One of the more fun things to do when we are on the road is to look for little bits of inspiration, creativity and storytelling in sometimes unconventional places that we can then apply to the work we do. This past week while traversing the highways and byways of Southern Georgia and North Florida, we came across some fun best practices worth considering.
First was at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta. We love visiting and learning in Presidential libraries…have now been to five across the county and it’s a bucket list to get to all 11 some day…but one surprising element at the Carter Library was an exhibition called “The Color of Peace,” which were hundreds of pictures drawn in crayon by children from around the world by the group Paint Pals to visualize the simple thoughts and actions of young people that can become a movement.
The exhibit is constantly changing as it has space for young people to come in and draw their own images to be showcased. It is not a competition; it is more an exposition of hope and artwork in the simplest of forms.
In today’s world of computer-generated images, it was a great reminder of what we can do at the grassroots level, using the minds and actions of those we want to make “fans for life” by seeing things though their eyes simply and easily.
Many professional teams will get input from school age children and then use pieces in their storytelling landscape for everything from signs in the area to holiday cards. But often times this assemblage of thoughts from the youngest is an oversight or an extra, not a priority. In a time where kids remain the most creative in our business, we should look to use more of their hand drawn images and thoughts, not less, as we seek to story tell in everything from ticket art to publications. In a time when we can also swap out images, think of the possibilities of making a school, a youth group, a family and an individual more and more a part of the community, just like The Carter Library has.
The second idea came from a restaurant in Bainbridge, Georgia, The American. Set on the town square, The American is a hub of life in the small town, but in addition to great food and outstanding service, they present your check in an old used book. The book itself tells a story, but they also give customers the ability to write a note in the book when the check comes. The books were resurrected from rummage sales and are the latest example of how old books can be repurposed and extend their lives. I have seen books as coasters, posters, artwork, hand towels, wall hangings, but using some to tell stories and capture the attention of patrons was new and fun.
How it applies to us? Well, how about old media guides or programs? Maybe a way to present the history of a team or a league to suite attendees, or even in venue restaurants…a check gets dropped off, and there is a Giants media guide from 1985 as the wrap around. Since teams already own all of the IP, what about collages of old media guide covers for artwork…or coasters? Again, a simple repurposing of items that expands storytelling.
Some were created by the youngest of fans, others reimagined but again for a new audience. Both picked up on the road.
