Barry CourterToo often we celebrate people after they are gone instead of while they are here when we can tell them how much we appreciate and care about them.
One of the coolest things to happen in our town recently happened last month when the organizers of MainX24 chose Oterius “Sandy” Bell as the grand marshal for the parade that is part of the annual event. Anyone who has frequented a downtown establishment in the last couple of decades likely bought a flower from Sandy or received a smile and friendly greeting.
For regulars, he was as much a part of downtown life as chicken at Lamar’s. Sadly, both are now gone. Sandy passed away Sunday, and social media blew up with people thanking him for being who he was and celebrating a man who touched many lives.
All of the positive vibes and love being shared is a good reminder to go tell somebody how much they mean to you. It’s just as easy to be nice as it is to be mean, and everybody feels better afterward.
» Thursday at the Bessie we finally get the official word on the changes coming to Riverbend. Most folks have heard the rumors, some going back a year or two, so stay tuned.
» Pardon a little self-promotion, but I bring this up more because the content is so interesting, at least it is to me.
Brad Steiner and I did a podcast with Jeff Cuellar, AC Entertainment Vice President of Strategic Planning, over the weekend, and it’s a pretty deep dive into what has gone into making the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival what it is.
Cuellar discusses the many hats he wears, how the festival tries to program its lineup and how almost two decades after coming online, it has become a place where the lineup is no longer the sole reason people go.
He also discusses how the need to constantly fine-tune and invent new user experiences are as important as each night’s headliner.
The podcast is called The What Podcast, and we started it last year to take a look at the many bands we knew little to nothing about on the lineup. We thought it would be a fun, short-term diversion, but soon enough discovered that lots of people enjoy spending four hot and sweaty days in the Middle Tennessee sun hanging out with other ‘Roo fans.
It can be found on all the usual places, such as iTunes and YouTube, or you can find it at thewhatpodcast.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.