Grateful Dead Marketing Magic Number 6/37

Memorable Brand Name  The Grateful Dead.

If you stop to think about it, the name is sorta weird. Even a little scary.

But, boy, is it memorable.

Originally calling themselves the Warlocks when they formed a band in 1964, the musicians realized they needed to come up with a new name a year later when they found out that there was another band by the same name that had recorded a single. The guys debated names, coming up with ideas such as “Mythical Ethical Icicle Tricycle” (Garcia) and “His Own Sweet Advocates” (Weir). When they were unable to find a name they agreed on, they gathered at Phil Lesh’s house around a copy of Bartlett’s Quotations, read out a thousand possible names, but couldn’t agree on anything. Then Jerry Garcia opened a copy of Funk and Wagnall’s New Practical Standard Dictionary (1956 edition) and randomly pointed to a page. There, staring back at him, was grateful dead. Several members immediately fell in love with the name and wanted to use it. Others were a bit wary. But all agreed it was memorable, so they decided to use it.

The dictionary defines the term as a type of ballad involving a hero who helps a corpse who is being refused a proper burial, a theme found in many cultures. For the Grateful Dead, the strange cosmic quality the name evokes–a world beyond consciousness–was perfect. This, of course, played into what the band was doing on stage. That some in the audience might be experimenting with mind-altering substances while listening to a band called the Grateful Dead made the name choice interesting on another level.

Fast-forward to four decades later and the name seems ideal. The choice of name worked to help advance the Grateful Dead to its widely recognized status as the most iconic band in history. And the sort of inside-joke quality–a name that your parents likely hated and your less-cool schoolmates or coworkers scoffed at–contributed to the community aspect of those in the know. A badge of honor was bestowed upon those who were independent enough to enjoy a band with such an odd name.

#Marketing, #Wayne Mansfield,#WayneMansfield,#ExperienceOracle, #SMM2021

Great Dead Marketing Magic 5/37

 Great Dead Marketing Magic 5/37

Climb aboard a new bus heading down the road to where the water tastes like wine.

Where the water tastes like winemakes room for two Americas though, side-by-side: An America of legends and an America of the mundane. And it’s where the two intersect that you often find the real “truth”—a bit exaggerated, maybe, but nevertheless striking on something more important than the events themselves, something that speaks to the human condition in a way pure facts couldn’t.

Where the water tastes like wine is a blend of myth and truth is what makes where the water tastes like wine special, the contrast between people’s everyday lives, their small struggles and smaller victories, and the ensuing tall tales. You can watch as American legend is woven before your very eyes, a combination of truths and half-truths and hundreds of distinct experiences. You'll see stories passed from person to person, each retelling exaggerated a bit more until what’s left bears no resemblance to where you started. A silly old man you meet in the woods becomes “The Leatherman,” a ghost who’s wandered the country for 200 years.

Legend: The Grateful Dead built the legend that they are the worlds greatest band - heck thay gave away their music, made it easy to record and share YET sold out stadiums to people who had little to spare!

Mundane: The fans were ordinary people who like ied dyed T-shirts that they bought from friends of a lifetime.

Grateful Dead Marketing Magic 4/37

 4/37  Create invitation-only online destination

It is easy to do a low cost web destination wich only really costs the domain name registration and use your in-house email list.

Why to Sending Paperless Invitations

1. Lower Cost

The average cost of physical invitations is $5,000 to $8,000. The average cost of digital invitations, on the other hand, will cost no more than $100. Clearly, this can make a big difference for a budget

2. Less Hassle

If you go digital, you're going to be saving a lot of time. Just think: no licking envelopes, no adhering rhinestones, no writing addresses in your best cursive until your hand cramps...the actual act of getting invitations ready to mail out can be incredibly time-consuming, and when you already have a checklist a mile long, anything you can do to save time is amazing.

3. RSVPs Are Easy-Breezy

With an online invitation service, RSVP-ing has never been so simple. I like to say "just count the money."

4. Your Designs Will Flow

With online invitations, it's incredibly easy to make your save-the-dates, invites, and even thank-you cards all part of the same design suite.

5. No Trees Will Be Harmed

The eco-conscious can rest easy knowing their invitations did not waste any paper whatsoever.

