5 things I learned at Aspen Ideas Festival

In it's 9th year, The Aspen Ideas Festival gathers some of the "most interesting thinkers in the world" to talk about issues, ideas and what inspires them.  The Aspen Ideas Festival is presented by The Aspen Institute and The Atlantic who are dedicated to dialogue and exchange and committed to bringing their leadership ideas to the public at large.

Click4 pix: 5 Things I learned at Aspen Ideas Fest.

AspenSpin was not credentialed press for Aspen Ideas fest but we did get to experience our first AIF as a volunteer and by attending a few events that were open to the public.  We were not privy to the inner sanctums of AIF (credentials only)...where the real ideas probably flow.  We got a small taste of the brain power that convenes in Aspen every June on the beautiful Aspen Institute campus at Aspen Meadows.

We had very lofty expectations for Aspen Ideas Fest.  In some ways the conference met those expectations.  In other ways...meh.  At AspenSpin we try not to judge..but...judge we do.  We're not attempting to be critical or snarky, but hopefully you'll share our wry observations. 

IDEAS = PRIVATE JETS.  Apparently if you have really good ideas you can convert them into a private jet...or at least a fractional jet share program.   The tiny Aspen Airport was stacked deep with private planes during Aspen Ideas Festival.  

Arianna Huffington and David Brooks of The New York Times. Click 4 pix.THOUGHT LEADERS NEED TO SELL BOOKS TOO.  There are some very smart people speaking at Aspen Ideas Fest.  They have some great ideas and they're sharing them with the world.  Some of the sessions are extremely interesting and informative. Others are esoteric, obtuse and nebulous.  Maybe the stuff is just over my head?   One thing is very clear...selling goods and services is a must...even for thought leaders.  For example, I was fired up for a lunch session entitled "Family Wealth..is it really about the money?" presented by the official Trust Company sponsor of AIF, U.S.Trust.  My previous career as a wealth manager prepared me well for this speech.  I knew most of the lingo...so I was hopeful that I would get some interesting and useful take home points.  Not the case.  The session turned out to be a sales pitch extolling the virtues and strengths of U.S. Trust's Trust Services Department. Wow not what I expected.  Maybe i'm too cynical.

The Politics of Volunteering:  Volunteering is a great way to immerse yourself in Aspen Ideas Festival.  When I reported for duty, I was hoping for a good position, maybe interim CFO or at least temporary Managing Director.   I was assigned to join the gift bag stuffing effort.  My direct supervisor was a 20 year old college sophomore.  Most of the bag stuffers were high school students, but a few, like myself were older, former professionals.  Stuffing 3000 gift bags builds character & camaraderie, but the office politics was fierce. Certain volunteers had developed pseudo-authority and attempted to influence the group dynamic.  I kept my head down & kept stuffing.  Some long-time volunteers were rewarded with golf cart keys, lanyards with personalized credentials, collared AIF shirts and sweet room monitor assignments.  I should have kissed more a$$.

Blah, Blah, Blah...Yada, Yada, Yada.  I know...it's an ideas festival. Discourse is the goal, right? But boy can these people rap. It's not just the speakers and panelists... it's the attendees & volunteers too. But what are they saying...I often couldn't figure it out.  One well heeled fest-goer winked and said "the emperor wears no clothes.  Another guest chimed in with "much ado about nothing" to describe AIF.  There's no doubt there are a lot of amazing ideas shared at AIF... but separating them from the rhetoric can be challenging.

Intellectuals love Aspen too.  It's pretty clear that the AIF crowd loves Aspen.  Everybody has their interpretation of the Aspen Idea... mind, body & spirit.  The intellectuals and their posse's are in Aspen to gather, engage, explore and lead us to "a good society".  They seem to be doing just that...as well as enjoying the natural beauty, the social & cultural opportunities and the hedonistic offerings.  If there's one idea that everyone agrees upon...Aspen is the best.

