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Ft. Gabriel Darretta, Social Media Manager and Content Producer for Sesame Place
147 Plays1 month ago
Ever wondered what it takes to do social media and content production for a family theme park? Gabriel Darretta joins us to talk about his experiences working at Sesame Place!
Follow Sesame Place on socials and check out some of the content discussed in the episode!
https://www.instagram.com/sesameplace
https://www.tiktok.com/channel/sesame-place
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Transcript
Intro and Off-Season Roller Coaster Talk
00:00:00
Speaker
You're listening to the inverted creative podcast. I'm Allison. I'm Brian and I'm Jen Hello everybody, it's Brian here Just thinking and lamenting that it's the end of November It's officially officially the off-season for coasters, especially here in New England. it's a That would be depressing enough. But then my two lovely co-hosts, they just, you know, are going to Germany in the next week. Whoops. Then two weeks for Jen. So I'm just doing great. How are you guys doing? I can't imagine how you feel because I'm depressed that Alison only has a one-day countdown and I have a nine-day countdown, so. That's true. By the time this goes live, Alison will already be in Germany.
00:00:58
Speaker
Um, when this goes live, I'll be on my plane back from Germany. Oh my God. That's ridiculous. We're recording this on Tuesday. We're recording a little earlier this week, obviously because of Allison's trip and Thanksgiving. But that's, that's wild. Yeah, I'm excited. Not jealous at all. Um, cause you're going to Europe for the first time. I am. And Jen for the second time.
00:01:25
Speaker
For the second time, we're here at the park. Second time in like a year, or six months, whatever it is. It's like six or seven months. It's fine. Everything's fine. I'm not obsessed with the park. It's fine. When's trip number three? Don't even play. I already found a $400 flight in like six months. I was going to say, this is probably a good chance you're going to go to Europa a third time before I go for my first.
00:01:53
Speaker
Yeah, there's a very good job. I'm thinking in July. Yeah, I'm thinking May. Good Lord. I will probably I say I'll go back to Fantasia before I go back to
Roller Coaster Experiences and Travel Plans
00:02:05
Speaker
Europa, but I don't know. We'll see what happens. Well, um I'm going to give away all my things. If I do end up booking this, there's a very good chance I'd fly into Amsterdam and do Efteling, Fantasia and down to Europa and then back up to Amsterdam to fly home. That'll be fantastic.
00:02:24
Speaker
Yeah, it's a line right down to Europa Park and back. I'm jealous of Efteling. Efteling is like, honestly, I already really wanted to go to that park and then they opened a new attraction, which the attraction in itself isn't something that I was as interested in like I am, but like, okay, it's a new attraction. Um,
00:02:47
Speaker
The stupid little black cat plushie with the two different color eyes. Oh my goodness. That alone. I'm like, I need to go. I need this cat. I need it. Sounds like I need it too. It is so cute. and So you literally have a black cat. So that seems like it'd be perfect for you. Yeah. Yeah. You need it. You need to go to Efteling so you can get the little black cat plushie. It's so cute.
00:03:14
Speaker
Also, i just like I collect stuffed animals from European parks. So I guess I have to go to Efteling and get that. Or, you know, send you to Efteling to get that for me. I would come. I would bring you home one if I go. I don't know. um I can't talk about it too much or my plans are gonna just fall apart. Bad juju.
00:03:36
Speaker
Yeah, the ah I'm excited for you guys. It's as jealous and envious as I am. you know I'm very excited to hear your reports, but ah you know not just here in New England. anyway Anyone that lives essentially north of Florida and Texas, it's it's it's a sad time of year to be an enthusiast. Not much going on for the next, jeez, four months, four or five months now.
00:04:00
Speaker
so What's that? Unless you know how to plan. and go get coasters. I mean, I do go to Florida every now and then that that helps, you know, curb it. But as far as like coaster updates, I was talking with Allison before we recorded ah other than a roller coaster on a boat in February, which some people might not even count as a credit. That might be my only yeah update until the spring, which is a sad reality. I know.
00:04:31
Speaker
but But Allison, at least you got to go somewhere last weekend, I believe. I did. It was a very short trip. um Me and Mike and a bunch of friends went down to Atlanta, my old stomping grounds. um We did a little buzz bars event down at Fun Spot. That's what it's called. um And Six Flags Over Georgia. So I got a few rides. I also got a migraine when I was at Fun Spot. So I rode Airy Force a few times. And that was about it. And then went to Over Georgia and rode
00:05:04
Speaker
Twisted Cyclone and Acrophobia, and that was it. It was very... I mean, if you're a veteran of the area, I get it. Yeah. I mean, i'm I've been going to Six Flags for 20 years as my home park, so... I do... I got to go visit my dad when I was down there. That's really sweet. I have lunch with my dad, so it was worth it.
Content Creation and Trivia Segment
00:05:25
Speaker
I do want to say, I feel like it is weird for someone to say, I only got a few rides in Airy Force. I feel like anytime anyone reports from Airy Force, like, oh, I rode it 25 times. I rode it 72 times. I don't know how they do it, but I feel like that's a ride that is just the most marathonable coaster, probably because it's never a line, right? Yeah. I think I got three rides in and then a migraine set in, so I ah went and slept in the car, so.
00:05:52
Speaker
ah When I was there, it had no line, and but it was like over 10 minute dispatches. So I don't know how anyone gets it just for the pure fact. I was there for like four hours and wrote it like three times because it was just like, I was in a line of like maybe three trains and it was over a 30 minute wait every single time.
00:06:15
Speaker
I believe that when I was there, it was similar. And and then and then like the middle school groups came and I'm like, okay, this is not going to be. Yeah. And yeah, cause I was, I was definitely there for four or five hours and it was me and Brandon and we had the dog. So we had to switch off with the dog. And then it was like 30 minute weights because the dispatches were so slow. I was like, this weight should have been top 10 minutes.
00:06:40
Speaker
And here we are. That's awesome. Yeah. I really need to get more rides in that thing because it was rainy when I went. It was like a 60 degree, like October morning. Before the middle school kids showed up, it was literally just me and like three other people. And it was still great, but I feel like I don't have I still don't have like a true airy force opinion that I can really throw out there.
00:07:08
Speaker
We'll see. We'll see where it shows up if it shows up on my ah top 100 roller coaster list on my YouTube channel. Quick little plug. There's something you need to plug. Yes, I'm doing a ah slow reveal of my top 100 coasters. I'm going 10 at a time. Just started a last week. I'm already actually by the time this comes out, four parts should be out. um It's weird because I plugged this podcast on my last video and now I'm plugging the video on the podcast.
00:07:38
Speaker
circle of life. Jen, I'm assuming you haven't watched the video that came out today, correct? No, I have been i've been. I mean, I could it's out there now. There is a spoiler. I actually used you to lead into plugging the podcast. And I said that Talon unfortunately did not make my top hundred.
00:08:03
Speaker
I quit. Yeah, it was nice having a co-host. I understand if you need to. Hold on. Hold on. That's the most incorrect take I've ever heard in my life. You have, v I have heard you say, but it's still a B and&M invert and B and&M inverts aren't my favorite model. You have no B&M inverts in your. I have a few. No, I have, but you knew it was. You knew it wasn't my favorite though. I put, I put Banshee over it.
00:08:31
Speaker
What? What? That was that was in today's video. Actually, I'm not kidding. Brian's fired. I mean, in the layout is like it's so much longer and it's close. Talon's probably like in the 101 to 150 range. It's still like my top 25 percent of coasters.
00:08:53
Speaker
I don't want to talk about this thing. Let's move on. You know what I find funny, though? Bryant mentioned talent at Dornie Park before Gen did today. Look at that. Look at that. To be fair, I didn't say Talon at Dorney Park. You just did. Yeah, I don't think the whole name was used yet. um but However, both of you said Talon at Dorney Park before I did.
