But, ain’t we got fun?

Interesting take on the carney’s slick persuasion and manipulation skills as “a true education in marketing for freelancers.”

Wholesome lessons like:

You’d Better Know How to Hustle

You’d Better Be Wise to People

You’d Better Be Willing to Give and Take

You’d Better Be Able To Sell

You’d Better Be Okay with Persuasion

Man, that’s a Ph.D.

But demonstrating these lessons in rigged games, wheeling and dealing and over-priced prizes?  All justified because “happy (but broke) people walk away hugging some prize”.

Isn’t that the standard rap against salesmen and pushy advertisers?

It’s ok, you freelancers.  Lie, cheat and manipulate (but call it influence and persuasion). “Every one wins. No one loses.”  Not even the “People (who) leave broke, tired and dirty.”

What’s next?   The John Dillinger School of Fund Raising?

Bert & Harry Piel proved it in the 60’s.  David Ogilvy put it this way, “People don’t buy from clowns.”

Denny Hatch  shows his sense of humor in this take on the Legal Sea Foods ads on the sides of Boston’s trolleys.

Maybe Krusty will disagree.

Patrick Ruffini sees a possible Presidential future in the current Mac/iPhone/iPod halo. No, not for Steve Jobs, but for Barack Obama. Obama as product, packaging and positioning.

Dick Zigun says he supports plans to redevelop Coney Island on a grand scale, but not if it means turning it into a mall.

The Mayor of Coney Island has been working since 1980 to preserve the old landmark neighborhood and promote a future fitting the magical  nexus of sand and sea and four subway lines.  His not-for-profit Coney Island USA “interprets the past and experiments with the future of American popular culture and offers a growing panoply of arts events and exhibitions rooted in the traditions of P.T. Barnum, vaudeville and Coney Island itself”.  High aspirations in a time and place about a century removed from the glory days.

But there remains a loyal tribe steeped in the hustle and carney scene around the Bowery and the Sideshow - an underground hipster vibe on the fringe of the city, only minutes away from the LES.  Unique and worth preserving?

Zigun: “People find the seediness charming, and I realized that in terms of the way capitalism works and real estate works, you can’t become enamored of the seediness,” he said.

“That’s not what Coney Island was in its heyday.”  Read more in the NYT
So, the mantra today on the web is “keep it raw”: people are suspicious of polished video and website design.  That’s not what marketing was in its heyday, either.  Simple and aw-shucks is fine.  But with good production values - well-lit with perfect sound, and a well-executed script.

Look at the sideshow - in the seediest of surroundings, absolute pros gathering the thirsty crowds with rehearsed and polished pitches, getting them in the tent with previews of the highly practiced and professional stars of the show, and best of all collecting the toll as they turn the tip.  The production values are spectacular considering the price of admission and the scene.

Ken McCarthy goes to the sideshow in his interview with Ann Convery, who will be on the faculty at the 2008 System Seminar in Chicago in June. Ken uses the example of the outsider talker building the crowd (the tip) and telling them enough to get them inside the tent (turning the tip.)

Ann’s specialty is designing a good hook to bring the tip up close, and inside.

Click here to listen in.

Seth Godin has announced the Pope is coming.  I suspect it’s just prepub buzz for his new book.

Most Sunday nites, I just have to start the week with “Coffee with Kevin Hogan”. (If you don’t know Kevin, shame on you.)

I got lucky this past Friday. Kevin came early when the postman dropped off his new The Secret Language of Business. Well, one late night and half a day later, I may not yet be able to read someone in 3 seconds, as he promises, but I sure know how.

Turns out I’ve been in the secret language business my whole life - but it was a secret to me, too. With some practice paying attention to what’s going around me, I get a third-eye view of daily interactions on a whole new level of communication and meaning.

Wow.

Go get a copy from Mr. Barnes, Mr. Noble or Mr. Bezos. Hell, get a bunch of copies and give ‘em to your friends and family.

And to share that coffee with Kevin:

Keep ahead of your competition. Make sure you get “Coffee with Kevin Hogan” weekly. Free when you click now.

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Yes, ladies and gentlemen … we have for you here … the courageous, the outrageous, the contagious - all the amazing and shocking tips, tricks and techniques for delivering your customer’s perfect satisfaction in today’s market. Inside you’ll see the Barnum, the Hopkins, the Halbert and all the masters and media mavens, as well as the posers and pretenders.

Today’s Go To: Jim Edwards blog www.igottatellyou.com