AVL Biz Weekly — Feb 18–24: Zombie Leads, Google Hacks & Beer Pong for Charity

Welcome to AVL BIZ Weekly—your local cheat sheet for what’s happening in Asheville’s small business + creative scenes.

Each week: hand-picked events, marketing ideas that actually work, and a little local flavor to keep things fun.

My name's Jason and I'm writing this (connect with me here).

Hey friends,

February's doing that thing where it's too early for spring but too late to blame your slow week on the gloomy days of winter. If your pipeline's looking a little thin and your motivation is running on fumes, I feel you.

Good news: this week we're bringing the dead back to life (leads, not people), showing you how to cheat your way to a better Google listing, and making a case for why your fanciest emails might actually be working against you.

Plus: AI relationship therapy at Blind Tiger, a Jimmy Buffett tribute on National Margarita Day, and a Beer Pong Olympics where your terrible aim actually helps charity.

Let's go.

📋 On Deck

• Business Events: Tech takeovers in Hendo, leadership frameworks that don't suck, and crypto talks for the hype-allergic.

• Marketing Quickies: The 9-word email that revives dead leads, a Google Profile hack your competitors don't know about, and why your prettiest emails are your worst performers.

• Fun Stuff: Fitness hikes for the brave, AI relationship therapy at Blind Tiger, Beer Pong Olympics for charity, and National Margarita Day (obviously).

• Bands on the Horizon: From Led Zeppelin tributes and Tuesday night funk jams to the "Reptiles on a Magazine" tour.

🙋 Want your biz featured in front of a few really smart AVL business owners? Email me for details

🗓️ Business Events

• 🗓️ Leadership on Tap – Wed, Feb 18 · 6:00–8:00 PM (Mojo Coworking, 81 Broadway St Suite 201, Asheville, NC)

  Leadership, but make it useful. This month’s Leadership on Tap features Linda Ruhland of Positively Asheville sharing practical frameworks for clarity, resilience, and building teams people actually want to be part of. Expect smart conversation, complimentary drinks, and a room full of founders, managers, and remote pros who care about doing leadership better—not louder.

• 🗓️ Coffee & Connection with Podcasters, Speakers & Authors – Thu, Feb 19 · 9:00–10:30 AM (Panera Bread, 160 Coolridge St, Hendersonville, NC)

  No slides. No awkward icebreakers. Just coffee and smart, creative folks swapping ideas and referrals. If you’re building a platform—podcast, book, speaking gigs, or all three—this low-key meetup is a solid way to grow your network and sharpen how you promote your work. Look for the laptop covered in podcast stickers and pull up a chair.

• 🗓️ syzygy: a new way to collaborate, cowork & connect – Thu, Feb 19 · 6:30–8:00 PM (Olde London Road, 270 Depot St, Asheville, NC)

  Remote workers, freelancers, and creative misfits: this one’s built for you. Hosted by AVL Digital Nomads, syzygy is part hangout, part playful startup jam, part “show us your weird side project.” No pitching, no stiff networking scripts—just alignment, experimentation, and finding your people in a town full of laptops.

• 🗓️ CryptoMondays AVL – Mon, Feb 23 · 6:00–8:00 PM (Elevated Kava Lounge Downtown, 122 College St, Asheville, NC)

  Curious about crypto but allergic to hype? CryptoMondays AVL brings builders, believers, and the blockchain-curious together for real conversations about where this tech is headed. Expect a featured speaker, open discussion, and plenty of time to connect with others exploring Web3, DeFi, and the future of digital ownership—minus the conference price tag.

• 🗓️ HBOR Commercial Real Estate Lunch & Learn – Tue, Feb 24 · 12:30–2:00 PM (Hendersonville Board of REALTORS® Office, Hendersonville, NC)

  Commercial curious? This Lunch & Learn breaks down the real-world side of commercial lending and 1031 exchanges with a local lender and real estate attorney. Built for agents who want to confidently guide investor clients (and stop dodging commercial questions), it’s practical, tactical, and comes with lunch if you register ahead.

• 🗓️ Creative Meetings @Thacreativeplayground – Tue, Feb 24 · 6:30–8:30 PM (3861 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28704)

  If your best ideas show up when you’re around other creative brains, this is your room. Hosted by Slay the Mic, Creative Meetings is a two-hour hangout to spark collaborations, swap concepts, and meet designers, artists, and entrepreneurs building cool stuff around AVL. Come ready to talk shop, dream big, and maybe leave with your next project partner.

