Has JB taken the low road re: food & drink??

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » June 4, 2007 5:02 pm

I swear, I love the man. I know this and the last post I made might not seem like it, but I REALLY DO!!!!

But.....

I've been following the Landshark posts. Ain't lookin' real good. Looked back through for some tequila posts & most everyone thought it was decent. Reviews I've heard other places (non-parrotthead) don't think real highly of it. I've had the Island Lime and the Jerk Shrimp. Jerk is pretty good, Island Lime kinda......well......stinks. So the question is: should Jimmy have gone for high-end food & drink rather than the middle to low end?? Should he have gone for a low-volume but high-quality microbrew instead of Bud Beach???? Would a line of seasonings & food marketed like Harry & Dean or some other gourmet line have worked better than the frozen??? (I'm basing this view on the fact that I have a hard time finding Margaritaville Seafood and what I did find was on clearance) A tequila more along the lines of Cabo Wabo???

Honestly, I'm not trying to bash the man.........maybe it's just that I expect more????

Maybe I'm.......*SOB* not really a parrothead?!?!?!?!?!?!?

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » June 4, 2007 5:14 pm

There, there.... You're still a parrothead.... ((((Staregde))))

But just like JB does every day, you made a business decision.... you decided not to spend your money on a product that didn't meet your standards....

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » June 4, 2007 5:24 pm

Mass marketing is in low-to-middle-end stuff. You'll sell a whole hell of a lot more Hondas than you will Ferraris.

The man also sells escapism, to those who don't necessarily have the means to escape. He takes you to the islands in song, tequila, shrimp, flip-flops, whatever. Those that can afford the higher end will just go and get it themselves

Although he didn't really go low-end in the Frozen Concoction maker...

I love my margaritaville flip flops. The tequila and shrimp I could do without, although the flavored tequilas are good for mixing, and not something that's readily available from other tequila makers.

I'm not sure what point I'm trying to make here.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » June 4, 2007 5:42 pm

If he was taking the low road Landshark wouldn't be $7/bottle at the M'ville cafes or $7.50/6 pack in stores. I can get a pint of Sam Adams for $7 in NYC, why should I pay the same price for that stuff they're trying to pass off as beer? Just because JB is connected to it? I don't think so. After having the first one, I wonder how many people who are raving about it would have gone back for another one if it didn't say Margaritaville Brewing Company on the label?

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » June 4, 2007 5:43 pm

All good points.

Liminone · Post by **Liminone** » June 4, 2007 6:04 pm

I like the beer a lot.

but here in CT it's $8.50 a 6-pack. To me that seems a little high for the product.
Will I still buy some ofcourse but again for the money I can do better.
Just my frugal 2 cents

Big Jimmy · Post by **Big Jimmy** » June 4, 2007 6:18 pm

The orange peel wings are excellent -- cook them over the grill though and marinate them in the orange peel sauce and you will LOVE EM

drunkpirate66 · Post by **drunkpirate66** » June 4, 2007 6:25 pm

Capitalism. Accept it or leave.

rdots1 · Post by **rdots1** » June 4, 2007 6:47 pm

First, I love the lime shrimp. I even use it to make a fantastic pizza. So, to each his own. People are always, for lack of a better term, criticizing Jimmy's business decisions. At this stage in his life/career, Jimmy is a corporation. At least his name is. He did not taste the lime shrimp and say, "Let's sell it." He does not call TM, Verizon or MSG and say, "I'll play in your venue if you give me at least $1,000,000.00 and charge $126.50 for seats" He pays people to do this for him and he trusts them. I would bet that he has no idea - maybe a rough guess - how much he gets paid for each event. That is what lawyers and accountants are for. Now, if he were to realize that he made significantly less money one year, he would have someone to find the cause. He may get involved if the person who is paid to ensure he doesn't "lose" money cannot solve the problem. He obviously does get involved with matters he has an issue with. The Canadian boycot would be an example. Charity concerts would be another. Also, to our knowledge, he didn't have a PR person issue a statement after the episode in France. I'm sure he's directly involved with those types of issues. Sammy actually did extensive research before launching Cabo, which is a great tequila. I doubt Jimmy even tasted it before a label was thrown on it.

There is one thing Jimmy has given to anyone who cares to listen and that is Radio Margaritaville. Gotta go, more to follow.

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » June 4, 2007 7:35 pm

I can certainly afford the price of the beer so that's no prob.
At the stores near me there are not many Mexican or tropical inspired six packs under $7 bucks anyway. Landshark is $8.19.
I've tried the shrimp and liked it too.
I also like the Tequila. Sue me. It's all a matter of opinion.
It's just beer and tequila. It's not supposed to change the world.
No matter what beer he made, someone would criticize it.
So I guess in short, I don't care. If Jimmy wants to do it, do it.
If we can have "shameless entertainment" then why not shameless marketing?

