On September 14, I dusted off the cape and went for a little trip over to one of my favorite places, Adams Morgan. I was running late and had to make a decision. Do I take the long road to the Brookland Metro or do I take the short-cut to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro?
The Brookland Metro, I thought, would be a more dignified trip for me. I assumed that people along the way would be less inclined to gawk at my cape. However, I was running so late that I had to take the rooftops (no, not literally) to the Rhode Island Metro. Now that little piece of Rhode Island Avenue where the Metro is located is quite the concrete jungle. I like a bit of urban safari in my life, but um, not with a cape on.
Off I went to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro. I liken the experience to being a matador in a bullfighting stadium. With each hurried step my cape was waving to crowds of lean and hungry men, "Toro, toro". Guess what? Nothing happened. Again, no one said anything. But, maybe it was because I was carrying a tote of candy and a clip board. Someone did say something actually. A guy asked for a job. Remind me to call him back.
I caught the train without incident for the most part. Just some strange looks. I hopped off at Columbia Heights and walked over to Adams Morgan uneventfully. It's important to tell you this because the real challenge of marketing MPWR is getting people's attention and damn it if you can't do it by wearing a cape.... Bathing suit perhaps? Not a chance!
Anyway, what a glorious celebration. Just being around people felt great, but something was missing. There's something that happens at certain kinds of events, held in certain places, by certain people, under certain circumstances. These are events where magical things happen. These are places of kindred spirit. These places can be created anywhere, by anyone, but make no mistake, the magical ingredient to creating such a feeling begins with creating a deeper connection.
So while there was an air of celebration, I felt invisible, even with my cape on--even with my free candy/promotional business card tote mix. I wanted to approach people and tell them the good news about MPWR, about creating more possibilities, about bringing such possibilities within reach in ways unlike ever before. Excitement was bubbling in my heart with all the people traversing the streets. I was awed by people just being together in a festive environment that was not a club or an office party or holiday weekend at a park. Just an ordinary day with people gathering in the streets and not at a shopping mall. But there was something missing, a deeper connection to people themselves, to each other.
I found a place in the shade and looked at the strip of endless vendors on 18th Street. People passed through tents looking at jewelry, photography, and clothing. I wondered about the culture of consumption. Then I got myself together to offer my dream of deeper connection. A dream confined to promo cards in a soup of free candy. I felt my personality shrinking behind my inability to bring my humanity to my vision. In the back of my mind I thought there must be a way I can express my passion about human connection without trying to sell it.
I belted out that I had free candy for no obligation. No one even had to listen to my spiel about MPWR's lowest common denominator for existing--empowerment through information sharing. People picked around the business cards to get to the candy. No problem I thought, just notice me. Seriously, I was so desperate to connect with people that even people saying, "No thank you" was a major win. To me it meant they cared enough about my humanity to acknowledge it.
A little kid took one of the promo cards without taking any candy. He was mesmerized by the Seize PWR comic illustration. Only one person inquired about the business after taking some candy. He was my hero. However, I'm sad he felt obligated to listen, but what else is there but obligation? Sincere interest? Sincere interest in a world full of competing interests? A world where someone wants something from you in exchange for your time, but most often--your money?
I looked at other vendors. I saw them being more aggressive than I was in terms of getting people's attention. Someone told me I needed to stand in the middle of the street to get more exposure. I secretly balked at the thought of this. Do I have to borderline accost or otherwise inhibit people to get their attention? I refuse. I flat out refuse. Why? Because that's not what MPWR is about. MPWR's about cultivating possibilities. The possibility that we can interact with each other without fear, suspicion, or business transactions. But perhaps I'm naive. There may be no demand for what I am attempting to supply. Ha! I know better. I just have to keep going. I'll figure it out. (I'm also open to suggestions.)
I left Adams Morgan Day in a rush. I had to get to a friend's birthday party. Three blocks from the 18th Street strip I remembered that I had forgotten to take a picture. It was too late. I kept going. Despite the title of this blog entry, I got a lot from Adams Morgan. I got a glimpse of why I created MPWR in the first place--deeper connections and greater possibilities. I just have to keep going.
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