Oprah in Australia

[Lignum]

Anyone interested in Oprah coming down under:? I think she is pretty cool. I wont go to see her in Fed square as i couldnt stand the crowd, but i would love her to buy something from me, that would be such a buzz:D But i know im dreaming, it will never happen.

[groeneaj]

Maybe make something small like a box out of Australian hardwoods and find a way of giving it to her, maybe through a publicist? Surely there is some way of emailing one of her 180 staff that is coming over with her.
Then once she has the box, encourage her to buy something bigger off you, again out of Australian hardwoods so it can be something that reminds her of her visit.

Just an idea mate.

Andy :2tsup:

[munruben]

Sorry mate, I don't share your enthusiasm for Oprah. I wouldn't stand in a crowd for ten minutes to catch a glimpse of her. I fail to see what talent it takes to interview people and lets face it, that's all she does. I am sure there are heaps of people who could do the job she does equally as well as she does but of course it all comes down to marketing. Oprah is just a marketing product as far as I am concerned. When I go to see a show or an entertainer, I like to see some talent that is unique.

[wheelinround]

Why giver her anything Australian's are paying for her to come as it is :((

[Lignum]

Sorry mate, I don't share your enthusiasm for Oprah. I wouldn't stand in a crowd for ten minutes to catch a glimpse of her. I fail to see what talent it takes to interview people and lets face it, that's all she does. I am sure there are heaps of people who could do the job she does equally as well as she does but of course it all comes down to marketing. Oprah is just a marketing product as far as I am concerned. When I go to see a show or an entertainer, I like to see some talent that is unique.

Bit harsh. To say she has no talent is a fair way of the mark. To come from poverty as a child, to a billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world takes a fair bit of talent if you ask me. :)

[acmegridley]

I'll drink to that 600 bl...y yank freeloaders invading our shores we need it like a hole in the head!
Would you like fries with that:oo:

[Lignum]

Maybe make something small like a box out of Australian hardwoods and find a way of giving it to her, maybe through a publicist? Surely there is some way of emailing one of her 180 staff that is coming over with her.
Then once she has the box, encourage her to buy something bigger off you, again out of Australian hardwoods so it can be something that reminds her of her visit.

Just an idea mate.

Andy :2tsup:

Great idea but... I heard on the radio today that her staff has already received over 6500 offers of gifts from various people here in Aus. Apparently she will not accept one unless there is a fair amount of sponsorship or cash involved. But that’s where she is smart and a good business woman i suppose.

[Woodwould]

I wouldn't sell Oprah a piece of my furniture; she's not the sort of person I would like to own something of mine.

Unfortunately she is influential and her caravan 'down under', although tasteless, will do immense good for Australia. The Septics love her shmuck and will see Australia and want to visit too – or own it. So in the long term, her visit will be good for Septic relations and tourism.

[Lignum]

I'll drink to that 600 bl...y yank freeloaders invading our shores we need it like a hole in the head!
Would you like fries with that:oo:

It would be great if she gave all those yanks coming over a Canning Vale towel and then told the world how comfy they are. That would be awesome for WA.:wink:



I wouldn't sell Oprah a piece of my furniture; she's not the sort of person I would like to own something of mine.

And whats the "not the sort of person I would like to own something of mine" type of person is she? Im surprised there is all this grief over her. She isn’t the type I would ever go out of my way to watch on telly, but she does a great deal of good, especially in her charity work.

[AlexS]

Oprah who?

[The Bleeder]

She left yet....if so please close this thread.

[munruben]

Bit harsh. To say she has no talent is a fair way of the mark. To come from poverty as a child, to a billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world takes a fair bit of talent if you ask me. :)It's called marketing by the powers that be. These people could take anyone off the street and make them famous if they chose. Sorry I have nothing against Oprah but she is just a tool that producers and the like use to make money. I am not saying that she has not done some good in her career for charity but then again, whats a few million dollars to someone who earns the kind of money she does. It would be like us handing out a dollar.
I am not blaming her. good luck to her if it works and it does but please tell me, what talent does she have that many of the less paid interviewers don't have.? I fail to see her talent. Nevertheless, good luck to her, wish I could get away with it and have people grovelling at my feet and worshiping me like a God. Must be a great feeling.