#WayneMansfield, #Wayne Mansfield, #SMM2021, #ExperienceOracle, #Done

Great Dead Marketing Magic 3/37

 Innovation is just as important, if not more so, than product innovation

Think big

In the same vein of Tony Hsieh’s approach that Zappos delivered happiness (not shoes), the Grateful Dead was single-minded about creating experiences for their fans. As live musicians, fundamental to that experience was the sound itself.Steve Parish (roadie): “In the early days, what there was in PAs (sound equipment) was just so inadequate."

Mickey Hart (percussions): “We realized, that if we were going to play for larger crowds, we would need a real delivery system. And, if sound was the product of all of this work, it better be fucking good, man."

Enter the Wall of Sound.

It was 1974. This sound system innovation was the brainchild of audio engineer and lead mad scientist in their tribe, Stanley Owsley, known as Bear. Bear’s Wall of Sound was literally a stack of speakers (586) and amps (48) all interconnected and optimized for volume and sound fidelity. The Wall of Sound delivered the biggest sound imaginable at the time, widely understood to have been funded privately by Bear’s personal profits from his notorious LSD production. The Wall of Sound required the crew to build up and take down 600 speakers show after each show. The ambition was insane.

Whether it is Zappos resetting standards on customer returns, President Kennedy’s call to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade, or Google’s well-known “moonshot” culture to make 10x improvements vs. 10% improvements, there is no denying that unprecedented ambition catalyzes big ideas. 

#WayneRobertMansfield, #Wayne Robert Mansfield, #Grateful Dead #GratefulDead, #ExperienceOracle, #SMM2021

Grateful Dead Marketing Magic 2/37

 Rejected conventional wisdom:

Imagine for a moment if the Grateful Dead had put themselves in the care of a manager who was focused on selling records and increasing the profi ts of a record company. If they had conformed to “industry best practices,” the Grateful Dead might be one of the thousands of bands on the dead heap of music history. The concert-as-business-model worked, and the Dead created a passionate fan base that became an underground cult that catapulted the Grateful Dead into the rock-and-roll stratosphere: the fan base grew from thousands to hundreds of thousands to millions, with the Grateful Dead selling out shows year after year. 

Convential wisdom says play perfectly the songs of the latest album - but the dead did 500 different songs at their concerts [ even some covers ] and often stopped when they couldn't remember the song.

So, in disregarding "concential wisdom" They

1.    Didn't need to rehearse
2.     encouraged people to come to many shows hoping they would see and hear something different. The friends in the crowd were just as important as the band and the music.

#Wayne Robert Mansfield, #WayneRobertMansfield, #Grateful Dead, #GatefulDead, #ExperienceOracle, #SMM2021

Grateful Dead Marketing Magic 1/37

Insight Magic Number 1: Turn the marketing model on its ear.

Most concerts are carbon copies of the next - so if you have seen one Paul McCartney show you have seen them all... so the repeat attendees are limited. The aim is to sell more records.... the youtube of Tokyo is nearly exactly the same as the concert I attended 2 years ago in Brisbane - I am not complaining but I won't be in a hurry to see Paul again.

The Grateful Dead played a different playlist each night or a different style if the numbers were the same - in a year they played more than 500 different songs. they had a huge number of repeat attendees to their shows who wanted to hear a different show each night. [The Dead Fans.]

#WayneMansfield, #Wayne Mansfield, #GratefulDead, #MarketingsDirtyLittleSecrets, #SMM2021, #ExperienceOracle

Lockdowns don’t ‘crush’ anything

I have my thoughts that Covid-19 are that it has allowed us to be run by incredibly well qualified experts with no commonsense.

My thoughts were re-inforced today with the news story: 

Deakin University chair in epidemiology Catherine Bennett said evaluation of the growing data set was proving snap lockdowns to be an unnecessary safety net, only required in extreme circumstances.

Grateful Dead Marketing Magic

Why 37? The mind is able to remember certain types of numbers better than others! Prime numbers fall into that category, and of course, 37 is a Prime Number

Magic Number 1 Turn the marketing model on its ear.

