Making hay when the markets don't shine

Some meetings are better suited to a blog post than Meeting Minutes. When you are meeting with a private equity fund manager in shirt sleeves when markets are down and out, the possibilities for discussion are endless! Everything from the kid's schooling to the latest vacation, even the quality of the domestic cook are equally promising subjects to discuss. These are times when you actually "discover" something more about your client as a person, if you know what I mean. These are times when you say to yourself, 'How come I never asked clients about their favorite cuisine?' And a booming voice answers in your head, 'Because the markets have finally conspired with the Universe and given you the chance!'

As we worked our way through the weather, the crazy Mumbai traffic, the shocking events in financial markets since we last met, I realised how much I missed this. Meetings had become all too agenda-driven all through 2008. Check in at reception - get ushered into the conf room - shake hands with client - ask for tea or just water - discuss deal - confirm timelines - Get up and shake hands again - Leave for the next meeting. No mention of weather, not even the bollywood-multiplex strike!

Well, so times have finally changed for the better, for lack of a better word. The latent creativity in me has welcomed this change completely. Now I find myself unleashing it on clients. The aforesaid fund manager got a taste of it this week - When talk of sectors to invest in given current market conditions came up, I suggested investing in a chain of SCUBA-diving schools. And I had solid logic too - with more and more people finding time to discover passions, specially an addictive one like SCUBA-diving, diving schools are pretty much the next biggest thing. Remember, you heard it here first.

Every bear has a silver lining, I say.

Elvis and Freddie Mercury come alive on stage

Having grown up watching American television serials, movies and music videos, the reader shouldn’t be surprised if I confessed to being completely brainwashed into the idea that all things wonderful exist in America! Forget the gangster movies, regressive stereotypes like Beauty and the Geek, stories of Hollywood dementia; American television does manage to come up with something wonderful once in a while. American Idol (AI) is definitely one such reality show. In fact, its a good old live singing competition which manages to hold its own in this era of DIY reality television and crass come-clean-on-tv shows like Moment of Truth. Looking at the initial audition rounds of AI, you wouldn’t believe the evolution the show goes through as weeks pass by. From loud mouthed rappers to schizophrenic costumed performers and bumbling whiners, the American Idol auditions manage to sample the worst of local talent in major towns in the US. I definitely do not envy the judges who are faced with the mind-numbing task of listening out hundreds, maybe thousands, of self-confessed singing enthusiasts and picking out the reasonable ones. The task requires endless patience and eternal optimism. Simon, of course, peppers most of the audition sessions with home truths, doled out to the candidates on just how “karaoke” or plain “horrible” they sound! Still, at the end of the long tough road, there is a reward in the form of some genuinely good singers. Its true – the wider you cast your net, the higher are the chances of finding unusually good talent. This year, the American Idol judges – Randy, Kara, Paula and Simon have outdone themselves. The top 5, which is where we currently stand at this stage in the competition, are truly wonderful singers. Allison, the only girl left in the competition, is only 16 and can sing up a storm! From Rock to country to Jazz, she has managed to tune her raspy voice to almost any genre. Danny, Matt Giraud and Kris Allen, excellent singers all, have established a unique connect with the audience and proven their mettle in pure unadulterated singing, hitting the high octaves with ease and experimenting with song arrangements. But my absolute favourite is Adam Lambert. Accused of being ‘theatrical’ by Simon during his audition, Adam has evolved into the front-runner for the top spotHis vocal chops are unique – he can linger on a soft low note and let go on the highest octave with equal abandon. His display of skills at the falsetto and the really high notes are reminiscent of Freddie Mercury. With a theatrical stage presentation and stunning looks, he is definitely a star in the making. He is confident but not overly so and fearless, which is what gives him a unique grasp on any kind of music. He is not afraid to experiment with a super-mushy ‘Tracks of My Tears’ by Smokey Robinson or hit his comfort zone with Steppenwolf’s ‘Born to be Wild’. Truly exceptional.
Also, what’s great about AI is the connect they are able to achieve with audiences globally, which indeed, is driven by the strength of music. The language of music is truly universal and the producers of American Idol have done well to remind us that high standards of performance can be maintained and achieved year after year.
It remains to be seen, however, if these 5 contestants stay true to their belief in good music and not fall prey to populist fad-of-the-month audiences, once the competition draws to a close.