Entertainment vs. art in a bad economy

I've always found some comfort (and opportunism) in the fact that no matter what crisis or problem the world (or some segment of it) is facing, someone's makin' a buck off it. Warren Buffet just invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs—one of the two investment banks that got through this financial crisis relatively unscathed (is that an oxymoron?). When asked about it, he said "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful." . He's wealthy, he does good things with his money, he's smart, and he's doing good for an investment bank. Why shouldn't he be rewarded?

Richard Nixon went to China when he was President. He brought back a piece of wisdom from there. He told folks that the Chinese symbol for crisis is one character that means "danger", and another character that means "opportunity". That's some pretty smart stuff. (I just saw another article that clarifies the "Crisis=Danger+Opportunity" thing. Nixon's "common wisdom" isn't 100% accurate.)

Who in showbusiness profited from 9/11? Filmmakers, comedians, musicians...We really needed to be cheered up. We escaped into things we found comforting, because the world was just too scary or too horrible for some of us.

How could we dare to laugh during a tragedy? We have to. We aren't laughing at the tragedy, we're laughing in spite of it. That's tough to figure out sometimes.

Comedians understand the concept of "too soon", and can even joke about that. The other night, Bill Maher (on his show "Real Time with Bill Maher", in the "Exit Strategy" segment) was talking about how India would be a good place to live if you want to stay thin. Behind him, as he talked about staying thing, was a picture of Gandhi. He didn't get a laugh. He asked "What? Too soon?".

One couldn't joke right away after 9/11—especially about the tragedy. Many comedians recount that it was Gilbert Gottfried at a Comedy Central Roast telling his version of the old joke "The Aristocrats" that gave comedians permission to laugh again. That was about 3 weeks after September 11, 2001.

Are entertainers being opportunistic? Absolutely not. The business world profits off the entertainers and artists, while the purveyors of entertainment product/services get paid the same whether times are good or bad. Comedians will always bare their souls the same way, whether during good times or bad.

Lots of charities took in money around 9/11. Politicians experienced boom times! (No kidding!) Some are still clinging to 9/11 to rationalize all kinds of disgusting behavior..but that's another story for another blog.

So what does this have to do with the arts and entertainment? It occurs to me that, during bad economic times we need escapism. Movies do well, despite many people cutting back on "unneccesary expenses"; comedy clubs often experience boom times because of bad times.

"Art" doesn't always make out as well as entertainment does.

Most musicians, comedians, actors and others who pursue their entertainment-industry related craft look on what they do as their art. Newsflash for the more serious among you: The sad truth is that most people who pay to see you /hear you don't care that it's your art. They want to take their minds off their problems, and they think you can help. They're not paying for art—especially not during tough times. Most people associate art with museums and auctions, neither of which are critical (for most people) during tough times.

Many artists—especially those who take themselves far too seriously—are offended by the idea that people will equate what they (artists) do with other, lesser forms of entertainment. Will I go see the circus, or will I go to a comedy club? They may even take it one step further. Well, both have people who'll make me laugh...The circus ticket is $40, and the comedy club is $20 + two drinks..and the comedy club is closer. Is it an insult to the comedian that someone's considering the circus as an alternative? I don't think so. I'm as big a fan of comedy as anyone I know, and I still see comedy as a form of entertainment for the masses.

Comedians perform a holy function in the world. They make us forget our problems, but that's not the holy part.

That comedians help us by baring their souls on the stage is not relevant to most of their audience. Jon Stewart's doing well. God bless him. He's a funny man, he's worked very hard for a very long time to get where he is. And he still works hard. On "The Daily Show" he doesn't usually bare his soul. No matter who is elected (or awarded the office of ) President of the United States, comedians will have plenty to joke about. With McCain, there'll be jokes about, teeth-whistling, anger management problems, a waddling walk, and just a general fuddy-duddiness. Needless to say comedians will have more material about Sarah Palin than they did about Dan Quayle. Damn! Who ever thought we'd have a president with more comedy-potential than Dan Quayle? The comedy bar's being raised pretty high now. If Sarah Palin gets into the Veep-spot, most comedians will be depressed for a short while, and then...the comedy will come flowing forth.

If Obama's elected, wow...It'll be a whole new thing. There will be race jokes, and that will upset some people. There'll be jokes about him being a "stiff". Joe Biden's not as old as McCain, but he's no spring chicken either.

Okay..I digress. If you play music, perform comedy, act, do magic, juggle, whatever...You'll do better in a bad economy if you go into showbusiness, and realize people will need you more in a bad economy. Don't be a sourpuss about most people using you for escapism. You have a job, and that's more than a lot of people can say in this economy. Be grateful, take the applause, and hope for that one great inspiration to create art that'll be remembered.

Helpin' you get to the gig.

So...some people "space", and some get to the gig. Different people work best with different tools to help them fulfill their obligations and appointments.

Among the many things that'll keep us on track are:

• Smartphones
• Contact Management Software
• E-mail reminders and text messages
• "Wake up call" services
  

Smartphones
These puppies usually have a rolodex, calendar, "to-do" list, e-mail, and many other handy-dandy features.
The Palm Treo

Palm has been developing handheld devices for over 15 years. They've gotten quite good at it, and have a versatile line of products. The Treo—Palm's Smartphone—probably has the most gadgety feel to it (of all the Palm products). It offers e-mail, web access, a rolodex, a calendar, and a to-do-lis. Many models have a (still and video) camera built in. The Treo has hundreds of optional features (many of them free). You can, if you wish have a Navigation system (for getting walking or driving directions to and from anywhere) for your Treo. You can turn it into a portable music-player, get an online restaurant guide for whatever town you're in, and many other things.

