Experience Based Advertising

Judge Bean

Senior Member
Messages
1,257
Experience Based Advertising

Some illuminating information about the Foundation attorney Lawrence Haber.

Although at different times on the gigantic legal staffs of Universal and Disney (in their Florida divisions), and currently stationed in the fake Disney town Celebration (an inhabited themepark set), it does not appear that he wields any particular clout in either the entertainment or legal business.

He is not a partner in a major firm, and has no listed alternate offices or branches.

He is, however, a member of an organization called Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), as vaguely titled as motivated:

?the only international non-profit association representing the world?s leading creators, developers, designers and producers of compelling places and experiences. Our members bring the experience of engaging storytelling and etnertainment to a vast number of casinos, restaurants, retail stores, museums, zoos, theme parks and an ever-growing list of destinations that aim to bring a higher level of visitor experiences world wide.?

That clear it up for you? How about

?dedicated to connecting organizations? seeking to engage, enchant, educate and entertain their guests and visitors? creators of compelling places and experiences worldwide. Our members have? designed, developed, fabricated and produced highly successful experiences? performance venues, themed entertainment? If you need to engage your visitors, ?or to create a unique and visionary environment, then TEA can help you connect with the most experienced design, development?help you find the right vendor? find the people and firms you need to succeed!?

Still unclear? How about

?vitally needed resources to more effectively exert its influence throughout our emerging industry and put in place sustainable educational, networking and business development programs to support the future success of our members worldwide?. We are very close to realizing the long-held dream of a truly empowered alliance of creative vendors? In just over a decade, the TEA has become the leading voice for creators of compelling places and experiences?. with 5,000 experienced and creative people represented from 22 countries... the true potential of our combined capabilities within an expanding world market.? (bold in original)

Huh? How about this: just about the time that the Titor book is about to come out, and the Titor buzz is being created, the TEA sponsored a workshop given at a convention by ?John Carpenter, CEO of Benchmark, a Cincinnati-based ?brand experience agency?? that ?works extensively on in-store advertising and considers this a huge growth market,? and ?Bob Bryant,? who had ?a career as a marketing executive at Universal Studios Florida, Ringling Bros and Cartoon Network.? The date is Nov. 21, 2003; the place? Orlando:

?Numerous pundits, authors, consultants and experts argue that the advertising industry is undergoing a huge transformation. There is ample evidence?from Starbucks to Palm?that major brands are born with publicity, not advertising. ? The so-called ?Experience Economy? is still flourishing as companies build ?brand experiences.? Even the companies that used to say they worked in ?advertising? are now calling themselves ?brand experience agencies.?
?What does this mean to theme parks, museums, zoos, family entertainment centers and other attractions? It could represent tremendous opportunity, both in the way attractions market themselves and create new attractions.?

Pardon? OK:

?Welcome to the TEA Store!? Mugs, Jackets, Pins and Caps. Click here to shop!?

Still foggy?

?TEA PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES BOOK?

?The TEA? PROJECT DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES Book (PDG Book), 2nd Edition?.has become internationally known as ?the industry Bible for projects in the themed entertainment industry.? TEA members and industry professionals worldwide follow the principles in the PDG Book??

Topics in the PDG Bible:

Delivering the project
The project development process
Risk management
Contracts and legal issues
Project Development Process Chart
*

*The chart ?graphically illustrates project development procedures? suitable for display. Due to popular demand, additional copies? now available for purchase at only $10.00 each??

It would seem, then, that Mr. Haber is full of the gogetem boosterism of something called ?experience based? promotion of creative ?themed? entertainment. It is difficult to describe exactly what this might be, but perhaps we can take a cue from the Disney complex. It?s big, it?s exciting, it involves you personally and directly; its thrilling, it?s entertaining, it takes you on a wild ride through a bogus landscape of skeletons and disasters. Sit back and keep your hands and feet inside of the car and for the next few minutes you will be Mr. Toad.

Following the chart with precision, and networking, and paying special heed to the chapter on proper legal documentation, I think I will launch a timetraveler?s tale on the internet. My multimedia project will also permit me to sell coffee mugs, but primarily I will be interested in the solid ?intellectual property? of the book, movie, and TV stuff. We will control the promotion through a trust or foundation, lacking a corporate sponsor.

* * * * *

Given that it is illegal for an attorney to have solicited representation from the Titor family, and that it is improbable that they would have first sought out an attorney if their purpose was to try to publish Titor?s story, it would appear that Haber either cooked up the story himself or was hired to hawk it through the adapted device of a trust (?foundation?). There are two parts to this: the creation of the story in the first place, and its feeble marketing ?process,? which seems to have been adapted from the TEA Bible by an amateur. That is, an amateur at marketing; not necessarily the forte of an ?entertainment lawyer.?

It doesn?t look as though there is any big money behind the ?project,? if any at all. This is why it looks to me like a favor done for a friend or relative.

Or, as I say, the whole thing is nothing but the front for a covert operation.

Either way, I don?t think that either Haber?s heart or much of an investment is involved.
 

CaryP

Senior Member
Messages
1,432
Experience Based Advertising

Great work Paul. Haber is just so much chump change. Thanks for the info.

