The Ole Seagull

It’s about a process and future of Branson shows not “the button”

Branson, General, Opinion / /

First a suggested solution: Give the individual Branson show the option of having the link from the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB “Buy Now Button,” (BNB), for THEIR show listing on the “ExploreBranson.com (EBC) show page,” go directly to a page on the shows web site where tickets can be directly purchased OR, in the alternative, to a page of another web site, of their choice, from which their tickets can be directly purchased. i.e. The BNB for the “Bad Button Jamboree Show” could link directly to the page on the Button Jamboree Show web site where they directly sell their tickets to THEIR show or directly to a page on another website of their choice, from which tickets to their show can be purchased. …

It’s about a process and future of Branson shows not “the button”Read More »

It’s about a process and future of Branson shows not “the button” Read More »

50K Plus Trout Kill At Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson?

General / /
Empty raceways inside Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery on the morning of Nov. 17, 2013.
Empty raceways inside Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery on the morning of Nov. 17, 2013.

Rumors of a massive fish kill at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery surfaced the afternoon of November 16. This morning I went to the hatchery to verify the rumor. As I drove up to the hatchery building I observed people apparently removing fish from the outside raceways closest to the hatchery.

The photo tells the story of what was found when I went inside the hatchery. All the inside raceways that I could observe, which normally contain fry and the smaller trout that will later be released into the outside raceways, were bare. …

50K Plus Trout Kill At Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson?Read More »

50K Plus Trout Kill At Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson? Read More »

If it was their money would TCED Directors spend it this way?

General / /

You have just bought a new business. As you review the business operation for the first six months you have questions about a monthly payment in the amount of $98,630.00 that, for whatever reason, you don’t believe you should be paying. Your lawyer issues an opinion, based on another legal opinion that is over six years old. The six year old opinion, although answering questions about the issue, avoids any discussion about litigating it and is very careful to avoid saying that there is no recourse against making the payments. Your lawyer, without mentioning litigating the issue, cites that opinion and says you have to continue making payments which amount to $3,288.00 per day, $98,630.00 per month, and $1,200,000.00 per year. …

If it was their money would TCED Directors spend it this way?Read More »

If it was their money would TCED Directors spend it this way? Read More »

Apologize for a successful $15.5 million campaign based on this logic?

Branson, Opinion / /

Bill Skains, who sat on the Tourism Community Enhancement District Board (TCED) of Directors, the organization responsible for marketing Branson, for a of number years has been very “vocal” in his opposition to the CVB’s participation in the Virgin Group’s “Branson to Branson” online event, which, according to many of our areas leading marketing experts, was an overwhelming success. Early on Skains emailed the TCED complaining about it and, most recently, expressed his opinion on the front page of the April 10 edition of the Branson Tri-Lakes News in an article entitled, “Not all grinning at prank.”

It’s not Skains opinions, but the logic and rationale that those opinions appear to be based on that amazes an Ole Seagull. Incredulously, in his original email to the TCED he said, “I am thinking that somewhere or some time we need to apologize to the taxpayers if anyone was offended…” …

Apologize for a successful $15.5 million campaign based on this logic?Read More »

Apologize for a successful $15.5 million campaign based on this logic? Read More »

No April Fool’s joke – Virgin “Branson to Branson” marketing event is positively priceless!

Branson, General, Opinion / /

This week, in an Ole Seagull’s opinion, Branson, in cooperation with the Virgin Group media team, “hit it out of the park” with one of the greatest social media marketing coups in Branson’s marketing history. Their #BransonToBranson April Fool’s online/social media event was a fresh “out of the box” marketing effort, coordinated with the very type of company that most communities would give their “eye teeth” to work with. He believes that it will not only favorably impact Branson tourism, but potential economic development along with the jobs and other community benefits inherent to such development. …

No April Fool’s joke – Virgin “Branson to Branson” marketing event is positively priceless!Read More »

No April Fool’s joke – Virgin “Branson to Branson” marketing event is positively priceless! Read More »

What does the “Cast of Branson Famous,” the Terry Award’s “Best Show of the Year for 2014” and the “TCED Board” have in common?

Branson, Opinion / /

Drum roll please as we give the answer, which is, “They are all living proof of James Joyce’s statement, ‘The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.'” Although, to an Ole Seagull, in the case of these three, their actions could equally be interpreted as their “lack of thought.” …

What does the “Cast of Branson Famous,” the Terry Award’s “Best Show of the Year for 2014” and the “TCED Board” have in common?Read More »

What does the “Cast of Branson Famous,” the Terry Award’s “Best Show of the Year for 2014” and the “TCED Board” have in common? Read More »

A breakthrough list of “reality” to absolutely help you to know the difference between “Branson Famous” and “Branson Betrayed”

General / /

When the Ole Seagull saw the first episode of “Branson Famous” on “Tru-TV” he instantaneously hated what he was seeing. He had simultaneous feelings of disgust and anger that any show in Branson, let alone one with the proud tradition that the Baldknobbers and Mabe family had enjoyed, would be so self-centered and insensitive as to arbitrarily use or permit the name “Branson” to be used on national TV, in lieu of their “own,” in an apparent attempt to save themselves from the situation in which they had placed themselves. …

A breakthrough list of “reality” to absolutely help you to know the difference between “Branson Famous” and “Branson Betrayed”Read More »

A breakthrough list of “reality” to absolutely help you to know the difference between “Branson Famous” and “Branson Betrayed” Read More »

TCED involves state senator Phillips in Branson’s $525 million dollar scandal?

Branson, Government, Opinion / /

“Darn Seagull, isn’t the involvement of a state senator in a ‘scandal’ a little harsh for a Sunday morning piece?” “Perhaps so, but what else can you call what’s happening?” In an Ole Seagull’s opinion, using whatever definition of “involved” one wants to, Senator Don Phillips’ submission of what the Ole Seagull believes is a deceptive application to the Missouri Attorney General for an opinion on the Tourism Community Enhancement District’s (TCED) scandalous diversion of millions of marketing dollars to pay on Branson TIFs certainly involves Phillips in the board’s consistent policy of doing whatever is necessary to avoid litigation and drag things out to keep paying the Branson TIFs as long as possible. …

TCED involves state senator Phillips in Branson’s $525 million dollar scandal?Read More »

TCED involves state senator Phillips in Branson’s $525 million dollar scandal? Read More »