Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Make it Worth It

As a "Loyalty Member" at a regional movie house chain, I annually get a Birthday e-mail offering me a random free "gift" to entice me back to the theatre. And, I got one this weekend, offering me a free fountain drink as my Birthday gift.

This may have been the offer I got last year. I really don't remember, because offering me a 16 oz. Diet Pepsi won't entice me to drive 30 minutes to see a show I wasn't already considering. And, with the 'VID, the offer would have to be substantially higher to encourage me to place myself in an enclosed space with unknown protocols and no control over potentially sick patrons in the row behind me. Indeed, part of me thinks the Marketing Department forgot to update their traditional Birthday e-mail offer to better reflect pandemic reality.

You want me to put aside my health concerns and come to your theatre again? How about a free family 4-pack of tickets for my birthday? That way, you not only get us through the doors but another couple or family members as well to re-engage with your product. You lose nothing, because your seats aren't full and you gain all the overpriced concessions we'll consume. And, if we don't get sick in the next 10 days, you'll have encouraged us to return because your protocols work.

Offering me a Diet Pepsi? You simply look tone deaf. And cheap.

For those in the hospitality space that believe that special offers can kick start your recovery...go large or go home.

The Re-Imagined Annual Meeting

One of the few positives that have emerged from the pandemic is how creative some of us have become. What started with Zoom Happy Hours in an attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy in the early days of the 'VID has blossomed into some pretty ingenious ways.

Take, for example, the ubiquitous DMO Annual Meeting. For the most part, these have been relatively staid events over the years...and we've been honored to keynote a bunch. But, in an era of physical distancing, DMOs have had to get creative, like the Greater Springfield MA CVB did last month.

Theirs was typically an event with food and drink...so Mary Kay Wydra and her team sent boxes to each registrant to the Zoom meeting, with instructions to not open said box until the event began. Once the Annual Meeting was gaveled to order, participants opened their boxes to find wine, beer and snacks for the meeting, as they listened to Mary Kay's recap of the year and her vision for the future. It was a great twist on an old theme in which I was honored to play a part.

Visit Jefferson Parish holds their Annual Meeting next week as a hybrid event. Those who feel comfortable gathering will mask up at a local theatre to mark the occasion while those who don't will be able to tune in from home.

And then, there's Visit Tulsa...which recently hosted their Annual Meeting at a local Drive-In movie theatre. Over 150 people munched on popcorn and watched the annual show from their cars at the Admiral Twin. And then were treated to a movie recently shot in Tulsa.

I love this industry and the creatives we get to work with every day.

A New Way to Halloween

As it increasingly appears that the Halloween season for some destinations will be significantly different that those they have counted upon in years past, there are options that spark the imagination.

Indeed, for communities like Salem MA that reportedly make 30% of their annual tourism revenues in October, the next 30 days will undoubtedly be a stress-filed time for the hospitality industry there. So, how to position the community as safe while delivering a unique experience that residents and visitors alike will flock to (and, of course, share on Social Media platforms)?

You think like these enterprising actors and production company in Tokyo who earlier this year staged a Drive-Through Haunted House, replete with Zombies attacking their prey, fully sealed in their car, smearing the windows with stage blood.

You got this...and I'm sure much more. Free your mind to the possibilities!

The Lack of a Coherent Strategy

The global pandemic has laid bare the absolute lack of leadership across the globe that should cause us all to re-examine whether voting for an eloquent candidate produces qualified individuals to lead us.

Here in America, a President that was unable to grasp the enormity of the growing menace passed it off as nothing to worry about in the early days of the 'VID. And, whether you support or loathe the man, the President told us not to be concerned...and the power of the office lulled many into complacency when swift action was needed. We now pay the price for that faith.

Because of that lack of leadership at the top, States were the next line of leadership. Some addressed the pandemic aggressively. Others followed their President's lead. The resulting shitshow of uneven mitigation threatens us all.

One of the leaders in shutting down the virus was Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Many of us watched as he would announce lockdowns...and Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and others would rapidly follow. In the early days, Ohio was rocking it on the nation's behalf, stepping into the leadership void at the Federal level.

But, in recent days, the protocols that Ohio has employed have a lot of people scratching their heads. There is a lack of consistency and coherency in the ever changing rules businesses must follow. A recent op ed piece by Chelsie Thompson, President of Renaissance Performing Arts, called into question the inequity of the State's standing orders.

Strip Clubs are open (essential services, apparently?) but Performing Arts Centers are not? Casinos are open..but not live theatre? Bars featuring live music with hundreds of people, shoulder to shoulder, are OK but museums are not? It's as if the State believes Arts & Culture are inconsequential.

As Chelsie so eloquently said, "What we cannot accommodate is the continued confusion on what is and is not allowed to happen across the state, the obstinate refusal to acknowledge the presence and impact of our industry on Ohio’s economy, and the egregious double standard to which the arts are being subjected under the Responsible Restart plan."

Honestly...can we have leaders that work with epidemiologists to produce a coherent strategy? Is that too much to ask?

Yeah...it obviously is.

One of the Best Theatrical Reviews Ever

Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is on Broadway in a revival of  "Betrayal." He shed a tear on stage the other night...but, was it scripted?

Enjoy, if you will, one of the best theatrical reviews I've read in years.

And, an indictment of every single person so self-absorbed that they don't turn off their mobile devices during performances.

