Headline from KJAM: "Commission Commends Committee for Crazy Days Plans." Evidently unfazed by (or unaware of?) the lingering plagiarism snafu, Sascha and the gang at the Chamber have Crazy Days all mapped out. (Note to KJAM and the city commission: it appears there is no such thing as a "Crazy Days" committee; they must have meant to commend the Retail Promotions Committee.)
No word from KJAM, the Chamber, or anyone else on what happened to Beadle Days, the name change that was supposed to help distinguish Madison's big summer retail blowout from events everywhere else. Ah, the memory hole....
I guess I'm wondering what the "committee" had to do. The stores are the ones who get out all the tables. The employees are the ones who have to move around the entire inventory of the store, sell it, and then move it all back in. The cops block off the street. What's this committee do besides pick a day and theme?
ReplyDeleteI have recently spoke to some of the people working on Crazy Days this year. I too wasn't sure what all went into Crazy Days until I talk with these people. I believe that Sascha and the advertising department at the Madison Daily Leader pretty much make up the Crazy Days Committee. If you read this months Chamber Newsletter you would know that the Retail Promotions Committee is changing it's name and focus this fall. As far as Crazy Days- you would actually be amazed at what all they have planned for this year. I guess for you to understand you should take a walk down town on Friday and see that they have organized more than just the businesses puting tables of stuff outside. Also I do not believe the cops block off the streets anymore, the road blocks are dropped off and the Crazy Days "Committee" blocks them off.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Beadle Days, I was under the impression last year that changing the name to Beadle Days was in honor of DSU's 125 Anniversary.
It has become abundantly clear to me that you are speaking on a topic that you know very little about.
And that's why the blog is here, Anonymous: so I can find out more about what really is going in our fair city. Now if I could just find out who you are... ;-)
ReplyDeletep.s.: Why yes, I did read the Chamber newsletter, rather closely. That's where this feature post came from. I found the discussion of the committee name change fascinating as well.
Oh, and on the change back to Crazy days: My reading of last year's chamber newsletters (the July 2006 edition cited above) and the surrounding news coverage at the time gave no indication that "Beadle Days" was just a one-off DSU tie-in. I find one local blog entry supporting that notion, but I still can't find any documentary evidence that the name change was originally intended to be a one-time affair.
ReplyDeleteAnd I remain of the opinion that the name change wasn't that bad of an idea, for exactly the reason mentioned above: a different name like Beadle Days (or Beetle Days, or whatever else better marketing minds than myself can come up with) would help build a distinct Madison brand and give us an edge against all the other local summer festivals. Flandreau (Hot Dog Day), Colman (Looney Days), even Russ Olson's hometown of Egan (Bridge Days) have managed to come up with unique variations on the traditional Crazy Days theme (o.k., Colman, some are uniquer than others). Given the great emphasis the Chamber has recently placed on branding, marketing, slogans, etc., reverting back to "Crazy Days" seemed out of character for the Chamber.
But hey, we can talk more about this at the big event downtown! I'll be at the bake sale table Friday manning the Lake County Democrats' bake sale and straw polls! See you there!
I don't disagree that the name of "Crazy Days" should be more unique. I also think that Madison should have their crazy days the last weekend of June instead of July. I know it has been the last weekend of July forever but it is also the same weekend as Brookings Crazy Days and Arlington and who knows who elses. Madison will never be able to compete with Brookings on something like Crazy Days. But nobody asked me.
ReplyDeleteBy the way you mentioned you are going to be at the Democrats Bake Sale table. What made the Democrat Party decide to do a bake sale?
Update: I spoke with Chamber Director Sascha Albrecht this afternoon. My reading of last year's news and public comment notwithstanding, she said "Beadle Days" was indeed a one-off for DSU. Go figure. I remain... surprised.
ReplyDeleteAnon. asks "By the way you mentioned you are going to be at the Democrats Bake Sale table. What made the Democrat Party decide to do a bake sale?" Probably the same thing that made the Republicans decide to do one: the Chamber asked. But hey, it's Crazy Days! We all go a little crazy... and what could be crazier than sitting in the sun on Main Street in the heat of the day selling baked goods?
Hmm... Dems and GOP, Main Street, summer heat, pies... and the police were worried about trouble at a street dance! :-)