Trump anecdote to feature in event professor’s memoir

One of Scotland’s leading events academics is set to publish his career memoir, which includes an anecdote about once hosting an event for Donald Trump.

Prof. Joe Goldblatt, former executive director of the International Centre for the Study of Planned Events and a professor at Queen Margaret University, will release The True Joy of Life, his professional and personal memoir, next month.

The book contains a series of real-life stories, including Professor Goldblatt’s events planning for different celebrities such as Donald Trump, Pope Benedict XVI, Oprah Winfrey and Ronald Reagan.

One of the stories relates details of a lavish launch event he produced for Donald Trump at his Taj Mahal Casino and Resort event in New Jersey in 1990, which only went ahead at the last moment when one of the property magnate’s staff hand-delivered a cheque.

Professor Goldblatt said: “The Trump Organisation had still owed my firm a total of $300,000 for the two days of production. $150,000 had been paid in advance as a deposit and the balance was due prior to the start of the ribbon cutting production.”

He described how a man “wearing a long black trench coat and a black fedora hat” – who he thought was going to “shoot him” – then arrived at the 11^th hour and produced the money in an envelope.

He wrote: “He looked down at me and asked “Joe Goldblatt?” I said “Yes” and he reached inside his right chest coat pocket. I was terrified he had a gun and would shoot me.

“He extracted a long legal sized envelope and handed it to me saying “This is from Mr. Trump.” Then he turned and walked into the casino. I quickly opened the envelope and confirmed that it was our certified bank check for the balance of the funds due to us. I handed the check to my wife Nancy and asked her to immediately deposit it in the nearest ATM.”

Steven Wood Schmader, Certified Festival and Event Executive (CFEE) President & CEO International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA World), upon reading the book, said: “From a young man who started his career parlaying silence into success, to a respected professional voice that reverberates around the globe, Joe Goldblatt continues to create ripples that will shape and impact our industry for generations to follow.”

The 275-page book will be published in April 2019 and will also include many rare and exclusive photos from the author’s personal archive. In addition, Professor Goldblatt has produced a five-part video series featuring inspiring stories from the book.  Each purchaser of the soft cover copy of The True Joy of Life will also receive free access to an audio abridged version of the book narrated by the author. Professor Goldblatt is also happy to personally inscribe individual books upon request.

To order copies of The True Joy of Life, the video seriesor to contact the author, visit www.joegoldblatt.scot

Prof. Joe Goldblatt