Introducing Gabriel and His Role at Sesame Place
00:09:19
Speaker
Wow. and i good out there I think it's time for trivia. Well, before we get there, I did get a text from Alex before we recorded saying like.
00:09:28
Speaker
You're so wrong for not having Talon. And I'm like, dude, cause he has it in this like top 25. I'm like, you're drinking the Jen Kool-Aid way too hard. As it should be. However, I really am offended that Banshee is over Talon at Thoring Park. Like I did not even tell you how offended I am by that one because is that is like, that is not okay. I accept maybe Osiris, Black Mamba,
00:09:58
Speaker
Top Gun. There's four more are coming on my list. I can't reveal which, but. not the hell kind of doing Neither of you have you been on Black Mamba. I know, but I know Black Mamba. Black Mamba might be my one that tops Talon. Kobe Bryant Talon. Yeah, Kobe Bryant Talon. Just because some of my favorite things about Talon is like how low to the ground it is and how graceful it is in those senses. And Black Mamba does a lot of that as well.
00:10:26
Speaker
It's phenomenal. I think it's my favorite an invert. So I think Black Mamba is going to be up there for me. Um, I've heard similar about Osiris. It stays pretty low to the ground and like gives very similar vibes to Talon. So I don't know. Eiffel Talon, it's a solid ride. and Yeah. Eiffel Talon is up there. Not, not as good as Banshee. Okay. There you go. Uh, Osiris did not make my list either.
00:10:53
Speaker
Shocking. That is kind of shocking. Cause I feel like everyone who's written Eiffel Talon is usually all for Eiffel Talon. Again, like there's probably a lot of inverts I have in that one on one to one 50 range. Cause they're all, they're all good. Just, they're not one of my favorites. You got to really, you got to really like punch me with intensity for me to like love an inverter.
00:11:17
Speaker
or have a really good layout. That's like just the wrong take on inverts as a whole. But also Banshee being in your top 100 when you want to be punched with intensity and that thing is just like... You didn't ride it in the front. We rode it in the back. Banshee the front is awesome. That's like the most boring invert, like i it was weird, it was... You didn't call it boring. You liked it. I liked it, but I liked it because it was weird and unusual. I didn't like it. I like that, too. Yeah, but I don't think there was any point where it punched me with intensity. Like I didn't gray out. I didn't like in the front. You do. It's I mean, it's sixty seven miles per hour or sixty eight, I think. OK. Now we're just going to figure this whole podcast who is going to be me. brand you versus And sign is not as good as as banshees to.
00:12:05
Speaker
I don't know. Talent sign is pretty cool. Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's just not Banshee's. Oh, my gosh. Get out of here. ah We asked a trivia question last week. I believe it was, what is the fastest roller coaster in Florida to have an onboard audio system? So some people guessed both Mako and Velocicoaster, which those rides are faster than the correct answer. However, neither of those have onboard audio, correct? I'm pretty sure.
00:12:36
Speaker
yeah I think we're all like have to think, wait, Velascoaster doesn't have any audio. um No, it doesn't have a lot of audio. Yeah. So that's right there actually were a lot of options in like that 55 to 65 mile per hour range. Rock and roller coaster. at Disney is 57. You have um Rip Ride Rocket hit 65 miles per hour. um Hagrid's I think is 50. Guardians hit 60.
00:13:04
Speaker
I think Tron has onboard audio as well. That hit 60 miles per hour, 59. Well, when I have to take a guess, I think I know. Sure. Go for it, Jensen. Is it Hulk? Correct answer is indeed the Incredible Hulk, 67 miles per hour. Prior to 2016, the answer would have been Rip Ride Rocket. But the new, the Hulk 2, if you will, added some audio to the ride. So we have multiple correct answers. A lot of people, actually.
00:13:33
Speaker
We have lom, lom, lom, brothers of the back row, Kyle bo Boggs, ah Marty and Alex. Do we randomly pick somebody or we just congratulate all five of them? I'm good with just like randomizing. I know Marty and Alex already both won. Yeah, you should actually eliminate them. I mean, um therere' hear a shout out, but they would just shout out Marty and Alex. There you go. Yeah. Stop getting our trivia right every single week.
00:14:02
Speaker
Oh, Alex will be like, oh, I got to be first. Probably he listens as soon as it goes live. Yeah. Alex is already texting me at like 6 15. Probably just speeds to the end.
00:14:16
Speaker
But yeah, we'll ask another ah trivia question at the end of this episode in relation to our guest today, which we are very excited to have on. We are. Do you think is it about time to ah invite? I think we should ah invite some Gabriel into this thing. What do you say?
00:14:32
Speaker
I think that's a good idea. Let's go. Let's do it. Gabriel. Hello. I woke up immediately. I literally just unmuted to say hello, and she was not barking before then. Hello, Ahsoka says welcome, Gabriel. Well, hello, Ahsoka. As she can, as she only knows how to welcome people. The best.
00:15:02
Speaker
Super cute. Well, welcome to the podcast. No, for sure. Thanks so much for having me. This is exciting. I'm very excited. You're like our first professional guest and it's different for us. Oh, well, we like professional. That works. I'll take that. jiagg anytime it's pretty professional
00:15:25
Speaker
ah Yeah, no, it's it's been an interesting a few episodes. I've been listening to them On my commutes to and from work and around and they've been keeping me entertained. So really great work. Yeah Love to hear that Thanks so much Gabriel for sure. Yeah Gabriel You should ah probably give us just a quick rundown about who exactly you are what you do in this crazy industry for sure. Well, um I I was going to give you a really abridged version of kind of my background. I was in retail, um corporate leadership for 18 years. um And at the age of 38, I left that business. But in that business, I was lucky enough to kind of hone into some things from a marketing and and PR perspective that kind of fit well with this industry and my current role.
00:16:10
Speaker
um And I've been in the theme park industry now for it'll be four years this coming June So only three and a half years I've been in the industry. I've been an enthusiast my whole life. So that's like a given um and I ah Would say that you know in the time that I've been in this industry I've probably learned more in the past three years than I have in my entire previous career when it comes to marketing PR social media like the full gamut So what is your official role at Sesame Place and kind of what's a general overview of what you do there? Yeah, so I am the social media manager and content producer. And that is that is a loaded question. I in in my role, the initial iteration of my role was really just somebody who manages the content that comes in and out of the department and pushes through our social media channels.
00:17:06
Speaker
um What I've kind of evolved the role into is a hybrid role of not only um ah social media management, social media management, but it's also content production and really identifying kind of what is the best content for the communications we're putting out there and ah then taking that to the next step and and and really building a fan base based on that content. um It's a little bit of a different role because many of our other social media managers are just social media managers and they have a content production team. Whereas I am both of those roles. I feel like one of the more intriguing questions that we thought of and something honestly that I've always been interested to hear, especially coming from Sesame Place because it's obviously a kids park.
00:17:54
Speaker
But yet adults are going to be the ones probably seeing the content on social media. So like how do you balance those considerations of your audience when it comes to content creation? ah Well, it's it's a very thin line between staying contemporary and speaking to our demographic and also speaking to ah the trueness of the brand and kind of where the the brand comes from.
00:18:19
Speaker
Um, it really is about children, you know, and developing, uh, content that is, that speaks to them, but then also resonates with a demographic, our demographic, which is 75% women, the age is 24 to 35. You know what I mean? So if we're honing in on that specific demographic, how do you marry the two? Um, and the perfect example would probably be something like, you know, the video we did today, which was a video of our characters and a couple of our hosts that we we have on our Tik TOK.
00:18:48
Speaker
um And they basically did a whole thank you moment talking about the characters and their personalities and who they are um in the show and and and in and you know in their bios and what backgrounds are. But then you get a piece of content like we did the other day.