[snowyskiesau]

I really can't see the attraction.
It's not as if she actually interviews people. Guests on her show are there because she's Oprah and they'll get points for having been on her show.
With all the billions she got, she could at least pay here own way while she's here. Road closures? Exclusions zones?
Perhaps she'll get to taste real coffee (http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/with-oprah-fever-rising-what-impression-will-oprahs-guesst-get-of-australia/story-e6frfmyi-1225966220960) while she's here :roll:

[Woodwould]

It's called marketing by the powers that be. These people could take anyone off the street and make them famous if they chose. Sorry I have nothing against Oprah but she is just a tool that producers and the like use to make money. I am not saying that she has not done some good in her career for charity but then again, whats a few million dollars to someone who earns the kind of money she does. It would be like us handing out a dollar.
I am not blaming her. good luck to her if it works and it does but please tell me, what talent does she have that many of the less paid interviewers don't have.? I fail to see her talent. Nevertheless, good luck to her, wish I could get away with it and have people grovelling at my feet and worshiping me like a God. Must be a great feeling.
Well said. Her attributes are her smile, her affability and her ability to tear-up at the appropriate moment. The remainder is down to her marketing and PR teams and her immense purse.

[wheelinround]

When doing tours back in the 80's we had 6 weeks of American tour operators coming here all paid for by us. I asked one coach load what they thought Americans would like about coming to Australia. Replies

Not much they only get 2 weeks holiday (this being general workers), have to live off tips besides who'd want to go anywhere other than America or Europe.

Biggest complaint was shopping hours, everything closes by 6pm. Not enough to do, to far to travel. Food is terrible, to many flies.

They talk about whinging poms :p

[jimbur]

I assume Oprah and entourage will be nipping up the Calder to enjoy the Macca experience at Calder Raceway (last chance to pee before the city)
Like many others I don't watch her and I dislike having a proportion of my taxation paid to a foreign commercial enterprise just in the hope of attracting tourists.
Cheers,
Jim

[Lignum]

I was reading her Angel network charity has so far raised 80million and she has covered 100% of the administration costs. That is very cool and in its self should give her a fair whack of respect.

And I had to laugh, ZOO mag has offered her half a mil to pose in it. Wonder if she will take up the offer.

[munruben]

I was reading her Angel network charity has so far raised 80million and she has covered 100% of the administration costs. That is very cool and in its self should give her a fair whack of respect. . If you earn around a million dollars a day as she does, I am sure you would be able to cover administration costs too.
It is not a matter of not having respect for Oprah I have no reason not to respect her or others like her but it seems that nobody can tell me what her talent is exactly.
She gets paid $116,145. 83 cents every hour which equates to close to a million dollars every day. I think I could be very charitable too if I earned that kind of dough. All I would like to know is what talent she has and nobody so far has come up with the answer.

Would also be interesting to find out how many of her fans, who put her where she is today, she invites to dinner every week or even once in a while. Just a thought.

[Waldo]

It's pure carp.

I'd like to go to visit Devon in England, maybe Jow could petition the government to pay for my trip, it would be great for the English economy.

It pings me off.

[Bob38S]

I don't get it - obviously. :(

Why are WE paying?

Is this how/why she is so rich?

I've heard many times before how we have to invest money to make money - I don't see too much of a return when asked what it costs and what does Australia get back from it.

Just currently - our bid for the soccer, our levels of "foreign aid/gifts" etc

Just how often do we spend our hard earned and then get abused for it ............

I could go on and on and on and on.............. but no one seems to care too much about our own people - perhaps [I'm told] living in the lucky country is enough. :C

[silentC]

Yes it is a joke. Whether you like her or not (and I don't) it's absolutely ridiculous that she is being treated like a visiting head of state and having the cost of security and other arrangements picked up by the NSW government.

I think that she should be given a bill for any costs incurred by NSW during her visit. If she has an issue with that, she should pass the cost on to all those supposedly benefiting from her presence.

As for her worth as an entertainer, her popularity is a sad reflection on society. Famous for being famous. Nothing more.

[Wongo]

Don't worry folks. Oprah won't be coming. The plane couldn't take off.

:D

[Mike Busby]

I can't think of a single good thing that will come out of her "Australian Experience" They have already started brain washing the yanks into believing that we can only get coffee from one source MaCafe which has the coffee industry in Australia up in arms.