Most concerts are carbon copies of the next - so if you have seen one Paul McCartney show you have seen them all... so the repeat attendees are limited. The aim is to sell more records.... the youtube of Tokyo is nearly exactly the same as the concert I attended 2 years ago in Brisbane - I am not complaining but I won't be in a hurry to see Paul again.

The Grateful Dead played a different playlist each night or a different style if the numbers were the same - in a year they played more than 500 different songs. they had a huge number of repeat attendees to their shows who wanted to hear a different show each night. [The Dead Fans.]

Magic Number 2 Rejected conventional wisdom

Imagine for a moment if the Grateful Dead had put themselves in the care of a manager who was focused on selling records and increasing the profi ts of a record company. If they had conformed to “industry best practices,” the Grateful Dead might be one of the thousands of bands on the dead heap of music history. The concert-as-business-model worked, and the Dead created a passionate fan base that became an underground cult that catapulted the Grateful Dead into the rock-and-roll stratosphere: the fan base grew from thousands to hundreds of thousands to millions, with the Grateful Dead selling out shows year after year. 

Convential wisdom says play perfectly the songs of the latest album - but the dead did 500 different songs at their concerts [ even some covers ] and often stopped when they couldn't remember the song.

So, in disregarding "concential wisdom" They

1.    Didn't need to rehearse
2.     encouraged people to come to many shows hoping they would see and hear something different.

 

The friends in the crowd were just as important as the band and the music.

Magic Number 3 Innovation is just as important, if not more so, than product innovation

Great Dead Marketing Magic 3/37

 Innovation is just as important, if not more so, than product innovation

Think big

In the same vein of Tony Hsieh’s approach that Zappos delivered happiness (not shoes), the Grateful Dead was single-minded about creating experiences for their fans. As live musicians, fundamental to that experience was the sound itself.Steve Parish (roadie): “In the early days, what there was in PAs (sound equipment) was just so inadequate."

Mickey Hart (percussions): “We realized, that if we were going to play for larger crowds, we would need a real delivery system. And, if sound was the product of all of this work, it better be fucking good, man."

Enter the Wall of Sound.

It was 1974. This sound system innovation was the brainchild of audio engineer and lead mad scientist in their tribe, Stanley Owsley, known as Bear. Bear’s Wall of Sound was literally a stack of speakers (586) and amps (48) all interconnected and optimized for volume and sound fidelity. The Wall of Sound delivered the biggest sound imaginable at the time, widely understood to have been funded privately by Bear’s personal profits from his notorious LSD production. The Wall of Sound required the crew to build up and take down 600 speakers show after each show. The ambition was insane.

Whether it is Zappos resetting standards on customer returns, President Kennedy’s call to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade, or Google’s well-known “moonshot” culture to make 10x improvements vs. 10% improvements, there is no denying that unprecedented ambition catalyzes big ideas. 

#WayneRobertMansfield, #Wayne Robert Mansfield, #Grateful Dead #GratefulDead, #ExperienceOracle, #SMM2021

Magic number 4 Create invitation-only online destination

Grateful Dead Marketing Magic 4/37

 4/37  Create invitation-only online destination

It is easy to do a low cost web destination wich only really costs the domain name registration and use your in-house email list.

Why to Sending Paperless Invitations

1. Lower Cost

The average cost of physical invitations is $5,000 to $8,000. The average cost of digital invitations, on the other hand, will cost no more than $100. Clearly, this can make a big difference for a budget

2. Less Hassle

If you go digital, you're going to be saving a lot of time. Just think: no licking envelopes, no adhering rhinestones, no writing addresses in your best cursive until your hand cramps...the actual act of getting invitations ready to mail out can be incredibly time-consuming, and when you already have a checklist a mile long, anything you can do to save time is amazing.

3. RSVPs Are Easy-Breezy

With an online invitation service, RSVP-ing has never been so simple. I like to say "just count the money."

4. Your Designs Will Flow

With online invitations, it's incredibly easy to make your save-the-dates, invites, and even thank-you cards all part of the same design suite.

5. No Trees Will Be Harmed

The eco-conscious can rest easy knowing their invitations did not waste any paper whatsoever.

