Changes in Latitudes or Changes in Attitudes - Jiffy Lube Live's New Tailgate Policy

Yesterday, news broke in the D.C. area that Nissian Pavilion Jiffy Lube Live would no longer allow tailgating. The news was first released on the venue's Facebook page and then via an official statement:

The safety of the fans is of paramount importance and we have an ongoing commitment to work with the local police department on all shows to ensure a safe environment for all of our fans. As part of this commitment, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the fans and their overall experience at the venue to not allow tailgating.

Yeah, right.

If this was about what is in the "best interest of the fans" then the venue would have released this information at the time that tickets went on sale for the first concert of the season or at least prior to the sale of Jimmy Buffett tickets which, is by far their biggest concert of the season and the one that has the biggest tailgate.

What you have with this announced via Facebook is an amateur Public Relations move. Just because you have a Facebook page to promote your brand or company does not mean that you can post reforming procedures and subtly announce changes to your audience. What Live Nation, the operators of Jiffy Lube Live, are now realizing is that using a social platform which is supposed to create engagement to their brand to get more people to buy tickets and attend concerts is now doing the opposite. The use of social media is now creating a greater negative buzz about the policy. While many in PR and marketing live by the quote "All publicity is good publicity" in today's world where brand reputation is based on people's opinions and sales increase with recommendations from friends it is a major risk to come out with reform on social media sites.

If this policy was really about 'fans safety' the venue would have announced that they no longer sell beer/wine/spirits inside the venue and the price of such products would be reduced from the gouging price of $7.00+ per drink. According to reports the facility has hired more security and police officers to patrol the parking lots to site violations. The resources should be used instead to encourage responsibility for of concert goers and maybe increase the presence of DUI checkpoints to increase public safety.

Unfortunately, the venue is mostly enforcing a standing Virginia law regarding drinking in public areas. This law has been on the books since 2006 but in my experience has rarely been enforced. The venue has enforced other drinking related laws such as drunk in public, drunk driving and underage drinking.

It will be interesting to see what actually takes place this concert season at Jiffy Lube Live and to see if other venues take up this policy. The litmus test will be the Jimmy Buffett concert, will Jimmy decide to have "Changes in Latitudes" and move the concert this year (and future years) for will Jiffy Lube Live have "Changes in Attitudes" and realize their PR mistake.

One thing is for sure, "Only Time Will Tell".

Sometimes Your Online and Offline Lives Sync

Everyday we try to get our work done but end up taking the 21st century smoking break: web surfing.

For me, I call it research, as I am usually trying to find new ideas to integrate marketing into my low (read non-existent) budget. So, you can usually find my Twitter feed running faster than the Roadrunner or an article from Mashable on my screen with the hope of spark an idea.

Well, today I came across a "must read" headline from Mashable: "HOW TO: Sync Your Online and Offline Marketing Campaigns". The well written post by Dana Zemack provides a short "how to" for integrating online marketing plans with an "offline" event. Offline, is a real event where people interact face to face, yes, these still do exist.

After reading through the first few points I come across a video which I watch without any hesitation. As I do with most videos, I have the video on one screen while working on another project on a second screen, listening for something interesting.

Today, I got more than something interesting. 30 seconds into the video I was no longer at my desk but in my freshmen door room at Elon (Sloan 201). Why? Sounds of that door room came flooding back through my speakers. The spokesperson in the video was a person I knew in college. The voice belonged to Lexy A. the (then) girlfriend of my freshmen roommate. I couldn't mistake that voice who would spend time hanging out.

It is not everyday that you are on a major site and you personally know someone that is a part of a video package.

The piece, by the way, is excellent and an interesting look at the marriage of online and offline marketing.

Sometimes, you are lucky enough to have your online and offline life sync.

"Let's Move!" U-S-EH?

This is not a knock on Canada, Mike Green, the Washington Capitals or the Chicago Blackhawks. First Lady Michelle Obama has been the champion of a program called "Let's Move!" an initiative to get America's children active for at least an hour a day. The campaign has teamed up with celebrities and athletes alike to get out the message that kids need to be active and that does not mean repeating Up Up, Down Down, A, B, A, B on a Nintendo control pad. This is not a knock on what the First Lady is doing nor the campaign.

However, I saw this tweet from @NHL today and I thought, What's wrong with this picture?

The problem isn't that the NHL is partnering or that this is taking place during the Blackhawks visit with the Stanley Cup to the White House. The problem? The featured players are from CANADA! Wouldn't it make more sense to have John Carlson (Natick, MA) and Patrick Kane (Buffalo, NY) be the highlighted athletes for national effort for the United States? Both are young and popular in their markets and throughout the U.S.