Wanna bet she appears on TV with an Akubra with corks on it at some stage, says gidday mate in a false Australia accent and walks on to the stage to digge - the koala and kagaroo segment should also be a laugh - (should send her out my way and see what happens when a roo meets a B Double semi trailer). I really, really hope a koala piddles on her, she gets bitten by a sand fly and a mossie, swarmed by flies and finds a daddly long legs in her hotel room.
Instead of "Where the bloody hell are you" it should be "Why the bloody hell are you here".

As for the tourist industry - meh. Every second news story up here has some facet of our weather either adversly affecting them or they are whinging because not enough tourists come here.

[wheelinround]

Here's an idea Kenneally ( is this free sponsorship for a US citizen) send her to Moree, Wallget, Coonamble, out west, where ...........:rolleyes: Redfern even where Aboriginals live let her see how the same state government who's holding this gig treats them.

[Christopha]

I don't like Oprahs much, too many fat ladies and I prefer classic rock

[Wongo]

too many fat ladies


That is an oprahtunity for you Chrisy. :D

[Lignum]

Im so surprised. It appears im the only one here that likes her. :-

[silentC]

I'm sure that in private she is good company. :)

[Greg Ward]

I'm surprised with all the angst as well???
Perhaps its the tall poppy syndrome, it is rather sad if we haven't got over that.

In terms of marketing, this is huge and with our high AUD and economy on recession apart from mining, we can do with all the assistance we can get.

If we ran a marketing programme that would generate as much global interest as Oprah will, it would cost our nation a mint.

Stop thinking so small.

Greg

[Wongo]

I don't hate her. I don't think anyone should be treated so differently.

Geez she is one powerful woman. I reckon she can start a religon on her own.

[jimbur]

I don't hate her. I don't think anyone should be treated so differently.

Geez she is one powerful woman. I reckon she can start a religon on her own.
It is a religion in effect. There is very little difference between revivalist preachers and many of the populist entertainers.
I dislike anything that has 'adults' screaming mindlessly whether it be religion, entertainment or politics.
Cheers,
Jim

[silentC]

In terms of marketing, this is huge and with our high AUD and economy on recession apart from mining, we can do with all the assistance we can get.

If we ran a marketing programme that would generate as much global interest as Oprah will, it would cost our nation a mint.

Stop thinking so small.
So what you're saying is that after seeing Oprah swanning around in Australia, a million couch potato Americans are going to get off their backsides and book a ticket to Australia?

That's the sort of justification that saw the NSW government spend $1mil putting turf on the harbour bridge. I'd love to see actual figures from any of these "global interest" marketing campaigns and how they've benefited the Australian economy in any tangible way.

I don't mind her coming here, she has as much right as anyone. I object to my tax dollars being spent on something that she could easily afford herself. If she needs protection, let her hire security. I certainly don't see why we're paying for it. I felt the same about the pope. All the same arguments were used then. Does anyone have actual figures on how much of a boost that was to the economy? Funny how all the supporters go quiet after the confetti has been swept away.

I really hate seeing money being wasted on crap like this when we have such major problems in the health system in this state. That money Frank Lowy (the richest man in Australia) just wasted on our behalf on a bid for the World Cup that was never going to get up could have been so much better spent. $43mil and what have we got to show for it? One vote. A real boost to our international reputation that is. Sorry but I'm a little bit sick of being told that public money poured into these promotional events is going to benefit the country. The only people who benefit are those with their fingers in the pie.

[Waldo]

I object to my tax dollars being spent on something that she could easily afford herself. If she needs protection, let her hire security. I certainly don't see why we're paying for it. I felt the same about the pope. All the same arguments were used then. Does anyone have actual figures on how much of a boost that was to the economy? Funny how all the supporters go quiet after the confetti has been swept away.

I really hate seeing money being wasted on crap like this when we have such major problems in the health system in this state. That money Frank Lowy (the richest man in Australia) just wasted on our behalf on a bid for the World Cup that was never going to get up could have been so much better spent. $43mil and what have we got to show for it? One vote. A real boost to our international reputation that is. Sorry but I'm a little bit sick of being told that public money poured into these promotional events is going to benefit the country. The only people who benefit are those with their fingers in the pie.

