Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Bert Fights Demons During Holidays
I know that Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks. And I totally recognize that I got so lucky when I married Stacey. With her I inherited THE most awesome in laws. However, I think every holiday I go through a little quasi-depression 'cause I wasn't raised where family was a priority. And that's a major understatement. Even though I really do feel that Stacey's family IS my family I sure wish my parents raised me with the same kind of closeness they have. Frankly I'm a little jealous. I guess I should just get over my family history 'cause I'm a grown damn man now and that's in the past. But, to be totally honest, I carry around a little part of me that's kinda bummed this time of year.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Bert's Take on Steve and Vikki
Over the past few weeks I've received some email asking how I feel about Steve and Vikki being off the air. The Bert Show addressed this once on the air. But I figure if I put it into writing then I can just address all others to this when they call or write.
My take on Steve and Vikki is the same today as it was the first day I arrived on Q100 almost seven years ago. I admire them. I respect then. And I'm jealous of them. These two had strong ratings in Atlanta for 17 years. That is UNHEARD of in the radio industry. To be able to evolve for that long and keep strong ratings is really an amazing accomplishment.
In all honesty, I think the Bert Show was a better radio product than Steve and Vikki. I'm proud of my show. But that doesn't take away from the fact that I respect the success that they have had for almost two decades. How can you NOT respect and honor that kind of longevity. I want it for myself and I want it for my team.
One night about a year ago I was having a business conversation with my friend Justin. My contract was up and I had some stations in Atlanta approach me about my future. I was sort of confused and having real loyalty issues 'cause Q100 took a BIG chance on me when they hired me. I had no previous morning show hosting experience but they had the confidence in me to allow me to pick the players on my team and create a show that was in my head. I was part of the Q10O foundation and this station is very personal to me. And Cumulus has really treated me well since they bought us. Anyway, the backdrop for my conversation with Justin was the bar at his restaurant. He said to me that in business I'm no different than one of the Hangar One bottles behind his bar. "When my customers are done drinking Hangar then I'll replace it with Grey Goose. When they aren't buying Grey Goose anymore I'll replace that bottle with Belvedere. In business if you're not the owner you're just a Vodka bottle."
HARSH, right?
There have been times in the heat of competition over the past seven years that we've had fun at Steve and Vikki's expense. But it has NEVER been personal for me. I've had, perhaps, two conversations with Steve McCoy. Vikki sent over a glass of champagne for me and my wife at a restaurant one night.
If they want it, Steve and Vikki will be on the radio again in Atlanta. And they have earned that. I sincerely hope that Vikki's health issues get better.
The truth is that some day people won't be "drinking" The Bert Show as much as they are now. And with any luck I'll be able to stay around as successfully as Steve and Vikki have.
Here audio of our conversation HERE!
My take on Steve and Vikki is the same today as it was the first day I arrived on Q100 almost seven years ago. I admire them. I respect then. And I'm jealous of them. These two had strong ratings in Atlanta for 17 years. That is UNHEARD of in the radio industry. To be able to evolve for that long and keep strong ratings is really an amazing accomplishment.
In all honesty, I think the Bert Show was a better radio product than Steve and Vikki. I'm proud of my show. But that doesn't take away from the fact that I respect the success that they have had for almost two decades. How can you NOT respect and honor that kind of longevity. I want it for myself and I want it for my team.
One night about a year ago I was having a business conversation with my friend Justin. My contract was up and I had some stations in Atlanta approach me about my future. I was sort of confused and having real loyalty issues 'cause Q100 took a BIG chance on me when they hired me. I had no previous morning show hosting experience but they had the confidence in me to allow me to pick the players on my team and create a show that was in my head. I was part of the Q10O foundation and this station is very personal to me. And Cumulus has really treated me well since they bought us. Anyway, the backdrop for my conversation with Justin was the bar at his restaurant. He said to me that in business I'm no different than one of the Hangar One bottles behind his bar. "When my customers are done drinking Hangar then I'll replace it with Grey Goose. When they aren't buying Grey Goose anymore I'll replace that bottle with Belvedere. In business if you're not the owner you're just a Vodka bottle."
HARSH, right?
There have been times in the heat of competition over the past seven years that we've had fun at Steve and Vikki's expense. But it has NEVER been personal for me. I've had, perhaps, two conversations with Steve McCoy. Vikki sent over a glass of champagne for me and my wife at a restaurant one night.
If they want it, Steve and Vikki will be on the radio again in Atlanta. And they have earned that. I sincerely hope that Vikki's health issues get better.
The truth is that some day people won't be "drinking" The Bert Show as much as they are now. And with any luck I'll be able to stay around as successfully as Steve and Vikki have.
Here audio of our conversation HERE!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Bert Talks Vision
I gotta tell ya. I miss Vision.
There are few clubs I've been in thathad a vibe like that place had in midtown, right? I lost way too many brain cells and saw too many things I shouldn't have seen in thatplace. And, well, I miss it.