#WayneMansfield, #Wayne Mansfield, #SMM2021, #ExperienceOracle, #Done

Magic Number 5 

Great Dead Marketing Magic 5/37

Climb aboard a new bus heading down the road to where the water tastes like wine.

Where the water tastes like winemakes room for two Americas though, side-by-side: An America of legends and an America of the mundane. And it’s where the two intersect that you often find the real “truth”—a bit exaggerated, maybe, but nevertheless striking on something more important than the events themselves, something that speaks to the human condition in a way pure facts couldn’t.

Where the water tastes like wine is a blend of myth and truth is what makes where the water tastes like wine special, the contrast between people’s everyday lives, their small struggles and smaller victories, and the ensuing tall tales. You can watch as American legend is woven before your very eyes, a combination of truths and half-truths and hundreds of distinct experiences. You'll see stories passed from person to person, each retelling exaggerated a bit more until what’s left bears no resemblance to where you started. A silly old man you meet in the woods becomes “The Leatherman,” a ghost who’s wandered the country for 200 years.

Legend: The Grateful Dead built the legend that they are the worlds greatest band - heck thay gave away their music, made it easy to record and share YET sold out stadiums to people who had little to spare!

Mundane: The fans were ordinary people who like ied dyed T-shirts that they bought from friends of a lifetime.

Marketing Magic Number 6

Memorable Band Name

If you stop to think about it, the name is sorta weird. Even a little scary.

But, boy, is it memorable.

Originally calling themselves the Warlocks when they formed a band in 1964, the musicians realized they needed to come up with a new name a year later when they found out that there was another band by the same name that had recorded a single. The guys debated names, coming up with ideas such as “Mythical Ethical Icicle Tricycle” (Garcia) and “His Own Sweet Advocates” (Weir). When they were unable to find a name they agreed on, they gathered at Phil Lesh’s house around a copy of Bartlett’s Quotations, read out a thousand possible names, but couldn’t agree on anything. Then Jerry Garcia opened a copy of Funk and Wagnall’s New Practical Standard Dictionary (1956 edition) and randomly pointed to a page. There, staring back at him, was grateful dead. Several members immediately fell in love with the name and wanted to use it. Others were a bit wary. But all agreed it was memorable, so they decided to use it.

The dictionary defines the term as a type of ballad involving a hero who helps a corpse who is being refused a proper burial, a theme found in many cultures. For the Grateful Dead, the strange cosmic quality the name evokes–a world beyond consciousness–was perfect. This, of course, played into what the band was doing on stage. That some in the audience might be experimenting with mind-altering substances while listening to a band called the Grateful Dead made the name choice interesting on another level.

Fast-forward to four decades later and the name seems ideal. The choice of name worked to help advance the Grateful Dead to its widely recognized status as the most iconic band in history. And the sort of inside-joke quality–a name that your parents likely hated and your less-cool schoolmates or coworkers scoffed at–contributed to the community aspect of those in the know. A badge of honor was bestowed upon those who were independent enough to enjoy a band with such an odd name.

#Marketing, #Wayne Mansfield,#WayneMansfield,#ExperienceOracle, #SMM2021

Magic Number 14 Experiment, Experiment, Experiment 37

Magic Number 15 Take risks to learn from our failures and successes, and move forward

Magic Number 16 Embrace Technology 

Magic Number 17 Be open-minded about how to market your service or products

Magic Number 18 Push to the limit what was possible based on the technology of the day.

Magic Number 19 Embracing technology and  new forms of communications

Magic Number 20 Establish a New Category 53

Magic Number 21  Cross styles and created your own.

Magic Number 22  Ignore conventional wisdom to create uncontested markets .  

Magic Number 23 Encourage Eccentricity 61

Magic Number 24  Build personality into your web site

Magic Number 25 Bring People on an Odyssey 69

Magic Number 26 Put Fans in the Front Row 79

Magic Number 27 Build a Following 87

Magic Number 28 Cut Out the Middleman 97

Magic Number29 Free Your Content 105

Magic Number 30 Bypass accepted channels and go direct

Magic Number31 Be Spreadable 113

Magic Number 32 Make clients an equal partner in a mutual journey

Magic Number 33 Upgrade to Premium 119

Magic Number 34  Loosen Up Your Brand 127

Magic Number 35 Partner with Entrepreneurs 135

Magic Number 36 Give Back 143

Magic Number  37 Do What You Love 151

Marketing with the Grateful Dead!

