Mayor of Mardi Gras

Last night my kids and I went to a pancake supper for Shrove (Fat) Tuesday that very clearly showed an example of what it means to be Mayor of Mayberry.

The event was held at our church but pulled from the neighborhood elementary and middle schools, as well as families who live in the area but don't attend this church. It was a fundraiser for a local group called the Golden Age Center, a social and support "club" for senior citizens.

It was sponsored by the GAC and our city councilperson, Carla Smith. While she wasn't running for mayor, we can all learn a lot from her skills as a politician.

The Event: First of all, it was not a homogenous crowd. There were children of all ages, families of all colors, singles, and senior citizens. Several different organizations were represented(elementary school, middles school, local pre-school, neighborhood association, parents' association). Since it was a festive atmosphere, everyone was open to meeting new people. Carla chose this event, partly because of the variety of constituents that would attend (and partly because she lives in the community and cares about the same things we do).

The Activities: This wasn't a grand show, but there were enough activities to form a bond. Kids could get temporary tattoos and helium balloons. Carla herself passed out colorful beads to each child and played games with them.

The Cause: All proceeds benefitted the GAC. Carla showed that she supported what we support. Given her track record on the council, the community clearly supports her each time she's up for re-election.

Carla walked the tables, shaking hands and kissing babies, to meet every person there. She wasn't selling herself, she was selling a good time (and one was had by all). It's these types of connections, tied to community causes, that enable us as marketers to go beyond a logo in an ad and bond personally with our customers.

Come November, most of us in the neighborhood wouldn't think of voting for anyone other than Carla. If you have these types of relationships with your customers, they'll 'vote' for your restaurant more often than others as well.