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Experience Columbus released a new promotional video of Downtown Columbus yesterday on their Youtube channel. Take a look and tell us what you think:
Comments
- cheap: i highly recommend the Millersport sweet corn festival of course,the cor
- Jimmy Mak: Thanks for the write-up! Just to clarify - this is the third year we've do
- Briana Henry: Well, eventually they plan to add more bands from the region...gotta start
- bucki12: I like the business model, but the internet sales part seems like something
- racheltb: I don't see the Ohio Shrimp Fest on the list. It is truly a good time. h
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i presume the audience is for those outside of Columbus, especially those who might be planning conventions here. from that perspective, sure it says Columbus is a nice, active downtown that would compare favorably to other places you’ve previously been for a downtown convention or meeting. but to me, this video does nothing to spell out what is actually interesting about Columbus, what is unique, what is different. to me it states “Columbus, it’s a pretty decent place with patio dining.”
Agreed. I think the majority of what Experience Columbus does is for visitors, and I think this paints a pretty nice picture of downtown, even if it’s not quite as always active of an area as the Short North or German Village.
The biggest thing that stuck out to me about the video was the focus on Gay Street. Independent businesses along a dense-built street with sidewalk amenities.
This should send a pretty clear signal to anyone watching that Downtown needs more Gay Streets.
Yeah, I’m not impressed with the new videos they had done.
The first one they did, of the Short North, from a few years back is really well done, but the new ones are pretty blah…
I enjoyed the video, but I found it dishonest that they say the Statehouse management encourages people to think about the Statehouse grounds as their downtown park after all of the talk about limiting the summer kickball leagues because of damage to the grass. Also, every time I’ve walked with my dog through the Statehouse grass I am told to get off. Besides that, the video was pretty cool.
The video is really well done. The production values of the video and editing are top notch. Agreed the big, obvious stand out is Gay street. If I were an outsider and saw this video Columbus would peak my interest.
I have two critical comments. One the music. It’s agonizing. As with most promotional videos I have a really, really hard time with the music. Smooth jazz hurts me. Physically. Why is the default city promotional music – soooo smoooth…. Second. Where’s Skylab? If they are going to put that much focus on Gay street why not highlight some of the artists living and creating right there. Furthermore, why not solicit the help of local musicians or sound designers to help with the music.
Well, an ok video…however. Lots of overweight people in Dockers (where are the Urban Hipsters? Or do they scare conventioners?). Plus, the same video was reused over and over again. It seems like someone didn’t want to visit too many sites, so they just kept re-using the same footage. Plus, I agree about the ‘everybody’s park’ comment. That isn’t true at all. Otherswise, it’s an ok video. Don’t love it and don’t hate it.
S’alright, I guess… the visuals are pretty compelling and, as I try to think of it from the perspective of someone who has never been here, I think they do a decent job of selling the city.
Music – ouch. Like Jon said, it’s tough to hit the right note with audio. The guys that put together the Columbus Foodcast seem to have a knack for picking good music – maybe talk to them?
It does seem as though they’re leaving out significant areas of interest related to the area but I’m not exactly sure who they’re targeting.
Pete from Experience Columbus here. The downtown video is just one of several district videos we just launched. I invite you to check them all out here: http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/blog/index.php/2009/04/09/experiencing-columbus-through-video/
Seemed to me to be more about trying to encourage suburbanites to visit downtown and encourage people to think about living downtown.
A lot of the images were great but the editing annoyed me a bit. Having a quote ’that’s what makes it unique’ out of context without telling you what it is that makes it unique and things like talking about the statehouse grounds with pictures of the topiary garden. I know it is a quick promotional video and I am probably being pedantic but it seemed a little misleading.
Also serious over use of the hummingbirds -While, I understand that they only want to show summery sunshine photos, people are going to show up expecting a tropical paradise.
The editing speed made me a little dizzy at times but the images are beautiful. The music was cheesy, making me wish there had been a way to incorporate actual Columbus musicians playing at a downtown location (i.e. James Blackmon at his namesake club) and segueing from that. The interviews were spot-on.
I like the way the mentioned the kickball games on the statehouse lawn.
I take it those are back on?
Are you kidding me?!?! This video is an embarrassment. I could do a better job video tapping the city using my video phone strapped to the handle bars of my bicycle. I think Experience Columbus needs to get out of the contract they signed when they agreed to use this video production company. The audio bites are poorly threaded together, the people are less that appealing in the video (sorry, nothing personal), and the footage is excessively repetitious and boring.
I can only hope that Columbus Experience was using this video as an April fools joke and forgot to take it down from their site after the 1st.
P.s. Did they forget about Cosi, and the national reknowned Columbus Public Library?
Tenzo Says: I like the way the mentioned the kickball games on the statehouse lawn. I take it those are back on?
From what I’ve heard, the statehouse wants to allow them, but only one game per week instead of the four games before. Which means only a quarter of the games, teams, and players of last year. So technically, they’re only 75% canceled. :(
ShimmyKnocker Says: I could do a better job…
Let’s see it! :D
I think i understand EC’s strategy, and I think it’s brilliant.
Not my style, but it was made for people who like smooth jazz, not everyone else. Aside from a couple of seizure-inducing parts, where were all the parking spots? It looked like a real downtown. You mean visitors don’t like this?
^Peach District and “Olde Towne Quarter” (Parsons between Broad & Bryden).
a seeming lack of energy, dynamism and diversity.
I don’t like the fact that in several places in the video they show shots of places other than the ones that are being discussed. It’s a little misleading. There ain’t no topiary on the statehouse!
It’s also misleading to imply that you can walk from the statehouse or Tip-Top to the Franklin Park Conservatory. I don’t ride a bike, but even on two wheels I bet that trip would leave you a bit winded.
If I came to town after seeing that video I would feel sort of jipped.
A bit over zealous on the editing. The music was harsh smooth jazz with a mix of bland disco.
Some of the visuals were good. It made downtown look like a pleasant place to be. I do not understand why the Conservatory was given more mention that the Arena District.
chaptal Says: I do not understand why the Conservatory was given more mention that the Arena District.
Because the Arena District gets their own video: