The Bailey Blog

Ever heard that old saying, ‘too much of a good thing is a bad thing’? You learn that about candy on Halloween when you are five. You learn that about money when you get your first credit card. And apparently Jon and Kate Gosselin are learning that now about stardom and the media.

The Gosselins, who have been the stars of the hit TLC television show, “Jon and Kate plus 8”, for the past two and half years, have watched their success grow over that time. Unfortunately, two Mondays ago it was announced that Jon and Kate would be divorcing and soon after it was announced that production of the tv show would be going on hiatus until August.

It makes you wonder, how did it all fall down? They had magazine covers, book deals, a hit television show, and more. They were making enough money for Jon to quit his job and move into a million dollar home. It appeared they had really created the American dream with their picture perfect family, including their adorable eight children.

The show that began with episodes dedicated to how they manage the logistics of dentist appointments with eight chidren has changed over the course of its running and now has episodes focused on the free luxury trips the family recieves, Kate’s book tour, and guest stars like famous chef Emeril Lagasse cooking with the family.

The show evolved from being about a fun relatable family to a money making machine and a product. The family now has multiple controversies surrounding them including child labor violations, extra marital affairs, and their extended family members speaking out against them.

Where they went wrong was remembering that it doesn’t matter how great the PR is or how much media you have going on around you, if the product isn’t solid internally, in this case their family and marriage, the greatest fanfare in the world won’t do squat.

It’s a good example to all PR professionals out there that you must have a quality product as your base. You can create all the great press, get all the deals, polish that product until it shines to highest sea but if it’s built with straw the big bad wolf will still blow it down.

Okay PR gurus out there; think fast!  Who would be the greater job security – having Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley as your client?

Yes, both would need to be actually alive, but hey, based on how much both will likely make in death, they still could be lucrative.  Ask the families of each.

Now, I’m not trying to be crass or mocking of the dead…wait…yes, I am….I’m just saying that these are two guys that had PR dilemmas bigger than their Never Grace Lands and doctor bills put together.  Who then would pose the bigger challenge to those of us in “da field?”

Let’s look at the comparisons:

Legend Status:

Elvis is known as the King of Rock N’ Roll for amalgamating black R and B with country music and even pop ballads to package rock n’ roll for the masses ..thus getting it on national TV and radio (with white America not ready for the true originators/innovators at the time), inspiring thousands in his wake – John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen among them. Michael Jackson known as the King of Pop for not only fronting Motown’s successful Jackson 5 with his brothers but a huge solo career with releases like Off the Wall and Thriller – the latter of which created a video explosion on the fledgling MTV which kept him in the public eye for the 80s and early 90s.

Home Base:

Elvis had Graceland; MJ had Neverland.

Home Boys:

Elvis had the Memphis Mafia to keep him loopy on drugs, his ego filled to the hilt and as paid-for friendship.  Mike allegedly had boys at home of a different variety…as well Bubbles the Chimp and a Llama or what seemed to be a very ugly horse.  Both were known for the worst taste in home décor this side of the front sidewalk of Kmart, where coin-driven merry-go-rounds are more tasteful. And, someone named Lisa Marie!

What happened?

Elvis’ mom died while he was in the Army in 1962. They were close and many say he went off the deep end there, beginning a love of pills, food, bad movie roles and schlocky soundtrack tunes. Got cred back in 1968 with a comeback special on national TV and became a major Vegas act right up to death.  But, the weight gain and pills led him to be known as the icon that essentially died on the crapper of a heart attack.

MJ? Oh, dear…where to begin and how much time do we have?  Extremely abusive home life as a boy and the Jackson 5 touring schedule robbed him of an adolescence. Therefore, he spent years during a successful solo career trying to recreate his childhood; an obsession with plastic surgery turned him into a wax dummy; horrid spending habits chewed up cash like M & M’s at a sleep over. Oh, and he had this problem about getting busted (though never convicted) with pre-pubescent boys sleeping in his room; the results, while not jail time, killed his image and his bank account for settlements with parents of the kids.  In the process, claims of booze and pill addictions from insiders began to look more and more real…and scary.  And, end scene, his heart seizes up from the abuse last week.

