Pow! Right Between The Eyes! Andy Nulman's Blog About Surprise

I Ain't Been Lazy, I've Been Busy

Apologies apologies to faithful FOPs who've been wondering, asking, pondering why my consistent from the start, break-neck pace of AT LEAST four posts per week has been slowed down to a molasses-like trickle over the past month or so.

Well, there is a reason.  Three of them in fact. 

1) First and foremost are changes that have gone on at my company Airborne Mobile.  My biz partner Garner and I are putting the final touches on a Management Buy-Out of the company's shares from Cybird Holdings in Japan.  Not only was this process lengthy and detailed, but the ensuring restructuring of Airborne into two lean-and-mean business units, as well as the forward planning process made it hard to concentrate on much anything else over the past little while.

2)  Secondly, I've been kinda stealth about this, but with less than 10,000 words to go and some fine feedback from the folks over at Wiley Publishing in Hoboken, N.J., I think it's time to tell you: I've been spending every weekend and most of my nights pounding out Pow! Right Between The Eyes--THE BOOK! and my drop-deadline is August 1, so...  It's going to be one of Wiley's featured 2009 business titles when it comes out in February of next year. Given that--at over 200 years old--Wiley is one of the oldest publishing houses in the world, and that my stablemates include management guru Patrick Lencioni, the legendary Jack Trout (of "Positioning" fame) and all the For Dummies books, well, I think I'm amongst some mighty fine company. (Yeah, yeah, I know..."what are you doing here?")

3) Last, and certainly not least, are some personal family issues that, while certainly difficult, I hope to be over with soon.

So, all that said, I've decided to open the door to my life a whole lot wider.  Finally, there will actually be  a reason to follow me on Twitter, as I plan to Tweet about the excitement, challenges, trials and tribulations of starting a business again (as we say around here, "Airborne is Reborn").  Here's where to find me:

http://twitter.com/AndyNulman

Starting in October or so, at the urging of my son Aidan, there will be a second Twitter feed about the marketing of Pow! Right Between The Eyes--The Book, which will give you the insight into what it's like to launch a major market/major publisher book.  Surprises galore I'm sure.

On both these feeds, you'll follow me into meetings, conferences, backstage at speaking engagements, client pitches and creative sessions.  If nothing else, it'll be an entertaining look inside the mind of a busy man changing his life and making things work...or at least, trying to.  Call it "Starting Over From Square 2."

So there you have it.  Yes, lots more Pow! posts to come right here.  But it'll be a little while before I pick up the pace again.  As you see, I've kinda got my hands full.

Thanks for understanding.  And for joining me for the journey.

Welcome CSUSA Delegates!

Today's the day!

For some reason, Pow! has been made part of the curriculum for the annual Copyright Society of the USA Conference.  Honored to be in such great company as "$5 a Month For Legal P2P Could Happen Sooner Than You Think" and "Music Industry Changes Its Tune on Podcasting." 

So, to moderator Barry Slotnick, to panelists Monica Corton, Hope Carr, Michelle Bayer and Nancy Weshkoff, and to all attendees of the "Trends in Music Licensing" session, while I welcome your presence at the top of this blog, I think what you're really looking for can be found by clicking here.

As they say, enjoy your stay...and enjoy the ride!

What's For Lunch?

I've been saving this one for a while, but since things are so busy in and around Airborne this week, now's the perfect time to spring it on y'all.

I snapped this at Universal Studios in Florida, during a recent visit for an industry conference.  All I REALLY wanted to do was take a quick photo of the bandana-ed gentlemen in the sunglasses, as I was astonished that he would choose to wander around this most public place--amongst innocent children!--without the barrier of a shirt. 

I kinda forgot about the photo for a month, but when I finally downloaded it, my astonishment astonished itself even further given the placement of the two folks to the left...and the serendipitously-positioned banner above their heads.

If a picture is indeed worth 1,000 words...let this one tell a cautionary tale of what can happen if you over-indulge this holiday season.

Best-Store-Name-Ever Now a URL

In a long-awaited follow-up to the Lesbian Haircut and Bike Store challenge of a month ago, I am happy to announce that the URL www.lesbianhaircutsandbikestore.com has been finally been claimed by J.J. Levine and Danielle Flowers (took you long enough!), and links to their store's pre-existing site.

