Friday, November 26, 2010
The Memphis Brand
Posted by John Branston on Fri, Nov 26, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I think Mayor A C Wharton and his new hire, our colleague and brand-manager-to-be Mary Cashiola, know the difference and the limitations of the job.
First off, Mary did a good job for us and she will do a good job for the city. People make a difference. I will miss her as a friend and colleague.
In the category of Memphis brand building, I would put selectively responding to and creating those aggravating, irresistible, superficial, badly sourced, agenda loaded, click-driven lists of America's best, worst, safest, most dangerous, smartest, most beautiful, most neighborly, healthiest, and all the rest that show up in magazines or academic studies and get recycled on web pages, on television, and in newspapers. The more serious ones can and should be responded to. They're a fact of life.
Memphis takes its lumps, but every once in a while it gets a nice windfall. The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, for example, featured a couple of numbers from the musical "Memphis." Millions of people saw that on television. I didn't see anybody rocking and rolling or dancing to the groove of Louisville, Birmingham, Jacksonville, or Indianapolis. Given the popularity of "Glee," maybe Mary can organize a giant 1,000-student production number on the river or over at Soulsviille or on Beale Street next year.
On the other hand, there are some hits Memphis deserves and simply has to deal with.
"Memphis is not competitive. It's as simple as that," from Fred Smith is one of them.
"I remember riding my bicycle through thriving neighborhoods as a kid. Now it looks like someone bombed my city," by Wharton, in the New York Times no less, is another.
The study that came out this week ranking Memphis last among Tennessee's 50 largest cities for "business friendly" environment is a third. Our property tax rate is what it is. So is our population loss. So is our schools record.
And a fourth example is Memphis City Schools superintendent Kriner Cash admitting this week that the school system needs to be rightsized by closing schools and cutting personnel. He could have added, but did not, dealing with the 10,000 to 25,000 students, by Cash's count, who don't believe in starting school in August.
So there's a place for brand management and there are limitations. I confess to not exactly seeing this as the city's most pressing need. The Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau and the mayors are supposed to be doing this already. So does the chamber of commerce and the Center City Commission. But I guess every little bit helps.
Comments (36)
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Mary's got a big job ahead of her, no doubt about it. There are only so many ways you can flog barbecue, Elvis and Beale Street.
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Jeff: the real problem Mary faces is overcoming the attitude of folks like you who just can't seem to help themselves from focusing on Memphis' limitations instead of on its opportunities and its potential. Memphis negativity is a plague that afflicts this town (mostly its natives) and has the destructive potential of its yellow fever epidemic.
John: I noticed the Memphis-centric aspect of the Macy's parade too (and you didn't even mention the performance from the Tony-winning show, "Million Dollar Quartet," based on the historic jam session at Sun Studio between Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins). It's no accident Memphis is mentioned more often in music than virtually any other city in the world.
All right, Marty, I'll bite. If you're such a civic booster, tell me why I should live in Memphis instead of where I am now. How is that going to be better for my life?
That's two questions, auto.
The reason you should live in Memphis, trite as it may sound, is to help make it a better place. After all, if it was good enough for you to live here for as long as you did, surely you got enough out of it that you should consider reciprocating. If you changed your attitude about it, I suggest you could have more of a beneficial impact on Memphis than you're ever likely to have on D.C.
I can't answer your second question. That's entirely up to you. There is no reason why you can't have as good a life in Memphis, though, as you can have in D.C. Once again, the only (or at least the main) thing standing in the way is attitude.
Marty, I think you misunderstand. I was very pro-Memphis until I saw what life was like outside this city. I obtained my attitude, as you call it, by exposing myself to a new environment. I thought life was like this everywhere. I honestly had no idea how bad things were here until now.
I've spent the last ten years hating on myself because I work hard and play by the rules yet I can't seem to keep the bills paid. This has been a constant problem in my life, and it disappeared the moment I left town. I cannot describe what a relief it is to discover that the problem isn't me, it's the place I live. And it's not just DC that has more to offer me, I've been finding opportunities in Nashville, Louisville, Richmond, Indianapolis, and as far away as Portland. The world is now my oyster. It feels amazing.
