August 2004
|
Time to gather our thoughts again from the last time we were in touch - if we can remember back to spring, that is...that's what summer can do to you, we suppose. And now it's almost over. How DOES this happen?
No sooner did we put the last issue to bed than we found out October Strategies made PR Week's Top 200 PR firms for 2003 (at number 195 - hopefully with a bullet). We thought that was pretty cool. Now, back to work so we can stay on the list... |
|
The drinks were good, but not quite as attention-getting as the shirt. |
Springtime in the cable industry invariably means trade shows. This year, the big one (the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's National Show) was in New Orleans in early May. Usually pretty hot ‘n steamy by then, this year it was more like warm ‘n muggy. Once in town we stopped by the Marriott, which was hosting auditions for a "new reality show". Three lonely people were filling out forms. Didn't look too exciting, so we stopped by the Big Easy Daiquiri Bar & Cafe on Canal Street for a late lunch. We almost bought T-shirts displaying the proper way to drink their tantalizing fare ("stick it in, suck it, swallow") but decorum prevented us from doing so. Amidst the bustle of the show (see below), we also had a great time sharing dinner with clients at the Bombay Club, kind of a "guy place" with dark wood paneling, cigars and big leather chairs - but we sat outside on the patio and it was delightful.
On the show floor, we had the chance to hear the famous, hopelessly off-key "American Idol" wannabe, William Hung, who was shilling for Fuse. Gotta admit, he sure knows how to draw a crowd, but a little bit goes a long way, if you know what we mean. |
|
Typical New Orleans, we couldn't resist the "crawgator's" toothy smile! |
here!TV literally and figuratively jumped on the scene at NCTA |
Better singers were found at Datria's booth, where a Beatles Karaoke contest resulted in the first prize winner wanting the runner-up prize (a cool Beatles album lunchbox) and the second prize winner receiving the first prize (a portable DVD player). At least everyone left happy. Stopping by here! TV's comfortable-yet-stylish booth, we were able to meet martial arts star Cynthia Rothrock, who demonstrated some mean defensive moves on us. Ker-POW!!!
The trade show circuit also carried us to sunny Orlando and the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) show, where Datria's Beatles Karaoke contest made a reprise. Though the "singing engineers" target audience turned out to be a very small niche indeed, some of the cabled crooners did dare to showcase their chords during the show. The winner took home the karaoke machine itself, and the booth team headed out to try and find a non-chain restaurant to celebrate (it was harder than you might think). Recommendations from the scene: try The Bone Fish Grill or The Samba Room (which we know has other outlets, including one in Denver, but the Orlando version was breathtaking for its views of the water, delicious food and spectacular people watching). We left before the dancing started, but that was sure to be amazing as well.
|
|
Super heroes and super techs abounded at the SCTE show. NCTI Guy was a big hit, and top singers hit the right notes at the Datria booth. |
 |
Though not in the area of dancing or martial arts, several "friends of OS" have been involved in athletics this summer, and many are flexing their muscles for worthy causes as well. AOR's Beth Wampler, who has participated in the American Red Cross Fat Tire Classic in Winter Park, Colorado, for nearly a dozen years, decided this year to add a few friends and form a killer mountain biking team, The Pixie Chicks (pictured at right), who raised more than $3,000. Cable Positive Founder Jeff Bernstein bowled his heart out for Classical Action's sixth annual Benefit Bowling Bonanza in New York City, which raised a total of $75,000 for the performing arts industry's AIDS support organization. And coming up in December is Chasen & Company's Chet Mehta, who is training for the National AIDS Marathon in Honolulu to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. Chet's logging nearly 500 miles in the six months leading up to the event (we'll follow up with him - pant, pant - in our next issue). Congratulations to all our friends dedicated to such great causes.
Jeff Bernstein (left) bowls for a good cause in NYC with Charles Hamlen, Founding Director of Classical Action.
|
|
October Strategies is looking to give back a bit as well, sponsoring a team for the upcoming Memory Walk to benefit the Alzheimer's Association - and we're hoping that the readers of this newsletter can spare a moment (and a few dollars) to help support this very worthy cause. The devastation that is Alzheimer's has touched most, if not all, of us at some point - or it will. Please click on this link to add your support to this effort, and we promise that we'll make it worth your while (here's the whole address if you need it): https://www.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=52006&lis=1&kntae52006=3206AF2A5A1C44AF9E6C2D660277BF71&supId=0&team=501152&cj=Y
While on his book tour touting his new novel "Justice for None," Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman came to town to regale Denver Press Club members with tales of his early days in theater and live television, as well as describing his modern-day experiences as movie actor and author. Although the book got mixed reviews from the critics, our lunch partner loved it, calling it a "real page turner" as she made a beeline for the autograph line. Looking dapper in a pale yellow jacket, the seventysomething Mr. Hackman is, in our opinion, just one of those class acts who is always great to watch, even in a lousy movie. |
| Outside of the movie theater, we also spent some time hitting the roads of America over the summer months, during which October Strategies encountered a number of notable people and places that we'll include here as your own virtual vacation guide. Bon Voyage. |
If you're ever in town, be sure to stop and shop. |
If you're ever in Grand Island, Nebraska, be sure to stop in at Jo Bangles (www.jobangles.com), a new "Jewelry, Beads and Stuff" store located in heart of downtown. The entrepreneurial bug bit Dr. Anne Katherine Morse and several colleagues who decided that, amidst life-saving procedures, exam room physicals and hospital rounds they'd open up a hobby store for avid bead mavens like themselves. We've been told that the retail business is almost as stressful as medicine, but not nearly as lucrative. Things have been going well since their opening early this summer though, and we wish them lots of luck and repeat customers!
