Black Friday: A state holiday characterized by deals, sales, and a dollop of madness. Regardless of whether or not you participate in this sometimes insane tradition, it’s inescapable in the areas that celebrate it. Advertisements for it are abundant. Almost every store capable of having a sale, does. Even the ones strictly online get their due through the newer Cyber Monday. Black Friday is a day where the expectation is you, as a consumer, have to go out and buy, buy, buy.

And so, a lot of people do it. They observe the event. And the sales are usually quite good, so I don’t blame them. But it doesn’t change the fact that on that one day you can expect things to be crowded. Full of people. Sometimes dangerously so. I didn’t personally observe it this year, but I can only imagine the crowds in Countryside Mall. Or at the Best Buy on Gulf to Bay Blvd—considering a few years ago people camped outside it.

But here’s the interesting part: it’s a marketing and sales event. It’s not like Christmas, or Easter, or any of the other holidays with a deep history. It’s a relatively new thing—only existing in its current form since around the mid-1900’s.

And the reason for its success, I think, happens to be a great example of marketing. The keyword: promote. Never underestimate the power of simply letting people know about your products. Or in this case, your specialty sales. 

Because to my knowledge Black Friday wasn’t formally announced, there was no nationwide declaration of its existence. It was simply a day that people wanted to shop, had the opportunity to shop, and did so in mass. And then business capitalized on it, they made it broadly known, and they advertised it. Black Friday became a term, and in its wake millions in sales. Doorbusters that are almost literal in name.

So, though this year’s Black Friday is through. The next one will be coming around soon enough, and in the meantime, who knows what your business can accomplish with enough promotion.
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Beneath the food and the parties and it’s somewhat complex historical roots, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. And while on that day I will be giving mine to my family and friends, and all the other things I am lucky enough to have, I think it also time to give it to some of the businesses that do so much to make their customers happy.

So, in no particular order:

Thank you, Chipotle on Gulf to Bay Boulevard, for serving food that I actually get to see before it goes into my burrito. And for being able to handle specialty orders on the fly amidst your fast-moving lines.

Thank you, Barnes and Noble by Sunset Point, for having a coffee shop built into your bookstore. For allowing two of the best possible smells--book paper and roasting coffee--to exist in the same place. For making an overwhelmingly pleasant atmosphere to browse in, and for having book displays marketing new interesting releases.

Thank you, Pierce Street Market underneath the Memorial Causeway Bridge, for updating me every time you’re open on Facebook, and for making it possible for me to support local businesses without having to travel around the entire city.

Thank you, One Stoppe Shoppe on Cleveland Street, for being in the perfect location for if I need something while I’m in downtown Clearwater. And for excellent customer service and being willing to answer my questions.

And finally, thank you to all of the other businesses who work so hard, who give us good service, and quality products. And in the spirit of the holiday, I hope that your employees have a nice Thanksgiving, and that you--the owners-- do so as well.  

And for all you reading this, I wish you the same.    

“Oscar bait.” A term perhaps not yet in the popular lexicon, but certainly known by people interested in the film industry. It refers to a type of movie that comes out around Oscar season, a period of time stretching through the last few months of the year.

Oscar bait is—by and large—films with heavy amounts of studio backing, big name actors, and gorgeous sets. They are also stereotypically period pieces and have to do with “true stories” or people with physical or mental disabilities. Sometimes even all at the same time.

The reason this happens is right there in the nickname. Movies coming out towards the end of the year are closer to the Academy Awards, and thus more likely for the judges to remember them. Additionally, for whatever reason, that combination of characteristics is also more likely to score points with those same judges.

In short, they are marketed to them, the same way a restaurant might market to you.

Now, I’m guessing you’re asking, “What does that have to do with me?”

Well, first is because it’s going to be inescapable. Barring Star Wars, these films are a big part of what critics and movie-minded people are going to be talking about. For us Clearwater citizens, these are a lot of what we are going to see playing in Cobb Theater at Countryside Mall. These are what the pre-film trailers are going to be.  

And second is that they are usually good movies. Sure a lot of them will fall under the same few rules I underlined above, but you’ll also get ambitious projects, controversial stories, and some seriously impressive acting.  This is the time where directors like Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino come out to play.

Going through the upcoming films, we have quite a few to look forward to, especially in the drama section. Coming later this month we have another amazing transformation from Eddie Redmayne, and a movie about a rather charged topic called The Big Short coming out for wide release in December.

So look forward to it, because the Oscar bait is coming, and it’s sure to be a feast for the eyes and the mind.
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.  

Clearwater Academy International is, among other things, a school of sports and a school of arts, and since I already reported on their latest (as of this writing) undefeated football season, I thought now I would talk about their fall stage production: Seussical Jr.  

The younger kids in the school do this one, but that doesn’t mean the production aspect gets the short end of the stick. Far from it actually. The quality of the stage set is well-done, with controlled lighting and audio, hand-painted physical backgrounds, and a tree prop that I still don’t understand how characters are able to climb.

And as to the acting, it’s good.

In fact, I’m impressed how good it is. Especially with how well all the actors keep to their lines. Because the entire thing’s in rhyme, there’s no room for errors. Which is fine, because I didn’t hear any.  

Speaking of the actors, I’d like to give some special mentions to a few specific ones, who were--for me at least--a joy to watch. The first being whoever played the cat. I enjoyed every moment he was on stage, and I got quite a few chuckles out of his antics. My favorite moment being when he started playing a piano out of nowhere during another character’s song.

And then there’s the elephant and his bird love interest. Both do a tremendous job of acting and staying in character. The boy who played the elephant, even when he’s not the center of attention, kept up his character’s mannerism and elicited numerous smiles whenever I looked over. And the bird? The girl who played the bird was heartwarming. That’s the best word for it: heartwarming. Her story, her singing, her acting. All of it.

So, if you’re in Clearwater and want something adorable and uplifting, then come to the show at 7pm on the 7th. It’ll take an hour of your time, and it’s worth it. These kids worked hard for an awesome play.

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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.

Walking down Cleveland Street, I see it off in the distance.

The sun’s on my back, and the beginning of a temperature that every Floridian looks forward to half-graces my every step. Making my way down the hill, a cluster of colorful tents brings a smile to my face.

And there it is: The Pierce Street Market, and it is absolutely bustling with people.

A couple of things become apparent right off the bat. #1: There are conversations everywhere. In true marketplace style, customers and merchants bring lively chatter to the entire area. And #2: They sell a lot more than just food and crafts here.

I recognize a couple of faces from around town as I get deeper into the market. There’s a massive line of shops going all the way back to the end of the pier. And with the concentration of tents and people in those fifty or so feet, it puts any mall I’ve been in to shame.

In fact, that was perhaps my favorite part of the whole affair: the variety. Unlike most malls or shopping centers they actually had items that interested me outside of clothing. My first stop landed me at “Fandomonium Designs,” a store that immediately appealed to my nerdy sensibilities. They sold personally engraved metal wristbands, and after some discussion and soul searching as to what I should get on it, I ran off to see more of the sights while they finished preparing.

From there I came across “Running Smoothie,” a health-food smoothie stand. The drinks, though a little different than what I was used to, turned out to be excellent, and under the Florida sun I finished mine in ten minutes flat.

The rest of my trip went by fast. A hand-crafted piece of art, a local band I quite like, a burst of intercostal air with entertaining results, and then it was time to go.

Driving away, with the market behind me, I had only one lingering thought. It hung on my mind and kept me with a grin.

“There’s another one on the 24th!”
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If you liked this article, you can read more of Brandon Scott’s work over at The Hive, or on his website: www.coolerbs.com.