finding inspiration

So I don’t know if this is just a me thing or a planner thing, but I find myself using analogies to explain things. Perhaps it’s just easier to understand what one is talking about if referring it in context to something that is already familiar.

So with that said, I guess I could say I am always looking for ways to connect metaphorical dots. The other night I went to a Wilco concert – I think the greatest part for me was during the part when Jeff Tweedy had the audience sing the song as the band played.

In the world of branding we’re always talking about how to build meaningful brands and how to measure feedback – I think this video serves as a great example. The audience is singing the song as the band plays – instant feedback / reaction from you audience regarding what you have produced. And you get to see your audience “using” your “product/service” front and center! Great moment for insight/feedback/ideas/inspiration.

Something else we always talk about: making brands conversational and two way, rather than meaningless one-way projection. Again…Wilco/Jeff Tweedy pretty much owned it, involving the audience, making it personal, building a relationship, turning the show into a conversation, rather than projecting music for 2 1/2 hours.

awesome awesome awesome.

And on a musical level…how freaking awesome is it to be up on stage playing music you love, a few hundred of your biggest fans front and center, singing your music right to you? I love this stuff.

Heart in Luckenbach, Texas

A few months ago I was asked “Where did you move to?” (…and yes, the q. did end in a preposition)

My answer: “Oh, I moved  to Texas!”

I was quickly corrected by an Austinite: “No, you didn’t moved to Texas, you moved to Austin!”

“Tomato, Tomawto” was what I thought in reply…and that was basically the end of that.

Fast forward about two months and I find myself in a little placed called Luckenbach, Texas. It was at this point I understood the difference between moving to Texas, and moving to Austin.

I had a great experience in Luckenbach…there is some serious personality to that place. I ended up chatting with one of the guys inside the cowboy hat and cowboy boot shack? …anyway, he has been a Texan since day 1 and had some great stories to share. Had some serious pride to be a Texan, so keeping in mind this project I’m working on…I captured a few stories the guy told me.

Everyone raves about what a great city Austin is and is becoming…and I certainly agree, I love it here. However, all of the great chatter I’ve heard regarding Austin is mainly from 20 somethings like myself who have not been here that long or long enough to know Austin before it began to know. The perspective of this guy…who has known Austin for decades really gave me a few things to think about.

Great experience all in all. I gave a bunch of Heart in Texas stickers to him and his friend at the table…Luckenbach, Texas…wow, what an experience.