And I think I've given quite enough to Memphis, thank you very much. No one who knows me would think to accuse me of slacking off when it comes to service to this community. No, I've done my part around here, but Memphis doesn't have anything to offer me in return. If the only reason you can come up with for me to stay in Memphis is so that I can continue to make sacrifices toward a problem that is not of my making and is bigger than any one person, then what you are saying is that there really is no good reason for me to stay here.
I'm halfway through my life, and I'm ready to start a family of my own. If I'm sacrificing any more of my life, it's going to be for my future wife and children. Why on Earth should I live in squalor, poverty, and misery, when I have a choice in the matter? That's what I'm saying, Marty. Until I got away, I didn't realize I had that choice.
Apropos the branding issue, I certainly hope our New Broom mayor, with the able assistance of my soon-to-be ex-colleague Mary Cashiola can do what they can to fix one of the glaring omissions in the presentation of our city's image.
Notice that whenever there is any national publicity about St. Jude Hospital, there is no mention of the hospital's location in Memphis. Ever. Especially on national television, be it Matt Lauer's recent visit to St. Jude or the one a couple of weeks back featuring the members of the Fox Sports NFL team (Kurt, Terry, Jimmy, Howie, Michael). The word "Memphis" is conspicuous by its absence. Always.
Can this have to do with some predilection of Marlo Thomas'? Or just what? In any case, even the most casual citation of the 5 W's sort (surely a prerequisite for any kind of informational presentation) woud do much to convey a different image about our city than all those Forbes Magazine bouquets have.
BREAKING NEWS: Sign-of-overdue-change department? To be sure, on the AOL Welcome page today, where the clip of Lauer's visit is featured (sans reference to the hospital's physical location, as usual), there IS a link to a written text by Thomas about "My Dad's Dream," in which Memphis' involvement in the St. Jude sage actually IS featured. Hallelujah! But never in one of the many, many national TV promotions of the hospital's activity. And I've been observing this for years.
Just note for yourself the next time you see one of these promos, online or on TV. Or in print or radio, for that matter. If things are about to change for the better, then (again): Hallelujah!
Spot on, Jackson B. In a similar vein, I've noticed how frequently the national media will refer to something in Memphis as being in "Tennessee," rather than referring to our fair city by name. This is not a phenomenon I've noticed about Chicago, LA, Miami, Houston or even Nashville, for that matter (which seems to have its own national identity). It's like we're invisible, or worse, are being punished for something. I wonder why that is?
When my husband asked me why I was so troubled by the news of an investigative reporter taking a city job managing its image/brand, I said the same thing Branston says above -- that the CVB, Chamber, and CCC should already be doing that job. (Wow I actually agree with Branston on something! There is hope!) Here we have a corrupt political machine co-opting yet another capable journalist. It is as though a midwife chose to become a pharmaceutical rep -- it's just odd... and sad.
What I am hoping that Mary will do is to help drive interest in Memphis among the creative class. Many years ago Memphis hosted Richard Florida for a think tank symposium called the Memphis Manifesto. Its mission was to help mid-sized cities retain and attract the American creative class. When we look at cities that are expanding and performing well right now – Raleigh, Austin even Nashville - these are cities that put a premium on arts, culture, progressive politics, diversity, and tolerance towards gay and lesbian citizens. Our major corporate players have done little help advance Memphis as a city of the future. Fred Smith likes to support major league sports but is absent from supporting the arts in Memphis. How could be of let the downtown arts space Powerhouse die? What is the possibility of creative the proposed arts park downtown (as opposed to a 100M dollar bait and tackle shop) (why would a young creative mobile person relocate to a city that puts a premium on a bait and tackle but not the arts).
I hope Mary will call for a regrouping of the Memphis Manifesto group – lets see how we can work with business leaders to help make Memphis a progressive city.
Sorry but the CVC, the Chamber doesn’t have the mindset to do the work necessary to attract the creative class. I hope Mary does.
