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This blog post is dedicated to my daughter, Melanie Martin, who taught me everything I know about getting what you want out of life. When she was five years old she made up her mind she was going to attend Florida State University and star in the Flying High Circus. (My daughter Melanie ran off to join the circus)
Throughout her childhood she had a single focus on achieving that goal and when it was time to go to college, she only applied only to FSU.
Melanie graduated from FSU and starred in the FSU Flying High Circus her junior and senior years.
Ellen Degenerous—my bucket list
I turned 70 this year and am feverishly working through my bucket list. I have always wanted to see Ellen. (My Ellen blog)
I know seeing Ellen is not in the category of solving world hunger or hang gliding off the Empire State Building, but it was important to me nonetheless.
However, it seemed highly unlikely that I could pull it off.
My wife and I were planning a trip to California this summer to visit some friends and since The Ellen Show is produced in Los Angeles–hence the opportunity. But those of you who watch the Ellen Show know the audience is 95% women. And as you might expect, even though I applied for tickets on line, we were not selected.
But I was not deterred. I was willing to do anything and everything—including embarrassing myself and my family.
Not ready for primetime—YouTube
First, my daughter, Melanie, and I published four YouTube videos to get the attention of the Ellen producers. These videos are pretty cheesy, but desperate times call for desperate measures…
- David begs for tickets to see Ellen Degenerous
- David begs for Ellen Degenerous tickets again
- David’s daughter begs for tickets
- David’s grandchildren beg for tickets
Even though these videos have received 288 views to date, I didn’t get a response from Ellen.
Begging on Facebook
Then I begged for help on Facebook and got two surprising responses. Two of my friends told me about a young woman from Birmingham who was working as an intern for the Ellen Show. I tried to contact her and her family, but failed.
Begging on LinkedIn
I posted on LinkedIn, as I did on Facebook, that I was searching for tickets for Ellen. I got a few responses, but that didn’t help either.
Searching my contacts on LinkedIn
BINGO—this was the winner!
I searched in “Advance Search” on LinkedIn for “Ellen Degenerous Show,” “Warner Brothers” (who produces the show), and “WVTM” our local affiliate in Birmingham.
I found a LinkedIn connection who last year had invited me into LinkedIn. (I didn’t know him at the time) I contacted him and not only did he get us tickets, but he got us VIP tickets. While the” unimportant people” were waiting in long lines to enter the show, we had a special seating section and were ushered into the theater first.
Lessons learned
My wife, Ina-Mae, and I had the best time. We got to see Viola Davis, who starred in “The Help,” but we also got to see Snooki from Jersey Shore fame. (Okay, so the trip wasn’t that perfect)
My father told me when I was young, “You can do anything you make up your mind to do.” And my daughter, Melanie, taught me—“Never give up on your dreams.”
David Sher is a co-founder of Buzz12 Advertising. You can read more of his posts by looking for the “David Sher Posts” category in the sidebar of Buzz12’s website.