Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Von Trapp Family and the Wren’s Nest Family Aren’t So Different
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Birds of a feather, Challenges!, Historical Quagmires, Joel Chandler Harris, Marketing Tricks, Song of the South // 2:30 pm
Last week the New York Times published an article about the Von Trapp family, made famous by the 1965 movie The Sound of Music. You remember — it’s one of your favorite things.
Turns out the family portrayed in the movie isn’t quite the same as the actual family. The Von Trapps now run a successful ski lodge in Vermont, and the confusion between film and reality can lead to strain and confusion.
For example, family members bristle when asked which “character” they are. Especially when their equivalent wasn’t represented in the film family at all.
The Von Trapp’s relationship with the Sound of Music reminded me quite a bit of the Wren’s Nest’s relationship with Song of the South. On the one hand, we’re thrilled when it brings visitors to the museum, and it’s an important part of film history.
But some people come here ready to expound its virtues, crying that there’s not a racist bone in its celluloid body. Others let us know all of its sizable problems the moment they enter the home. Either way, we stand there awkwardly, ready to start talking about Joel Chandler Harris again.
Like the Von Trapps, we don’t want to let down people who love the film. But it can be a trifle awkward when they find our house museum rather than an homage to Disney. Or in the case of the Von Trapps, when visitors find an inn instead of the film come to life.
The Von Trapp family is currently working to figure out how to exploit the success of the film to their advantage without exploiting themselves. Tricky!
Anyhow, take a read. It’s a good one — Von Trapps United, Without the Singing
Related:
- In Search of Uncle Remus (AJC)
- Song of the South 62nd Anniversary — Your Questions Answered (Wren’s Nest)
- Song of the South History (New Georgia Encyclopedia)
Edit: Wednesday, December 31 — Whoops! Amelia was the author of this post! Fixed. Our bad.
Comments: 5Patrick Heagney at the Hagedorn Foundation Gallery
Posted by: Amelia // Category: Fame and Fortune, Goblin-Burlesque Photo Shoots, Gussying up, House Museums, Marketing Tricks // 4:05 pm
Last Thursday Lain and I went to go see Patrick Heagney’s show at the Hagedorn Foundation Gallery in Buckhead. Two of the photographs from the show were taken at the Wren’s Nest!
Photo by Jenn Alexander at Burn Away
We met Patrick a couple years ago here at the Nest when we hosted a goblin-burlesque photo shoot. You know, typical house museum stuff.
Patrick’s work speaks for itself, but I will say this in the meantime — he is a super, super nice guy, which is an added bonus. You need to see his show.
Some related items:
- The Hagedorn Foundation Gallery is a non-profit. Their website may not be up right now, but no matter — they have a working phone and proceeds from artwork sales go to various charities, both local and national.
- The Wren’s Nest looks way better as shot by Patrick. The goblins definitely add something.
- The Hagedorn Foundation Gallery’s sales manager is Maggie Hagedorn, one of Lain’s high school friends.
- One of my own chums from high school in Illinois, whom I had not seen for about 10 years, has a collection showing in the bathroom of the gallery. That was an unexpected run-in, I tell you what.
The show runs through January 15th, with an artist’s talk on January 8th at 6 pm — you should totally go if you can. Don’t believe us? Check out the review at the really cool art blog Burn Away.
Comments: 3The Pace Publishing Company and the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company
Posted by: lain // Category: Baby Pictures, Birds of a feather, Historic Preservation, Marketing Tricks, Shameless Promotion, Storytelling, Wren's Nest Publishing Co. // 11:49 am
This morning I gave a talk at my high school about the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company.
I was a little nervous. I’ve never spoken in front of that big an audience before. Plus, they were way outside my usual target demographic (namely: Stately Dames, ages 72 - 86).
To make the Wren’s Nest a little more relevant to the students of Pace Academy, I brought out the big guns. My published works from the Pace Publishing Company, circa 1989, were included in the presentation.
I’ve included one of the better works below. Enjoy.
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(The End)
If this does not inspire students to contribute to the Wren’s Nest Publishing Company, I do not know what will.
Comments: 1Road Trip — House Museums from Atlanta to Salt Lake City
Posted by: lain // Category: Challenges!, House Museums, Marketing Tricks, Road Trips, Shirking Responsibility, Trail Blazin' // 10:06 am
When my mom asked me to help my sister drive to Salt Lake City in November, I took it as an opportunity to geek out like whoa.