|
 A note of gratitude goes out to another serial entrepreneur who also happens to be a true Southern gentleman, Frank Auman - charismatic owner of the Classic Country Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN and great Jerry Lee Lewis impersonator. Frank rolled out the VIP carpet for one October Strategist's parents who ambled through on a lengthy road trip. Unlike so many others, Frank really means what he says when he invites people to "come on down" to his theater. Second row seats in a crowded and boisterous show were just the beginning, as the host joined his patrons in the audience whenever he had a second to spare (since he's in the show as well as owns the theater). From what we hear, it was a performance not to be missed. |
|
A big Montana State Fair attraction. . . |
 Another swing on the road trip took us all the way up to Great Falls, Montana and the Montana State Fair. Though we missed the Spam Recipe Contest by a few minutes, we did catch Big Red, a 7' tall white steer on display for crowds willing to pay an extra $1, and actually saw crowds in line for deep-fried twinkies, something the Food Network raves about but that we haven't had the flexible diet to try. We can attest that the Charlie Daniels Band (and Charlie himself) still rocks the place, cow tongues are still rough when they lick you, and tractors still fascinate young boys to the point of exhaustion. |
 For an east-of-the-Mississippi swing, five-plus hours upstate from Detroit lies the enchanting island of Macinac (pronounced MACK-in-awe), where motorized vehicles are forbidden (except for the 500 locals' skimobiles in winter) and the famous fudge and cashew brittle beckon every 200 feet or so along the single main drag. Staying at the Grand Hotel is like stepping into a Victorian time warp - it was here that the 1980 Christopher Reeve-Jane Seymour romance "Somewhere in Time" was filmed - and gentlemen (even modern teenage ones who are perhaps less than willing at first) must wear coats and ties after 6:00 PM. Dinner and dancing to the hotel orchestra, sipping aperitifs at the Cupola Bar on the top floor, rocking on one of the fine white chairs on what's been called the world's longest front porch, and swimming in the Esther Williams Swimming Pool (where one of her movies, 1947's "This Time for Keeps," was shot) amidst the breathtaking Lake Huron and gorgeous flowers of all colors - ah, what a life...at least for a week or so. Among the huge summer "cottages" and historic fort is a state park that takes up most of the island. Take the tour with "Doc" (pictured at right), a summer local with a Canadian-tinged accent who meets you at the foot of the statue of Father Marquette promptly at 2PM and takes you on a three-hour combination history and nature excursion (wear comfortable shoes, please). Doc is a self-described former chiropractor and recovering alcoholic who smokes natural tobacco cigarettes and relates local mysteries, gossipy stories and Native American legends. He only takes gratuities - so tip generously if you think he's worth it - we sure did. |
|
Dob Bennett (left) and Ken Carroll (right) enjoy corn dogs at the WildBlue launch festivities |
Reaching the country in a whole different way, WildBlue (a new satellite Internet service planning to bring Broadband to rural America) hosted a pre-launch party in their corporate HQ parking lot the week before their first satellite was launched out of Kourou, French Guiana. A great time was had by all, and it seemed that, no matter your age, gender or interests, rockets, satellites and space in general are still really cool. All in attendance were kids at heart, as one October Strategist caught Dob Bennett, President and CEOof Liberty Media Corporation and Ken Carroll, COO of WildBlue happily munching on corn dogs, which both guiltily admitted a strong affinity for (they should have visited the Montana State Fair!). |
 Another trip to Japan had us learning a whole new neighborhood (as one of our clients had moved offices) and, along the way, encountering a fascinating cigarette butt cleanup crusade, complete with marchers and mascots. Since many Japanese smoke, this group will probably be kept busy for a long, long time. In our spare time, we returned to one of our favorite haunts near the Tokyo Dome for plastic monsters, funky cellphone charms and other associated gift items, and we were disappointed to find that they had remodeled and had discontinued much of what we used to come in for. So we're putting out the plea for leads on new places to go in Tokyo for out-of-the-ordinary toy-related gifts on our souvenir list. Please let us know if you have any suggestions. |
|
There was a whole clean-up crew, all in uniform, plus larger-than-life mascots handing out leaflets by Shinjuku station in Tokyo. |
 |
 |
In Boston the week before the Democratic National Convention, we were able to catch up with several old friends. We saluted Starz/Encore Chairman John Sie as he launched his retirement with a fitting party, complete with doctored movie posters depicting John in various starring roles. This whirling dervish of an executive will undoubtedly spend his retirement time keeping busy with his wife Anna, their children and grandchildren, and their many charitable causes. We wish him our best.
We also caught up with LaRae's friend, Fidelity Investment's Bill Smith, who also moonlights as October Strategies' IT expert - many times he has gotten us out of late night technical jams, even though he lives 2000 miles away, and for that we're forever grateful. |
|
Finally, we caught up with Hello Direct's Melissa Howley, a childhood friend of Lela's not seen for more than fifteen years. We enjoyed a night at the Cheesecake Factory with Melissa and her sweet and spirited two-year-old, Olivia and devoured a sinful chocolate fudge cake. So there. |
 |
| Along our well-traveled path over the past several months, and the associated restaurants that have fueled the journey, we snapped a pic of this wall mural because both gentlemen remind us of people we know. The mural was not labeled, but we saw resemblances of familiar faces in both figures. Who do they look like to you? Send us your answers before we tell you what we think.
|
| As summer eases into fall, October Strategies is gearing up for a busy time (after all, October is coming!), and we hope that good times and adventure are part of your fall lineup as well. And please don't forget to always carry your pumpkin from the bottom and not by the stem. |
|
|