The Treo is far from the only player in the handheld game.

Apple has developed the much-hyped iPhone. The iPhone (pictured to the left, fingers not included) has all the features that most Treos have, and it includes Apple's iPod technology built right in. The iPod is widely considered to be the best portable music (and video) player available. So, those who really want their tunes with their personal organizing tool, might like the iPhone better than the Treo. The screen is quite clear, and there are many built-in features. Since it's new, there aren't quite as many "add-on" products for the iPhone yet. But you can bet they'll be out soon.

For those who care mostly about e-mail, there's Research In Motion's Blackberry.

There are many more handheld devices, but..you get the idea.

The little toys aren't the only answer. Maybe you just want your phone to be a phone. Okay. No problem. For you we have...

Contact Management Software
If you prefer to be at your computer to plan your day, and prefer to carry a list of what you're doing that day, there are many solutions for you. The most popular of these is known as contact management software or Contact Relationship Management software, if you care to use the industry term.

It'll keep track of your "rolodex", calendar, to-do list, and hopefully, a history of every "contact" you've had with clients, prospects, vendors, or your great aunt Tilly, if you wish.

If you wish to take your CRM on the road, most of them synchronize withSmartphones.

There are SO many examples of CRM tools, that we'd do a disservice to any one product by naming only a few here. We have our favorites, and help folks using PCs, Macs, or..nothing in particular to select the one that's best for them.

HERE is a key point, though, with selecting a CRM tool. If you are responsible for getting someone to wherever they have to be, but aren't necessarily in the same office as them, you should make sure you're using the same tool they are. We have been to MANY offices where the boss likes one calendar software, and the personal assistant who's new, uses the one that came with her computer. (Again, we won't name names. Contact me if you have questions.

We'll skip e-mail reminders and text messages for now. Let's explore a low-tech option.

Wake Up Call Services
Maybe you're a low tech person, and have enough devices in your life. Fair enough! Think about using a wake-up call service. They do MORE than 5 AM calls. They can be notified to call you 5 times a day if you need it, and the wake up call times can vary every day if you wish. Some have automated voicemail greetings/reminders, and others have actual humans ring you up.

Not sure how to go about setting it all up? Give us a call, send me a note.

Space—The Final Excuse...

Today I recalled a few of the stories performing artists have told me over the years about "getting to the gig".

My favorite, and the saddest of them is the following: Years ago, I was on a recording session with legendary guitarist Eric Gale. Eric told me one of his "Dude, I Spaced" stories...though in his story, he was a beneficiary of that too-often used sub-excuse.

A well-known jazz composer and bandleader (whom we won't name here), was contracted to play a concert tour in Japan. He was travelling with a rhythm section (that's guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums), and some horns (saxophones, trombones, trumpets, perhaps). When the bandleader arrived in Japan, he hooked up with all but one of the band members. The guitarist he'd originally hired hadn't shown up. The bandleader called the guitarist's home in New York, to find that the guitarist was not only still at home, but was high on cocaine. He had forgotten to go to Japan! Eric was called in at the last minute, went to Japan, and saved the tour.

Imagine you're responsible for hauling all the equipment necessary for your employees to do their time-sensitive job, you take a left on the highway instead of a right, wind up 60 miles off course, and two hours late. Chances are that someone (besides you) will be slightly annoyed at this "turn" of events.

It's safe to assume that most people who have made it to the higher echelons of showbusiness, have earned their status, in part, because they made it to "the gig" a large majority of the time. Whether it was a 6AM call on a movie set, a deadline for a manuscript, or a 4PM bar-mitzvah, the successful people generally do what it takes to ensure they are there to do their thing when their audience expects them to be there.

Woody Allen taught us that "90% of life is just showing up".

Comedian Barry Sobel told us one of the many differences between New York and L.A.. He said that "In New York, when you tell your friend 'I'll meet you at the movie theater at 10 o' clock', you meet them at the theater at 10 o' clock!'...In L.A., they might not show up at all! The next morning, you call them up, and they say 'Dude! I spaced!'...'Dude, I spaced' is an excuse in L.A.!!".

Well, clearly the "Dude, I spaced!" people aren't ones we'd expect to see starring in a Broadway show, or playing concerts at arenas around the world. Typically, those who are successful show up on time, and rarely (if ever) "space".


Most of us are just hard-working people. If we have to go to Japan (or perhaps to downtown Kansas City) for work, we wouldn't be likely to forget that. In this day of so many things competing for our attention—advertisements everywhere, e-mail, podcasts, children, work deadlines, and...just the many distractions of day-to-day life in the "age of technology"—it's conceivable that even we might "space" on some important obligation or other. We might not forget to go to Japan, but..something that's time-sensitive might escape our attention once in a while.

How do we reduce the chances of missing an appointment, then?

There is an abundance of tools available to us today that will do everything from beep and buzz in our hands at a pre-set time, send us e-mail reminders well in advance of our appointments, pop up on our computer screens, and maybe even come to our door, ring our bell, and escort us out to whatever the "gig" of the moment is.

In the next post, we'll explore some of those options. Stay tuned. Write to me if you have questions.