While I’m happy to help Susie and her dog Hazel get to Salt Lake City, I’m mostly excited to see as many house museums as possible along the way. I even mapped some out.
You can find the full map here with descriptions and pictures of each museum.
The basic plan is to visit house museums in and around Nashville, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver.
If I can find cool house museums in Topeka, Lawrence, and Manhattan, Kansas, we’ll cut across that way. Otherwise, I have not been to Iowa or Nebraska, so we’ll stop in Omaha and Lincoln.
Here are the burning questions at this point–
- Which are the best house museums along the way? The worst?
- How can we best document our story–blogging, podcasting, twittering, video recording, what?
- Will this be the single lamest road trip ever undertaken?
- What do we do with the dog when visiting house museums?
Kingsized Rocked Our Fundraiser
Posted by: lain // Category: Atlanta, Burritos and Other Fine Foods, Fundraising, Gussying up, Inappropriate Beer Drinking, Kingsized, Marketing Tricks, Shameless Promotion // 6:12 pm
Big Mike Geier and the rest of Kingsized played a heck of a show at the Wren’s Nest on Saturday.
I’m still recovering. But I did manage to post a few pictures of the party. Check ‘em out here.
Did you take any pictures? Seriously, I’d love to see ‘em since I was so busy running around all night. Just upload your pictures to the Wren’s Nest Facebook Page.
Big thanks to our volunteers (Laura, Nicole, Greg and Christina, Lauren and Catherine, my mom, my sister), our staff, and the folks who had a great time, which was everyone. Thank you, everyone.
Comments: 1Sage Fundraising Advice: Seven Ways To Improve Your Snail Mail
Posted by: lain // Category: Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Fundraising, Good Questions, Marketing Tricks, Nonprofit Management, Storytelling // 11:54 am
Lately folks have been clamoring for my wisdom about raising money from individuals.
Who has better advice than someone with no formal training? Who has only been in the field for two years? Who frequently spills coffee everywhere?
No one, that’s who.
So, I’m here to offer my coveted, sage advice. Onward!
Let’s pretend we’re writing a letter to Tom.
Tom is very busy.
So busy that he doesn’t have time to read your letter. We’re here to trick him into thinking he does.
Before you get started, have your good remarkably spectacular story ready.
And remember that the goal is to build a relationship, and the product of this relationship may be a contribution. And don’t be nervous–a contribution is an exchange between you and Tom. It’s not just Tom giving you money.
Got that?
Once you’ve written your story in 2 - 3 pages, you’re going to need seven elements–
1. Bold words and phrases.
Your eyes love bold words and phrases. Tom’s do too. Assume that Tom will skim your letter. Put the important stuff in bold, but don’t abuse it.
2. Handwriting
Handwriting is even better than bold words. Tom will read it before anything else. I use blue pen because it’s distinct from the black ink.
3. P.S.
Since the beginning of time, psychologists and fundraisers have known that Tom will read the P.S. first. Weird, I know.
4. Personalization
Now that you’ve got Tom’s attention, you might as well talk about something that matters to Tom–himself.
It’s not that Tom is selfish, he just needs to be invested in your story. You know that Tom is already invested in himself, so make sure you include him in your letter.
5. Pronouns
Repeat the words “you” or “I” to lull Tom into believing you’re having a conversation. He loves that.
6. Firm, specific, but non-threatening asks
Tell Tom what you want (more than once and in bold) and shut up already. Do you want $1,000? Say so! Tom may not give you what you want, but at least he knows where to start.
7. A pre-stamped envelope
Seal the deal with a pre-stamped envelope.
When Tom sees that you’ve spent an extra 42 cents on him, he’ll be loath to throw out the envelope. Either he’ll save it for a rainy day or you’ve just guilted him into a contribution. Booya.
Or he’ll think you’re spending your money irresponsibly. Note: my personal contribution to the Wren’s Nest is buying stamps to put on pre-stamped envelopes.
Your story will do the rest. Just make sure it’s a good one.
Is all this incredibly time-consuming? It sure is. Do I really know what I’m talking about? Only sort of. Is there a better way to do it? Probably so.
If you’ve got better suggestions, enlighten me. No, really! I need all the help I can get.