OystersandBeer · Post by **OystersandBeer** » June 4, 2007 8:21 pm

I'm glad he made the songs he did.

As for the rest, I could give two...

OystersandBeer · Post by **OystersandBeer** » June 4, 2007 8:22 pm

Forgot to mention the books as well. (I liked those)

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » June 4, 2007 8:45 pm

sonofabeach wrote:I can certainly afford the price of the beer so that's no prob.
At the stores near me there are not many Mexican or tropical inspired six packs under $7 bucks anyway. Landshark is $8.19.
I've tried the shrimp and liked it too.
I also like the Tequila. Sue me. It's all a matter of opinion.
It's just beer and tequila. It's not supposed to change the world.
No matter what beer he made, someone would criticize it.
So I guess in short, I don't care. If Jimmy wants to do it, do it.
If we can have "shameless entertainment" then why not shameless marketing?

Great line.

It won't change the world, just improve your perception of it.

...and I like the jerk shrimp and coconut shrimp, but can't find the chicken anymore here.

Staredge · Post by **Staredge** » June 4, 2007 9:17 pm

rdots1 wrote:First, I love the lime shrimp. I even use it to make a fantastic pizza. So, to each his own. People are always, for lack of a better term, criticizing Jimmy's business decisions. At this stage in his life/career, Jimmy is a corporation. At least his name is. He did not taste the lime shrimp and say, "Let's sell it." He does not call TM, Verizon or MSG and say, "I'll play in your venue if you give me at least $1,000,000.00 and charge $126.50 for seats" He pays people to do this for him and he trusts them. I would bet that he has no idea - maybe a rough guess - how much he gets paid for each event. That is what lawyers and accountants are for. Now, if he were to realize that he made significantly less money one year, he would have someone to find the cause. He may get involved if the person who is paid to ensure he doesn't "lose" money cannot solve the problem. He obviously does get involved with matters he has an issue with. The Canadian boycot would be an example. Charity concerts would be another. Also, to our knowledge, he didn't have a PR person issue a statement after the episode in France. I'm sure he's directly involved with those types of issues. Sammy actually did extensive research before launching Cabo, which is a great tequila. I doubt Jimmy even tasted it before a label was thrown on it.

There is one thing Jimmy has given to anyone who cares to listen and that is Radio Margaritaville. Gotta go, more to follow.

This is where I'm coming from. This is the guy who would hole up in his hotel after playing the bar all night & count receipts. If he is taking an active role in all this, then why is the product so mediocre? If he isn't, why the hell not??? He doesn't strike me as the type that would just allow other people to decide what to do in his name, but I could be wrong.

I guess it just makes me sad when something Margaritaville doesn't live up to a high standard. I don't like it when everyone's not raving about whatever it happens to be. I honestly do want everything he touches to turn to gold. He's brought a lot of joy and happy escapism to my and many other's life, and he deserves his success. I want him to hit home runs, and right now it seems like he's racking up the singles.

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » June 5, 2007 8:05 am

Jimmy could put his name on dog doo and it would sell.

LIPH · Post by **LIPH** » June 5, 2007 8:42 am

rdots1 wrote:He does not call TM, Verizon or MSG and say, "I'll play in your venue if you give me at least $1,000,000.00 and charge $126.50 for seats" He pays people to do this for him and he trusts them. I would bet that he has no idea - maybe a rough guess - how much he gets paid for each event.

Maybe he has people who make the calls but I'd bet he tells them how much he wants to charge for each performance. That's his decision, not the "people" he pays. I'd also bet he knows exactly how much he gets paid, maybe not down to the penny but at least to the dollar. He didn't get to where he is, as both a musician and a businessman, by not knowing details like that.

CapnK · Post by **CapnK** » June 5, 2007 9:07 am

don't worry Staredge, you're a perfectly normal stage 7/8 Parrothead.

Couganata · Post by **Couganata** » June 5, 2007 1:28 pm

Actually, I don't agree with Larry much, but agree with everything he has said here. You get get to the top by sitting back and having other people carry you.

ccmatt · Post by **ccmatt** » June 5, 2007 1:40 pm

Jimmy definately knows exactly how much he is paid for anything.
Margaritaville shrimp--Like it!
Margaritaville Tequila-- Awful.
Landshark--Not too good.
Jimmy Buffett music---Love 99% off it.

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » June 5, 2007 1:43 pm

I love the music, but I think he's more qualified to teach at the Harvard School of Business after retirement than the The Juilliard School of Music. He knows his market, who's buying the stuff, what other products they might be interested in. He's built a career that 99% of other entertainers would love to have, all based on songs that critics, and even most other music fans, don't care for. A niche market with a rabid following. Quite the recipe for success.