Hosting something cool?

📬 Hit reply and tell me what you think. Or share an event!

💡 Marketing Quickies

1. You've got a list of people who called months ago but never booked. They're not gone — they're just procrastinating.

   Don't send a fancy follow-up. Send a plain, 9-word email (or text):

   "Are you still looking to get your [project] done?"

   It feels personal, it's easy to answer, and it regularly pulls a higher response rate.

   Why it works: It starts a conversation, not a sales pitch.

   This is the heart of what we call the Show Up and Follow Up System — more on that below.

2. Hack Your Google Q&A (Before Your Competitor Does)

   Did you know you don't have to wait for customers to ask questions on your Google Business Profile? You can ask and answer them yourself.

   Load up your profile with common questions like: "Do you offer free estimates?" or "Are you licensed and insured?"

   Then answer them immediately from your business account.

   Why it matters: This removes buying friction and stuffs your profile with the exact keywords people are searching for. It takes 10 minutes and most of your competitors will never do it.

3. Your "Pretty" Emails Are Killing Your Open Rate

   Stop obsessing over beautifully designed HTML emails. In 2026, they often land in the Promotions tab where they quietly die.

   Plain text emails — the kind that look like a real message from a friend — get higher open rates and build more trust.

   Write like you talk. If you wouldn't say it to a customer sitting in their living room, don't put it in an email.

   The test: If your email looks like a flyer, your reader will treat it like junk mail.

4. Turn Every Google Review Into a Ranking Boost

   You know you should reply to reviews. But are you using them to rank better?

   Don't just say, "Thanks, glad you liked it!"

   Say: "Thanks, John! It was a pleasure installing your new HVAC system in [City Name]. Glad we could get your cooling back on!"

   This confirms to Google that you perform that specific service in that specific city — reinforcing your local rankings every time a happy customer leaves a review.

🎉 Fun Stuff Around AVL

• 🗓️ Variation on Four Waterfalls FITNESS Hike (11.5 mi, 1,900 ft) – Wed, Feb 18 · 10:00 AM–3:00 PM (Pisgah Forest Riding Stables, 1790 National Forest Rd, Pisgah Forest, NC)

  A brisk, level-6 loop through Pisgah hitting Twin Falls, Clawhammer Falls, and two Avery Creek gems—built for strong legs, solid cardio, and hikers who like their waterfalls earned.

• 🗓️ Tech/Ish: AI <3 Humans – “In a Relationship” or “It’s Complicated”? – Wed, Feb 18 · 6:00–8:00 PM (Blind Tiger Asheville, 173 E Chestnut St, Asheville, NC)

  An interactive evening exploring whether AI companions are meaningful connection or clever code, blending guided experiences, big questions, and honest conversation about how these tools are reshaping our emotional lives.

• 🗓️ February Mom’s Meetup: French Broad Chocolate Lounge – Thu, Feb 19 · 2:00–3:00 PM (French Broad Chocolate Lounge, 10 S Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC)

  Moms (and littles) are invited to gather for an hour of chocolate, coffee, and real conversation at French Broad—because community hits different when there’s dessert involved and no one’s pretending they have it all figured out.

• 🗓️ Karaoke at Asheville Sports Club – Thu, Feb 19 · 7:30–10:30 PM (Asheville Sports Club, 37 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC)

  Grab the mic (or courageously cheer from your barstool) for a no-pressure karaoke night where power ballads, 2000s throwbacks, and questionable song choices are all part of the fun.

• 🗓️ High Fiber Kitchen Series: Cooking with Fruit – Fri, Feb 20 · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (N.C. Cooperative Extension – Transylvania County Center, 106 E Morgan St #109, Brevard, NC)

  Roll up your sleeves to cook three fruit-forward recipes, learn the fiber-powered health perks, and pick up practical tips for making local produce the star of your plate.

• 🗓️ Asheville Princess Day – Sat, Feb 21 · 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, or 2:30 PM sessions (Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, 1 Resort Dr, Asheville, NC)

  A 90-minute fairytale experience packed with princess meet-and-greets, stories, songs, dances, crafts, and photo ops where little royals can dress up and soak in the magic.

• 🗓️ Beer Pong Olympics – Sat, Feb 21 · 2:00–4:00 PM (The Whale: A Craft Beer Collective, 507 Haywood Rd #10, Asheville, NC)

  Grab a partner and compete for beer pong glory, a cash prize, and a champion trophy—plus half the ticket sales support Beloved Asheville, so your bracket-busting skills actually do some good.