Comments: 10Rich’s Children’s Menu Featuring Brer Rabbit
Posted by: lain // Category: Atlanta, Brer Rabbit, Burritos and Other Fine Foods, Joel Chandler Harris, Marketing Tricks, Uncle Remus // 7:43 am
Southern historian Tim Hollis sent us this Rich’s Menu featuring Brer Rabbit and his critter friends–
Click here for the full menu.
Isn’t it weird that the tar baby recommends desserts, but included in those desserts is tar baby ice cream?
For those of you who never had the chance to go, Rich’s was an Atlanta-based department store, founded in 1867. It was like the Macy’s of the south until Macy’s acquired Rich’s in 2005.
Comments: 2Wordsmiths Books Asks For Money, Hosts Fundraiser This Weekend
Posted by: lain // Category: Big Money No Whammies, Bravery, Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Fundraising, Marketing Tricks // 2:39 pm
Our friends at Wordsmiths Books are asking for money–and not in exchange for goods or services. And no, they’re not a nonprofit.
This is, like, blowing people’s minds.
Since Wordsmiths started asking for contributions a few weeks back, they’ve been featured in everything from local blogs like BabyGotBooks and Decatur Metro, to national media outlets like NPR.
It’s been a marketing coup.
Here’s the quickest run-down of the details I can give–
- Wordsmiths opened last year, chose lackluster location.
- They moved to the location they originally wanted, saw increases in sales and visibility.
- Despite success, they’re suffocating under weight of debt from previous location.
- Owner Zach asks for a hand, makes promises of eventual returns.
You may call this last move tacky. And maybe it is. But it also happens to be brilliant.
Wordsmiths could have fizzled out this month and closed its doors with a whimper like so many small, noble businesses. Which would’ve been a shame. Who else was going to help us host an event about burning down house museums?
By asking for money, Wordsmiths has prompted many folks not just to take notice, but to form opinions about their bookstore. Asking didn’t cost them anything, and it has resulted in collecting 60% of their end goal.
Sure, they’ve garnered a lot of criticism along the way. But really, if you’re Wordsmiths, who cares?
They would close otherwise, and avoiding that fate is certainly their bottom line. Plus, they’ve created allies who are willing to support their business without receiving anything in return. Local bookstores: the new nonprofits? Not quite, but these past few weeks have demonstrated just how much they mean to their communities.
The moral: check out Wordsmiths in Decatur this weekend. They’re hosting a fundraiser. Jack Pendarvis will be there. Paste Magazine will be there. And now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about before it’s too late.
Comments: 01932 Coca-Cola Uncle Remus Cutout That Sparked Copyright Lawsuit
Posted by: lain // Category: Brer Rabbit, Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Marketing Tricks, Ridiculous Demands, Shameless Promotion, Uncle Remus // 9:33 am
Last week we discovered that Esther LaRose Harris, widow of Joel Chandler Harris, sued the Coca-Cola Company for copyright infringement in 1931.
Phil Mooney from Coca-Cola Conversations, a Coca-Cola history and archives blog, shed some light on the lawsuit and provided the advertisement in question.
(Download the full size .jpg.)
According to Phil,
In 1932, the Coca-Cola Company issued a children’s cutout based on the Uncle Remus stories. The Company had negotiated rights with the publisher, Appleton, to use the Arthur Frost illustrations on the advertising. Mrs. Harris sued for copyright infringement.
Ultimately, the courts ruled in favor of the Company. While Mrs. Harris had the rights to the stories, the illustrations belonged to the publisher.
Very cool. Thanks, Phil!
Comments: 1Huey Partners Design Wren’s Nest Advertisements
Posted by: lain // Category: Joel Chandler Harris, Marketing Tricks, Storytelling // 10:45 am
For longer than I’ve been alive Joel Chandler Harris has had terrible marketing.
Once one of the most popular authors in the country, his name is largely forgotten. And if it’s not forgotten, it’s derided. And if it’s not derided, well, only then is it revered.
It’s a different story now than, say, in 1908 when Harris’s obituary referred to him as “the most beloved man in America.” Surprisingly enough (to us), few disagreed.
The good news is we have a great story to tell. Huey Partners, the ad firm responsible for our logo and brochure, has developed some advertisements to help us get the word out.
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What do you think?
Comments: 9