Juneau AK exemplifies why we need to stop the name calling. Some local activists, calling themselves "Juneau Neighborhoods Affected by Tourism," called a meeting to discuss their grievances about the travel industry...without the travel industry in the room.

Organizers were beyond miffed when some industry representatives showed up to the meeting, one even asking them to vacate seats up front so that those that wanted to bitch could be seated. Astonished, representatives from cruise-lines and other hospitality businesses replied that they were only there to hear the concerns so they could attempt some form of mitigation.

But, no. Let's not enter into meaningful conversation to find a mutually beneficial solution. Let's just keep pointing fingers.

Destination Marketing Organizations have a role here...and we need to engage, pronto.

Image Credit: Der Spiegel

Martin Sexton

It was another one of those moments that I'll always cherish.

I told Terri that I had scored great seats for Martin Sexton at City Winery in Chicago. The response was one of those arched eyebrow, WTF reactions. Though Martin's music occasionally shuffles forward on my playlist, she didn't instantly recognize the name.

We, as they say, "marinated" in his soul, warmth and truth last Friday night. Her grateful hug after the encore (which, as pictured, he did on the floor amidst the audience) was magical. And, that's what matters most.

Today's Music Friday offering is from his TedXBigSky performance last year. It's 22 minutes long and worth every one. If you are pressed for time, jump to the 15:00 minute mark.

You'll probably double back :)

He's playing with the very cool Chris Trapper tonight in Nashville and tomorrow evening in Birmingham.

If you're near, go.

Keith Flint

Aloneness.

For some of us...those days to luxuriate in solitude are heavenly. For those that crave connectivity...not so much.

As we process the loss of The Prodigy's Keith Flint, Johnny Rotten has opined that it was Keith's feeling of utter aloneness that was likely the catalyst for the artist taking his life this week.

How alone can one be when 105 million fans have viewed your biggest song? How alone can you be when you know you've touched that many people that love your work? That your new album is less than a few months old and fans can't wait for you to come to their town to tear it down?

Obviously...very alone. And hopeless.

On this Music Friday, we go with their biggest...with one of the greatest grooves ever. This is "Firestarter."

I Need You More Than Want You

Possibly the most evocative lyric of all time.

The genius of Jimmy Webb has been honored by artists for decades. But, it was Glen Campbell that provided his songs flight. By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Galveston...and our fave, Wichita Lineman.

The shared love of a song says a lot about two people. I opined on that concept about a surprising shared affinity of a song with one of my daughters years ago. It happened with Terri and me a number of years ago when Wichita Lineman shuffled forward in the office and she swung around to my desk and said, "I love this song."

And, years later...it's who we have become.

On this Music Friday, we offer up a rare duet from Jimmy and Billy Joel. As the story goes, Billy went on record to express his love of the lyric because it held that even a laborer could be a poet. It caused Jimmy to invite Billy to a duet.

Here are two musical icons with one of the most sensational songs of our era: Wichita Lineman.

I need you more than want you. And, I want you for all time.