Exactly :whs: :brava:

[jimbur]

Are we getting a SilentC majority? I'm in it anyway.
Cheers,
Jim

[Scorp]

I cannot understand the frenzy gripping so many of my countrymen about a woman whose only claim to fame is an over-rated "chat show", in which the audience is hand picked, presumably for their low "hysteria" level.It is these numb-skulls that are coming here.
Surely a slightly more erudite collection would be of greater benifit to us.
BTW, although I live less than two hours from Sydney, I am pretty certain that the whole shooting match will not tour the provinces, despite the fact that the STATE government is forking out for the visit.The road outside my place is more pot-hole than tarmac, but the council is broke.
Do you think Ms Winfrey would lend us a few dollars??

[Sturdee]

Im so surprised. It appears im the only one here that likes her. :-

I'm surprised too, especially at the venom and bile that is posted against someone that will do our tourism a lot of good at very little money.

Especially as that money would have been spent in any case for a lot less effect.

BTW personally I'm ambivalent about her and I won't be watching her show but this whinging is ridiculous.

Peter.

[Scorp]

I think you are over-estimating the influence of her audience, and the demographic that she appeals to in Seppoland.They do not have sufficient disposable income to spend it on such a long flight, and, now that our $ is almost at parity with theirs, they will be even less likely to trip "Down Under".
It is a huge waste of money, most of it ours!!

[mic-d]

It's all just a marketing ploy IMHO, and so is Oprah's trip here:;:D

Cheers
Michael

[Wongo]

What has Oprah ever done for us? :D

[Wongo]

My wife reckons people want to go to her show because they want get a car for free. Its possible, its not her money and she is not afraid to use it.

[Lignum]

My wife reckons people want to go to her show because they want get a car for free. Its possible, its not her money and she is not afraid to use it.


Didn’t your car blow up recently? You should go along, you might get lucky. :wink:

[Wongo]

Its been fixed and it is going strong. So no thanks. :U

[ajw]

I'm with Lignum on this one.

I think it's a bit of a stretch to say that anybody could do what she does. What skill does she have, you ask. Well, how about a massive audience every day? Ask Shane Warne how hard it is to achieve that. I heard his 2nd show's ratings were 1/2 of his first show. I don't buy the proposition that she's merely a product of marketing. I think self-made people who build their own fortunes must have something special - otherwise we'd all be doing it.

I also think its acceptable for our tourism people to be spending money on this kind of thing. Any marketer will tell you that 50% of marketing is successful, but they can't tell you which 50% will work. We've tried the shrimp on the barbie, and the "where the bloody hell are you" approach. Perhaps getting a customer like Oprah to say it's a great place will carry more weight with the target markets. Australia might be a long way for the US to travel, but this could put it at the top of the aspirational destinations for many Americans.

There are dozens of places she could have taken her audience. I think we should be happy that they're coming here.

There are so many industries that depend on inbound tourism. With our dollar so high, many locals are jetting off overseas. We need all the help we can get to highlight Australia as a perfect holiday destination.

ajw

[silentC]

I also think its acceptable for our tourism people to be spending money on this kind of thing
No sorry, on principal I'm against spending millions of dollars on uncertain and intangible returns, when the NSW government is crying poor over hospitals amongst other things. As far as I know, the money is not coming out of any tourism promotion budget, I'll bet there was no due diligence done on the expenditure versus expected return. It's just something that we're expected to wear so that those who are fans of her vacuous show can queue up to say they've seen her. Any benefit to the economy of this country from the exercise is highly speculative and impossible to quantify. It is just an excuse offered as a counter-argument to the objections raised, and a poor one at that.

[Mulgabill]

:whatonearth: She is irrelevant to my daily life!

[Greg Ward]

Wow. If you are worried about waste, I think you are picking on the wrong horse here, seems a little paranoid, a little petty really.

So many words about wasted funds. NSW How about 350 million on inner city failed transit plans.

How about 30 billion on the NBN (I'll allow 10 billion as perhaps the right amount to be spent)

How about 45 million Federal on soccer

We've 30+ at the moment i Mexica, 5 star junket for global warming

So we spend a bit on marketing with Oprah, he most famous women in the world,
I think Qantas is flying them for free, I'm sure most of the trip is paid for in some way or other.

This will be huge for us globally, she didn't go to Fiji, or China, or France, all of whom would pay millions more for her presence, even if they are broke (well, perhaps not China)

She is syndicated to around 100 countries.

Go and have a beer and rant to the television about something worthwhile.....
....... the cricket......

Gfeg

[Blue-deviled]

Bit harsh. To say she has no talent is a fair way of the mark. To come from poverty as a child, to a billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world takes a fair bit of talent if you ask me. :)

In the trade, we refer to her as 'she who sells books'!