00:19:03
Speaker
which is themed out to when Gen Z writes the script and that's speaking to the parents 24 to 35 years old. um And you kind of flip flop between those two ideas of staying contemporary and up to date with the content, but then also going back to the roots of the Sesame Street brand and making sure we're keeping it in line with the brand for sure.
Marketing Strategies and Family Experiences
00:19:26
Speaker
that Gen Z video, if you guys haven't seen it yet, it's it's really, really funny. They did such a good job. Dude, he was he was awesome. yeah that's our um That's our VP of finance. And you know it's funny, he asked me, you know how should i how should I read the script? And I was like, just be you. and We worked out perfect.
00:19:45
Speaker
I just actually want to say you real quick to make it just a little personal. I just realized I think Sesame Place technically was the first park I ever went to, even before I rode any roller coasters. I actually have a um ah drawing that somebody did of me in a ah Larry Bird Celtics jersey, like one of those airbrushed drawings. And the date says this is going to age myself June 23rd, 1992. Oh, it's amazing. I was four years old.
00:20:16
Speaker
And it's still hanging right outside my room, back in at my parents' house. Well, we've got a full circle. Now I'm talking to the Sesame Place guy. ah So so we've got ah we've got a piece of content coming up in a couple of weeks that you might recognize a couple of couple of the photos that you may have submitted. I did. I did, yes. Very excited. So um that actually goes in for review tomorrow. And we should see that in the next couple of weeks to keep your eyes out. You can see a little little Bryant.
00:20:44
Speaker
Oh, yeah. Little four year old me. Sounds adorable. I want to see that picture. I'll see you after we record. That is incredible. Do you guys get to like I I feel like I grew up near Sesame Place, so I feel like it's everyone's like first park like that or there's maybe one or two other ones I hear of. Do you guys market a lot towards that?
00:21:10
Speaker
Well, yeah, we had our whole campaign for years is go before they grow. you know And that, in a nutshell, is realistically what the the basis of the experience of our our key demographic is. So in Park, our demographic is children two to seven. you know um Children under two can enjoy themselves. ah ah Children over you seven can enjoy themselves. But realistically, we're gearing our our demographic and our communications towards the children two to seven. So when we're speaking to the parents, we're saying, listen,
00:21:39
Speaker
bring your kids here before they're too old before they grow out of it you know create those core memories with your family um and we're going to give you the resource to do that we're going to give you the rides we're going to give you those character experiences and meet and greets we're going to give you the shows and the parades you know and really elevate what it is to walk through our gate and say you know what you're coming in you're coming in at it with your children, which are extremely impressionable, you know, and you want to create those core memories that really say they really last a lifetime, just like Brian has. Right. Oh, yeah, for sure. Hey, low low key. That probably maybe started the, you know, enthusiast genes in me like, oh, I'm having a really good day at a park. And, you know, the next step was Disney. And then I guess the rest is history after that. So Sesame Place. Absolutely. I didn't know it at the time it might have started like my love of parks.
00:22:27
Speaker
Oh, that's kind of awesome, actually. Yeah. I do love that campaign idea because I know, like, when my sister was kind of contemplating when to take my niece to Disney for the first time, like, one of the considerations was, is she going to be too young to remember this? and Well, sure, like that age, especially, too, they're not going to remember it, but they'll have the pictures and then the family will have the memories altogether of those moments. I think that's huge. Yeah, for sure. You know, I have I can think back to when I was a kid, you know, my first part was Coney Island.
00:22:56
Speaker
You know, um, growing up in Brooklyn and my, my father brought me on the cyclone. He brought me on, you know, the jumbo jet. But my, my favorite core memory of that is, is riding the wacky worm and riding through the giant apple. You know, that is literally my very first memory of being on a roller coaster.
00:23:12
Speaker
um And just like you, Brian, it's that's something that will stick with me for the rest of my life. you know I can remember being at that park. I can remember being on you know that roller coaster with my father or with my mother. And we would go there probably once a month. you know I celebrated my first, like I want to say, like five or six birthdays where I was actually able to walk and enjoy the rides. We went there until I was like seven or eight. And then my father started taking me to other theme parks.
00:23:41
Speaker
Totally believe that. Yeah, I mean, you know, at least as adult enthusiasts sometimes, like, ah. why Why are parks investing in in family areas and kids' areas so much? Will we forget? That's how we were shaped. Well, I think it's so important for the future of of our industry. You know what I mean? Not only of our industry, but of as enthusiasts as a whole. you know if If we're not creating safe spaces for families and it's only for the current batch of enthusiasts, then what are we doing? like How are we developing the future of of these experiences? And I really love the current
00:24:18
Speaker
renaissance of kind of the industry and the direction that it's going with so many family rides and so many family areas being built out into the parks. I think it's a very much needed change from where we've been up until now, um where it has been, you know, monster ride after monster ride after a thrilling ride, you know, and then you you have these kids areas that are just diminishing and getting smaller and smaller and smaller, you know, and really those family experiences are what elevate um the overall experience I think for everyone, you know, and it creates, like I said before, it's those core memories that are so important and will keep families going back for generations to come.
Content Creation and Emotional Connections
00:24:56
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. We tend to forget how important it is to have everyone in the family entertained, not just the thrill seekers. Yeah, we even entertain grandmas and grandpas. What do you mean? ah They love the characters when they come to our park. They're literally more excited than the kids half the time.
00:25:14
Speaker
Oh, I love that. It's so cute. It's so cute. I love that so much. So getting back into like the actual creative process of what you do in your role, um what is that process kind of like for you, like from pitching content, production, and editing, to getting that final version approved and posted? Well, it's it's a big process, I'll be honest with you. And I'm going to try and lump it up as easily as I can, but it's it's kind of beefy. So it really stems to when you know anybody who steps into the creative seats of this company
00:25:48
Speaker
um I was working with the IP that we're working with. It's really education, which is super important. you know We have a multifaceted process where it starts with you know the creation of the ideas, then it's the pitching of the ideas, and then then then it's you know there's a three-layer approval level you know that we build out.
00:26:07
Speaker
So it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. You know, when I first started with the brand, I sat down my first week and our she's fantastic. Jen Martin. She's literally the head of Sesame for United Parks and Resorts. So she basically spearheads all of the creative, all the design, all the communications for Sesame for each one of the United Parks and Resorts around the United States. And um she sat me down and she gave me a one I was like three or four decks that were like 50 pages deep of
00:26:40
Speaker
how to edit the characters, how to build out the characters, how to do video work. I mean, we're talking about placement of fur. We're talking about positioning of the mouth, positioning of the eyes, um being able to clean up wrinkles on legs and on arms, like really, really, really in depth. And it's to protect the integrity of the character, um you know because we love our Sesame Street friends. You know what I mean? We want to make sure they look their best at all times in every in every way, shape, and form, no matter what medium we're putting them in.
00:27:09
Speaker
um So that was really my first week was just getting that that download and to be honest with you. I'm still two years in getting quotes and direction and and alterations being asked on the the assets we put in front of workshop, which is amazing, you know, and it just it it speaks to the the dedication to that brand and keeping it at its highest and best form um from an outward messaging But I'm sure it's there's an extra level of difficulty. It's like you don't have to. I'm sure, obviously, you have any other park you work for, you're going to make sure you're PG. But I feel like Sesame Place, you've got to make sure you're G. Is does that is there any any sense of frustration like as an adult, like?
00:27:51
Speaker
Maybe something you might think is okay, and then you'll hear like, oh, no, we probably shouldn't go that direction. Does that ever happen? Well, you know what it is? I think it goes to the idea of trying to stay contemporary in our content, but also staying true to the Sesame Workshop messaging. And it's a very fine line to dance around.
