By Jim Johnson,
Managing Director, Johnson, Fretty and cInstitution
Oh-oh that smell
https://youtu.be/erg2vyJ2UOk
“Whiskey bottles and brand new cars
Oak tree you are on my way
There is too much coke and too much smoke
See what’s going on inside of you. ” Lynyrd Skynyrd
I’m so sick to my stomach that I can’t even begin to fathom these few weeks. So I’ll let an old song by Tracy Chapman do it for me. Surprisingly, he nailed it in 1992. Yes friends, 1992. When are we going to do something about it?
https://youtu.be/ue4DVib2NVk
If you are interested, here are the songs. Tracy Chapman – Bang Bang Bang Lyrics | AZLyrics.com
And if you really care, take a minute to grasp this latest NY Times article on mass shootings in 2022. Here is a partial list of mass shootings in 2022. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Quickly on something more trivial. Otherwise you and I will have a ball in both corners.
At a recent IBO conference, over a drawn BBQ sandwich, I asked a charismatic operator, “How’s business?” He said “terrible”. In my infinite intellect I answered “Yes?” He snapped back with “I have so much weed business I can’t serve it all”. Then he went on to say, “I really want to diversify my advertisers a bit more, but the weed business is very easy to write. They don’t fuss about prices and they pay like clockwork. And if they don’t want to renew, there are 5 competitors standing in line to take their place. ” Without thinking for a second I went back for a second.
Fast Forward and I were at a concluding party for a few weeks where both the client and the buyer were present (a fresh twist on the things I could add), and one person in the group decided he would throw a hand grenade for fun. “Don’t you think we’ve gone to the top?” Let it hang in the air for a while. No one responded. Feeling uncomfortable in the room and becoming a seasoned middleman, I jumped up and said “What do you mean John?” He said, “Look, I’m a kid in the 60’s and 70’s and I’m for peace and free love”, but I was also a puppy in business when tobacco consumed 40% of all advertising space. Anyone can remember Joe Camel and his last message for children It seems to me that we’re getting back there quickly… but hey, I’m walking around there… so I can’t tell you the statistics … but I can tell you that Mom and the other interest groups are going to bring some heat. ”
That really made me think. Are we talking about this problem as an industry? If we did, I’d totally miss it. I’m a product of the 60’s and 70’s as a good friend and client… but like him, if I have a 13 year old (thank God I don’t anymore), I’m not sure what to say if he burns a joint in front of me , Saw me hit the roof, and then told me it was my art that told him it wasn’t right for him to do it.
Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like BT aint for me either. ,
… But shouldn’t we still keep an eye on the industry … or at least weigh in? As Pink Floyd says … “Is anyone there?”
jfco.com
Securities Trading through SteelPoint Capital Member FINRA / SiPC
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