Fixing Reno's Image

[Willie]

On a recent trip down to the city, one of my friends who had moved down there say most people she has talked to in the Bay Area have a really warped view of the Biggest Little City thanks to the unflattering potrayals such as the televsion show "Reno 911" and movies like "Kingpin." Yesterday, there was an RGJ article citing the CDC report that Washoe County ranks at the top for booze.

With the 2018 Winter Olympics Games coming to our region possibly on the horizon, I thought I would start a discussion over those things about that make us proud, unique, cool, etc. so my friend has some ammunition to fight some of those unflatering impressions.

[saverio cine]

Who cares what outsiders think? If it has to do with business and they're serious about conducting business in Reno, then they'll visit for themselves and realize what a great place it is. If it has to do with mere reputation to the outside world, let 'em figure it out. The cream will always rise to the top. The high desert is a magical place.

[Justin Sullivan]

As a community we absolutely HAVE to care what outsiders think. Attracting the tourism dollar has always been a crucial part of the local economy, and attracting new business to the area is key to building infrastructure. You can't do either of those things if you're not addressing the way that Reno is viewed by the general public.

I completely agree with a comment that was made earlier in this thread: Major issues that keep Reno from being a more valuable community are not being addressed in a serious fashion. Huge methamphetamine addiction and production, a vast homeless population, blight, abandoned buildings in the middle of a struggling downtown core, unemployed residents, and a large percentage living below the poverty level. How about focusing on the creation of jobs?

Here are a few things that I like about Reno.

I don't have to pay to get in anywhere. Ever. Six or seven years of networking and spending time out at the bars means that I have friends everywhere who will not only let me into any club or show free, but will get me drinks for free too. Try that in some other cities and it may not ever happen.

I can't go anywhere without running into someone I know from somewhere. This town is small. Really small. There's no avoiding it, and sometimes it's a really fun thing.

Negligible traffic. Okay you hit 20 minutes of slow going every day from 4-6 between meadowood and gsr. Cry about that and you're going to get laughed at by anyone who as ever lived in LA, DC, NYC, SF, Seattle or any other city with real traffic.

You can still make things happen here. Reno is a small enough community that if you want to go create something, have an event, or just start an organization you can do it. If you want to get something done in the city, go talk to your homeboy Dave Aiazzi. Dude is the most approachable public servant I've ever encountered. As far as grant money and funding go, you're also competing against a vastly smaller number of people than many other communities for the same dollar.

Nevada Museum of Art. This museum is so beautiful and well maintained it doesn't even belong in this town. A museum director who cares deeply about addressing serious social issues and curating meaningful exhibits? Unheard of. If you don't have a membership here, at least do yourself a favor and come to first thursday celebrations every month.

Yeah that's all I can think of.

[Willie]

I think the Nada Dada crowd did a very great thing in promoting a positive image of Reno, recognized by the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/us/22reno.html

This is a very definite thing about Reno to make us proud, unique and cool!

[Don Vetter]

More Reno ink from the SF GAte/Chron.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/19/TRQC186...

The reader comments show the "bi-polar" nature of Reno's image.

D Vetter

[Larry DeVincenzi]

I keep pontificating that we need to embrace Reno for what it really is...quirky, odd, fun and something we can all have a good laugh about. We know we're not Reno 911 - but some believe media over reality. I do think we need to be concerned about our public image - it's part of our economic base. Until we start to communicate our brand in a realistic way, I honestly don't think anyone will believe our pitch - whether that's internal to locals or externally to visitors.

I've heard rumors that then next campaign from the RSCVA, crafted by Mortar in S.F. does just that. I'm hoping their backers (the casinos) will lighten up a little, and quit trying to be "Vegas light", or worse yet... "America's Adventure Place". It's not just about slogans really.... and I'm hoping we'll all do our part to speak positively about our community when the time comes to support a new message - if it makes sense.

[Willie]

The nice thing about the NadaDada crowd is they worked together, promoted the event themselves and received great publicity at no taxpayer expense. I don't have that same confidence in the RSCVA, which has a history of wasting taxpayer dollars, infighting between its members and questionable results in its marketing campaigns.

[Don Vetter]

Clear-cut goals, thoughtful strategy, passion, talent, community ownership...that's why NadaDada works and the RSCVA hasn't

[Elisa Maser]

Burning Man, Artown, and now NadaDada - not to mention the Nevada Museum of Art, Reno Philharmonic, Nevada Opera, A.V.A. Ballet, and Bruka Theater. Plus so much more in the way of arts, events and happenings.

The best thing about Reno is that you can be yourself - maybe that should be the heart of our brand.

For several years, I wrote Truckee Meadows Tomorrow's annual "quality of life report on community well-being." For my favorite one, I got to include a section called "the Utne place like it." Reno had just been named one of the quirkiest places in America ... and we tried to capture some of the great things that made it that way: from the Waver (remember him?) to art cars, the sound of church (and slot machine) bells downtown, Basque restaurants and the bat bridge.

Love Don's idea of a "user's guide."

[Willie]

The RSCVA had demonstrated its spectacular incompetence by its campaign to bring back the Comedy Central Show, "Reno 911," which doesn't depict the Biggest Little City in the the most flattering light. WTF?

It's almost like the RSCVA is stating, "We are proud of the white-trash image that this show has brought upon the Truckee Meadows. Why the hell are you taking it away?"

If there was ever a reason to abolish the RSCVA, which has has a glorious history of wasting public dollars, this would be Exhibit A.

[Don Vetter]

How will this effort translate to "butts in beds" and thus room tax revenue for the community? How has the past several years of this show translated into visitors. Has that been measured? Free "publicity" isn't always the best. Think Battle Mountain several years back. The RSCVA needs to get grounded back into the community. I know numerous remarkable marketing, PR and advertising minds right here in town who could help. This effort is misguided at best, at worst detrimental to the RSVA's efforts to attract quality conventions and build a marketable brand.

[Willie]

Just to elaborate Don, I assume you are talking about the Washington Post's article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31628-2001Nov28) on Battle Mountain being an "arm pit" leading to Old Spice sponsoring an "Arm Pit Festival"

I think part of the problem is the people who usually serve on the board: casino executives concerned with their own turf, elected officials beholden to those executives and other members who may political aspirations and won't do anything to "rock the boat." Not very fertile grounds for someone to think outside the box"

[Larry DeVincenzi]

I dunno Don. My guess is that the new "left of west" or whatever campaign was counting on the national leverage of Reno 911 to pull it into perspective. The new campaign may (again... may) have legs, but it seems like odd timing to suddenly rush to the aid of a program they ignored for so many years. Did it help put heads on pillows? I doubt it. Will saving it do any better? Probably not. So the effort must relate to the new campaign - and I wonder if it's really all that integral or someone just got a wild hair and decided to lobby for it without considering the PR that effort might create. What the hell...business as usual for our community brand.

While they may have a better grasp of making our messaging real and memorable now thanks to the California minds at Mortar - their timing on this phase of the effort isn't good - and it makes them really look confused and misguided.

It's easy to armchair quarterback these things until you see the proof of their labor - but you're right - for them, it's all about attracting drive-in and fly-in visitors - while establishing a message that can deliver positive PR.

Why they don't ask us - the stakeholders...is beyond me.

Time will tell...but I can't understand their timing on "Save Reno 911" at this stage of the game. "It should be shot in Reno". Hello? The series was launched SIX YEARS ago...and this is their rationale for rallying to save it?

Lame.