Cary
 

StarLord

Senior Member
Messages
3,187
Experience Based Advertising

Great Post as usual Paul!

Fair enough, say this titor saga does take off, and before the alleged Aragnarock that is due via the ghost writers forecast, who would own the rights to it? Where would the money go to, the foundation?

Follow The Money, has always been a pretty clear indicator, IMHO albeit the ease of hiding behind corporate smoke fronts and such can plague a search in that direction.

Imagine your morning cuppa proclaiming, "I Went Back, Shot Grandpa & By Golly I'm Still Here, Gotta Love That 2%", or T-shirts with the message, "Getting Board With Life? Poor, Old, Unpopular? Go Back In Time Till You Get It Right!"
"Why Buy Property When You Could Go Back And Own It Already?"
Secret Time Decoders, just 4 boxtops and $19.95. Time Traveler Wrist Watches Titor Always Telling You The Right Time. Secret Time Whistles, Only Real Time Travelers Know The Sound!! Future Dogs. Time Burgers, guaranteed to stay with you until you decide the right time. In and Out Of Time Fries.

I am getting rich just thinking about it. Time Land, Future World, 33 & 1/3% Land, No One's Ever Been Here Yet...............
 

Judge Bean

Senior Member
Messages
1,257
Experience Based Advertising

A foundation is a kind of hybrid between a business entity and a trust; it is used by nonprofit groups, and also as a way of bequeathing wealth to charity, but doesn't necessarily include that sort of philanthropy. It can be used to both collect money and distribute it, and also to "profit," if the acquired funds can be characterized as accrued to the good of the foundation and its purposes.

It is, basically, a framework for operations, and a kind of license, like incorporation, but must justify itself with a clear statement of purpose (not "to make money," but possibly "to make sure that orphans of timetravelers always have a home").

I don't have the Chart from the TEA Bible, but I'll wager it mentions the need to set up a trust, foundation, or other type of quasi-business organization in order to "develop the project."

I've forgotten to mention, also, that in the absence of federal copyright registration, the Titor story and the writings of Titor are not completely protected. If the claimed copyright is infringed, the foundation could file suit and register at that time, but this would require a public record of the right of the claimant to the copyright. That is, either the writer or someone empowered to represent his right would have to come forward.

This poses quite a problem, since "Titor" is a fake name. It is not possible to both continue to conceal true authorship and pursue your copyright claim, since anyone might claim to be the fictitious person. It is my guess that, in order to protect "their" copyright here, the foundation would have to reveal the true authors and hence the hoax, defeating their whole showbiz purpose.

Obviously something deleted from the TEA Bible? On the other hand, the foundation may have simply plucked the Titor material out of the open internet bin and decided to try to cash in on it, knowing that the story would have been debunked if anyone stepped forward to claim copyright.
 

Jovial_Kitten

Member
Messages
236
Experience Based Advertising

Originally posted by Mudpuppy@Oct 11 2004, 02:46 PM
http://johntitor.strategicbrains.com/Cyburbia.cfm

Has anyone ever talked to the crew that decided to put this on to see what connections there might be?

I know two of the people in the play,(Amelia and her son Tristan which are listed at the very bottom of the cast list)not personally,but online. I could be wrong of course,but it's my main belief that if they do have connections,not everyone in the group knows about it.
I personally think it's just a group of college kids putting together a show about something they are interested in.
 

lev

Junior Member
Messages
144
Experience Based Advertising

::.. Good stuff Paul! ..::

::.. At this point I would like to call Buzz back to the stand :D ..::
 

Judge Bean

Senior Member
Messages
1,257
Experience Based Advertising

Haber was one of more than 200 attorneys while with the Orlando-area Walt Disney World Resort. To give you an idea of what this means, think of the difference between being a blacksmith, and being on an assembly line tightening nuts.

He was toiling for a company that has never valued individuality. Even the animators have always been more or less shuffled into a tiny-typeface rolling credit bar, if even mentioned in the credits. Your mind would tend to wander during the day, perhaps imagineering science fiction scenarios?

He is now (13 Feb. 2004) helping to run something called Workforce Central Florida, whose ?Executive Committee includes Chairman Atlee Mercer of Micro Key Software, Vice Chairman Bill Bauman of WESH-TV, [and] Secretary Larry Haber?? What does this organization do? It ?advocates, designs and delivers innovative employment and social reform programs in nontraditional settings.?

Come again?

It does some very laudable work in vocational training and placement, or something like that, and appears to take a great deal of interest in compiling census-like statistics and other facts; in a way, it collects people, tries to account for them, and offers mostly emblematic assistance. But this is only my impression. It just has a strange kind of feeling to it in light of the apocalyptic Titor material.

Haber is interested in community betterment, and a style of selfhelp welfare reminiscent of the elder Bush?s ?thousand points of light.? He joins in the effort with local TV and computer heavies.

I rub my chin and mutter "hmm..."
 

StarLord

Senior Member
Messages
3,187
Experience Based Advertising

Thus forms the palty beginning of the TIME CORPS!! Who would have thought that this unassuming genisis was the start of the great things to come, time will tell.
And now, a word from our sponsor,
 

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