I had the pleasure of visiting their quite unique retail establishment a couple weeks back, and not only did I find two truly hard-working entrepreneurs (J.J. was hand-spoking a wheel while we talked), but two women with vision of starting a distribution biz of hard-to-find track bike parts.  Adventurous investors with a taste for the off-beat would be well-served taking some time to listen to them.

Well, for now, this blog's contribution is taking their world-class, attention-getting store "sub-head" and converting it into a whup-ass URL.

Keep spinnin', girlz!

Tribute To The Late Marcel Marceau

The Silent Rage

Okay, let's get serious...

No matter what your feelings about the art of mime, the passing over the weekend of the legendary Marcel Marceau marks the end of an era.  I almost--I repeat, almost--had the chance to work with him two decades ago, and the story of how it all went down was one of the funniest in my former career running the Just For Laughs Festival.

Here's the tawdry tale in verbatim, as described in my 2001 book I Almost Killed George Burns:

"He was the living definition of mime.  I was a young punk producing his first major TV special.  Heading towards each other on a collision course, we became involved in a high-stakes game of chicken.  Who will be the first to jump off?  The answer will surprise you.

In 1988, we booked Marcel Marceau for a rare concert appearance in Montreal as part of the festival.  To help amortize our costs, we added Marceau to the lineups of both our French and English galas.  And, as a further tribute, we also included him in our HBO special.  Host John Candy was thrilled when he heard the news. 

Everything went perfectly on the French side.  Showcasing routines from his more than forty years in the limelight, Marceau was showered with adulation.  While his act was a little slow for some people's taste, most felt that seeing him live was a treat. 

Unfortunately, that treat would not be shared by our English audience.  At the rehearsal for the English show, Marceau was appalled to see that the stage he had performed on earlier in the week had been altered to accommodate Leo Yoshimura's elaborate HBO set, which included a majestic checkerboard square at centerstage, a platform that was not only cut into the floor, but also rose above it by about a quarter-inch.

This diminutive elevation may seem like nothing to you and me, but to Marceau's sensitive steps of silence, it was Mount Everest. 

And he wasn't willing to climb it.

'To perform, I need it to be level,' he explained, calmly at first. 'Why don't you just remove it?'

'I'm so sorry Mr. Marceau,' I said, 'but I can't.  It's a big part of our television look.'

'So why not keep it there for others but remove it for me?'

'It's not portable.  There'd be a huge hole underneath.  But really, it's no big deal; the Institut de Jonglage (a France-based, highly-mobile juggling team) performed on it with no problem.'

Ooops.  Bad association.  Comparing the man whose name is synonymous with silent expression to a bunch of street jugglers was like comparing a fine French champagne to a boxed Bartles & James wine cooler.  I had touched a raw nerve.

'They may have, but I won't!' roared Marceau, turning to leave.  Before he went out the door, he looked back, face fiery with anger, and snarled, 'This is an outrage!!!'

I couldn't fathom what had just occurred.  I had basically booted the great Marcel Marceau off a stage.  Although I did my best to bring him back, there was to be no compromise, no negotiation.  He was gone forever.

To this day, I'm embarrassed about the result of our confrontation, but that cloud had a silver lining.  How many other people on earth can say that Marcel Marceau, the Sultan of Shhhhh, actually raised his voice to them?"

Uh...rest in peace, Mr. Marceau.

Heating Up

July at last!  Summertime, and the living is easy!

Yeah.  I wish.

As the temperature rises and normal folk start thinking vacations, I'm in the throes of my busiest month of the year. 

In addition to my day-to-day duties at Airborne, I also take on the additional task of directing the grandiose Gala shows of the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.  This year, I have the pleasure of working with such luminaries as William Shatner, Howie Mandel (with whom I got my live showbiz start back in 1983), John Pinette and George Lopez, amongst others.

So what does that mean to loyal FOPs? 

Well, for one, it means that I'm on a July sked that will see my relentlessly-prolific posting schedule reduced somewhat (then again, that's what I said when I went to Vail last December and remember what happened there?).

