by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Another Florida-Georgia game — along with all the festivities that arrive with the event — is in the books, but not without hard work and long hours by many of those who help put on the festivities. City officials and contractors alike spend a ton of time planning, organizing and putting on the game and mega-events during the week, but one local business owner has an integral part in making sure the presentation is flawless.
Randy Goodwin, president and CEO of PRI Productions, was one of those who had a busy week. Hired for many tasks, the event and production company had a role in the game itself and many of its associated events like the annual Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame luncheon Friday.
“I’ve got many bosses,” said Goodwin with a laugh. “Special Events (the City’s Office of Special Events), JEDC (Jacksonville Economic Development Commission), and even the schools ... it just depends on the event.”
The Daily Record spent Friday morning with Goodwin as he got ready for the annual luncheon to catch a glimpse of a day in the life the day before one of the city’s biggest events.
8:30 a.m.
Goodwin arrives at the PRI Productions office at 1819 Kings Ave., but his day began with a few phone calls on the drive.
No coffee or much chitchat — it’s time for a meeting with Media Services Manager Damon Garrett, web designer and graphics artist Scott Kaiser and video editor Josh Paulson for a detailed run-through of the Florida-Georgia visuals game script.
Team logos, game logos, player shots, advertisement spots and more on each of the stadium’s four different video boards are discussed, down to the minute and time-out on the field, with Goodwin stressing accuracy. Everyone is thumbing through a thick packet with details on each.
The stadium is normally just minutes away from the PRI Production facilities, but not during game weekend, which means there isn’t time to fix mistakes seen last minute.
“Tomorrow is going to be bad traffic,” Goodwin tells them. “A normal 20 minute trips turns into two hours.”
Paulson has been with the company for just a couple weeks and is experiencing his first Florida-Georgia weekend (“He’s kind of getting a trial by fire,” joked Goodwin), but tells Goodwin he stayed late the night before to finish some things.
“You’ve just made my stress level drop,” said Goodwin with a smile.
Every video message is important, but Goodwin tells the three that pushing the crowd safety messages and the promotion of the upcoming “Week of Valor” festivities is imperative.
At 9:15, he gets his first phone call at the office from someone at the Hall of Fame luncheon, replying he’ll be there shortly.
Lastly, weather for the game is supposed to be beautiful, but he wants a video message at the ready in case inclement conditions force the game to be delayed.
“You guys are prepared for anything,” he said.
9:25 a.m.
The meeting concludes, but Goodwin and Paulson walk across the street to another PRI Productions facility in search of a particular JEDC spot scheduled to run during the game. Both enter a storage closet filled with tapes and CDs of different footage and begin searching, but after a few minutes with no results, Goodwin makes a call and finds out they don’t have to worry about it.
Problem solved, but as the two walk back to the main facility, Goodwin is notified someone’s looking for him and after a quick chat with the person, he hops in his car and heads off to the Hall of Fame luncheon at the stadium.
9:40 a.m.
“It is a busy week for us,” he said during the ride. “In addition to this, we have other events going on.”
Off hand, he knows PRI Productions is assisting some Halloween parties and a giant setup at The Landing, but before he gets into more detail he sees the line of cars to get on the Main Street Bridge — but it’s not because people are filing Downtown just yet.
“No matter what,” he jokingly said, “I always seem to catch the (Main Street) Bridge when it’s up.”
A minute later, it starts its decline back to street level and traffic resumes, but as he crosses it an audible buzz fills the car: a phone call he takes using a handsfree device, with the call from a staff member back at the office calling about the location of a horde of barstools for a tailgating event the company is helping. Goodwin gives the word on what type to use and where to find them.
“I’m more stunned when nothing is going on around me,” he said, after the call. “I like it more when I’m busy ... time flies and I feel more in control.
“There are always issues, people come to you and want something done, sometimes last minute things happen, but there isn’t time to debate or explain your position. It just means you figure it out.”
9:55 a.m.
Several of Goodwin’s staff are present and have set up the audio and visual equipment, and after a quick chat, he walks around looking at the luncheon’s physical details. The silverware arrangements, floral centerpieces, the stage setting, lighting, everything before he calls to his crew it’s time for the luncheon walkthrough.
Promptly at 10 a.m., Goodwin is at the podium and the music begins, stops, then Goodwin flips through the script and begins the lines of each of the speakers, complete with pauses and cues for the crew to roll screen footage of logos and highlights when necessary. During this, the tent is bustling with Outback servers setting up the breads and salads for the 400 attendees who would flock into the room in the next couple hours.
Goodwin walks the stage, then calls for some ferns to be placed on the stage ends for appearance and to prevent anyone from misstepping off the edge, then notices one of the stairs leading to the stage is off kilter and needs fixing.
