Rolling With the Curveballs: Marketing, Music, and Life Lessons

The Marketing MadMen 176 – Rolling With the Curveballs: Marketing, Music, and Life Lessons with Joe Ciucci and Thom McCorkle

Description

In this episode of The Marketing MadMen, host Nick Constantino dives into a lively discussion with Joe Ciucci of Duane Morris LLP and real estate agent Thom McCorkle. From wild concert stories to the impact of COVID-19 on various industries, we explore the importance of building rapport in sales, the shift in music performances, and the return to tradition and heritage in food, music, and beverages. Tune in for invaluable insights, personal anecdotes, and a celebration of passion in both professional and personal pursuits.

Key Takeaways

1. The evolving lifestyles of musicians and the shift in concert expectations.
2. The importance of building rapport and passion in sales.
3. Navigating career transitions during COVID-19.
4. The significance of tradition and heritage in today’s fast-paced world.
5. Memorable experiences and life lessons from Joe and Tom’s journeys.

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Summary:

Happy Saturday and welcome to The Marketing MadMen! Nick Constantino here, and I was thrown a curveball this morning, but we’re rolling with it! Joining me today are Joe Chuchi of Duane Morris LLP and Tom McCorkle, a real estate agent. Little did I know, these two gentlemen already know each other, so we’re in for an exciting discussion!

Introduction:

• Joe Chuchi is originally from Michigan, moved to Atlanta to escape harsh winters, and has 19+ years of experience in employment litigation at Duane Morris LLP.
• Tom McCorkle grew up in Charlotte, NC, transitioned to real estate about 15 years ago, and embraced it full-time during COVID to spend more time with his special needs son.

Building Rapport in Sales:

• Building rapport is crucial in sales, and diverse experiences help find common ground with clients quickly.

Tom McCorkle’s Real Estate Journey:

• Tom enjoys helping people find their dream homes and managing relationships. COVID prompted his career shift to spend more time with his son.

Joe Chuchi on Employment Law:

• Employment law brings a mix of interesting cases and challenges every day.

Passive-Aggressive Culture and Communication:

• Being transparent and direct can save hassle. Passive-aggressive behavior prolongs issues.

Tom’s Advice on Sales:

• Having a fire in you is essential for sales; innate skills and passion are important.

Joe Chuchi’s Musical Journey:

• Joe started playing drums as a kid, took a break, and returned to music after a cancer diagnosis. Plays mostly charity shows now.

Advice for Aspiring Lawyers and Salespeople:

• Enjoy what you do, focus on helping clients solve problems, build and maintain relationships, and be passionate about your work.

Selling Solutions vs. Selling Widgets:

• Successful sales involve solving clients’ problems rather than just selling products.

Transition to Self-Employment:

• Inspired by Steve Wynn’s advice, Tom now owns his business and enjoys the freedom and responsibility that comes with it.

Adjusting to Management and Leadership:

• Understanding strengths and weaknesses of your team helps in growing and adjusting as a leader.

COVID-19’s Impact:

• Brought unprecedented challenges but also opportunities for adaptation and growth in various industries.

Marketing and Emotional Connection:

• Effective marketing creates an emotional connection with the audience, something that brands like Absolut and Coca-Cola excelled at.

Alcohol Industry During COVID-19:

• Faced unique challenges but also saw consumers trading up to premium brands for home consumption.

Concluding Thoughts:

• Passion, honesty, building relationships, and solving problems are keys to success in any field.

Joe’s Band Experiences:

• Joe: Shared legendary stories from bands like Cheap Trick and the Zac Brown Band. The band lifestyle has evolved; where bands used to bring bottles of Jägermeister on stage, now they wait until after the show.
• Nick: Saw Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong perform with the energy of an Olympic athlete. Modern bands train rigorously to deliver flawless performances, contrasting with the relaxed and chaotic shows of the past.

Crazy Concert Stories:

• Nick: Recalls memorable concert experiences, including Ozzy Osbourne struggling during soundcheck and an artist with a wild rider. Despite the rider, the artist turned out to be a genuinely nice person.

The Shift in Music Performances:

• Nick: Fans now expect polished performances, leading artists to train extensively.
• Joe: Musicians today need to be in shape to sustain grueling performance schedules. Mentioned Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters, who struggled with anxiety despite being an exceptional drummer.

The Role of Alcohol and Casinos:

• Nick: Discussed the impact of alcohol on musicians and how casinos prey on the brain’s dopamine and serotonin mechanisms.

Tom’s Travel and Entertainment in the Beverage Industry:

• Tom: Entertained clients by taking them to distilleries and historic places like the Balvenie House in Scotland. These trips often led to memorable and crazy experiences.

Touring and Entertainment Anecdotes:

• Tom: Hosted clients at historic distilleries like Balvenie House. One night, over-served clients made snow angels in the barley house.
• Nick: Similar experiences where clients interacted with the brewing process, even tasting the wort.

The Return to Tradition and Heritage:

• Nick: Predicts a comeback for traditional and heritage brands in food, music, and beverages. People may crave the imperfections and raw experiences of the past.
• Joe: Smaller, more intimate performances and simpler food can be more meaningful.

Music Festivals and Intimate Performances:

• Nick: Large, polished music festivals may give way to more intimate performances.

Changes in Drinking Habits:

• Nick: Discussed the shift towards healthier habits, including THC drinks as a low-calorie alternative to alcohol.

Anthony Bourdain:

• Tom: Worked with Anthony Bourdain on events. Bourdain remained engaged and authentic despite his fame.

Tom’s Best Drink:

• Tom: Best drink was a dram of Balvenie 30-year-old single malt Scotch at the Balvenie House in Scotland.

Joe’s Best Show:

• Joe: Best concert was a Foo Fighters show at the Tabernacle in Atlanta.

Nick’s Recent Best Show:

• Nick: Recent concert experience with Green Day at Truist Park was electrifying.

Nick’s Recent Best Concert Experience:

• Nick: Tool concert at State Farm Arena was immersive, with no phones allowed, making the experience more engaging.

Tom’s Best Concert Series:

• Tom: Recounts an incredible four-day music journey:
  1. The Wiggles with his son.
  2. J. Geils Band in a small DC bar.
  3. U2 in Philly for his first stadium concert.
  4. Paul McCartney at Yankee Stadium with last-minute front-row tickets.

Tom’s Best Drink:

• Tom: Most memorable drink was an old fashioned at the Edition Hotel’s grand opening in London.

Nick’s Thoughts on Bourbon:

• Nick: Prefers bourbon over rye in old fashioneds, enjoying the burn of the bourbon counterbalanced by the sweetness of the cocktail.

Nick’s Best Bourbon Collecting Moments:

• Nick: Bourbon collecting started by chance, acquiring valuable bottles like Heaven Hill 17 and Old Fitzgerald. Collecting has become a family affair.

Joe’s Favorite Show:

• Joe: Foo Fighters concert in Atlanta stands out as his most memorable. Met John Driscoll Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band, leading to a lasting friendship.

Joe’s Best Drink:

• Joe: Enjoys vodka, particularly Belvedere. Memorable drink experience at a small boutique hotel in London.

Final Thought:

• Nick: The lesson from these stories is to enjoy the moment. Keep a positive attitude, stay curious, and find joy in unexpected places.