Trying this again

I know it has been a while and I'm probably one of the most inconsistent bloggers out there. However, this article about Vegas got me thinking enough to write about it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29210454/?GT1=43001

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love Vegas - I love everything about it, even the stuff that's ugly in it (and there's a lot of ugliness to Vegas, let me tell ya). This article got me a little upset though - mainly because I started thinking about brand, image, perception and social responsiveness. I think the hardest thing about branding and image and personality is that depending on the socially correct views of the time, a brand is well received or rejected, regardless of what the reality about that "thing" may be.

In the case of Vegas, sure wild things happen. There are a bunch of nightclubs, you can gamble 24x7, smoke anywhere and everywhere (just cigarettes, kids, but even then, most people find that shocking), buy anything under the sun, get massages or anything possible at spas and even access more adult entertainment forms. But Vegas also has a lot of more tame activities - there are a number of Michelin star restaurants in Vegas (I honestly have yet to have a bad meal there), the shopping is awesome, and people are friendly. There are great pools and you can get an awesome tan. And don't forget the shows....pretty much everyone and anyone can find something to do. So why do people go on hating  Vegas?

I have 4 theories about the Vegas hating in light of this recession (if people remember right, we had another recession a few years back) and in some ways they may be related.

Theory 1 - people are in denial that the craziness in Vegas actually exists in their own cities and is necessary for life balance.

Every city has it's own sin spots. San Francisco isn't a nominee for sainthood...neither is New York. Actually, Amsterdam is racier than all the cities. If people went to Vegas, they would see that it's actually kinda tame in some ways and it's all about what you make of it. It's a place for people to let loose and enjoy themselves, an oasis for adult fun. And what's wrong with that?

If Vegas goes away, there won't be many locations available for fun like that (at least, not in this country. Next city would be Dubai), or if there is, it most likely will be in your own backyard...And who wants that?

Conventions choose Vegas because it is fun, and honestly, more business is done in a social setting than an office. The big deals happen over dinner and drinks and shows - not necessarily in a boardroom. Ok, maybe the signature is in the boardroom, but the deal is done over martinis. Having a good social scene helps with entertaining clients and partners - so in a way, Vegas is good for business.

This brings me to Theory 2 - that in general, most people believe business is done in an office.

I've yet to see a business deal done in the confines of an office, or synergies between departments done in a conference room. People get more done over drinks and dinner, even lunch, than they do sitting in cube-land. Business is really a social activity, and conferences provide a way for people to meet and greet, have fun, get to know each other, and make a deal. To make a deal with someone, you have to be able to trust him or her. To trust him or her, you have to be social with that person. A great place to be social and build up trust is Vegas. If you see a colleague dance around like an idiot and get messy drunk and not say a word about it the next day - you are seen as a great person and worth getting into business with. The craziness of Vegas helps with trust building - in a weird way - and makes it easier to get along with people in business.

Even in New York, people will go out and be crazy to do the same thing. At least in Vegas, you can crawl back to your hotel room in walking distance or via cab. You can't always say that about New York.

Theory 3 - and this is the one I'm afraid of - is that we are actually heading into socially conservative waters.

This one makes me nervous. When people are conservative with their money - they start to get judgmental about how it is spent by other people and overly notice what other people do. Just because someone goes to Vegas doesn't mean he is a millionaire - Vegas has some great deals and great shows. It's a fun place to go in the same way that LA or Miami is (and has the same sins. In fact, I think Vegas is safer from a crime perspective if you stick to The Strip), but people have a perception that those cities aren't so bad. When people are afraid they don't like to take risk of any sort...even fun. Vegas is about risk - gambling, spending, etc. Right now we are in fearful times (not like the past 10 years had no fearful times in the economy, but anyway), so a risky Vegas won't seem like a good idea in the public view and would be racy, scandalous, too risque.

A company is better off bringing their employees to LA or another city and spending big at restaurants and hotels there because it seems less risky and flashy (but at the end of the day, will cost the same amount of money).

Theory 4 - people are confusing fantasy with reality.

I think this is probably the most accurate of the list and reflects the branding of Vegas. Vegas is a fantasy land - most of what people thinks goes on there, does go on - but not as much that people think it does. We all need fantasies for escape, especially in rough economic times. I think Vegas has developed such a fantastic reputation that people have forgotten the reality of Vegas and what it's really all about. Too much CSI and too much fantasizing themselves on what Vegas is. They forgot the business that goes on there and that it is just a fun playground - a diversion so to speak - from daily life. The Vegas brand appeals to fantasy. Now that people see it as forbidden, maybe they will see it as more attractive (and get disappointed when they realize it's wild, but not that wild compared to a crazy club in a major US city).

We all need a place like Vegas - a place to have a break and disappear for a few days and just have straight-up fun. It has a great brand/image that I think we need socially to be a healthy society. I hope that in the current economy it doesn't get overly devalued and turns back into the Vegas of the 70s, which it tired so hard to go away from as a brand/image.

Comments

[Sulis]

Great work.