Last year it took Paulie 5 days, reeling from the disappointment that Wusta let him down, to say this just might be the last NOLA. Think he mighta learnt sumptin from that? Go figa.
So what was different this year? Well... nuttin actually. He lost more money and had the worst attendance ever – circa 350 party goers, including bands and groupies (funny, I thought groupies disappeared with the 70's). But it still gotta hurt that the locals gave him the cold shoulder - again. What’s it goin on now, some 4 years? Gotta be a message in that. Go figa.
Ya know, maybe folks just ain’t heard of the Village of Piedmont - gettin lost tryin to find the place - cause it don’t exist. Ain’t on any map. Anywhere. A visitor comes to Wusta looking for NOLA. Visitor dude to local dude: Excuse me, can you tell where I can find the Village of Piedmont? Local dude: what here in Wusta? Ain't neva heard of it. Ya see. But if the visitor dude said Chandler St… go figa.
So let’s see. Last year Paulie lured a Senator and a Congressman, this year he got the bottom of the political barrel – a couple of freeloading city councilors milking the event for whatever they could get. Was it for the beer or votes? In fact it was a waste of time, cause Paulie said the event was all outta-staters. Go figa.
Been thinking. Seems sumptin’s fundamentally wrong with the NOLA Blarney-Machine. Paulie heaps praise on freeloading politicians, yet won’t give a shout out to the handful of locals who showed up. Heck, they give him their money, they deserve a thank you. Right? As any smart business-dude knows, the key to success is strategic butt kissing. Want the repeat business, kiss that butt. But not Paulie. That fixation with polits is unnatural. Go figa.
As for the pre and post PR, it was pretty sparse. Gee... I thought Paulie was a one-man super duper PR machine. Anyho the post-NOLA assessment was delivered by the T&G, who gave NOLA a rousing ho-hum. But they were ecstatic about a Hispanic fest in Institute Park that drew like 50 people on the same weekend. Guess an old white guy's beer fest doesn’t rate any serious consideration as a cultural event nowdays. Guess its a PC thing. Go figa.
Headcount as usual was far below expectation. For some reason Paulie has always kept that number under wraps. Go figa. Anyho, me thinks a smart promoter woulda had a plan B up his sleeve as advance ticket sales faltered. He said 200, but can't always believe what you read, especially when... Paulie shoulda just discounted the tickets or givin em away at the Hess station next door or at the Big Y parking lot. Or maybe to his neighbors. He is after all the head honcho of the CBA - knows everyone in the hood. Anyway, sumptin like that coulda boosted the headcount. But hey, whata I know. Go figa.
To be continued...