Auto,
I appreciate your view. And congratulations on your new gig and city. But you just joined the ranks of the other yellow belly bastards.
You can leave and be happy. Just don't leave and bash. No reason to turn around and throw stones.
Thanks for the help.
Zip
Derek, "Best wishes to you in whatever you do." Stay safe. You've given much to our good abode.
Auto: I don't know what you've "given to our good abode," but at least you can hold your head high for not leading the effort to keep Memphis mired in its past by opposing consolidation. Being complimented for your contributions to the city by someone who did lead that effort is like being complimented for promoting diversity by a member of a hate group.
Auto: sorry, but I have to comment on one other thing you said, namely that you were very pro-Memphis until you saw what life was like elsewhere. Forgive me, but that sounds very much like someone who says they loved their spouse until they found someone who was younger, richer and/or better looking..
There's a lot more to be said for loyalty and faithfulness than for opportunism. Nevertheless, good luck in D.C. (you'll need it), and whatever you do, don't stop taking every opportunity to tell us everything that's wrong with Memphis; we love to hear that, and give it great credence, especially when it comes from deserters.
Sadly, Memphis is a city in decline and we are in dire need of help with our image and brand. I doubt that hiring this woman will be of much help, but it's probably a good thing to do.
Our city's reputation and image are terrible, not just in the US, both world-wide. We have friends who live in other cities, and also in other countries, and the first thing they ask about Memphis is about the high crime rate.
It seems true that these polls and surveys and rankings really do matter.
"Sadly, Memphis is a city in decline and we are in dire need of help with our image and brand."
Donnak, this is simply not the case. This year, more than any other I remember, citizens all around the city are taking ownership in the revitalization and the development of our city. "A New Face for Old Broad", the new Shelby Farms park, Teachers' Effectiveness Initiative, The Greenline, Midtown Dog Park, the Kroc Center, Potential for Pinch District and Pyramid development, Bike lanes, new businesses on S. Main.and many others are a few projects that show where this city is headed.
We now have a great advocate as our Mayor that recognizes what is needed to move our city forward. We need better recreation. We need somewhere to go downtown (besides Beale). We need a cleaner, healthier, more vibrant city to show off to businesses and young professionals.
Memphis has more baggage to deal with that almost any other place in the whole country. The good news is that we have so many people who are not affiliated with the government or city at all that are working to do much more than their part.
If you really believe that Memphis is on the downswing, you are ignoring small, but important changes in our city's mentality. And as always, if you are going to be negative, please move somewhere else and quit whining.
Good luck, Mary. Take a note from Kerry over at http://ilovememphisblog.com/ . She has done more for the image of our city than any other single person in the past year.
Priceless: you are the future of Memphis; some of the other commenters here are its past. Don't let 'em get you down.
Speaking of recreation, Forbes (you know, the one that rated Memphis as the "most miserable" city) rated us one of the top 40 cities in the country for outdoor recreation in 2008 (and that was before the Greenline, new bike lanes and the improvements at Shelby Farms). Unsurprisingly, given the down-in-the-mouth attitude about our own city that predominates here, no one (not even our local media) reported that.
P.S. My daughter was a TFA'er in Balto. I hope its attrition rate has improved since she was in it, and that more of its participants than used to are going into teaching as a profession. She didn't.
Marty, give it a break !!! Wish Derek good luck and let it go. You are a small little man.
Tom: a "small little man" would tell you what to do with your advice, and with your criticism, but I won't. Meantime, please consider joining your pal, Derek, in D.C. Its lily-white suburbs are in no danger of consolidating with predominantly-black D.C., but I'm sure you can find some other threat those demographics pose from which you can "save" them.
Marty, my comment was aimed more at the way Memphis is promoted than at Memphis itself. It seems to me that the only things you ever hear or see about Memphis have something to do with barbecue, Elvis, and/or Beale Street. I was hoping Mary will find new things to flog.
Oh, and I agree that Mary's biggest obstacle is me - a semi-anonymous commentor. Sometimes my power to shape the course of Memphis frightens me, but then I remember how much fun it will be to destroy the place and I laugh. A long evil laugh that sounds something like this - bwahahahahahahahahahaha.