But, there's good news for those of youthat miss Vision, too. I had a walk through today at the new club that the owners of Vision are putting in. It's in the OLD Velvet Room spot. Right up the street from Jocks and Jills on Peachtree. Now, the new place is just a shell of what it's going to be once it opens (not sure of date yet. But soon. February?). In fact they haven'teven picked a color scheme for the dance side of the club. And I'm not sure how much I can tell ya without the owners getting ^&%$ at me. So I have to be careful. But the blueprints and the club itself are hot. It's actually two clubs in one. One side is going to be sorta vip "loungeish." The other is a full on dance club. You can enter the dance side from the lounge but not the other way around. That's how exclusive they are trying to keep the lounge side. The outside sorta has a Miami club feel…lot's of windows out front. It's like they brought the best ideas from Compound, Velvet and Vision and put them into the new place. Lots of VIP space on the dance club side. But it's set up to where you can see everybody in the club. I don't think that there are any "blind" spaces." Oh, and it's two stories withthe VIP cabanas overlooking the dance floor. And, at least by the looks of it, plenty of bathroom space on the club side underneath the actual club.
I'm trying to get them to let The Bert Show/Q100 to do a soft opening just for our listeners. You'd get to see the club before anybody else in Atlanta. I'll let ya know if they buy into it.
There are few clubs I've been in thathad a vibe like that place had in midtown, right? I lost way too many brain cells and saw too many things I shouldn't have seen in thatplace. And, well, I miss it.
But, there's good news for those of youthat miss Vision, too. I had a walk through today at the new club that the owners of Vision are putting in. It's in the OLD Velvet Room spot. Right up the street from Jocks and Jills on Peachtree. Now, the new place is just a shell of what it's going to be once it opens (not sure of date yet. But soon. February?). In fact they haven'teven picked a color scheme for the dance side of the club. And I'm not sure how much I can tell ya without the owners getting ^&%$ at me. So I have to be careful. But the blueprints and the club itself are hot. It's actually two clubs in one. One side is going to be sorta vip "loungeish." The other is a full on dance club. You can enter the dance side from the lounge but not the other way around. That's how exclusive they are trying to keep the lounge side. The outside sorta has a Miami club feel…lot's of windows out front. It's like they brought the best ideas from Compound, Velvet and Vision and put them into the new place. Lots of VIP space on the dance club side. But it's set up to where you can see everybody in the club. I don't think that there are any "blind" spaces." Oh, and it's two stories withthe VIP cabanas overlooking the dance floor. And, at least by the looks of it, plenty of bathroom space on the club side underneath the actual club.
I'm trying to get them to let The Bert Show/Q100 to do a soft opening just for our listeners. You'd get to see the club before anybody else in Atlanta. I'll let ya know if they buy into it.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Melissa Carter Transplant Fund
Nearly 6,000 people die annually - or 18 people each day - awaiting an organ transplant. I was fortunately not part of that statistic, having my kidney transplant 5 years ago this week. Has it really been 5 YEARS? Doesn't seem like it, but my cousin Pam made the ultimate selfless act of donating her life-saving kidney on November 8, 2002. Since that humbling event, things have gone well for both of us.
Another humbling event for me has taken place this week. Piedmont Hospital, where Pam and I underwent the transplant, has created the Melissa Carter Transplant Fund in honor of the 5-year anniversary of the surgery!
Read More HERE....
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
From Jenn: Embracing Mistakes
As a self-admitted, life-long perfectionist, I have decided to embrace mistakes. I would like to say I am comfortable in this phase, but it is making me squirm. It may be the curse of the first born child, it may be trying to always make everyone else happy, it may be the fear of doing anything wrong... but it is all out the window. The start of this shake-up of my little life was in taking improv comedy classes. I have been attending for about 5 weeks now and I am terrible. It is the most embarrassing, challenging, uncomfortable experience I may have ever had and I can't get enough of it. I'm addicted to the failure of it all. It's beautiful! Yes and... it's defeating too. Yes and... it is wonderful. Yes and... (just kidding, you get it.) So then I thought, where else should I start failing? I'm not returning all phone calls, not doing laundry (just shopping instead), not cleaning the house like crazy, not saying no anymore to deliciously irresponsible things. I went to a concert until midnight last week! (That is crazy when I get up at 3:30AM.) I'm painting my toes a trashy fire red; doing yoga after wine; listening to my favorite album from high school; I am feeling out of sorts, selfish. It's weird. Am I having an interesting epiphany or a momentary lapse of my typically good judgment? I am thankful to have amazing people around me to lift me up. This is a photo of me with one of my girls, April. She's younger AND much wiser than me. :)
HUBCAPS AND H20 ... from Jeff
Just a bunch of random stuff and pictures, now that the letters are done and I have a minute.
www.JeffDauler.com
Enjoy!
www.JeffDauler.com
Enjoy!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
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