00:28:13
Speaker
or or to walk, I should say, not dance around. um I think ah frustration wouldn't be the word I would use. I think it's more of a realization that there is a very clear message that Sesame Workshop is delivering, and we are an extension of Sesame Workshop. So for us to turn around and say, okay, well, we've got this piece of content or this idea, you know um that's where that's really the process really starts. and We have to pitch that over to the Sesame Workshop, and it goes through on their end.
00:28:45
Speaker
a multi-layer approval process. And we'll use TikTok as the example. Because TikTok's new, it's fresh. We actually just launched our TikTok this past May. um And we're going strong, which I love. um But each one of the pieces of content requires a very strategic process. So to start it off, it's it's we have a a creative meeting. It's the entertainment team, the social team. We get together and we say, OK, we've got this idea. We've got this theme that we need to hit, right?
00:29:12
Speaker
um And I'll use the example of Santa's Workshop, which is a piece of content that's coming out soon. We've got to do something about Santa's Workshop. What is the the theme? What are we going after? I'm very fortunate to work alongside PJ Schweitzer. He is um literally the creative genius behind Sesame Place and kind of the stuff that the park is bringing to the table for our guests from a theatrical standpoint, from a creative standpoint. and and he sits down and we write the script and he basically says, yep, you can do that. Nope, you can't do that. This is the best thing to do. He's been with the brand for so many years. He really knows how to, for lack of a better phrase, it's Sesame ties, what we're bringing to the table, um, which it, which is amazing. You know,
00:29:54
Speaker
um But that's really where that whole process starts. you know It's ah really an in-depth discussion about what is the theme we're going after, how are we developing that theme and communicating it, but still getting our message across that it not only speaks in the Sesame Workshop tone, but does what we needed to do, which is realistically sell tickets right and create a desire for the brand. you know um I come from high-end retail, so one of the biggest things in my background has always been, ah you're not selling the product, you're selling the emotion behind the product.
00:30:24
Speaker
Right. So if you could tie into an emotional reaction from your guests or your following or whatever in your content and you create that visceral emotion or emotional reaction, you've got them hooked. And now you've created a desire for whatever it is you're bringing to the table. And I think the the ideal conversation really comes down to, you know, how do we do that?
00:30:44
Speaker
to adults with a children's brand. And it's getting that reaction from the child for the parent, be like, Oh my God, I've got to get my kids, my kids there because they're going to give me that reaction when they go there.
00:30:56
Speaker
That is so well said, man. You guys are down. I love it. I mean, it's you know it's it really is you know there's a passion behind it, right? I'm passionate about what I do. My team is passionate about what they do. And and we've got we've got a vision ah that we we want to go after, you know what I mean? And going back to your point earlier about frustrations, you know there is a vision there. And sometimes that vision doesn't align 100%. And we've got a course correct to develop the best product possible for both Sesame Workshop and Sesame Place.
00:31:28
Speaker
Yeah, that's definitely, that's an interesting. I didn't realize, like I don't know why I didn't realize, but I didn't realize how how much went into that um with it being the Sesame Street brand, which of course it makes sense. It's just not something that the average person would really think about. Yeah, I mean, I've gotten to the point now where where we we talk about our layers of approvals, right? It starts you know internally with the marketing department and then it elevates from marketing to,
00:31:54
Speaker
ah brand, or or the in-park brand, and then it goes from there to the Sesame Workshop. And then once Sesame Workshop approves it, I then send it to United Parks and Resorts for approval. So you're talking about, it could be at most at most four layers, at least two layers of approvals before a piece of content goes out to the public.
00:32:15
Speaker
How much does it change in that time? like Has there been like some videos like where you pitch the concept and then it's just completely different by the time it finally comes out? It has happened. It has happened. Yeah. You know, there's been one or two instances where I've said, you know, what I want to do this concept. You know, I want to do this idea. It's okay, but these are the parameters you can talk about or do. These are the parameters you can't talk about and do. And At that point, we really decide, do we move forward with this piece of content, or do we say, OK, this is probably not the best piece or the best direction for us to take our social media channels at this time? So it it happens. It happens. you know And again, we're not going to highlight the frustration. But you know you could if if you have that frame of mind, I could see the frustration happen, for sure. What part of your role would you say brings you the most joy in all of this?
00:33:04
Speaker
ah For me, it's the kids. All right, so here's a fun story. So prior to working here, yeah I could take or leave kids. um i'm that I'm an uncle. I'm not a father. I will never be a father. My ah passion with kids is being able to play with them, have a good time. You know, we hang out. we we you know I take my nieces and nephews to the movies. We do things.
00:33:25
Speaker
But then they go back to their parents. um And so prior to working here, I could take relief kids after being here for the time that they've been and and experiencing the the literal joy um on these these children's faces when they're in the park and seeing seeing them. See, they these are their superheroes. These are their Marvel characters. You know what I mean? They walk into the park and they see Elmo and it's it's like, you know,
00:33:51
Speaker
Angelina Jolie walked into the building or you know Ariana Grande, you know what I mean? And it's like it's that moment where you're just like wow I'm a part of that joy that for me it's life changing. And now every time I'm in the park, and I'm guest facing, my main goal is to make sure I try to interact with every single guest I come across every single child that i walk past, we talk about, you know, like for Halloween, we every single child, great costume, love your costume. Do you like it? Tell me about it. So creating these emotional ah situations for the kids and really just elevating it that for me, brings me so much joy. Love that.
00:34:30
Speaker
I love that answer so much.
Inclusivity and Accessibility at Sesame Place
00:34:33
Speaker
Especially in a place like Sesame Street where like they are really they're really like the person that it's built for. um that's like such That's such a good answer. I love it.
00:34:45
Speaker
I'm sure i was a cute when I was a kid, I mean, i don't I don't have memory of it. I'm sure my parents do. I'm sure the first time I saw a Big Bird, I was like, what? Because I watched Sesame Street. I watched that all the time when I was like two and three. So totally I had the reaction when I first saw Snuffy. i mean I have a picture of it. I'll give you a picture. I'll send it to you. I'm hugging Snuffy's trunk. It's fantastic. It's amazing. He gave me a hug with his trunk back. It was fantastic. He's the best.
00:35:14
Speaker
ah I love that. That's incredible. um Yeah, coming back to like the creating of your social media content, what's your favorite form of social media content? Do you prefer photography, videography?
00:35:30
Speaker
So tough question, because my my background's in video. I started in in video and in social media. you know I had a YouTube channel prior to being in the industry, and and I love editing video and creating. But as I've grown in my roles that i i've I've been in this industry, my favorite form is photography. Because in photography, anybody could snap a picture. But not everybody could snap a picture that makes you go,
00:35:59
Speaker
Wow. Right. And it's those moments where you capture the emotion in that second of snapping that photo where you're just like, OK, that is exactly what I saw. And I was able to create that emotion through that photo. um For me, that's that's really what it's all about. You know, I love taking photos. I love finding that moment, finding the lighting and just getting that quick snapshot. And it's like you've now frozen that emotional moment in time.
00:36:31
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. like I used to do photography for a school that I worked at and like getting those pictures of kids experiencing life at its best moments, it meant everything. Oh my God, kids are so cute with the with the camera too. we had ah We had a photo shoot with um with a bunch of kids a couple of weeks ago. We were doing it for a hidden disability, sunflowers. It's this program where it's as simple as wearing a wristband and it just highlights anybody who is in that business that you you have a hidden disability. You you know may not be in a wheelchair, you may not be on crutches, you may not
00:37:08
Speaker
you know be outwardly disabled, but there is a disability that you have. So we're taking this this photo shoot, we're doing this photo shoot, and I captured, I'd say three or four amazing, amazing, amazing shots of these two children who have no background whatsoever in modeling. And i was I was blown away by how adorable they came out with these kids. And and again, it's just capturing that that emotional moment and being like, wow.