An Aspen Ideas panel discussion about the Middle East. Click for pix.Mark Penn, who may or may not be leading Hillary Clinton's possible run for the White House in 2016. Click 4 pix.The Aspen Institute's Campus at Aspen Meadows is fantastic. Click for pix.

Alpenglow in Aspen for The 2013 Aspen Ideas Festival. Click 4 pix. 

American Idol : The Talent Hits Aspen

American Idol films in Aspen, ColoradoAspen Spin entered the inner sanctum of Fox TV's American Idol,  at the judges auditions in Aspen, Colorado.  Once you get behind the curtain of Fox's #1 rated hit television series it's an extremely regulated and controlled environment.  Security was ultra tight and highly visible.   We haven't seen so many huge dudes with ear pieces dressed in black since Bill Clinton came to town.  The American Idol machine is well oiled as it preps for it's 11th season which premiers Sunday January 22, 2012 immediately following the NFC Championship game.

Luckily, we have a friend with connections at Fox, so A-Spin was added to the media list for the American Idol press conference at the Doerr-Hosier Center at Aspen Meadows.   The rules were perfectly clear ..."no still photos, no personal questions"  Whaaaaaat?? No photos??   The message that we received from the PR hotties..loud and clear... is that Fox and A.I. like to control their own message.  It was instantly obvious that Aspen Spin was identified as a possible "hot spot".  A very large bald guy (size estimate 6'8" 290 lbs) apparently was assigned to keep an eye peeled on the blogger as he never got very far outside my personal space.

"Emmy Nominated" host Ryan Seacrest was first out of hair and make-up.  He slung an arm around my shoulder, thinking it was the bouncer about to hassle me, I turned to find a perfectly coifed Ryan who encouraged me to ask Randy about his "high altitude rash". "Grammy-Award winning producer" Randy Jackson returning as an A.I. judge was next out of the dressing area. "Wut up dawg?" he called out as he fist pumped me on his way to podium.  " I like dat hat, dawg, ...and the shades". "This is Aspen" I replied trying to sound super-duper cool.   Then J-Lo, "Global Icon" Jennifer Lopez came out.  Wow!!!  she is haaaaawt in person.  We exchanged a fist bump as I pulled out my shooter and asked sheepishly "hey girl, you wanna be on Aspen Spin"?  She appeared to be amiable and soft spoken, almost shy and very polite... along with being illuminatingly fine.  She waved a friendly, smoking hot finger in my face and said "no still photos please".   The bouncer gave me a serious dosage of stink eye, so I put my camera away. "Rock Legend" Steven Tyler took the long way around to the stage, avoiding Aspen Spin, so we missed out on a personal interaction with the final judge.

The first few questions were obvious plants from a "coordinating entertainment producer" at Fox News Network (with 4 linked connections and 1 film credit on IMDB for the role of "Reporter" in the Fantastic Four Movie).  The Rock Legend Tyler,  took the opportunity to answer the first softball question by throwing down an Aerosmith-like vocal solo....sort of a yodel.  Randy commented..."it's a little pitchy, dawg".  J Lo. was sporting a pair of very sexy shorts (by Tibe) and spiked heels (by Christian Louboutin) admitted she "works wit (sic) a stylist". who apparently failed to plan for today's snow flurries in Aspen.  When Ryan was asked about preparing for stardom he said  "you can't prepare for it...but remember who you are".  Randy talked about the"high level of talent" and the "hippie chicks" in the Colorado Region  and warned San Diego (the last stop on American Idol's tour) to be "all of it" next week.  Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe confirmed the 25 to 30 contestants from the Colorado Region would make the cut and earn a trip to Hollywood.

When asked about visiting Aspen, his first trip since 1976, Rock Legend Steven Tyler said, "We love it here, the town is empty and its ours, we own it".

What Rock Legend Steven Tyler and the whole BIG TIME crew of American Idol might not realize... a lot of people think they own Aspen.

All images provided by Fox TV.

The American Idol auditions made the BIG Time in Aspen. Photo: Courtsey of Fox TV. / Michael Becker