Verdict?

Personally, while not the longer list of issues and public foibles, I take Mr. Hips, the Big E.  He was still doing shows up to his death; we purge the Memphis Mafia and get this guy some real friends, get him cleaned up, a personal trainer and BAM! Bob’s your uncle.  I think if he still chose the hair style and the jump suits, a solid retainer for PR services would be needed. Let’s just say: keep the peanut butter and ‘nanner sandwiches but dude, bad look, alright?

Michael? In all seriousness, I spent a weekend vomiting in front of my TV desperately looking for something else. I do not care and frankly, have seen this movie way too much. Unfortunately, my sympathy went right out the window. 

My point in my little vent above: I wouldn’t have worked for this guy or guys like him for double the money he owed!

It is a line in the sand each of us as PR people need to recognize.

When is cleansing company or individual image just making you feel filthy? To coin a phrase from the one-gloved one, there comes a time to look at the man in the mirror.  I hear all the economic woes of agencies, but man, dignity and self respect have to be worth something on a balance sheet.

Unfortunately, Mike never really did look at the man in the mirror – or if he did, he never knew what was staring back. All we can say is “at one time, the guy was talented and he blew it.” You know what those are called: “Has beens.”

That isn’t an “icon” or “king of” anything to me. 

Got problems? Get help. “Commoners” do it every day, your majesty of Pop.

Don’t know you got problems? Pick up a frickin’ paper and read it or maybe get the hint from the lawyers’ invoices. And, all these people coming out of the wood and from under rocks to say they were “close” to him and how great he was? Maybe they should have READ him the paper in between enabling the life out of him and feeling like a star themselves. The promoter of the “come back” shows in London hires a doctor to watch Michael for his investment! But no one in the mournful family thought to get him in rehab? Okay, Tito’s not much help but c’mon Janet, you have your own cash – you couldn’t just do it ‘cause it was your brother and he was a mess?

It’s sad. It’s a waste. And, this isn’t over – it’s going to make the Anna Nicole thing look like jay walking once more legal vultures leave the nest.  But you won’t catch me moon walking anywhere in his honor.

And, despite the “challenging times,” would you find an invoice from me in his $400 million-thick “to be paid” file.

In summary, I believe Bubbles was quoted on Larry King this weekend and said it best: “Lie with the Llamas and you get the fleas.”

The latest news headlines trumpet the end of Twitter!  Is Twitter Dead? Who Killed It? 

My gosh, just last August I blogged about the death of the press release on this very blog.  What are us PR types to do now, should we go on the street corner and bark out the news to those who will listen. 

While that may work if we’re hawking sandwich specials or $5 pizzas, not a great use of resources and would have limited impact.  But that highlights the key point, even the absurd notion of standing on a street corner selling your story can be effective.  So what is the moral to this story? 

It’s the message stupid! 

picture courtesy of www.currenttopics.com

It’s hard to avoid bad news about what’s happening in Michigan right now.  Have you heard we have one of the highest unemployment rates?  Or about how the auto industry is going bankrupt? What about that constant rotation of jokes about Detroit and all its mayors?

Yes, Michigan is having some down times and that is why I want to bring some cheer via my endorsement, and love, to the “Pure Michigan” advertisements. Michigan’s travel association is making us remember why we love this state so much.

The ad campaign, which launched in 2006, consists of TV and radio advertisements put together by the state of Michigan. The ads have run around the Midwest for the past three years and are narrated by actor, comedian, and Michigan native Tim Allen. The ads cover topics from Michigan sunrises to Michigan town nicknames.

Call me a sap, but the ads have brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions. Many of my friends also have a fascination with them. We spend our days sending YouTube clips of them to each other, talking about how we hush the living room when they come on, and debate which of them reminds us of our childhood vacations.

