Bliss postpones Lip Dub due to weather

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Weather forced a one-week postponement of the elaborate Lip Dub in downtown Grand Rapids, organizer Rob Bliss announced Saturday.

The event is now scheduled for Sunday, May 22, at the same time and place, he said.

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Dressing up and running around like a zombie, or whacking someone you don't know with a pillow -- to the naked eye, Rob Bliss' events just look like a ton of free fun.

But they come with a price. And although it doesn't make financial sense to host these free events, Bliss admitted Friday that the business model from the start has been impossible.

"It's really hard to fiscally pull it off, but we do," he said. "We seem to somehow -- seem to still do enough to make it continue to happen.

"... You predict cost being one thing, and by the time the event comes around, it's gone up twice the amount you think they would be."

This weekend, his Grand Rapids Lip Dub event was set for Sunday. It will now take place on May 22. Previously, he's done a paper airplane event/entry at ArtPrize, massive zombie walks and set up a giant water slide downtown.

The inflatable slide put Bliss more than $20,000 in debt to the city of Grand Rapids.

Now, he's trying to sell it, to cover those costs. And although the city supports Bliss' creativity, City Manager Greg Sundstrom said officials are "prudently awaiting him to pay off his past debts."

Because of the money Bliss owes, the film company he is working with this weekend had to take out the permit to shoot the Lib Dub video.

The music video -- shot in one continuous, unedited take -- will be filled with city officials and local celebrities, singing along to every word. But not everyone is so excited.

Several critics emerged this week on mlive.com.

"Maybe they should stop worrying about trying to make themselves and the city look cool, and instead, bring jobs," one wrote.

Another wondered: "If this is his last 'event,' does that mean you go back to 'stringer' work?"

"I think there's a lot of problems happening in the U.S.," Bliss said. "People are like, why me? Why this guy? Why is he getting all of the attention? What about my issues? And there are a lot of issues that people rightfully have, so honestly, it doesn't bother me. I read all the comments for fun."

The Lib Dub will cost him and the film company more than $35,000.

"I won't be doing this when I'm 30," Bliss said. "I'm sure I'm going to run out of fun stuff to do, or people. Just kick me out of the city, like, 'cut it out! Just get outta here.' "

Bliss is a college student who also works at WOOD TV8 as a Multi-Platform Account Executive. He independently plans these events.

WOOD staff will play a small part in the production.

Saturday, Bliss' Facebook page announced the Lip Dub has been moved to next Sunday.