[Lignum]

Rumour is, she is either going to Philip Island to see the Penguins, or up to Sovereign hill. Hope it’s the latter as its only 3 blocks from my place and I know of a few good holes in the fence where I can get in. Would be great to say G`day and see if she wanted to come back and check my shed out. :D

[jimbur]

Would be great to say G`day and see if she wanted to come back and check my shed out. :D
Remember they speak a different language over there. Checking someone's shed out could mean an invitation to indulge in unspeakable acts.:D
Cheers,
Jim

[AlexS]

No sorry, on principal I'm against spending millions of dollars on uncertain and intangible returns, when the NSW government is crying poor over hospitals amongst other things. As far as I know, the money is not coming out of any tourism promotion budget, I'll bet there was no due diligence done on the expenditure versus expected return. It's just something that we're expected to wear so that those who are fans of her vacuous show can queue up to say they've seen her. Any benefit to the economy of this country from the exercise is highly speculative and impossible to quantify. It is just an excuse offered as a counter-argument to the objections raised, and a poor one at that.
I have no problem with spending millions on uncertain returns - as long as they're not my dollars. If there is going to be so much benefit for the tourism industry, let them spend their dollars. It's not the role of governments to spend our money on such chancy enterprises.

[silentC]

Indeed, although some of the money did come from the budget of Tourism Australia.

I wonder what other industries have government sponsored advertising?

[ozhunter]

I would have rather seen the dudes from OCC when they were here......yeah I know, I'm a redneck. Getting off now:D

[ajw]

I wonder what other industries have government sponsored advertising?

Not sure if you'd call it advertising, but Austrade is a government department set up to help exporters of all kinds, and to help people wanting to buy our goods and services. Their 2009/10 report shows they received around $200 million in direct funding, and another $200 million in grants that were issued to exporters. austrade.gov.au

The Oprah bandwagon is with us now, and it's looking like a well-orchestrated plan to me. Groups of happy visitors fanning out across the country, with positive images of Australia that will be seen in over 100 countries, and by 40 million U.S. residents.

I'm not a fan of her TV show, but I still think this is an excellent promotion for Australia.

ajw

[bluegum30]

If she does agree to take a squiz at your shed Lignum, whatever you do don't offer her a XXXX ,years ago that was the brand rain coats the Yanks use to sell:D.

[acmegridley]

You will all get your chance to get square come the March elections,not that she has any great opposition(the premier I am referring to)
GREAT STATE :
TRANSPORT SYSTEM STUFFED
HEALTH SYSTEM STUFFED
HOSPITAL SYSTEM STUFFED
ROAD SYSTEM STUFFED,
anything I have missed?.
Dont worry about it we'll spend a million bucks put grass on the Harbour Bridge and all have a lovely picnic.What a wank!!!
At least in WA they are spending their money wisely new infrastructure, new railway stations,new roads etc etc

[munruben]

Im so surprised. It appears im the only one here that likes her. :-Not to worry mate at least it has been an interesting topic and we wont hold it against you.:)

[Lignum]

Not to worry mate at least it has been an interesting topic and we wont hold it against you.:)

Oh well, I will just have to stay content with the life size poster of her on my shed wall behind my workbench.:wink:

[Blue-deviled]

Oh well, I will just have to stay content with the life size poster of her on my shed wall behind my workbench.:wink:

Slim Oprah, or the other one?:U

[Toymaker Len]

One day I was selling in The Rocks Market and an american woman put an empty suitcase on my table and proceeded to fill it up with my woodwork !!! Large purchases are not unusual with wealthy americans (and lets face it if they are staying in a hotel in The Rocks they are wealthy). If they want it they can put it on the bottomless Visa and have it right now.
THATS why we are paying $3m. to get $100m. worth of free publicity in the states. If every shop/hotel/entertainment in Sydney/Bris/Perth/etc gets a few of those sort of customers...we get back (ballpark estimate) something like $200 for every $1 spent. And as much as their culture is hysterical and insane the individuals are really nice people.

[Grumpy John]

Oh well, I will just have to stay content with the life size poster of her on my shed wall behind my workbench.:wink:

That's gotta be a violation of "The Code" :D.

[silentC]

THATS why we are paying $3m. to get $100m. worth of free publicity in the states.
For a start, it's not free, is it? Second, how do you even come up with a number like that? Plucked out of the air I suspect. Finally, how does the "$100m worth of free publicity" translate into actual revenue in Australia? You can't tell me, nobody knows. They're still trying to work out if we broke even on World Youth Day.

