So, the city of St. Louis--a city that I happen to love, by the way--embarks on an expensive marketing campaign to tout itself to tourists. A faithful FOP (Friend of Pow!) sent example below along, the ad where the city labels itself as "Surprising" (see the badge, right side in the middle).
Okay, so when you think of St. Lou, what do you think of?
- Budweiser Beer
- The Blues (the music...and perhaps the hockey team)
- The Cardinals (and maybe the Rams as well)
- The Arch
So, what do they show in the ad? A bar scene with two-piano blues, Busch Stadium (killing the beer and sports reference with one picture), and a generic picture of the Convention Center/Casino. That's about as Surprising as Florida sunshine or Denver snow.
Take away the words St. Louis and the Bud logo, and this could be an ad for any major city on the continent. (And that wishy-washy headline? Let's not even go there for sake of my blood pressure.)
Jeez guys, if you really want to take us on a walk on the Surprise side, you've got to go AGAINST the grain, not so blandly with it.