On the other hand, given the fact that the theater in which I am ensconced from July 17-23 has Wi-Fi, and that I can post from my trusty Blackberry, it does allow me to bring you live, behind-the-scenes coverage from a major showbiz event, with the type of access that goes way deeper than just "inside."

Purists may argue that this takes the subject matter of this blog slightly askew, but if this indeed about the art of Surprise, a rapid change of direction fits the bill just perfectly, n'est-ce pas?

But one thing that hasn't changed, much to the chagrin of my family, is that here we are, in the midst of national holidays in both Canada and the USA...and I'm working.

Enjoy yours!

Can You Hear Me Now?

Well, my hearing aid adventure is finally coming to an end.  Right about now.   

Longtime FOPs (Friends of Pow!) have followed the trials and tribulations of my hearing problem, and the somewhat unconventional ways with which I’ve tried to deal with it. While I dug the designer hearing aid solution, Sonomax’s Nick Laperle assured me I was an ideal candidate for more immediate and permanent fix—an operation.

So as you read this, I am undergoing the knife—albeit a very tiny one—as Dr. Jamie Rappaport is operating on my left ear. If things go well, I’ll be able to hear properly for the first time in close to 20 years. 

And if they don’t…well, I could always make an artistic statement and pull a Van Gogh.

Seriously, my artistic statement will still be made, as the Frank Cipra designed-hearing aid I commissioned will be converted into Sonomax hearing protectors…which if I had, and I used, when I went to concerts as a kid, I wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place.

Irrational But Right

This is dopey and more of a confession than the usual astute commentary you are used to getting here, but the one Surprise I truly hate is one having to do with weather.

When I travel (and doin' what I do at Airborne, that is quite often), I obsessively check not one, but three weather sites and take a weighted triangular average to decide what clothes to bring along with me.

When I pack correctly, I am happy.  When I don't, I am not. 

As insane as it sounds, I would rather be prepared for rain and face rain than have sun and bring a raincoat along for nothing.

I tell you this only because yesterday it called for rain here, and I debated whether or not I should drive my summer convertible to the office.   

I decided against it, and waited all day for the showers to come.

When they didn't, I was bummed, despite how warm and pleasant it was outside.  A "Vette Day" wasted. (Okay, in full disclosure, it did drizzle, for about 40 seconds, at about 9:00 p.m., but not even enough to make me raise my white soft-top...HAD I been driving the convertible in the first place!)

I tell you all this because I don't think I am unique. 
I think there are plenty of us out there who sometimes place being "Right" in a situation above the best outcome of the situation itself. 

This sometimes leads to wars, loss of lives, loss of jobs, bankruptcies, divorces...all sorts of fun stuff.

Luckily, I know how to stop at raincoats and rag-tops.

Uh, I hope... ;)

OH CHRIST!

I'm sunk!

As per the post below, I just checked out who I'm up against in the opening round--legendary Edelman exec Steve Rubel* and his influential Micro Persuasion blog. 

I don't need a slingshot I need a Howitzer!

*Not to be confused with the Studio 54 / hotel guy Steve Rubell.  Him, I could take with both hands tied behind my back while wearing a pair of stiletto heels...

On The Road Again

Some sit on sandy beaches.  Others on luxurious cruises.

But I'm spending my vacation week in Ottawa and Vancouver as part of The Power Within speaking series.

Act one was yesterday in Canada's capital.  Close to 5,000 people in a huge room, and gotta admit that I haven't had that much fun in ages.

Can't go into too much detail as I'm actually posting from the airport and about to board a flight, but amongst the many Pow!s that thwacked me was the stamina, presence and star power of Tony Robbins. 

I always knew he was the King of Kings on this beat, but lemme tell you, this guy is more.  He's got Surprisingly sharp and sophisticated comedic timing, big-time street cred and can whip up a crowd like a hurricane through a box of Corn Flakes. Picture the effect of the world's biggest rock star, but with no instruments other than his voice and concepts, and you've got Tony Robbins.

Will share the stage again with him tomorrow night, and I promise you a picture, but beware--there's about a foot-and-a-half difference in height.  Sadly...in his favor.  Set your monitors to stretch mode.

More details and stories to come.

And by the way, don't feel too sorry for me.  I've appended two days of snowboarding in Whistler after the Vancouver gig.