$3m is small potatoes, hardly even worth raising an eyebrow over. But it's just one example of a government busily fiddling while Rome burns. Assuming we do reap all these benefits eventually, how much of the money that comes into the country through tourism will go towards the infrastructure that the government should be spending on? I'm sure the Melbourne family who lost their little boy last year as a direct result of under-funding in our local hospital will be thrilled to hear that local businesses and tourism operators will have a bumper year next year.

[Greg Ward]

The trouble with infrastructure spending, (with all the goodwill in the world and the socialist deliberations behind well meaning thinkers), is that cash has to be generated within a society to pay for it.

Hospitals just don't get built or run without capital, neither do schools or the NBN on any Government paid or operated section of the community.

The money to pay from all these comes from taxes and Government investments.

And taxes are generated through business operations that generate profits, as well as taxes on employment itself and the GST. A bumper year would be great for taxes and infrastructure spending.

One industry that generates huge taxes through the GST, employee contributions and taxes on company profits is the service industry and the travel industry is a huge section of this.
Anything that can increase sales will generate GST and profits that will ultimately enable us to build the hospitals we need.

If we all sit and wait for things to happen in this world, we will all regress back to a subsistance lifestyle and there will be no services of any kind except those provided by soothsayers and medicine men.

Regards
Greg

[Toymaker Len]

For a start, it's not free, is it? Second, how do you even come up with a number like that?

$3m is small potatoes, hardly even worth raising an eyebrow over. But it's just one example of a government busily fiddling while Rome burns.

See Monty Python "What have the Romans ever done for us ? -apart from roads, sewerage, bathing, writing...er money. Yair what have the Romans ever done for us ?"
If I could get a dollars worth of petrol for three cents I'd be happy to call it free petrol.
Its true that the numbers are not precise they are generalised for public discussion. However we do have a lot of Austrade people counting visitors and dollars spent and free air time in the USA etc. Thats how we know that the "shrimp on the barby" campaign worked and the "where the bloody hell are ya" campaign didn"t. The second one was so obviously going to fail. Ordinary Americans hardly swear at all and are quite shocked by public swearing (No they don't watch gangsta rap).

[silentC]

One industry that ...Well yes but tourism's contribution to GDP has nearly doubled in the last 10 years but I don't see any improvements to infrastructure - quite the opposite. Ten years ago we had a fully operational surgical hospital. Today it is nothing more than an emergency department and nursing home.

It all sounds good in theory, but I remain sceptical until one person comes forward and is able to say "the $200m we spent last year on tourism promotion has increased the net worth of the Australian economy by x". All the nice statements about GST and employee tax contributions mean diddly squat if we don't see some tangible benefit to the country as a whole.

Maybe part of the problem is that more tourism translates to more migration, which just puts more strain on the infrastructure. Do we really want Oprah Winfrey's audience (2% of the US population, mostly women over 55) retiring here? :)

[silentC]

If I could get a dollars worth of petrol for three cents I'd be happy to call it free petrol.
Call it want you like, I'll bet the owner of the servo will still want his $1.80 for a tank full though.

You've lost me with the Life of Brian reference? Are you saying tourism has brought us all those things? I suppose indirectly it was the original tourists who brought them. The locals rue the day they let them in :)

Regarding the advertising campaigns, unless you stand there with a clipboard and interview every person who walks through the turnstile and ask them why they came, you'd have no way of knowing how well an ad worked. The advertising industry has struggled for years to prove that it's methods actually work. In some industries it's probably relatively easy, but I suspect tourism is not one of them. You can't just look for a correlation in arrivals - there may be other factors. Currently half the world is in the grip of economic depression - arrivals must be down, does that reflect poorly on our promotion campaign?

I know this much: I've been overseas a number of times and I have never chosen a destination based on an ad. I suppose it might put the suggestion in your head if your casting about for ideas. I think most people who come here will have "always wanted to go down under".

[Waldo]

It's all about brand awareness, it can be quantified and shown to have intrinsic value to growth.