Remember, my friends and I are part of this younger college-educated generation that is leaving this state as fast as we can.

Maybe we are leaving because we don’t get enough reminders of how great this state can be. The Pure Michigan ads are taking our tarnished public image that has been dragged through the wet, spring mud and reminding us all of why it is we stay.

The ads are a business success too. According to Travel Michigan’s president, George Zimmerman, each dollar spent of the campaign so far has put $2.86 back in the state treasury.  While tourism is still projected to be down nationwide because of the economy, this is a great way to set Michigan as a destination over other states for the travel dollars that will occur, and subliminally, it helps attract businesses as well. It’s a perfect way to display our great quality of life.

Keep up the great campaign, the word is getting out.

So thank you Pure Michigan for reminding me that no matter where I end up, I’m proud of where I’m from.

That seems to be the nagging question as we departed The Mac Island Policy Conference this past weekend and waltz into the “real world” this week.

GM three days into bankruptcy? “Fiaysler” seemingly out of bankruptcy? Cobo or no Cobo for the 2011 auto show? Will being green get us any folding green?

But, what did we learn last week from the exchange?  Let me put it this way: What if someone walked up to you last year at Mackinac and said “You know…I think two of the Big Three will be bankrupt and owned by the government by the summer of 2009, and, as a result, the economic ripple effect will cause a huge negative wake taking out dealers, suppliers and support industries. Oh, and the Tigers will be in first place?”

You would have told them to get back to Horn’s Bar up there and drink until they were sober. To be able to predict what has happened was clearly not possible. But, the most sobering thing is most aren’t so sure to believe those who are “supposed to know.” The public is cautious and cynical. We are forced to look for omens, forecasts, signs like we’re characters in some freaked out Farmer’s Almanac.

As an illustration, I saw some interesting signs on Mac Island that could have run the gamut for what we heard there, saw and where we could be heading:

At one end of the spectrum, a magic store sign proclaimed: “Where you just have to believe.” At the other, a tee-shirt shop with a sample of sail boated-shirt in the window said: “Take your dingy out and play with it; Mackinac Island 2009.”

Somewhere in the middle of all that was the truth as to what was shared at the conference. Told you it ran the gamut. Some good exchanges took place; some probably did not.

What did I learn?

1) Watch the History Channel. You’ll be amazed at parallels - there is nothing new under the sun; if you understand history, you’ll understand that all economic and social ills pop up but are somehow, if not solved completely, resolved with options or lead to solutions. Depressions, war, cities on the brink of collapse that do come back around. History repeats like time’s rerun, with sometimes unfortunate results. But, it gives a framework for predicting and avoiding as well as solving. Also, it lets us know it CAN get dawn despite a dark, starless night.

2) The simplest themes are the strongest and most useful despite the complexity and facelessness created by technology. I can tweet you, email you or have you read my blog. But, what’s going to meet your goals and needs is going to be your ability to be organized, persistent, principled, have a work ethic and as a result, real expectations. The one that wins isn’t the one with the biggest and best toys; the one that wins is still standing, that aspires, that works hard or asks “why?” and answers with “why not?”

How naïve that all sounds in light of all that’s ahead. But really, it’s all you have. The golden rule is made of gold because it’s priceless. Common sense unfortunately is not common but sorely needed in these times.

You can’t fix stupid, says Comedian Ron White. But, just about everything else can be fixed. I hope that started up at the conference and reminded us all what a little bit of “idea exchange” can do.

I remain watchful. I remain ready. And, I remain hopeful.  In the meantime, innovate, adapt, achieve.

And, the Tigers are still in first place!

Here at the Mackinac Policy Conference, auto issues didn’t wait for today to take center stage….even though Bill Ford Jr. kicked off the sessions on Friday to do the evergreen Ford easy-being-green speech.

But the closer to home reality is by the time you read this; as a taxpayer you may already own a piece of GM.