00:37:35
Speaker
Yeah, I'm actually on subject but off subject as well. I also want to point out that you guys are the first park in the United States to actually take part in that as well. that's That is correct. Yes, we are. Yeah. um it's It's been really fun launching this and I can't wait to actually get it in full, um ah in full rollout come next year. ah But yeah, we're the first one in the United States and and we're proud to to hold that badge. We were also the very first park to be IBC-CES certified as well. And our entire leadership team, we're all neurodivergent professionals.
00:38:12
Speaker
So, we all are neurodivergently certified. So, if there are guests in our park, which are more than welcome that are autistic or on the spectrum, if they come into the park, every single person on our leadership team and every single person that works in our park is trained on how to assist anybody who's just differently abled. That's incredible. I love that. That's really, really incredible. Yeah.
00:38:35
Speaker
Being somebody who's neurodivergent himself, me, um I can relate. And it's wonderful to be a part of of a park that sees everyone. there's not There's nobody who isn't seen. It's just everyone is seen, which I love it.
00:38:50
Speaker
Yeah, I actually i I don't even know why I didn't think about this until you brought it up. But when you guys launched that post with the sunflowers, I like cried. I was so excited and seeing that and seeing that includes I just I like lost it. Like this is the best thing I've seen out of US Park.
00:39:07
Speaker
and Yeah, no, it's it's it's a wonderful program and I'm excited to see it grow I'd love to see more companies in the United States really take this on I think it's it's it's an amazing program to work in conjunction with IBC CES. I think both programs are really strong um And have the most amazing message and really help develop ah inclusivity for everybody Yeah, absolutely It's very important in this field, in this hobby. Yes. Thousand percent, yeah. So going beyond running social media, obviously, um all four of us are enthusiasts of not just roller coasters, but amusement parks as well. And I was just wondering, um do do they go to you? Does the park ever go to you for?
00:39:58
Speaker
advice about the park itself and like I guess like how in the know are you when it comes to decisions when it comes to either new rides or shows or just changes around the park if they value your experience as an enthusiast.
00:40:15
Speaker
I think I'm I'm fortunate enough to be on a leadership team that values everybody's opinion. You know what I mean? I think all of us that are in the and are are in this park. We all work very diligently together to create an experience that drives the best possible um outcome. Right. um And And I'll give you the example. Next year's our 45th birthday. We are celebrating 45 years of Sesame Place. And we started that conversation as a leadership team back in May. Oh, wow. You know, um and we're launching that in spring of 2025, you know, but the conversation really includes all of the leadership. And, you know, we
00:40:58
Speaker
We talked about logos. We talked about experiences. We talked about you know product launches and and building out what is the product launch going to going to look like that coincides with this rollout of this you know tent pole event that's going to span over six months. you know This is a group effort. And everybody's throwing their ideas into the hat. And we're literally pulling them out one by one saying, OK, is this feasible? Is this you know something that we could develop that is not only cost effective, but also create the most again, visceral emotion from our guests and really you know take that that that party, that bash that we're trying to bring to the table for our guests and really blow it out of the water, for lack of a better phrase. um So yeah, so not only my insight, but everybody's insight is really taken into effect. um I think when we talk about rides and experiences, um I mean, I, me personally, am not as 100% involved in the build out of that.
00:41:54
Speaker
I usually get brought into the projects towards the back end when we start talking about what does the outward communication look like, what does the development of the social media aspect of it look like. um When we do new ride or new attraction rollouts, we have um obviously huge bashes or parties that we throw.
00:42:15
Speaker
for them, like it's a kickoff party or like you know the the grand opening of something. And with that, we'll create an entire social media up ah package and program that will go along with that. um But outside of the actual building of these new attractions and new product, I personally don't have an exact role and until the very end of the project.
00:42:34
Speaker
So it's not, hey, Gabriel, we want a new ride. What do you think? yeah Unfortunately not. Though I've got a few ideas in what would be great in this part. Sure.
00:42:46
Speaker
I know ah we have one question in our listener questions that is is on those lines. But before we get into those listener questions, I have one more question for you that I know is asked a lot about Sesame Place. Is Wacky Taxi open today?
00:43:01
Speaker
Wacky Taxi has been open very often this season. So I'm i'm yeah super stoked. I'm super stoked with our ops team. They've been doing an amazing job this year, really trying to drive the best experience possible for hour for our our guests coming into the park, for sure. So yes, Wacky Taxi has been open. It was open when I was there this weekend.
Gabriel's Favorite Events and Social Media Insights
00:43:19
Speaker
So kudos to my ops team. Is that the most common question that you ask answer on social media? No. it really The most common question is, which character is out today?
00:43:31
Speaker
And usually it's a specific character. So is Abby Cadabby going to be out today? Is Kiki Monster going to be out today? Or if we have a specific event or or offering that we're giving for those characters, it's usually, OK, well, how do I get to see this character? I want to hug them.
00:43:47
Speaker
Oh, I love that. I feel like every time Sesame Place comes up that someone's going, they're like, I already messaged their social media to ask him back. And I'm the direct person who's responding. So like my favorite thing, it's always like the first thing out of another through his mouth when Sesame Street.
00:44:06
Speaker
Yeah, message me. Like, hey, what's going on is Oscar's Wacky Taxi open today. I will find out for you and I'll let you know. We need the credit. We love it. then actually should So, like, obviously you understand, but, like, do any of your colleagues ever ask, like, why are these, like, four to eight or more adults here without kids? Oh, they get it. Oh, they do get it. Okay. so so Everybody everybody in my leadership team across the park And almost every department has been in the industry for a very long time You know, I'll give my marketing VP as the example. She's been in the industry for 30 years. You know what I mean? and um ah So she gets it she gets it you know, she worked with me She worked ah not with me, but she worked at Six Flags prior to coming here. I worked at Six Flags prior to coming here. So we we get it, you know what I mean? We we understand the community
00:44:59
Speaker
Um, uh, they understand the committee and they mostly laugh at me because I'm the one with the giant roller coaster posters and, and calendars all over my office as you should. And maybe for that, I guess not everyone that listened to this might not be an enthusiast. For those that don't know, like Oscar's wacky taxi is a legit like airtime. ah Yeah. It's not this kitty coaster. Really? It's, it's a really, really good. 11 pops of airtime on that sucker. Yeah.
00:45:29
Speaker
Oh my gosh. I don't want to ride it so bad. We got to make a trip then. Hello. I'm sure that's a lot of kids first coaster that or vapor trail like a ton of kids. That's for sure. um Where I don't have Oscar's wacky taxi guys. um I do have a snow ride on vapor trail.
00:45:49
Speaker
Ooh. That's pretty epic. I don't have a snow ride on anything. I don't even have that. I have a snow ride on Vapor Trail. So I can at least say that. No wacky taxi for me. But a snow ride on Vapor Trail. It was the most beautiful. It was like during the Christmas season. So all the Christmas lights are on. I love it.
00:46:09
Speaker
15 minutes of the park day. Oh my gosh. It was the most beautiful little snow ride ever. I have to say of all of this, of all of the events that we throw, I have two that really sent out to me. My number one is Christmas because of the lights and this, the the tech team does an amazing job setting up the lighting throughout the park. Um, it's just, it's fantastic. My number two is Mardi Gras because hi, Beniez. Hello. Don't blame me there. Oh my God. yeah But yeah, the Christmas lights, I was, um I remember going to that, I had only gone to that park in the summer before, like as a child. um And I had no idea that Christmas was like that done up in that park. So going in there for the first time for Christmas, I was like, I have to just walk through this park. It's art beautiful. Our Christmas parade is literally the best thing I've ever experienced when I have to film the Christmas parade. Because I film, so I film the parades every single season.
