Texas-OU Weekend @ Stan's Blue Note

Tom’s Top Ten List of Greatest City Events Where We All Act Like We Are In College:

10. Baltimore – Preakness
9. Boston – Head of the Charles
8. Chicago – Taste of Chicago
7. Baltimore/DC – WHFS Festival
6. Dallas – St. Patrick’s Day
5. Austin – SXSW (South By Southwest)
4. Chicago – St. Patrick’s Day (Yes, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated everywhere but you haven’t done it right until you have done it in Chicago)
3. New Orleans - Mardi Gras
2. New Orleans – Jazz Fest (#2 beat out #3 when I turned 35)
1. Dallas – Texas-OU weekend (Texas 45 – OU 12)

Many cities have great weekend events that are distinct to that city. For one great weekend a year, all of Dallas is either Burnt Orange or Crimson. “Adults” of all ages come from hundreds of miles around to relive their college days. (In my efforts to be an impartial blogger, I won’t reveal my allegiances. All I can say is: Texas 45 – OU 12)

For the game festivities my friends and I went to Stan’s Blue Note. Stan’s is a Dallas tradition in its own right, know for its nontraditional character. For example:

• When my brother ordered beer and some water to pace himself, he got a pitcher of beer and a shot of water.
• Upon inquiring if chives are an option on the cheese fries, Lauren, our quick-witted server, responded, “does this look like The Olive Garden.”
• We got permission from management, a.k.a. the bartender, to use the shuffleboard table as a slip-n-slide after the game. (We later decided that this was not such a good idea. A sure sign that we had in fact matured a little since college.)

One important note about Stan’s Blue Note is that none of the bar’s character or characters are the product of a corporation trying to fit a niche. Stan’s authentic culture is all organic.

As the game (Texas 45 – OU 12) progressed, I looked around and took stock of the situation. What I observed inspired several thoughts:

1. I was first amazed by the diversity of Stan’s patrons. In particular, many around us and in our group were older, affluent upper-level managers.
2. Despite the at the office, buttoned-up life of many of my more mature friends, we could all really appreciate the authentic character of Stan’s.
3. Wow what a geek I must be to be crafting a blog post during all the revelry.

My main point is, many people assume the only way to reach buttoned-up upper management execs is with formal-style marketing. However, we are all human and many execs appreciate authentic human-to-human interaction. Showing character can be a great differentiator that can open up more meaningful conversations.

This is what blogging is all about. Every company has characters. Many PR departments want to censure informal communication; yet customers do not often trust polished marketing and want more authenticity from corporate messages. Let your characters speak.

My other point is Texas 45 – OU 12.