• 🗓️ National Margarita Day w/ Jimmy Buffett Tribute at Mills River Brewing – Sat, Feb 21 · 5:00–10:00 PM (Mills River Brewing, 336 Banner Farm Rd, Mills River, NC)

  Throw on your loudest Hawaiian shirt and celebrate National Margarita Day with a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, beachy vibes, and a lineup of margs (blood orange to spicy jalapeño) that practically demand a second round.

• 🗓️ Ska City @ Highland Brewing – Sat, Feb 21 · 6:00–8:00 PM (Highland Brewing, 12 Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC)

  Catch live ska rhythms at Highland’s taproom, grab a craft beer, and hang with a friendly crew of locals for a laid-back Saturday night that’s more dance floor than doom scroll.

• 🗓️ Disclaimer Comedy: Asheville Movie Roast of Richie Rich – Sun, Feb 22 · 7:00–9:00 PM (DayTrip, 174 Broadway St, Asheville, NC)

  Asheville comics take a flamethrower to the ‘90s classic Richie Rich in a live movie roast packed with sharp burns, local jokes, and the kind of chaotic energy that makes you grateful you didn’t grow up absurdly wealthy.

  🎧 Bands on the Horizon

• Early Tuesday Jam — Tue, Feb 17 · 7–10 PM @ One Stop

• Fat Tuesday Celebration w/ Tuesday Night Funk Jam House Band & Firecracker Jazz Band — Tue, Feb 17 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• INZO: Mirrorverse Tour — Tue, Feb 17 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• The Everydays — Wed, Feb 18 · 6–8 PM @ Pisgah Brewing

• Golden Folk Sessions — Wed, Feb 18 · 7 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Pleasantly Wild — Wed, Feb 18 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Uncle Lenny’s Krazy Karaoke — Thu, Feb 19 · 10 PM–1 AM @ One Stop

• ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience — Thu, Feb 19 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Hunter Blalock — Fri, Feb 20 · 7 PM @ One Stop

• Swamptooth (2026 Reptiles on a Magazine Tour) — Fri, Feb 20 · 6–9 PM @ Pisgah Brewing

• Jake Xerxes Fussell w/ Dougie Poole — Fri, Feb 20 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Railroad Earth — Fri, Feb 20 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• The Flyby Heathens — Sat, Feb 21 · 9 PM @ One Stop

• Phuncle Sam Saturday — Sat, Feb 21 · 6–9 PM @ Pisgah Brewing

• Blue Country Line Dance’s Giddy-Up Brunch — Sat, Feb 21 · 11 AM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Stephane Wrembel — Sat, Feb 21 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Kid Hop Hooray! — Sat, Feb 21 · 10 AM @ The Orange Peel

• Blind Date Live — Sat, Feb 21 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Sunday Jam: Spiro & Friends — Sun, Feb 22 · 6:30–9 PM @ Pisgah Brewing

• Shelby Means & Maya de Vitry — Sun, Feb 22 · 7 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• FA2O, 10.105 Solo Show: Plus Jeff Santiago & Donny Brazile — Sun, Feb 22 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Shakedown Sunday — Sun, Feb 22 · 8 PM @ One Stop

• Wax Tailor — Wed, Feb 25 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Eternally Grateful — Wed, Feb 25 · 6–8 PM @ Pisgah Brewing

• Improvement Movement — Thu, Feb 26 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Lotus — Thu, Feb 26 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• DJ Greenie (Michael Greenfield of Lotus) After Party — Thu, Feb 26 · 10 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Wrealist — Thu, Feb 26 · 7–9:30 PM @ Pisgah Brewing

• Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel (Celestun Tour – Night 1) — Fri, Feb 27 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Jesse Welles w/ S.G. Goodman — Fri, Feb 27 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Kelsey Waldon & Taylor Hunnicutt — Fri, Feb 27 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel (Celestun Tour – Night 2) — Sat, Feb 28 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Dexter and the Moonrocks — Sat, Feb 28 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Anders Osborne Duo feat. Brad Walker — Sat, Feb 28 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Muskrat Flats — Sat, Feb 28 · 7 PM @ One Stop

Want your biz in front of smart AVL owners & creators? Reply with what you’re up to and we’ll see if it’s a fit.

Until next week,

Jason De Los Santos
Pixelated Stories Digital Marketing
(828) 585-4293