Archive for April, 2008

Fingers sore from twiddling

April 20, 2008 · Filed under Freedom of speech · Tagged , , ,

I came across a fascinating article yesterday in Rolling Stone’s ”Best of Rock 2008″ May issue. It desribed two of my favorite passions: live music and getting people to make a difference.

The article highlighted HeadCount, a grassroots non-profit organization founded in 2004 by Andy Bernstein, author of the Phish fan guide, The Pharmer’s Almanac, and Marc Brownstein, bassist for the electronic-infused improvisational jam band, Disco Biscuits. (And one of my favorite bands!)

The Web site states HeadCount is devoted to voter registration and participation in democracy.

HeadCount is lead by several heavy-hitters in the music community. The Board of Director’s includes Bob Weir (The Dead/Ratdog), Al Schnier (moe.), Andy Gadiel (Jambase) and Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), among others.

“It’s about making a difference.” – Bob Weir

HeadCount volunteers set up shop at all of the major music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Wakarusa Festival, Summer Camp and All Good Festival (to name a few). These festivals bring in tens (and sometimes hundreds) of thousands of people, so many that in HeadCount’s “Call to Action” PSA video, jam legend Trey Anastasio said “all the people at one festival can turn an election.”

So why mix music and politics? This is a question I’m sure many people are thinking and ‘low and behold, the answer is available on HeadCount’s site:

We believe that music, expression and freedom are all intrinsically intertwined…Many artists and fans have strong convictions and a deep personal belief in democracy. We created an organizational structure to channel those beliefs into action.

HeadCount makes sure to stress its bipartisan status. It does not prefer to register more Democrats than Republicans or vice versa, rather it is solely focused on getting people to register so that they can make a difference.

“The group voice is more important than the individual.” – Trey Anastasio

In the “Call to Action” video, Bela Fleck of Bela Fleck & The Flecktones explains why live music festival goers are targeted: that demographic can’t be reached easily and music festivals are a way to reach thousands of them.

I’ve blogged before on the importance of youths in the upcoming presidential election. These young people have such a power hold over the election that Obama, Clinton and McCain can’t help but strategize and implement campaign tactics that target the younger and savvier voter.

According to the Rolling Stone article, HeadCount reaches its target market “by creating television ads and e-mail campaigns, and by setting up registration booths at concerts by everyone from Wilco to John Mayer and at festivals like Bonnaroo and Farm Aid.”

Last year HeadCount signed up 48,500 voters and only hope to double that number this year. The musicians aren’t endorsing specific candidates, rather are just showing how they care.

HeadCount is possibly dealing with hundreds of thousands of proactive and empathetic people who wish to get off the couch, stop twiddling their thumbs and make a difference.

To which I say, ROCK ON!

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Ignorance is not bliss.

April 12, 2008 · Filed under Branding, Freedom of speech · Tagged , ,

Social media is all about people communicating and interacting with people through the hundreds of new Web technology tools, networks, bookmarks, etc.

(Sidenote: many of you are probably aware of this explanation and are sick of people running it to the ground, I know I know. But for those of you not aware…)

In his PR 2.0 blog, Brian Solis wrote a post the other day on how social media isn’t all that different from the standard marketing or public relations campaign template, but now it’s taken on a whole new humanistic voice. Solis aptly writes,

“We’re opening our ears and our minds to acknowledge that we can no longer push our thoughts at people in order to earn resonance; we have to listen, talk, listen, assess, and contribute value.”

With all of the new online avenues to facilitate ideas and conversation it seems there are a few negatives to follow this innovative new culture we live in. For instance, many of my fellow students at Kent State University have been (rightly) exercising their basic freedoms of speech lately online. This recent editorial has spawned over 200 comments, including the good, the bad, the VERY bad, and the ugly.

People have no problem voicing their opinions in the form of online comments, but what about “saying it to [insert your name] face?” This is by no means a new concept, but it’s on my mind because of the recent student online comment uproar(s) on KentNewsNet.

Disclaimer: I have absolutely NO problem with people voicing their opinions. Do it. But maybe people are taking advantage of the ease of online conversations because they get to “hide” their face.

However, I do have a bone to pick with this comment responding to a student editorial about President Les Lefton’s inaccessibility and seemingly ignorant attitude to his students:

“And while this is Kent State University, it is very comparable to a major mid-cap company given its operations, cash flows, etc. Do you think the CEO of any public company answers the questions that every worker e-mails him? Of course not. CEO’s aren’t paid to do that, and neither is President Lefton.”

I disagree in every way. And Kent State is not on the NYSE. I’m no expert in the matter, but I did spend a great deal of time last semester reading and presenting on the Arthur Page Society’s 2003 book, Building Trust.

The collection of approximately 20 leading CEO’s views and anecdotes on building trust among shareholders, stakeholders and employees and how they run (or try to run) an ethical and value-driven corporation opens the dialogue that there are Chief Exec’s out there who actually do care.

Did any of the CEO’s from Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Aetna, GM or Schering-Plough say the efficient way to run their organization is by ignoring their employees or employee concerns?

Absolutely not. In fact, this is a sure-fire way to piss off employees, and no one wants that. It is understandable that the president of a university or a CEO is extremely busy. That’s a given, but not an excuse.

Like Solis said, “We have to listen, talk, listen, assess, and contribute value.” 

Leaders of any kind of small, mid-size, or large entity have an obligation to communicate, interact and listen with their constituents, be them external or internal, by email or in person.

Especially in this new era of social media.

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