It’s nothing a little duct tape and cardboard box pieces won’t stabilize, but as he explains, every detail needs review.
After the walkthrough, he tells his crew he is heading back to the office to get a few things accomplished but not before he tells Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Sports Director Michael Bouda — who’s busy walking around checking out details himself — the same thing.
“Back at 11:15 (a.m.), not a minute late,” said Bouda, in a half-joking tone.
10:25 a.m.
Back in the car, Goodwin explains the necessity for reviewing the details of events he helps produce.
“There is no perfect event,” he begins, “but I want to know what people want before they do. I don’t want for them to need to ask for anything.”
On the way back, he makes a call for all available hands on deck who are able, to be at the luncheon at 1:45 p.m. immediately following the event. He needs all the help he can get to help transform the tent from the luncheon to a tailgate event in just a matter of hours.
10:40 a.m.
In the office, he sits down and immediately picks up the phone to inquire about how things are going in several of the company’s other weekend endeavors — a truck and two-man crew sent to Jackson, Miss. for a Black Entertainment Television event, the Landing promotion and production, the schedule and status of putting up promotional displays for the Greater Jacksonville Fair, an event on Sea Island and more, on top of the several Halloween parties.
With the game on Halloween this year, it can be a little more stressful and time consuming, as more events happen at the same time.
He isn’t a fan of the Halloween timing.
“I don’t like it, really,” he said. “I do prefer the game isn’t (on Halloween) as it takes away a lot of family time.”
Before he can get too in depth on the timing, another phone call, this time regarding prizes for a Florida-Georgia trivia game, followed by making a call to his nephew, Josh, saying he’s on his way to pick him up for the luncheon.
10:55 a.m.
He makes his way to his Arlington home to pick up Josh, a diehard Gators fan in his early 20s who’s staying with Goodwin. Josh is in the military and has never been to the annual game or any of its festivities, and Goodwin knows he’s excited about being a part of it.
His home on the river isn’t in the most luxurious part of town, he admits, but the short drive makes it all the worthwhile.
“When I get off work, I just want to be home,” he said. “I don’t want to hang around in traffic ... and I love the area and my house.”
Shortly after 11 a.m., he pulls into the driveway and steps inside the home, greeted by two small dogs who are happy to see him before he heads upstairs to make sure Josh is ready.
Not quite, but it’s not a huge deal yet.
“C’mon Josh, we’re going to be late,” he starts, but moments later Josh is downstairs and both are all smiles before getting in the car and heading back to the event.
It’s getting close to 11:15 a.m., but Goodwin isn’t worried.
“They’ll be fine without me for a few minutes,” he said, grinning.
11:25 a.m.
Drive complete and at the tent, people begin trickling in.
Goodwin catches up with his crew of around six people for a quick update and a laugh before making one last go-round of the tent to ensure all is well.
Something, though, catches his eye and he makes a beeline to the stage before stopping and turning around with a smile.
“Oh God,” he said. “I thought I saw one of the Florida people’s nameplates (on stage where inductees and officials would sit) on the Georgia side.”
He then stepped outside with Josh as the room steadily fills and shakes numerous hands and chats with people minutes before the show begins.
“The calm before the storm,” he said.
Noon
Back inside, he takes a couple minutes to show Josh around and show him the different Florida players on banners from ceremonies past, explaining how each was selected for the honor.
Bouda tells him to cue to signal for people to begin making their ways to the seat, as Goodwin takes the mic and tells the crowd the program will begin in several minutes.
Both then have a seat at a table designated for Goodwin and staff near the back of the room before luncheon co-host Matt Robinson walks back and gives Goodwin the go-ahead to begin.
12:07 p.m.
The music begins and a seated Goodwin is flipping through the show’s script and asking for the air conditioning unit to be turned off (the unit is directly behind a staff member on the radio communicating with camera people), the microphone turned up and music started at certain points.
He does manage to enjoy lunch with Josh and staff, but is often interrupted with necessary phone calls.
From here, the show goes on without a hitch, but Goodwin takes a step outside during the event to walk Paulson inside the stadium and show him the production room and help him get squared away and ensure everything is good with different video packages.
1:13 p.m.
Back at the luncheon, the last inductee, Georgia’s David Pollack, is making his remarks before Sports and Entertainment Board Chair Jim Bailey makes a few closing comments and thanks to the people behind-the-scenes who make events like the luncheon and game such a success in Jacksonville.
After his last words, music plays and people begin to head for the exits or the inductees for a handshake, an autograph or picture.
Goodwin, though, stays back with his staff and watches for a moment before getting back to work.
“That’s it,” he said, upon the music rolling and luncheon conclusion. “Everybody’s happy.”
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