But part of my beef with this whole thing, "Ohh, you are rich so you are important, let us shut down parts of a major city so you can walk the streets", as they :bowdown: and kiss :bartmoon:

:minigun: to that mentalaity to which 'we' now pander to. :~

[silentC]

It's all about brand awareness, it can be quantified and shown to have intrinsic value to growth.
Yes I understand that, but I'm sceptical about how that applies to a country in terms of tourism. I know the marketeers want us to think of the country as a "brand" and tourism as a "product". It makes the whole business sound so much more credible, doesn't it? Maybe they'll do an episode of The Gruen Transfer on it :D

[Waldo]

I'm just as sceptical myself. I give my clients outcomes based on experience, never pull something out of your :bartmoon: as people aren't dumb.

The real winner is Oprah - her brand and her show, not Australia.

They probably will, the CEO from GPY&R will agree to it, the bloke from Ogilvy won't. I agree on the later probable. Spending client money is good so long as you can quantify and justify.

[Grumpy John]

This discussion about the Oprah tour has me fascinated. I was aware that she is coming "down under" with a plane load of her viewers, as to when she is coming and where she is going I have no idea, I don't care. Apparently the government (Australian/NSW?) is tipping in some money ($3 mill?) and this has angered some Forumites as they cannot see any return for the money spent. Does the money the Government spend on the arts generate a profit - probably not, should the Government stop funding the arts - no. Just because you can't see a tangible benefit doesn't mean there isn't one. Consider the Australian National Gallery's 1973 AU$1.2 million purchase of Blue Poles, remember the stink that caused, worth close to $200 mill. now.

[Waldo]

The money spent on Blue Poles or other such acquisitions by galleries has a much greater measure on return for expenditure. :2tsup:

[Grumpy John]

The money spent on Blue Poles or other such acquisitions by galleries has a much greater measure on return for expenditure. :2tsup:

I'll ask if Silent won't, prove it.

[silentC]

That's a bit of a stretch Grumpy John, comparing Oprah Winfrey to The Yarts!

[silentC]

I'll ask if Silent won't, prove it.
You did yourself: "Australian National Gallery's 1973 AU$1.2 million purchase of Blue Poles, remember the stink that caused, worth close to $200 mill. now."

They could sell it tomorrow and build a new hospital! We can't sell Oprah Winfrey to the highest bidder, more's the pity. Maybe China would like her.

[Waldo]

Grumpy, you can easily measure ROI in a gallery to the exhibitions they hold and compare footfall on previous exhibitions.

Pompei, The Titanic, Entombed Warriors etc. Did you go to any? If so, why and why not at another time when they had the usual stuff on display, for example coming up in April 2011 is 'Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs', a returning exhibition I saw in Brisbane in '88, of which I will be going to.

[Grumpy John]

I wasn't comparing people/art, I was comparing dollars spent and the public's reaction to the spending. Someone will always object to how the Government spends our money and if the Government listened and acted on all those objections nothing would ever get done. If it were Nelson Mandella coming for a lecture tour (health permitting) would you be objecting so loudly?

[Waldo]

If someone says, I'm going to...!" and puts their hand out saying, "You pick up the tab", of course I object.

Be it the Queen or whoever, to me they are just a person like you or me, and I don't think they deserve anything more than you or I get.

[Grumpy John]

Grumpy, you can easily measure ROI in a gallery to the exhibitions they hold and compare footfall on previous exhibitions.

Pompei, The Titanic, Entombed Warriors etc. Did you go to any? If so, why and why not at another time when they had the usual stuff on display, for example coming up in April 2011 is 'Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs', a returning exhibition I saw in Brisbane in '88, of which I will be going to.

Excellent point Waldo, yes I went to the Pompei exhibition because I SAW IT ADVERTISED, I was also extremely disappointed. Not going to the 'Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs', going here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f125/another-cruise-coming-up-128114/) instead, to see the real thing :D, also because I saw it advertised.

[silentC]

I wasn't comparing people/art
Tongue in cheek, Grumpy ;)

However, if Nelson Mandela did come here, he would deserve to be treated as a head of state, since he actually was one.

My objection though, and it is a minor one, is based purely on the principal of this type of spending, not on the amount or the personality.

[Waldo]

Excellent point Waldo, yes I went to the Pompei exhibition because I SAW IT ADVERTISED, I was also extremely disappointed.