I think the initiative is great and even I need to remember to get out once a day and be active. But come on, knock-knock, White House press/community relations department, doesn't someone realize that they should highlight US stars for a US campaign?

Brett Favre

So, aftDC is a BIG Vikings fan and when I mean big I would say just as much as I am a Caps fan (maybe even more). So big, in fact that in our Fantasy Football league she took Brett Favre as her QB...IN THE SECOND ROUND!

This may be the best spoof I've seen in a while. Enjoy!

Hockey Joke

Once in a while there will be a really funny e-mail chain. While I hate to see "FWD" in the subject line you hope for the best but fear the worst. Today, especially with all the work I've got on my plate, I received a gem. I'm sure that you can replace any sports team into the punch line but I'll take it in the form in which I received it. Thanks to one of my STH seat buddies from 107. Enjoy!

Dad's Profession


David was in his 5th grade class when the teacher asked the children what their fathers did for a living.

All the typical answers came up - fireman, policeman, salesman, etc.

David was being uncharacteristically quiet and so the teacher asked him about his father. 'My father's an exotic dancer in a gay bar and takes off all his clothes in front of other men.

Sometimes, if the offer's really good, he'll go out to the alley with some guy and make love with him for money.'

The teacher, obviously shaken by this statement, hurriedly set the other children to work on some coloring, and took little David aside to ask him, 'Is that really true about your father?'

'No,' said David, 'He plays for the New Jersey Devils, but I was too embarrassed to say that in front of the other kids.'

Voice of Reason, Coming from Comedians?

Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert's "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" in 2010 made headlines, "scared" Republicans, "invigorated" Democrats and was theme of "stick it to the man" for Independents.

The way I saw it, however, was more of "hey 'traditional media' isn't this what you're supposed to be doing?". Time and time again I find myself being drawn to political satire such as The Daily Show and Colbert Report to even The Onion or late night personalities. Why? Because they are actually being "fair and balanced".

The shooting that took place in Tuscon, AZ is a tragedy and is still a shocking event. From all the information I can gather from news reports, the suspect acted alone and without any motive to make a political statement. Yet, blame is being put on political talking heads and sections of political parties by the mainstream media.

However, while pundits, commentators, journalists and columnist all play their usual games of speculation and finger pointing there is a voice of reason, which comes from a comedian.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Battle of the Bans
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> The Daily Show on Facebook

You see, Stewart makes a very reasonable point (2:26):

"Most of us don't need clarification on the whole 'Thall shall not kill' thing. And for the ones that do, clarification never seems quite specific enough."

TRANSLATION For many laws they only affect those that already abide by them, not the ones that don't care who are the intended targets (ahhh).

Need an apples to apples comparison?

You're only making a law for the good apples, the bad apples don't care what the good apples do, the bad apples will try to spoil the whole bunch.

Another point made by Stewart and a growing question among many Americans, why do government officials/employees get special treatment ov

er other (private) citizens? Other than their job title what makes them different or more important? I can think of a lot of private citizens and/or company officials that the general public does not agree with and whom I assume have had threats against them personally or threats against their company.

Additionally, while the intent of Rep. Brady (D-PA) is to prohibit the use of threatening symbols (allowing this would be in violation of the First Amendment) I find it hard to believe that the language in the proposed legislation would clearly define what is/is not allowed. Working in a government affairs shop and seeing how legislation and regulation is written the original intent far exceeds what is presented. I can see Target (the private retail store) having to reconfigure their location map. Why? Because they brand very well and use their "target" symbol on a map to visually represent their store locations, thus fall within the definition of showing a "violent symbol" in a political district. While this would seem like two separate meanings by rational people must legislation based on the wording does not differentiate rational vs. irrational intent.

What happened in Tuscon is beyond horrible and I pray for the families and people affected by this senseless act.

Before any rash decisions are made, let me leave you with what I believe is a rational statement and one that I have not heard from the "mainstream" media:

"We end up enforcing laws and forcing everyone to live by rules that only attempt to prevent the last thing that was done by the least controllable among us. It doesn't have to be this way. We must not give in to fear. We must empower our better judgment to create a society where violent rhetoric and imagery is frowned upon, not because it drives the unbalanced to action but because it's inherently wrong." - Jon Stewart

Ideas for the post were provided by this Huffington Post article and provided the embedded link above. The image of the Target map is from www.target.com.

A view from the "Not So Cheap" Seats

Aside from the picture with aftdc, I think my favorite is from the Hendricks/Downie fight in which I captured Hendricks sweater over his head. Brooks is my favorite player so there are a lot of pictures of him (ladies, you're welcome). Varly gets a bunch of shots because I felt like I could talk to him through the glass.

A full post about the experience of sitting on the glass will come soon, I promise, the delay is the fact that work has priority.