I am not by any means being Debbie Downer. Sarcastic Sam…maybe. Yes, an eye to the future for alt fuels is necessary. But where the domestics and others fell down is a bit more rudimentary. Can someone kick China’s fanny about carbon footprint too? Just now in this conference, Auto God David Cole just said carbon fuels are going to be used for quite awhile based on economics. My point is there are more base issues afoot here as to why we are in some of this fix.

We have waited far too long to explain to the world how vital the auto economy is to the global economy. We are playing the scariest version of catch-up ever witnessed. The companies, whatever left, need to make communication an industry priority. A coalition mentality is vital. It IS us against the world……unfortunately the world starts at the outer Ohio border.

Secondly, you want us to believe you - Mr. & Ms. Auto Company - are greener than Kermit. Why should I believe you have that nailed when the world questions our quality and our efficiency (says the cynic)? You are talking about running a marathon but continue to smoke three packs of Reds a day. Tell me why my steering wheel won’t fall off THEN, maybe, tell me about your Star Trek-like visions of automotive time travel.

Not saying we haven’t made commendable strides; but the root is focusing communication and ad dollars on that. Unfortunately some marketing guru decided cup holders and an in-dash water bottle cooler made better ad copy. Detroit is burning to fiddle soundtrack on an in-dash iPod player.

So - said the bias communications guy - whoever is the CEO of the day at the auto companies left, listen up - “Tell the world that you ARE the world. You ARE the stone that causes the wave in the pool of global economics. Tell us all how if we spend our money and make that leap of faith with our thin wallet, you won’t let us down!”

It’s not that communication is a silver bullet. It’s what you communicate and making the communications a priority. It is a start. If you don’t start doing a better job of talkin’ there will be less driving and more walkin’.

Don’t, dear CEO, make your first budget cut to impress your communications person.

It’s no secret that the gloomy weather, coupled with the state’s gloomy economy has dampened the typically sunny Mackinac charm at this years Mackinac Policy Conference.  Those thoughts have been a part of many conversations, blogs and tweets here in the past few days.  

Personally, I refuse to succumb to that.  I’m a positive thinker (to a fault, some would say) and I believe wholeheartedly that even the most dire challenges can be overcome.  Not only can they be overcome, but we can be so much better having gone through them. 

This afternoon I sat through an inspiring session – Entrepreneurial Diversification in Michigan.  Patricia Mooradian, president, The Henry Ford, led the discussion focusing on innovation as the critical piece of the puzzle we are working to put back together.  Something she said really hit home with me - “Innovation historically bursts out of crisis.  Michigan’s current climate IS our opportunity.”  We need to ignite a new generation of thinkers and inspire them to dream.  Patricia identified five Key’s to Innovation: Curiosity, Breaking the Rules, Collaboration, Meeting True Needs and Embracing Risks.  This country’s greatest historical innovators (Henry Ford, Thomas Edison) followed that path and helped to shape America’s future, as well as inspiring legions of innovators to come.  We can’t forget the innovators that created those crazy things like computers, e-mail, YouTube, TiVo, Skype, Facebook and Twitter.  They paved the way for us to literally “become” The Jetsons in the way we communicate today.   

Following the Innovation discussion, a panel of dynamic Michigan entrepreneurs – Dennis Archer Jr., Marc Gardner and Edward Walker - shared their stories of success along with Ari Emanuel, founder, Endeavor Talent Agency in California.  Ari is largely responsible for the burgeoning movie industry in Michigan.  What I appreciated most about this panel is that they weren’t up there to brag about their successes and financial rewards.  They were there because they are leaders that believe in this great state and they believe in the people that live here, the talent that breathes in dozens of untapped industries here and most importantly they believe in the future that we can all help to build.  Even Ari, our California guest, shared that belief and determination to help Michigan through this crisis.    

I can’t remember who said it now, but this quote summed up the session perfectly and should serve as a mantra for all of us – “It is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.”

It’s clear that we cannot continue to place blame or drag our feet if we want this conversation about Michigan’s dire straights to end.  This is OUR time and we need to get in the game and do something about it.  What will you do?