I was too, that paying public were treated like cattle and were raced through the exhibition. An exhibition I saw many years ago in Brisbane about Dali - I spent 2 hours looking at one painting. :shrug:

[silentC]

Excellent point Waldo, yes I went to the Pompei exhibition because I SAW IT ADVERTISEDI was going to say that, yes without advertising you would not have known the exhibition was on, and that hopefully we don't rely on advertising to make people aware Australia exists... but then I remembered we are talking about Oprah Winfrey's audience, so yes I take your point :D

[Lignum]

That's gotta be a violation of "The Code" :D.

But i have photo shopped a tool belt and Domino onto her so i figure its ok:)

[Grumpy John]

....... but then I remembered we are talking about Oprah Winfrey's audience, so yes I take your point :D

Apparently these are big sellers in Europe :D, my son brought one back for me.

155163

[artme]

So far everything seems to have been positive with Oprah's visit. She has a good impression and her guests seem to be enjoying themselves.

Whatever your personal thoughts about the lady this is probably going to be better for the tourism industry than anything that has happened in the country so far - save perhaps the Olympics.

[Lignum]

I wonder if Eddy will get a photo of her in a filthy Magpie jumper:?

[jimbur]

Age Green guide had an article on her.
Cheers,
Jim

[silentC]

Whatever your personal thoughts about the lady this is probably going to be better for the tourism industry than anything that has happened in the country so far - save perhaps the Olympics.I'm so glad you mentioned the olympics. As a matter of fact, the Auditor General found in 2003 that the net cost to the public purse of the games was somewhere between $1.7 and 2.4 billion. That's after extra income tax revenue etc was taken into account. Far from making us money, it cost us billions. We're left with infrastructure that nobody uses and that costs millions to maintain, and the tourist bubble that was supposed to follow never happened. In fact growth of tourism into NSW was less than for the country as a whole in the years that followed. So as a financial growth strategy, it was a marked failure. That's not to say we shouldn't have done it, but let's not muddy the waters by claiming it boosted the economy, because it clearly did not.

[Lignum]

Oprah Watch - She is now at Healesville Sanctuary. I suppose as I type this, some lucky Koala will be getting a nice ol feel :wink::)

And I couldn’t believe when I heard that women with sleeping bags and thermoses are already camping at Fed Square in Melbourne.

[Bob38S]

Oprah Watch - She is now at Healesville Sanctuary. I suppose as I type this, some lucky Koala will be getting a nice ol feel :wink::)

...

Am I seeing the dangling of the prawn in the pond - just to see who will rise to it? :o

[Woodwould]

Am I seeing the dangling of the prawn in the pond - just to see who will rise to it? :o

It's all just a ploy to spam his new web site.

[silentC]

I feel so used :D

[Lignum]

It's all just a ploy to spam his new web site.

Why would I use Oprah to spam my site? It’s the same people reading and replying and they already know its there. Once she leaves Vic I could care less.

[Woodwould]

Why would I use Oprah to spam my site?
It's a very popular/controversial news item.

[silentC]

Google this: oprah winfrey australia woodwork

:D:D

[Lignum]

It's a very popular/controversial news item.

I posted that i reckon it would be great if i could get her to buy or get something from me as it would be great. Their wouldnt be a woodworker (apart from you and 2 or 3 others) who wouldnt. Wasnt my fault it went onto a tourism debate.

[Lignum]

Google this: oprah winfrey australia woodwork

:D:D


Again, who would google that? what connection would her fans think she has with wood work?

How bout googleing "Collingwood joke woodworking forum" How many people would google a wood forum for a collingwood joke? about the same amount as Oprah the woodworker

[Grumpy John]

..................................................
How bout googleing "Collingwood joke woodworking forum" How many people would google a wood forum for a collingwood joke? about the same amount as Oprah the woodworker

Hey whaddya know one of my posts came up :D.

[silentC]

You would be surprised at what people Google. But see the smileys? They're meant to convey a light-hearted tone, so don't get your Collingwood knickers in a knot there Lignum.

[Lignum]

You would be surprised at what people Google. But see the smileys? They're meant to convey a light-hearted tone, so don't get your Collingwood knickers in a knot there Lignum.

Fair enough. :D

But i just googled Oprah in Australia and i scanned the first 8 pages and no mention of this thread. So if it was a spaming ploy like wouldwood said, then it was a massive failure and waste of time. :rolleyes:

[silentC]

a massive failure and waste of timeJust like the tourism potential of Oprah's visit then ;)

OK, I'll stop now...:p

[Lignum]

Just like the tourism potential of Oprah's visit then ;)

OK, I'll stop now...:p

So will I :)