00:47:01
Speaker
ah For every tentpole, we have a new parade. We do one for Mardi Gras. We do one for all of summer. We do one for Halloween. We do one for Christmas. So at the the the kickoff weekend of each of those tentpole events, I filmed the full parade. um Me and Sean, who is my right hand, he's like an amazing editor. Fantastic, right? So we run up and down the parade. So we filmed this parade two weeks ago and I spent that entire 20 minutes with a giant smile on my face from ear to ear. And after the parade, I have the entertainment team come up to me we like, dude, are you okay? I was like, yeah, why? You were like laughing and smiling and singing the whole time. I was like, of course, why not? I can have fun too, even though I'm working, hello. How do you not have fun working in a theme park? Seriously, you're you're missing the mark if you're not having fun. yeah Well said.
00:47:50
Speaker
I think that that might bring us over to listener questions. I believe so. Yes. And we got a good amount here as we do. Thank you again to everybody for all the support with your questions so far. It means the world. Yeah. We have a few that were kind of answered already. Um, but we'll jump in and start with, uh, our friend Ethan, who is with us at a great adventure for those, uh, week before rides on King of the Cobb. He asks, what's your favorite Sesame Street character and why? Ernie.
00:48:21
Speaker
That's just Ernie. When I was a kid, I had an Ernie doll um that my my father bought me and I spent every single second of my childhood with that doll. um And I used to, I think my first bout of association being like doll TV, doll, oh my God, I have that, that's on TV, um happened because of that doll. um But yeah, so Ernie, he's he's a total G, we love him.
00:48:47
Speaker
Um, his roommate Burt is is another G ah with his paper clips and penguins, for sure. Oh, I need to. My mom has a picture somewhere. Again, three four year old me with um with Ernie and like yeah there's like a bathtub that you stand behind. And know yeah I need my mom to send that to get that is a that is a big thing. That is a big thing. um From a history perspective, if you have been coming to the park for many, many years, ah we're actually, as we're digging through all of our nostalgia stuff for next year, for the 45th birthday, we've got hundreds of photos of people coming, taking photos with that Ernie in the bathtub. Wait, it's still there? No, no, we don't have it there any longer. Oh, okay. We have it somewhere, but it's not in the park. Gotcha. Okay. And I'll leave it at that.
00:49:38
Speaker
Yeah, I think I'm gonna age myself again. I'm pretty sure my favorite was Elmo. And that was before Tickle Me Elmo came out. I was on the Elmo bandwagon before he got popular. I just wanna make that point. Oh, you're the trendsetter, that's why. Exactly. Hello.
00:49:53
Speaker
One of my family's like favorite stories to tell is that like my my brother for like years would not talk. like He would say like A for something, B for binky, D for drink. like He said letters and that was it for like years. Except the only word he knew was Elmo. He would just yell Elmo through our house. and like it I don't know. That's really cute. He apparently knew how to talk. He just was smart enough not to talk in front of my parents. So they thought he only knew how to say Elmo for like years and years. so c Oh, that's great. He doesn't bring me on my house. That's fantastic.
00:50:38
Speaker
Let's get to another one here. um This is a good one, kind of about set up to what you're doing here so Gary asked what sort of training or coursework would you recommend for those who have aspirations do the same type of work that you're doing. That's a great question um and.
00:51:02
Speaker
Thinking back to kind of me stepping into this role, I really think what what kind of sets me up for success is having the background and the knowledge that I have with the Adobe Suite and being able to build out the content. um I think the social media manager role has evolved to such a level of of creation just as much as it is managing the content and having a strategy to really develop the best content possible.
00:51:26
Speaker
um And the biggest thing that that I would say really is getting to know the tools that need to be used, getting to know how to um build out content on TikTok, how to build out content in Premiere Pro. I took an entire, I mean, Daniel daniel Walter Scott, he is an Udemy professor. um He does updates to all of the new updates that happen for the Adobe Suite.
00:51:52
Speaker
And i I signed up for his courses, and I get free training. Every time there's a new update, he puts out a new thing. So that's that's a free plug, Daniel. You're welcome. ah But I would say, yeah, for sure, definitely the Adobe Suite. I think learning analytics is super important.
00:52:09
Speaker
Meta has it a really amazing analytics um ah The meta suite it's just it's fantastic if you could really learn how to manage that portion of the business I think that's that's 50% of kind of what it is to manage this this particular role and to develop a successful content strategy um and I think ah Same thing for TikTok and if you're into it, YouTube. you know YouTube analytics is where I got my start when it came to really digging deep into the um projections and kind of identifying where where the channel or the content is, where it needs to be, and what is the steps that need to get there.
00:52:50
Speaker
um And then just digest, digest as much content as possible. I think um one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten is if you see if something's working, write it down, write it down and figure out how you can fit into your niche. I think that is probably, I don't want to say my claim to fame, but that is one of my best strategies outside of the analytics and really driving um clear performance growth year over year.
Working with Sesame Street IP and Listener Questions
00:53:21
Speaker
That I think perfectly leads into our next question from Chris Seapred. He asks, have you planned or implemented a generative AI to assist with the creative process? Either idea generation, image enhancement, or data analytics, as you just mentioned.
00:53:40
Speaker
Um, so AI, i well, let me, let me preface this by saying, I think as the world continues to change and, and, and, and grow, obviously every industry is going to have to change and grow. I think that's super important. Um, I think there are aspects within this particular role where AI fits. I think from a creative standpoint, um, I don't know if for me right now it's the best fit because then why am I here?
00:54:08
Speaker
Right. And I think that's, that's, that's really my biggest qualm right now with AI is where do we, where does AI fit from a creatives perspective? You know, I think when, you know, you have a had a bunch of those creative apps come out a couple of years ago where they were creating these paintings and this digital art and all this other stuff, all the digital artists got very upset. And, and it was like, well, then what's the point of us? Like this is stealing our work. This is stealing our stuff because it uses everything that's on the internet that's already existing, and then that creates the digital art from the AI. So I think if you're looking at copywriting, if you're looking at content generation and content creation, you know utilizing AI from a um ah creation standpoint, to me, I feel like is is almost cheating.
00:54:52
Speaker
But if you're talking about analytics, if you're talking about looking at strategies and and identifying strategies and building out what's best in line for your brand, in line for what you're bringing to the table, um I think that is is probably the smartest use or application right now, in my opinion. And I think, in all honesty, it's it's the best. you know Because if you're if you're having it create your content for you, then what are you doing?
00:55:19
Speaker
You know, like it's just I don't know. Totally. I don't know if it's more of a personal con. You know, I'm with you there. a like AI scares me still. I'm like, how does it know how to do all this? I'm also an idiot when it comes to that, but I am fully on board with your response there. and It's very true. It is. I feel stealing some thunder away from a lot of people. And it's not right for sure.
00:55:43
Speaker
Yeah, I do graphic design for my day job. So we do have a lot of conversations in our art room about AI and kind of where it's places for us. And like, there are definitely some good times to use it. But then other times where I'm like, um I might lose my job because of this. Yeah, no, it's it's scary. You know, if you especially with the Adobe suite and what the Adobe suite is doing right now with AI, it's blowing my mind. um Absolutely blowing my mind, you know, and there are uses there for it. But I think it's just it's crazy to see full-on productions being built by AI. You know, just taking a bunch of clips, throwing them in a machine, and the machine's really just building the movie or the clip or whatever you're putting together. You know, it's it's wild.
00:56:27
Speaker
Yeah, it's insane. Very interesting. Scary, but interesting. Scary, but interesting topic.
00:56:39
Speaker
Um, so our friend John Mike asked what has been your favorite aspect of being able to work with the Sesame Street IP?