With a Little Help From My Friends

It was a song for Ringo.

Lennon and McCartney owned most of the tracks on Beatles albums. George had his tracks. And, Ringo needed one for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...so Paul and John wrote this one as Ringo's turn on the LP.

But, when Joe Cocker made it his, that's when the brilliance of the song came home. Rearranged in a slower meter with different chords, Cocker turned the song into a soul anthem...and the rest is history.

Joe's backing band for the studio version that preceded his famous Woodstock performance included Jimmy Page on guitar, B.J. Wilson on drums and  Madeline Ball on backing vocals. Not bad for a first outing, eh? 

Well, as the new administration's budget marches forward with draconian cuts to Arts programs, Artists For The Arts and Americans for the Arts released a music video to, not just protest but, demonstrate what's at stake.

On, this Music Friday, don't just watch and listen to this sensational rendition. Contact your Federal legislators. Tell them, in no uncertain terms, that cutting arts funding doesn't make America Great Again.

It makes America stupid.

 

And, thanks to my friend George Tzougros of the Wisconsin Arts Board for the catch.

 

 

Vote

It goes without saying...

But, maybe it doesn't...as a young street urchin persuasively sang last night on Colbert.

But not as persuasively as Hamilton's Javier Muñoz.

It's an 11 minute epic...but, if you can only spare a couple, jump to the 6:30 mark.

And, then (if you haven't already) Vote.

Because history has its eyes on you.

Do Designers Actually Test Their Designs?

The number of design fails I see in my travels has gotten to the point that I'm surprised when I don't see one. And, it's not just in my travels.

Our community's newest movie theatre boasts big, cushy lounge chairs (the DreamLounger™ eXperience, no less) in which the audience can push back, kick their legs up (click image to enlarge) and enjoy the movie as they might at home.

One slight problem that the designers clearly overlooked: If everyone is in full lounge position and you want to hit the head? There's no room between the footrest and the railing for that to happen unless every single person pulls back from their recline position.

And, in today's self-absorbed world, what are the chances that, if you're in the middle of the row, you'll get everyone to retreat both ways (coming and going).

Yeah, that would be slim and none.

Love the chair...despise the design flaw.

So, we'll not be back.

Sorry, Marcus.

Finding Neverland

That this year's Broadway premier of the musical version of the Johnny Depp-fueled movie "Finding Neverland" didn't receive a single Tony Award nomination is nothing short of a travesty. Especially seeing that the awards show saw fit to feature a number from the production in this year's telecast.

We experienced the musical earlier this week in New York City...and it was every bit as magical as its premise: the story behind how playwright J.M. Barrie concocted the characters and story line for his mesmerizing "Peter Pan."

Michael Morrison ("Glee") was solid as J.M. Barrie. Kelsey Grammer's absence in the role of "Hook" was barely noticed with a stellar rendition by the amazing Terrance Mann, in only his second performance with the company. And, Amy Yakima ("So You Think You Can Dance") simply radiated as the effervescent Pan. The players that make up the ragtag cast set to perform Barrie's grand experiment are often hilarious. And, the choreographry of Mia Michaels was sensational.

If you're in (or are planning to visit) the New York City area over the next few months, treat yourself to a wonderful experience. "Finding Neverland" (like "Notre Dame de Paris") is one of those rare musicals that, I fear, will fall by the wayside when it should have run for years.

Like saying you believe in fairies to save Tink, you need to see this show to prove that this production needs to go on and on.

On this Music Friday, we offer you one of our faves of the night ("What You Mean to Me") as well as a trailer of some of the top scenes, including "Stronger."

I believe.

 

Photo Credit: People

A Sensationally Different Kind of Theatre

Last Spring, we were doing some work in Aurora IL, a community that some might call a western suburb of Chicago, despite it being the second largest city in the State. We went in the night before our presentation, noted that the stunning Paramount Theatre was featuring the classic musical Rent and were lucky enough to score a couple tickets for closing night.

We've both seen Rent a number of times. During the performance, we kept looking at each other, stunned at the calibre of the performance. This cast was so above what we had seen in other iterations that we were shaking our heads in awe.

As the cast came out for their curtain call, several had tears on their cheeks. I remember thinking, "what the hell...they're just going to jump on the bus and take the show to Des Moines. Why the tears?"

Except...this wasn't a traveling company. These performers had been assembled specifically for this show, for this theatre. Closing night was the end of a magnificent coming together of an amazingly creative set of talent.

When Tim Rater took the reigns of The Paramount a few years ago, he could have gone the route of booking traveling shows for his Broadway Series. That would have been easy and expected. Instead, he challenged convention by doing his own shows with the best talent from Chicago...and around the country.

We were so suitable impressed that we couldn't wait to experience his version of Les Miserables...which we did yesterday afternoon.

He and his incredible crew had us the moment we saw the sensationally unique gyrating post-industrial yet oddly 19th Century set (click image to enlarge)...and then thrilled us with actors that could sing instead of singers that tried to act. The Paramount's production of Les Miz is by far our new favorite...and we've collectively seen the show at least 8 times (the movie doesn't count).

The two hour drive from Madison? We'll do it several times for next season as well. If it were a 4 hour trip, we'd think nothing of it. We'd be there.

If you're anywhere near...treat yourself to the most original version of this classic we've ever seen. And, marvel at the artistic risk takers at the simply gorgeous Paramount.

It runs through April. Go.