A New Year’s Resolution for the Blues

Happy 2009. Here we are last Wednesday, creating a festive “Roaring 20’s” atmosphere for a swinging New Year’s Eve party in Palo Alto. Lots of dancing and requests for “the good old, good ones”, as Louis used to call them. Left to right, Gary Milliken, Steve Apple, Brian Richardson, Bruce Jolly, me, and Andy Norblin. Thanks for the wonderful photo, Adrienne. I’m glad someone brought a real camera.

Last week I announced my four New Year’s resolutions, based on “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. I’ve already described the first one, “something old”, and today I’ll describe my “something blue” resolution.

OK, look who’s crying the blues these days. Not Walmart, McDonald’s, and those of us who revamped and refocused our marketing. It’s everyone else, especially the mainstream media. Newspapers & magazines have lost subscriptions, TV & radio have lost markets, and all have lost advertising, big time, to their online competitors. So now watch as all of them desperately embrace the internet. For example, all new TVs will soon be able to download movie and program videos, as well as photos, “discussion boards”, and email.

Internet news services, independent newsletters, and bloggers are killing newspapers and magazines. Last week I heard a newspaperman suggest that people who value good journalism should find a way to pay for it, rather than get it all free, online. And I agree, on principle. It’s a free market, after all.

The benefits of “good” journalism, whatever you think that means, most likely come from a trained professional, wise and skilled enough to perform well and make a living at it.

Hmmmm. This explanation sounds similar to something I might tell a client. You too? I’ll bet. Well, this will be a good subject for another day.

These days, you’ll hear and read plenty — especially from professional journalists — decrying the general acceptance of self-publishing bloggers, who can spread wisdom just as easily as misinformation or poorly-written, one-sided stories based on narrow opinions and a few twisted facts.

I’m awed by our ever-changing world, and I want to stay up-to-date on everything newsworthy. So for my second resolution I will subscribe to one more newspaper and one more magazine, read deeply and listen widely, online and offline, and then give myself a “news-free week” every few months, just to clear the dust.

Maybe this is like giving CPR to a dinosaur, but I want to look around, see what stories and opinions I like and what I dislike, and if they’re well-thought-out and well-written, I’ll support them. Putting my money where my mouth is. Although I think “free online” can be good, even when ads have to cover the production expenses, we risk missing an important story or viewpoint that may be unable to gain a journalist’s attention in our fad-driven world.

Hey, my notices can’t always be about weddings and parties.

In my next post I’ll describe another resolution: “something borrowed”. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy a wonderful New Year. I resolve to enjoy mine. I’m marketing more, and on February 8, I’ll be entertaining brides-to-be in the Bridal Extravaganza at the San Jose Fairmont. Details on my website.

By the way, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Today I’m talking with people planning parties for Valentine’s Day and Easter. If you’ll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We’ll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Please leave me a comment. What do you think about all this? I’d love your opinions and comments.

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