00:56:48
Speaker
Uh, the IP is fun. This IP is fun. It's a lot of work. And like I was saying before, you know, with the the nuances of making sure it really matches exactly how it needs to look, um, to represent Sesame workshop is super important, but the IP is fun. And I think with all the advances in the past couple of years that the brand has been taking from a contemporary perspective and kind of, you know, being everywhere, being in the Olympics, being on the news, you know, having these viral moments with. you know Andrew Garfield and um ah that viral Twitter moment where Elmo just asked everybody, hey, how's everyone feeling? And it turned into this like global phenomenon. you know um I think there is a there's a lot about this brand that just is fantastic. It's very exciting. um And it's very hip and now. you know And even though it is a children's brand,
00:57:39
Speaker
It's super contemporary, and I think that brings this full circle back to the beginning. You know, how do you tie it all together? You keep the conversation moving. You know, I think it was just yesterday, Cynthia Rivo was on Sesame Street, and she's all over their socials right now. And I think that's exactly how you do it, and that's what makes this so fun, because it's hip, it's now, it's in the conversation that the rest of the world is having, and it's in tandem with that.
00:58:07
Speaker
Do you have to like watch the show on a regular basis? Do you feel to do your job or? um No, but you do have to know the characters. You have to know the characters. You have to know what their background is, what they're about, and kind of how their represented, right? Because if I'm going into the park and I'm filming them, you know, doing whatever, I need to know that Zoe's a ballet dancer. So I'm going to ask her to do, you know, a ballet pose, like a plie or something, you know? And I know that if Tang goes out, there better be an Elmo nearby because Tang was almost best, you know, best furry friend. You know, they're furry friends forever. You know, so there's little nuances of storytelling that happened within the Sesame Workshop IP that we try to emote through our content.
00:58:52
Speaker
um And I think it's really important to have that background and have that knowledge. you know There are some characters that still, i'm I'm with the brand for two years and I don't know their full story. And then you'll get somebody like PJ, ah who will be like, oh, well by the way, this character does this because of this or like this. I'm like, oh, okay, that's good to know because that would create a great piece of content. Love that. ah So good.
00:59:17
Speaker
Yeah, that's one interesting thing I've always thought about Sesame Street. They do very beautiful character development, and I can imagine that helps a lot in telling their stories in the form of content.
00:59:28
Speaker
Well, they're so deep. It's like having you know like real people with you. Their backstories are years and years and years and years of development. you know And these characters, there yeah therere they're like brothers and sisters to some of our fans. you know They're a part of their family. you know And having that knowledge really helps us to deliver the best message possible for the brand. um And again, evoke that emotional response. you know That's what we're doing at the end of the day. Yeah, absolutely.
01:00:00
Speaker
I think that is bringing us um to our last listener question here. um We have Mullet who asked, if you could build a new coaster at Sesame Place, what would you build?
01:00:12
Speaker
um I would like a Vakoma family coaster, please. I'd like a Great Bear. Thanks. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yes. It is. I am. ah And i'm I'm going to Dollywood next year. I'm actually my mother's in her 80s. So I'm taking her next year to Graceland and to Dollywood. um And it'll be her first time going to Graceland. And I was like, you know, we're stopping in Dollywood, right? Because I got to ride Great bi great Bear.
01:00:36
Speaker
But um yeah, so that's like, for me, I think that would be the perfect coaster. um Do I think it's the the perfect ride for the park right now? No, I think there are some other rides that would work really well. If you're familiar with the Sesame Street dark ride in, I think it's Fantas, maybe I might be lying, or maybe it's Port Aventura.
01:00:56
Speaker
Port Aventura. I don't think S&P places at Fintagoland. Yeah, I think it's Port Aventura. I think it's Port Aventura. Yeah, it's fantastic. It's literally the most amazing Sally Dark ride I think I've ever seen.
01:01:14
Speaker
AKA we need that in the in the States. That would be great. I also love when a park puts in a good dark ride. like i i I know like Disney and Universal do it a lot, but I feel like it's we don't get it as much. We definitely don't, no. It's smaller parks and um different chains, and they're so good.
01:01:36
Speaker
Yeah, they're definitely needed. I think of Volcanoe at Lost Island. Right? Yeah. It's a tiny park, but it's a phenomenal dark ride that adds so much to the... Yeah. Another bucket list park on my on my oh yeah very long bucket list. I've got to hit the whole Midwest. That's what's got to happen.
01:01:54
Speaker
Well, speaking of, I guess this is now the roller coaster portion of this chat. um I know we we both share a love and admiration for a roller coaster called Boulder Dash. I want you to talk about your rides on Boulder Dash, how you've experienced that attraction in your career. You are an evil man.
01:02:16
Speaker
I'm sorry Gabriel, I had to. I had to. I've been to late compounds four times. um Every single time, every single time I've not been able to ride Boulder Dash for one reason or another. It's either been closed, it just closed, or the entire sky opened up and literal rivers were flowing through the park and washing everything away.
01:02:38
Speaker
I did have no luck. I did want to tell the story. So we were I was with Gabriel the this summer along with ah Sarah and Taylor from Curse Studios. They were up here. We did a little trip to New Hampshire. And the day the day they were leaving, like, hey, let's just go to Lake Compounce real quick. Gabriel is still in town. We went to Great Escape as well. ah So let's go to Lake Compounce. You had never been on Boulder Lash, Boulder Dash. Let's finally get on Boulder Dash. It was fine when we were we arrived.
01:03:05
Speaker
We went to ride the ghost hunt shooter. We literally get to the car. My wife, Megan, literally steps as soon as she steps her foot into the vehicle, the power goes out completely. And then the sky is just as Gabriel just mentioned, it was like a Florida hurricane rainstorm. It was wild, wild. And I've never seen that in Connecticut.
01:03:33
Speaker
So we're just waiting. Eventually the power comes back on. We're just waiting for what we were there. Well, like almost an hour. Yeah. And eventually they decide to close the park for whatever reason. And it's still downpour. And we felt bad because like they were they were technically the employees were waiting for us to leave, I think. So we're like, all right, guys, we just we got to we got to rip the bandaid off here.
01:04:00
Speaker
so and and And the best part of it all is up until that point, every single time I hung out with Sarah and Taylor, it poured. That's true. So is it your fault or their fault? I think it's their fault, honestly. It's totally always their fault. It's never my fault. I don't know. Two of the three other people in the podcast have went to, like, Compens with Brian and not gotten to ride forward. That's a good point, Jen. Maybe it's me. I think it's my fault.
01:04:26
Speaker
I mean, if there's precedence here. I want to say I've taken five different friends or groups of friends to Lake Compounce over the last few years, and I think only one of them got to ride Boulder Dash. Wow. It's awful. So it's Lake Compounce as well. You know, see what's there the day that I rode Boulder Dash? That's probably a good thing.
01:04:50
Speaker
If I went, you all wouldn't have gotten that ERT. It would have closed. But yeah, so we literally just all take our shoes off and are sprinting through Lake compounds in the pouring rain. As rivers of water are flowing underneath us, it was the most insane thing I've ever seen. It was ah it was ah you know a horrible park day, but it made for some really good memories.
01:05:14
Speaker
Good memories, good memories. It was a good weekend, even though it rained every day of the weekend. That's true. It was a great weekend. We got a great time, a great escape as well. It was nice riding ah Bobcat with you, considering it's another ah Gravity Group family coaster.
Gabriel's Hobbies and Farewell
01:05:28
Speaker
Well, it was it was great to see the the differences in the coasters. you know they were they're They're very, very different rides. um I think the the best part of Oscars is it's very low to the ground. It's very hoppy. you know You've got these these you know very sharp, jolty pops of air time, which I love.