The image would take care of itself if the substance was fundamentally improved. The facts are, it has not been, really, since the early 1960's. Finding a way to improve public education in Memphis would go a long way toward bringing crime under control, as would funding a city-wide system of after-school and summer recreation. Ultimately, Memphis must "rightsize" its government. Nothing will improve unless Memphis takes the drastic step of setting its property tax rate at a level consistent with Bartlett, Germantown and Collierville, and cutting and downsizing as needed to bring that about. Deannexation of territory should even be considered.
Tech,
Far be it for me to defend Fred Smith, but your comment about him (and/or FedEx) being "absent from supporting the arts in Memphis" is simply not true. From the Cannon Center to Arts in the Park to the Memphis Symphony to many, many other arts-related initiatives, FedEx has long been a major supporter of the arts in Memphis.
Perhaps Fred Smith/FedEx hasn't sponsored YOUR pet local arts project. But the blanket statement you made about a lack of support from FedEx for the arts in general is a downright lie.
I submit that the bigger question is how does a relatively poor city like Memphis expand its pool of arts benefactors. Given that a single company or individual (no matter how successful) will never be able to support every worthwhile arts-related initiative in the city, how do we convince more local corporate citizens and individual contributors to step up to the plate?
To be perfectly honest, the only place that the "Memphis brand" needs fixing is right here at home. As I've traveled the world, Memphis is far away recognized more than Nashville, Atlanta, or pretty much any other American city with the exceptions of LA, NYC, and possibly Miami (a tie I would say). Everyone I meet all perk up when they here I'm from Memphis - no matter where they are from. Sure, it may be because of Elvis, closely followed by the blues, but they all have heard about Memphis and speak of it in reverent tones like a sort of holy place in regards to music. If more locals felt the same way, we wouldn't be having this discussion at all.
This doesn't change the fact that we have serious problems to correct, but our concern over how others see us is a bit skewed.
I've met quite a few people from "overseas" and I've never had any of them ask about Memphis's high crime rate when I tell them where I'm from. People from other parts of Tennessee, sure, but no one from another country. No swipes at other parts of Tn being like another country, either, please.
According to Marty's view, a person can spend their entire adult life working to improve the community where they were born, but the moment they seek opportunity elsewhere, and honestly describe the experience on a website, they become part of the problem. Apparently, in Memphis and only in Memphis, a single negative comment can undo not only every positive thing a person has said about Memphis, but a lifetime's work of activism as well. I never realized what a truly fragile state this city is in!
Paens to "loyalty and faithfulness" don't do anything to make Memphis more attractive to members of the creative class, Marty. No one is going to move their family there from Seattle or wherever out of some mushy loyalty to a city they've never even seen. And while I'm sure it's emotionally gratifying to lay a guilt-trip on me for making the difficult decision to leave my own hometown for greener pastures, it won't change the fundamental reason why I left. Do you think that was an easy decision? Did you just assume that I failed to explore every possible avenue for success there before finally, at long last, deciding to look elsewhere? Apparently you did, and I'd like to take a moment to kindly inform you that you really don't know what the fuck you're talking about.
It's telling that you still haven't answered the original question. You still haven't provided a single reason why Memphis is a better place to live than, well, just about anywhere else. So far, all you've put on offer is 1) there is work to be done, 2) loyalty and faithfulness, and 3) you're a deserter, you're a bad person, and you should feel bad for it. Oh, and 4) if you opposed consolidation, good riddance. In that case, you may as well tell everyone to pack it up, because consolidation was voted down by a pretty significant margin. I don't think the tourism board is going to be taking your suggestions anytime soon.
If I come off like "someone who says they loved their spouse until they found someone who was younger, richer and/or better looking," then how on Earth do you think you sound? The choice of where to live is not a marriage. If Memphis thinks it is somehow entitled to keep me or anyone else as a permanent resident while offering nothing in return, that might go a long way toward explaining why no one wants to get involved. You don't stick your dick in crazy.
