Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
How does an American Idol manage to play a concert in Asheville, sell out 900 tickets (basically the size of the Orange Peel) and not get a single mention in local media? I have no idea, but here’s the Grove Park Inn press release, posted belatedly by me:
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA (July 3, 2009) — The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, located in Asheville, North Carolina announces that its July 4th American Celebration concert performance featuring American Idol’s Bo Bice is completely sold out. With a total of 900 tickets available only for guests staying at the Resort on Independence Day, advance ticket reservations were quickly filled.
“We are extremely pleased with the overwhelming, positive response from this weekend’s guests, who are traveling from major metro areas such as Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh, as well as our local guests from the Western North Carolina area,” said Susan Phillips, Director of Marketing & Communications at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. “When we started planning our July 4th American Celebration concert weekend, we knew that Bo Bice’s immense popularity would result in a high demand for tickets to his performance. And, since we could only accommodate 900 ticket holders, we felt it appropriate to provide this entertainment to our Resort guests as a value-added option, and without charge, as our way of thanking them for choosing to celebrate the July 4th holiday at The Grove Park Inn.”
American Idol singing sensation Harold “Bo” Bice hails from Helena, Alabama. During Spring and Summer 2008, Bice continued his tour promoting his See the Light album. He also simultaneously spent a few weeks participating in a special tour called “It Was Forty Years Ago Today” with Todd Rundgren, Denny Laine, Lou Gramm, and Christopher Cross. The tour paid tribute to the Beatles’ ground-breaking album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (original release date was June 1, 1967).
The American Celebration weekend at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa begins on Friday, July 3rd with a tribute to America’s past featuring The Asheville Tea Party, where guests will enjoy a party atmosphere with Americana trivia games for all ages, goodies to feast on, music, and, of course, tea. Throughout the weekend guests will also have the opportunity to interact with Revolutionary War re-enactors, attend pool parties, enjoy a historical scavenger hunt, and celebrate the holiday with a special Independence Day Buffet.
I’ve known Susan Phillips for 5 years. She’s given 100% to her jobs and not a smidgeon less. A 15-hour day is the norm for her and in so doing has turned out killer public relations and marketing campaigns. People vie for her attention, her opinions and she shares of herself with everyone trying to help them accomplish their goals. Anyone who thinks differently absolutely doesn’t know her or has their head in the sand. When I grow up I want to be just like Susan!
Anyone who has ever been to a Bo Bice concert or had the good luck to hear him sing KNOWS he is a top rate entertainer. I was at the concert, it was sold out and if you like southern rock you loved this concert.
My point is if you are going to make comments get your facts straight.
Who are you to judge how well a person is at his or her job?
I’m not sure why the attack on Susan Phillips, but she did a terrific job at the airport overseeing both PR and advertising (and I would question the assertion it failed to draw passengers). I’d also say she was at HomeTrust Bank for longer than you may realize, in a category that is extraordinarily challenging right now (she left there on her own volition). She has an excellent reputation in the community.
The answer to your question is poor pr marketing and communications, Whoever selected this D-List artist must have quickly realized they could not sell tickets for his show, so they positioned him as "sold-out" when the hotel actually had rooms available this past weekend. As such, The Grove Park Inn is likely trying minimize exposure.
It’s interesting that the hotel’s PR Director, Susan Phillips used to be the marketing person at the Asheville Airport, where her major contributions were a ridiculously expensive advertising campaign that failed to draw passengers, and handing out donuts in the terminal whenever they had airport events. She then went to work at Home Trust Bank where she didn’t last long. Now at the Grove Park Inn, who knows what gimmicks she will try and pull off.
If GPI wanted media publicity, they would have gotten it.