01:05:48
Speaker
um For me, that's my kind of coaster, you know, give me a mystic timbers. Give me a twisted timbers You know what I mean? Like that's my kind of coaster. I will fight you um Give me a wildcat's revenge. You know what I mean? I like them mid-sized a small size compact and you know, knock me out of my seat Um, but then you've got bolder dash, which, you know, is a little bit, has a little bit larger of a profile, um, in some of its elements. And I really liked the, the floater air time and sweeping effects you get out of the double ups and double downs on that one. It just, it was such a great ride.
01:06:21
Speaker
One of these days we'll get you on it. I think you and Jen just need to come together so you both can finally get it. Yeah, I need that ride. I need Oscar's Wacky Taxi too. They're both my two biggest mis-credits. You tell me when you want to come and we'll make it happen.
01:06:39
Speaker
I will be back soon. I'm purchasing. You have to. I can hear off from my United Parks pass and I will be purchasing a United Parks pass again this year. You know, Megan got a United Pass this year and she has actually not been on Wacky Taxi, so. Oh, so we might be taking a trip, guys. We might need to make a trip next spring. Yeah. I love that story. And Megan does miss you too, Gabriel. She really enjoyed you.
01:07:07
Speaker
We love her we love her. Oh, and I was right about the the the Star Wars series by the way you wo that i true he was very right wait what is the star wars So there is the ah the acolyte had just come out when we were all together up a great escape and that was the first conversation that we had we we're talking about the acolyte and it was just like I don't know, you have to make your own decisions, but... And it didn't last more than a season, so... No, it did not.
01:07:38
Speaker
not No, me and me and Megan like our whole entire feed on Instagram is just Star Wars. Oh, fantastic. I've got an entire Star Wars Lego collection. What do you mean? It's nothing with Star Wars. I love it. We just send occasional memes back and forth. Oh, that's amazing. That's true. ah gabri You do have other hobbies outside of, you know, this industry if you want to talk about that a little bit. um Yeah, sure. i I am a video gamer.
01:08:05
Speaker
um I love video games and my current obsession is Planet Coaster 2. I don't know if you've seen any of my stuff anywhere, but my handle on YouTube is Coaster Monkey Studios. If you ever want to go watch a video and just kill some time and have it play in the background, ah go check it out. It's super fun. um I nerd out hardcore on coasters. I'm actually building ah B and&M.
01:08:25
Speaker
um Hyper right now. That's a hybrid of nitro, pandemonium, and a little bit of Goliath. So oo why not? but That's like three of my four favorite hypers right there. Steamsies! Love that. But yeah, so that's ah that's that's one of my major hobbies. The other one is LEGO. I've got like something like 40 LEGO sets thrown throughout my house right now, which is kind of crazy. But yeah.
01:08:54
Speaker
I have enjoyed a a lot of your LEGO videos for sure. Yeah, my LEGO videos are definitely wild. Shenan again, Alandia? Is that what your current... Bingo! Yes, you said it right! i um i Yeah, I had somebody say to me, that is a mouthful, but it's totally legitimate for a channel that you would make.
01:09:17
Speaker
I love that. It's just fun to say that. Shenaniganalandia. Yeah, for sure. it It is a mouthful. No one would forget it, though, once you remember it. No, for sure. it's um it's So in Planet Coaster 2 right now, the whole thing is like water park focus. So they have this whole Tiki um theme, right? It's all Tiki Polynesian. So I was like, you know what? Let me make a let me make a Tiki park.
01:09:46
Speaker
So we call the Chanaganalandia. We'll have a water park that's a little bit of Hurricane Harbor, a little bit of a Lost Island. um And the theme park is a little bit of Lost Island meets Six Flags, if you will. I don't know. I'm just having fun.
01:10:06
Speaker
Well, Gabriel, I think, you know, of all people I've met, like your energy and and passion, I think just comes through so much, not just like talking to you in person, but I really think on this podcast as well, like you are so well-spoken, you can tell that, you know, you love your job and and just, Ana, thank you so, so much for for joining us today. Oh, thank you. I mean, it's, again, this is, it's an honor and a privilege to be honest with you. I appreciate being asked for sure. We're very excited here.
01:10:38
Speaker
Anything else that you want to kind of finish off with or any other channels you want to plug? Well, I think, you know, if you guys are into it, you want to kind of see what we're bringing to the table, you know, definitely check out Sesame Place, where it's literally Sesame Place on everything or Facebook, Instagram, um TikTok, YouTube. ah Just check us out, kind of see what we're bringing to the table. And and you can really see everything we talked about today.
01:11:01
Speaker
um is delivered in that content. And you can kind of see basically the directions that we're bringing our channels and kind of the you know the the story that we're telling. So Sesame Place, anywhere you can find us.
01:11:19
Speaker
I love it. Perfect. I think that brings us to the end, which means we're going to be brought to Brian's trivia. and I always forget about that trivia question. What the heck? However, I actually I did remember I did remember to at least think of a question this time. So, you know, it's always going to be themed a little bit towards the topic of the episode or our guest. So Oscar's Wacky Taxi opened in 2018, I believe.
01:11:48
Speaker
ah which is still the most recent wooden roller coaster to open in Pennsylvania, which is a very, very heavy roller coaster state. Fun fact, if Pennsylvania was its own country, it would be third in the world for most wooden coasters, which is kind of wild. So ah so the question today is, um let me word this correctly, I don't want to ramble again,
01:12:14
Speaker
after or I should say before Wacky Taxi, what was the most recent wooden coaster to open in Pennsylvania? So the technically the second most recent wooden coaster to open in Pennsylvania. Here's your question of the week. Gabriel, feel free. You can guess down the line if you'd like. You can be in the running.
01:12:40
Speaker
but no
01:12:42
Speaker
but For those that know, he's like, I don't know. Shrug. um Yeah, there was a total shrug moment. the di I don't know. it's obviously I have no idea. I feel like it's Knoebels. I don't know why. It might be. chenobyl It might be. Might be. I don't know. Remember to submit your questions to the inverted created podcast social pages, guys.
01:13:05
Speaker
Hopefully I will remember to, um, make the episode post on time, considering I will be six hours ahead whenever that goes. That's true. We'll post at what? At noon. He'll be up at noon. Yeah. new fund I'll be somewhere between Germany and Switzerland. I don't remember when we fly back. So how terrible. I know. We'll try to make it from up close. We'll be here waiting another two days to go.
01:13:34
Speaker
Oh, well, have a safe flight. Oh, thank you. Have fun. That's true, everybody. Well, you like you'll be home by the time this goes live. So ah have a good trip. And ah I guess everybody welcome. Everybody welcome, Alison. A safe journey home, I guess.
01:13:54
Speaker
Oh, my gosh. you are One last question for Gabriel. What is your number one roller coaster? Ooh. Okay. This is a tough question, but realistically, it's Velocicoaster. Yes! And I will fight for that one. You'll have to fight here. It's all ours. I've never experienced anything like it before, and I think it is a modern marble, and I think it studied what they created. Yes. Yup. Thank you. Yup. All right, well, we'll be in the podcast there.
01:14:25
Speaker
you know I literally rode that coaster and before it was even open had a tattoo of it on my body. Like, of course you did. That's fabulous. There is no other coaster that I think could ever make someone do that. Like, yeah. and So good. So good. It is so beautiful creation. ah glo Just a velocity coaster episode one of these days.
01:14:53
Speaker
ah G Prodigy, if you're listening, we want to have you on. Please. strategy Alicia Stella, you too. Aw.
01:15:07
Speaker
Well, Gabriel, once again, thank you so much. You are the best. Thank you. We both said hi. Of course. I'm actually going to be with him tomorrow. We'll listen to the inverted creative podcast.
01:15:22
Speaker
Of course. Where we say ho things about him. We love him. All right. Thank you everybody for always thinking inverted and we will see you next time. Bye guys.