There’s no business like Funny Business

I’m proud to say Jeff Silverman has been a good friend of mine for years and I’ve had the opportunity to work with him in various capacities throughout his many entrepreneurial forays. He’s probably best known as the president of Yuk Yuk’s, Canada’s largest chain of comedy clubs (client) and the birthplace of Canadian standup.

Jeff’s also a natural storyteller whose new book, Funny Business: Business Lessons with a ‘Cents’ of Humour, is filled with gems and insights about his rock and rollicking career.   (more…)

Inside PR 2.61: Summertime…and the reading is easy

What’s a book publisher to do?

I read about the bankruptcy of H.B. Fenn and Company, a venerable Canadian distributor and publisher, with a good deal of disappointment.  I love books and used to work in the industry and can’t help but feel saddened by the loss.

In part, the problem stems from Canadian distributors losing the rights to distribute titles from the big American houses because they are now going direct.  As a result, Canadian companies can no longer use the revenue from U.S. bestsellers to help defray costs for high-quality-lower-sales Canadian books.

So along with many other industries, the Canadian publishing and bookselling model is broken.   (more…)

C.C. stands for compelling content

There are some people like C.C. Chapman whose passion is infectious. Even when he disagrees with someone, he says it with a smile and in such a way that the other person feels like they’ve been treated with respect and not shot down.

This week, C.C. was touring Canada and appearing at Third Tuesdays to launch his new book, Content Rules.

His message? It’s  all about the story – what it is, how you tell it and making sure you have something to say.  He’s a natural performer whose his delivery reminds me of a stand-up comedian. And who better than a comic to know the immediate value of a story (laughter or silence)? In many ways that’s similar to the immediacy on social networks.   (more…)

Reading that makes me want to write

The holidays are almost over. And one of the things I enjoy the most is the extra time I have to enjoy a novel or two. The best fiction of course, like the best of anything, is subjective.  It creates a world that speaks to you on a personal level and feels funny, ironic, enticing, romantic, dark, tragic – and often more real than the one we’re living in. For me, it’s like a quiet, reflective journey that I don’t want to end – at least if the book is good! (more…)