Itās all fun and games until ā¦ your district thrives? We gotta say, weāre big Gensler fanboys here at Bright Brothers and apparently, the sentiment is mutual. We got props on our Personas from a public realm project in one of the largest downtowns in the country, which means a helluva lot to us. Personas aside, Genslerās research department puts out pretty spot-on insights and advice, and this week weāre looking at their take on the intersection of entertainment and downtown revitalization. The article notes that “City centers are embracing experiential entertainment to help reinvigorate distressed assets and mixed-use developments. Tools such as theatrical design, entertainment, and emotional placemaking can help marry the magic of a place with its reality ā giving people a reason to explore, engage, and spend time in these developments.” And we all love entertainment because, well, it’s entertaining! But what makes for memorable experiences? Look no further than this round-up from Gensler on the attributes of immersive experiences. Taking cues from outside our industry and looking at things such as museums, the arts, theatre, and even wellness ā we can enhance our arsenal of placemaking strategies and tactics to the benefit of our communities.
Photo credit: Envato Elements Ā
Ever wondered why some Insta posts explode with engagement while others seemingly fizzle out and flop? Naturally, you must have a strong and pointed social media strategy to support your district’s efforts, aims and objectives. But the algo could be playing with your potency, to boot. And while we probably all comprehend this at some level, it’s nice to see it laid out in a succinct flowchart infographic. From us to you with love, enjoy!
Photo credit:Ā Ā Envato Elements
ā¦ that FOMO might actually amp your districtās economic impacts? One of our favorite industry partners has written a quick-hitting piece on the power of the promo thatās supported by a psychological analysis of human behavior. When districts combine science, psychology, smart content strategy, and a vetted contesting platform, everyone wins ā to the tune of over $6mm redirected to downtown economies in North America alone! But donāt just take our word for it. See what IDAās David Downney was referring to when he said, āYour project has been designated a best practice, illustrating expert application of professional urban place management principles and will serve as a resource for members across the globe,ā. And sure, you can try to manage all the crazy logical ins-and-outs, plus bonding and legalese on your own ā but WHY, when thereās an affordable platform that already exists, from an industry member and partner, that knows the common pitfalls and foibles that make homegrown promos fall flat. From BIAs to BIDs and beyond, if your district wants to support its ratepayers, we recommend talking to the folks at ShopLocal2Win to learn how you too can survive AND thrive.
By now you’re all using TikTok to promote your brand, right? But tapping into topical zeitgeist may just amp your efforts, so we’re sharing this link with you today, so you can stay one (or several) steps ahead of your place marketing peers with sizzling hit sounds to rizz up your Toks.
Photo credit:Ā Envato Elements
If youāre a midsized city looking for a roadmap to revitalization, then look no further than one of our favorite downtowns ā Providence, RI ā for a delicious deep dive into a place that pulled itself up by the bootstraps and reimagined its downcity as host and home to thriving communities. Placemaking Journalās Susan Henderson takes a retrospective review of the steps Providence undertook āfrom plan to placeā, to redevelop and nurture one of the East Coastās unsung heroes and bucket list musts.
Photo credit:Ā Envato Elements
āThe distinction between art, entertainment, and branding is all getting more blurred, and we can help people enter this space of experiential design from a place of authenticity.ā ā Ā Ann Morrow Johnson, Gensler Entertainment