Now I have got back into podcasts, I listened on my walk to  David Meerman talk with Phillip Stutts and he talked aout raving fans and the Grateful Dead. They created raving fans by giving their music away... and now are the biggest grossing band in the world.  David Meerman had just booked a three day show in Mexico for US$3800 to see them.

The Trick is how can I use this advice to get my marketing working?

#Wayne Mansfield, #WayneMansfield, #MarketingsDirtyLittle Secret, #SMM2021, #Done!

Are Podcasts good for your mind

One of the problems of walking is that your mind wanders... you can direct it with radio but radio works on people being offended so that means you are run by headlines.... or you can listen to music [Spotify] but the musics you like is usually rooted in the past [for me the beatles and Michel Buble] or li wstening to podcasts - Tim Ferriss and John Maxwell today.

Today it was Tim Ferriss talking to Chip Wilson who is the only person I have heard talk positively about Landmark and claims to have been "cancelled" because he used sloppy terminology about why Lullelemon tights where fraying [ deep research showed that people bought thenm two sizes too small and there the fabric stretched when not designed for that purpose] and he said the pants weren't for all women... rather than say "buy the right size." The irony is that the company employed more women than men.

I like the saying "Listen, Learn than Lead!"

#Wayne Mansfield #SMM2021 #Rebootology

Grateful Dead Marketing Magic 7/37 to 12/37

 Magic Number 7 Own the search results for your name

Magic Number 8 Build a Diverse Team 21

Magic number 9 Combined diverse skills for a synergistic 1 + 1 = 3 

Magic Number 10 Find talented people outside of our industry and comfort zone. 

Magic Number 11.  Have someone for “getting found” someone responsible for “converting” leads                                     and someone responsible for “analyzing” the numbers. 

Magic Number 12 Be Yourself 29

Science changes.... but trust it at the time!

The politicans have a mantra.... " trust the science" the only problem is that science's job is to disprove things.... remember being taught that there were nine planets until science discovered that there are only eight.  

I have been on a health kivk for a year [ going from 90 plus kilos down to 70! but recently on giving blood my blood pressure has been going up.... even when my weight was less and I am walking nearly 20,000 steps a day... well the science says that mouth wash [ you read that right ] increases your blood pressure because while in makes your breath fresh, in doing so, it kills the bugs that lower your blood pressure - this is NEW science - so from today the mouth wash will be ditched and new ways to clean the mouth - science recommends a good rinse with good old water.

So, yes trust the science but remmber it often changes... remember once the world was flat and germs didn't kill you.. such was science back in the day.... and people who disagreed with the science were demonised. Unfortunately, that sounds like 2021 and covid-19!

Change happens always, and it is what you make it!

Today I received an email from John Green who was a client in a previous life. John resent a quote I gave him some 15 years ago: MM

'Systematic innovation requires a willingness to look upon change as an opportunity"

Robert F. Drucker

So, as hard as it may seem, all these changes are disguised opportnities!

Time for reinvention - REBOOTOLOGY

 Mmmm there are always signs that a pivot is necessary - the Australian Budget set out clearly that that time has come- Qantas and virgin can see the writing on the wall... Both have delayed their international flight plans again, biting the bullet that International Travel will be delayed until 2022 at the earliest.

And I lsitened to a podcast this morning by James Altucher talking to the millionaires Magician Steve Cohen and he said "I have always promoted myself... I am restarting in June."

An interesting thing was that he got a better response when he did magic shows in flash rooms rather than dirty bars.... and after 5,000 shows he strived to be FRESH.

So, June seems like a good time to restart... and the topic should be different to what worked in 2016 except I have to be the "Impressario" Dottie Walters desribed me as that - Provider of public entertainment.

So here is to the adventure!

Winning more important than....

My local Australian Football League team is the West Coast Eagles. One of their brillant players is Willie Rioli, an aborginal player from the Tiwi Islands [ North of Darwin ]

The big question is will he be sacked for his latest drug indescretion. Rioli plead guilty to having cannabis in his possession at the Darwin Airport on his way back to Perth where after his 2 year suspension ends in August for faking drug tests.

