Everybody wants to feel special, today more than ever before. And, more than ever before, our readers are telling me what they are doing to make that a reality.
Ashlyn LaPorte, Sands Expo, Las Vegas, told me about her concierge service for exhibitors. Instead of having to trek the hall to the trade show organizer’s counter, Sands Expo concierges make the trip to the exhibitor’s booth, inquiring during setup or showtime if there is anything they need or want, either preordered or last minute purchases. It takes the stress out of set up and sometimes means additional sales. Most of all, it makes the exhibitor feel special.
Steve Stallworth, South Point, Las Vegas, has barn bellmen as well as hotel bellmen. When they have a large checkin scheduled for an equestrian event at the hotel-casino-arena, they set up an auxiliary front desk at the stalls.
“You pull off I-15, make one right hand turn, pull your truck and trailer over and we have barn bellman and hotel bellmen. One takes your tack and one takes your luggage,” said Stallworth. “You register yourself and your horse at the same time. You throw down some shavings, feed the horse some hay, park your truck and trailer and you’re in.”
Lee Zeidman, Staples Center, Los Angeles, was making a host of already-special people feel even more special during the Grammys at his venue. I watched him watch them, greeting stars and star-handlers as they milled around, moving on and off the arena floor.
That’s when I learned that Ed Sheeran is a very nice person. When pop singer passed by, he smiled and shook Lee’s hand, then reached out and touched me on the shoulder because I was obviously with Lee somehow. He didn’t know me, didn’t need to, but he was inclusive. He made me feel special.
It reminded me of my interview with the late, great Red Skelton. His agent, Bonnie Sugarman, APA, and I were having lunch with Red, who managed his own career – one of the last of that breed. He was telling me how important his wife was to his career and well-being, and I asked him why he didn’t bring her to Nashville? He said, “Because I can’t stand to see her ignored.”
People, naturally, rush to special people like Red Skelton, pushing past their very own special people in the process. It still makes me verklempt. It was such an insight into real character among the stars. Ed Sheeran – he gets it. I’m so pleased Louis Messina sees that as well as most of you and hope his career under Maestro Messina is the next George Strait.
We all want to feel special.
God grant you many years to pamper the individuals in the crowd.