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Phillie Phanatic inspires corporate business retreat

Another dead afternoon in Citizens Bank Park.

The Sunday finale of a series against the Nationals has confirmed the Phillies won't be shaking up the playoff picture heading into the All-Star break. Kyle Kendrick couldn't make it through six and let five runs cross the plate before leaving the field in front of a sparse, sunburned crowd too weary to even boo.

But then, a flash of green bursts into a lower level section. The fans remaining burst into applause as the Phanatic scrambles over the seats, sitting on fans and thrusting at people. Were this anyone else, this behavior might be seen as inappropriate. But it's baseball's best mascot – it no longer matters that the team is losing. Eventually, he goes on his way, reappearing a bit later to fire hot dogs into the crowd, always able to conjure some joy out of a drained audience.

With the team in last place, but the mascot still number one, it only makes sense for the corporate world to take notice. Imagine the value of maintaining customer loyalty despite an abysmal failure! DillonMarcus, a husband and wife team that organizes business retreats, is attempting to capture the Phanatic's charm and apply his principles to the business world with summits from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on September 19, October 30 and December 4 at Citizens Bank Park.

While the googly-eyed creature from Jim Henson's workshop on which this business retreat is based will not be making an appearance himself, his dear friend Tom Burgoyne will speak on his behalf.

"I know him well enough, and I've been his friend for 26 years now, so I think there's some things to be learned from a business standpoint," Burgoyne said, while driving home from gassing up a friend's hot dog cannon.

On the agenda will be a discussion of business topics that would have Darren Rovell breathing into a paper bag, but Burgoyne promises that the whole point is to bring the spirit of the Phanatic into the commercial world.

"There's also some stuff you can get out of it on a personal level," Burgoyne said. "Whether that's having fun every day and making every moment count, every encounter you have with somebody count. It's a little bit of both."

While a business retreat is new territory, it's not strange for outsiders to want to bottle the endless love the Phanatic receives in a town not known for its affection.

"I've always done speaking engagements, I've always told my Phanatic stories," Burgoyne said. "Over the years, I've been trying to add something more of a message onto my talk."

He calls it "Finding your Phanatic," a message that hints at a 300-pound monstrous green creature from the Galapagos inside all of us.

"You try to find that thing in life that you love to do," Burgoyne explained, even if that thing isn't dumping a funnel of popcorn on someone's head. "But as far as looking at the Phanatic as a business model, this is the first time that we've gone down that road."

The question at the heart of the workshop remains: Can anyone love anything the way that people love the Phanatic?

It seems dangerous, possibly even reckless, to attempt to stir up elsewhere the sort of love the Phanatic gets from locals. "The Phanatic, I'll grant you, is very unique," Burgoyne admitted. "But, underneath the surface, the Phanatic is kind of doing the things that can be brought to the corporate world, and that is treating people special."

He cited instances of the Phanatic kicking or high-fiving or making out with fans in the stands. "That person is being made to feel special, and I think that's something. That in the corporate world, that's a great lesson."

DillonMarcus will allow for attendees to converse with Burgoyne, in order to learn how to create loyal fans and find "ways to foster Phillie Phanatic-type love" in their business "by applying Phanatic inspired principles," though probably not the ones that involve getting umpires to rip their pants off and dance.

The group will be kept small – Burgoyne hinted at a crowd of 30-35 bodies – and the mood light, unlike the somber tone of most Phillies games at which the Phanatic has been tasked with lifting spirits.

"I remember one year, '97 or '98. We were on pace to lose 100 games that year," Burgoyne recalled. "The same thing I say about it now, even when we have a full house, is when the Phanatic goes into the crowd and is doing his thing, it's all good. Whether we're winning or losing, outside of fewer people in the seats, the Phanatic doesn't get any less affection or response. There's no pressure."

To register for the "Loyal, Loving Fans For Life!" retreat, call 856-667-4641 or email @ Cindy@DillonMarcus.com.