My money is that he will get a slap on the wrist.

Lollies from a man giving out more than he should.

Well, the budget is here and Australia looks like being locked down until late 2022 - or later!

A total defecit of $1 trillion but that is justified as less as a percentage of GDP than most other advanced countries like the USA, the UK etc...without the 1,000's of deaths from Covid-19 that they recorded.

Mmmmm it all seems like spin to me.... and different stories with the same facts from the ABC and Foxtel. Life is funny.

Budget night?? Is all the news out?

I remember, as a politically aware 20 something, listening to the "treasurer of the day", breathless waiting to see what changes were coming... that leaves me with a simple question, who will be waiting breathless to see what Frydo [ love that nickname ] has left to announce??

I also remember when a $1 million was a lot, but I saw someone saying $10 billion was less than 10% of the current figure spent on aged people and even less when spread over 10 years or was that 4 years - the leaks kept coming so listening tonight seems anticlimatic.

The jab discussion continues.... will they let me travel, will I ne one in the 250,000 who gets blood clots etc... well did you know 1 in 7 women will be afflicked with breast cancer [ apparently having the wrong breast implanta has a 1 in 250,000 chance of going wrong... against 1 in 7 chance of actually getting breast cancer?

Mmmm maybe travel is off for a while!

The Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrisson, has suggested Australians won't be able to travel for at least 1 year.... I think I will adjst to those facts... after travelling 2 out of 4 weeks for every year for the last 20... staying home has been very disruptive to me and any one I am associated with [ I have been descibed as any "angry Fat old man" when just being me ] I have lost 20 kilos and try to be less angery, unfortunately the old part I have little ontrol over.

I am just listening to talkback radio and they [6PR Liam Barlett] are taking calls from people who won't have the jab if they can't travel. I think I will get the 2nd jab and be ready to travel if the situation changes.. just as an aside, I got a call that required travel to Melbourne but I declined because here in Western Australia if they find a case they shut the city down and you need 2 weeks in hotel quarantine at a cost of $2500 so I declined the travel.

All is well!

You might remember I had my first covid-19 jab yesterday and this morning I have no adverse reactions to report... so fingers crossed, all should be well.

Just heard people from the UK can come to Australia but must stay in hotel quarantine for two weeks... pity no planes can come yet!

one down, one to go!

I went for my first Covid-19 jab this morning... it was amazingly well organised! I booked for jab 2 but have to wait until August 4th... so I will be stuck here until then I suppose.

 

It brought back memories of the sugar cubed Polio iminisation way back when! But it is the least that I can do?? Agreed?

News paper headlines reflect interest!

The News Paper Headline is the ultimate form of click bait - from covid-19 bungles [ slowly vaccine roll outs, India travel ban, bad cops etc..] todays headline o the local daily is "Noise compliant to close local [ regional town] outdoor basketball court - bouncing balls keep doctor awake" mmmm must be a slow news day in Perth today!

OOPS The real frontpage is page 3 - no less "Bland" as you can see!

That's a lot of money! Bill Gates gets ready for divorce!

He had slipped to the 4th richest person in the world but after a 50/50 split he would be the 14th richest person in the world with Melinda the 15th richest... I think that isn't a 1st world problem but a billionaire problem... still it satisfies the GIVING pledge - give half away before you die!!

Gettin divorced doesn't seem to have had much of an adverse effect on Bezo,  who after giving nearly $40 billion away raced back to the richest person in the world.

The Cancel Cultgure and Craig McLachlan

 MMMmmm.... whilst tha Court found in his behaviour, McLachlan  claims he has had his life ruined by the publicity surrounding his case. He also claims it has ruined his life, of his partner and of his family. I wonder if times have changed enough for the cancel culture to lose its sting but then it is still claiming scaples in Canberra. Who knows?

Australian citizens blocked from coming home!

 This can't go unchallenged! Australia will criminalise citizens coming home from India, with a revie due on May 5th, 2021 - what value is having an Austraolian Passport?

#Wayne Mansfield #Waynemansfield #SMM2021