Are you the type of person who finds yourself texting people, “sorry, running late, on the way”? Are you typically the last one to arrive to pick up your kids? Are you “that guy” or “that girl”? The one running through the airport who only just makes it to the departure gate before they close the airplane doors?

If any of these are you, you have what behavioral scientists call “poor Executive Functioning skills.”

I asked AI, “What is Executive Functioning?” And this is the verbatim response it gave me: “If your brain is a wedding planner, Executive Functioning is the part that keeps the timeline, coordinates vendors, manages last-minute changes, prevents emotional meltdowns, and ensures the bride, groom, guests and staff all stay on track.”

For Tania Deer, it’s more than just her brain that’s a wedding planner – it’s her entire professional Iife. Tania has been planning weddings at the beach since 2005. She’s the Coordinator at Sugar Beach Weddings and she plans and executes 50-60 weddings a year. If you’ve ever been in a wedding or planned one, can you imagine doing that gargantuan once-in-a-lifetime task once a week?

While I had AI open, I asked it, “What are some other orchestrated events on the Emerald Coast?” It gave me a list of them, including the Destin Fishing Rodeo, the Emerald Coast Cruizin Car Show, the 30A Wine Festival, and a bunch of others. Strangely, the one orchestrated event it didn’t mention is an actual orchestra.

When I pointed that out, Chat GPT replied, “Great catch! You’re absolutely right. Sinfonia Gulf Coast is one of the most prominent and truly orchestrated events in the Florida Panhandle.” And so it is. Sinfonia Gulf Coast is a professional orchestra that produces a full concert season, educational performances, guest-artist events, holiday shows and special gala-style evenings.

The orchestra was founded in 2005 by a dedicated board of directors and its founder and Music and Artistic Director, Demetrius Fuller.

Entrepreneur of the Week

Our Entrepreneur of the Week is Dion Jones. Dion is a country music singer and songwriter, and leader of the band The Neon Tears. Dion is a country musician with his roots in the sand. He says “Santa Rosa Beach is one of the best music towns. It’s like a mini Nashville. But they actually pay you.”

Dion plays up and down The Panhandle, often 7 days a week. He has his sights set on Nashville and the big league of country music, but he's doing it on his own terms. So far his plan seeems to be working.

To Sum Up...

When we talk about someone’s wedding, we often refer to it as “The Big Day.” Getting married is one of the most momentous and life changing days in anybody’s life. Being the lynch-pin in the wedding of a couple is more than just a job, it’s a serious responsibility. Tania's day at the office is all about balancing the tension between the happiest and frequently the most stressful day in a person’s life. Wedding Planner is not a career for the faint of heart.

It’s interesting to note that when a bride walks down the aisle – even if it’s on the sand – to accompany the most important moment of her life, most brides choose classical music. Classical music is woven into our lives in more ways than many of us realize, and none more important than the gift a living orchestra brings to a community, including our children’s education.

And then there's the total other, super-popular end of the musical spectrum – Country music.

Dion, Demetrius, and Tania represent the wide range of events and experiences available to those of us who live on or visit The Panhandle. They're each making a vlauable contribution to the Emerald Coast cultural economy.

Out to Lunch was recorded live over lunch at Farm & Fire restaurant on Highway 331. Farm & Fire is one of Chef Jim Shirley’s family of fine restaurants. It’s open from 4pm, 6 days a week, and from 11am for brunch on Sundays.

You can find photos from this show by Brandan Babineaux at outtolunchemeraldcoast.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.