Let’s jump right into one of my experiences from this past weekend with some obscure definitions that could very well be your next ace-in-the-hole the next time you sit down to square off with the Scrabble board:
Commodore: A commissioned rank formerly used in the US Navy (above captain and below rear admiral). Abolished in 1899, it was restored temporarily during World War II.
Raconteur: One who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit.
Well guess what?
Jack White of The Raconteurs certainly did tell stories with skill (very little wit) at their most recent concert at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver and the way he orchestrated the first part of the night certainly earned him a field promotion to ‘Commodore of Rock’ in my book.
I told you about The Raconteurs’ new album a little while back, particularly about how unique their go-to-market strategy was (and is)! In fact, there are a number of artists in the music section that you may want to dive deeper into when it comes to thinking outside-of-the-box (i.e., Radiohead, Oasis, Royskopp, to name a few). But I digress (I do that from time-to-time)…
What’s cool about this particular experience, in a customer service context, I think, is that The Raconteurs (read: Jack) insisted that each and every person filling The Commodore’s 900 to 1,000 spaces (I’d venture to say pushing the upper end if not completely blowing through it) had to be processed and matched up to a ‘guest list’ which corresponded directly to those who actually purchased the tickets.
The logic (aside from the obvious scalper-proofing)? To ensure that everyone in The Commodore in Vancouver listening to The Raconteurs that night were fans, actually bought the tickets, and would live on to tell the tale.
Unique? To me…yes.
Cool? Absolutely.
Mark my words…The Raconteurs WILL continue to fire up the charts at a very solid clip. With Rolling Stone profiling Jack White alongside Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in regards to the new Scorcese documentary, Shine a Light, how could they not?!
In my view, this quote from the White/Stones interview sums up how he looks at things:
Someone once told me when I first started playing — you get a lot more respect if you act like you own the joint…
Well this weekend at The Commodore in Vancouver, he owned the joint.
darren
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