Yesterday, I participated in Corvallis Social Media Brigade's most recent event, the Multi-Media Train. The goal was to photograph and video as many businesses as possible on our route, and use that content online to promote them in a unique and long-lasting way.
Much to our surprise, most, yes you heard me right, most of the businesses gave us a cold shoulder. Here was a crew of movers and shakers in Corvallis, some families with kids, professional web developers, videographers, bloggers and other social media types, eager to help local businesses, and in some cases, they even turned us away.
I wish I could say I was shocked.
Granted, we were an odd bunch. This doesn't happen every day in Corvallis, and yes it's a little weird when a group of people comes in with video cameras and point and shoots aimed in your direction. However, is it that hard to see the opportunity in it?
For most of the shops we went in, we were met with blank stares, sheepish grins, and when given a chance to welcome us to their business on camera, at least 3 to 1 declined. Because our group loves Corvallis, most of this video will never see the light of day- because it'd be shameful for these business owners.
The question is, would it be shameful to the employees we met? Have they ever been taught differently? Have they ever been given license to think on behalf of the business? It certainly makes me stop and think, as a business owner. Do my employees know how I would respond should a group of passionate community folks randomly stop in my office? Would they respond with excitement and warmth, or would they try to protect our space and keep the "weirdos" out?
Now, before I end on a sourly reflective note, let me tell you about a RAD experience we had while on the train.
I insure a lot of barbers and hair salons. So I bounce around a bit, as far as where I get my hairs cut. One of the places I go is City Barber Shop. It's a little two person shop with a real barber pole hung outside of the door. No frills. Old school chairs, a tv, and a rack of magazines. They close at 5. We came by at 5:05 and the door was already locked and the blinds drawn. I could tell they were still in though, so I knocked on the door.
Brett came to the door and asked what we were up to. I said "We're doing a photo walk, taking video and pictures to promote local businesses, can we come in?" He said of course, put the barber pole back out, raised the blinds and started chatting us up. We finally have a live one, I thought!
Loyan Roylance was outside on the sidewalk, so I flagged him down. "We've got a taker, come on in!" I then asked Brett the Barber, "If you'll give Loyan a mohawk right now, we'll produce a YouTube video of it and throw it up online for you. You interested?" Brett replied, "Sure, come on over, hop in the chair."
Over the next twenty minutes or so, we all laughed and joked around, snapped 20 or 30 photos of Brett cutting Loyan's hair, and listened to Brett give us the history of the shop. The impromptu media event culminated with the group photo above.
That 30 minutes restored my faith in the small business. There is hope. Some "get it". Do you think it was worth his time to stay those extra 20 minutes and give a "free" hair cut?
(Oh, and by the way, Brett doesn't even own the business. He's an employee, and has been for 11 years.)
What are we teaching our employees? Wait, better yet. What are we modeling for them?
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