The Real Mardi Gras

Okay.  I'm tired of this.  Every year a great party takes place on this earth.  It's called Mardi Gras.  Most of the public (outside of New Orleans and the people who travel here) thinks it's just a bunch of meaningless parades and an excuse to get drunk.  Not true...much culture and religion is at the base of this celebration.  Three things happen every year though:
1) the national media thinks there is a cause for concern because of the safety
2) other cities try to copy Us and it never works right (Us=New Orleans, Mobile, parts of the Caribbean, Galveston)
3) Girls Gone Wild releases  a new video.

National media go away.  You are not here and you have no idea what you're talking about.  If it's such a problem, then why do more and more come by to see us every year?  Unless you are from here, you can't understand the tradition and culture embedded in the people of New Orleans.  I don't care how many books you've read or how many people you've talked to.  The only way you can be adopted into this city is to experience it.

Other cities (places in TN, TX, PA, etc.) that try to turn this into a big tourist event.  It never works.  There are always major problems with the people.  Why?  They don't understand what it's about.    You can't recreate this atmosphere.  If you're starved for a cultural event all your own, then start something great.

The perception of the event has become that of what is seen on GGW videos.  Problem with that is all the people flashing are from out of town.  I've been to MG for over 20 years (that's hard to imagine for me), and I've never known or been associated with someone who's flashed for a pair of plastic beads.  I know many people from many walks of life, so I've got a good variety from which to choose.  This is not what MG is about.  Yeah, it's on Bourbon.  I don't have a problem with it because if it keeps them coming, then so be it.  If they come enough, they'll eventually realize that flashing is not what it's about.

Last night, I was at Bacchus with my family.  It's traditionally one the biggest and most popular parades.  Even though it started the same time as the Super Bowl, the crowd was at its normal size...shoulder to shoulder.  They had people from TX next to us, people from FL and locals.  They were dancing to the marching bands that passed by and really getting into it.  It was wonderful to see so many different types of people come together and party.  That's what it's about. 

I saw about 5 minutes of the game.  I thought a lot about how all of my friends around the country were watching the game and had no idea what was going on here.  Moreover, I thought about how on Tuesday (MG Day) national clients would be pissed because our office would be closed.  The city will be shut down virtually (not our faults, the King of Rex declares it).  I thought about how cool it was that for those several hours of the day, during the parades,  I was able to live in almost a commercial free zone.  I can't say that for the Super Bowl.  It was really cool and a nice break.

Having said that, we (New Orleans) need to find a way to change the perception of the way MG is viewed throughout the country.  We need to create a brand stronger than GGW.  I respect the guys who invented it from a business standpoint.  Plus, they're from the Big Easy, so more power to them; but we need to find a way to make sure that the national media doesn't misrepresent us.  I love seeing the faces of new comers to our little bit of culture.