Just to preempt the inevitable accusation of being some kind of hater, let me say something positive about Memphis: Memphis is strong enough to handle criticism from someone who has earned the right to give it.
Auto, your power to destroy the place is no greater than my own. These ruins will be a testimony to the terrible power of my sarcasm. Hear me, O! Memphis, and tremble.
Look fellows, that Marty guy is kind of an idiot. Once you come to realize that you will realize how pointless it is to respond to his every post. There was a period of time where he was either banned or gone by his own volition from this site. Those were the days.
Unbelievable. I am an outside investor in delapdated apartments that I am rebuilding in the Midtown / hospital area and was ready to bail out on everything I have been trying to do, until AC Wharton became mayor and showed me what a difference ONE person can do. I am not political whatsoever, just an investor who comes to Memphis once a month.
To me, Memphis was always a "diamond in the rough" uncut, but with great potential. AC is making the right cuts and within 2 years, the town will have a completely different image, look and feel. Memphis will be relevant. The reason Mary is CRITICAL is because the Mayor needs to promote and control the image, not these other self inflicted, so called city groups Chamber etc.
RIGHT ON AC. I am with you.
The ZOOKEEPER "look for the statues"
After finishing off those who move away from Memphis, Marty now will berate and castigate people in other cities who don't want to move to Memphis.
Look, everyone who moves away from one city to another isn't a quitter. If that's the case, I've "quit" Columbia, Missouri, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Pittsburgh, to name four. Job opportunities and the simple desire for change sometimes trump "loyalty" to a place. That said, I think Auto may soon discover that the grass is never greener than when you first arrive in a new city. Personally, I was ready to leave D.C. after two years. It seemed transient beneath the marble glitz of museums and federal buildings. No real downtown. No real chance to make a name for yourself locally. Hideous traffic. Endless sprawling 'burbs. High cost of housing. Two many men in suits.
Bottom line: It's a federal city and I never found the "there" there.
Not to say Auto won't love D.C. forever. And not to say that bashing Memphis on the way out the door wasn't rude. But I say best of luck to you, young feller. You were a good Memphian -- passionate and involved. Come back anytime. The Ghost River's on me.
Bruce, ditto on DC. I love to visit. It's a great place for media junkies and foodies and some fantastic music and culture can be found all along the line from Baltimore to NYC. But the downsides you list always seem to outweigh the ups.
Like Bruce (and for much of the same time frame) I lived in D.C. What he says is true. It is everyplace -- and noplace. Mes compliments to you, Pesky,for being able to recognize that as a sometime visitor. But -- and it's a BIG but -- there is such a thing as Potomac fever, which can exercise an unsuspected magnetic pull even after you've left the place.
And, it needs to be said, DuPont Circle is about as cool and trippy an oasis as you could ask for.
I don't have a problem with someone moving to another city to improve their lot in life. What I have a problem with is taking a dump on the place you're leaving as a justification, for good measure.
I told Auto all the reasons he would soon get a snoot full of D.C. in my comments to Mary's piece announcing her new position, some of which Bruce has echoed (great minds think alike), but "zookeeper," in an eye-opening post that signifies Mary may not have the insurmountable task everyone thinks she will, has listed all the reasons he (Auto/Derek) may have pulled the plug on Memphis entirely too soon.
JB: my daughter lives on DuPont Circle, and has a slightly different opinion about it. As is the case with so many popular cities, residents and tourists frequently have different perspectives. Actually, that applies to Memphis too, in spades. What I'm hoping is that Mary can get its residents to feel about Memphis the way so many of its visitors do.
Oh, and Jack: what can I say--you obviously don't even know yourself.
Here's yet another example, to go along with "zookeeper's" remark, of the difference in attitude between Memphis' natives and its newcomers:
“I love Memphis,” he said. “I think this is one of the greatest towns in the world. I come from a fishing village of about 1,000 people, and I knew where Memphis was before I knew where London was.” Seamus Lofton, a native of Ballina, Ireland, and the proprietor of the new Irish pub on Madison Avenue downtown, to be known as The Brass Door, from a piece in tomorrow's edition of The Memphis Daily News.
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