See Andy's other stuff:

Contact Me >>

Newsletter #1058: The “Lessons from Los Angeles Businesses” Issue

[Welcome back to the Damn, I Wish I’d Thought of That! newsletter. This is text of the great issue all of our email subscribers just received. Sign yourself up using the handy form on the right.]

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the US and the biggest city in California. It has the most area codes, theaters, and museums of any city in America and the third largest airport in the world. It’s also considered to be the entrepreneurial capital of the world with over 200,000 small businesses.

For this issue, we’re putting the spotlight on the city’s Philharmonic, a moving company, and a band that are making waves in this entrepreneurial city:

1. Bring the experience to them
2. Find unique ways to give
3. Create a trigger
4. Check it out: Me & My Other Me

1. Bring the experience to them

The Los Angeles Philharmonic built a travelling concert hall inside a van to bring the experience of their performances to people at schools and parks. Using Oculus Rift virtual reality glasses, they screen an immersive performance from the Los Angeles Philharmonic — from inside a van. They even went as far as decking it out with the same carpet and chairs you’d find in their usual venue, the Walt Disney Concert Hall. That way, you get the closest thing to experiencing an actual performance.

The lesson: We’re not saying you need to go get your office 3D-filmed. But the idea here is powerful: Sometimes you have to be proactive about getting people to experience what you’re all about.

Learn more: Springwise

2. Find unique ways to give

Meathead Movers is a Los Angeles moving company, and in addition to their standard moving business, they also help people in domestic abuse situations move out safely, quickly, and for no charge. Every time they open up a new location, they contact the nearest women’s shelter to tell them about the service they offer. In fact, it’s a point of pride for their employees and has become a part of their mission statement. Now, they’ve also encouraged other businesses in their communities to help victims of domestic violence start over with services like rental locating, oil changes, security systems, haircuts, and counseling.

The lesson: Charitable giving goes much further when you also create awareness for the cause. Instead of just writing a check, Meathead Movers makes their cause much more visible and community oriented.

Learn more: Good News Network

3. Create a trigger

YACHT, a band in Los Angeles, just released a single called “L.A. Plays Itself.” But you can only listen to it when Uber surge pricing is in effect. That is, when Uber multiplies their prices during a demand increase, the band will post their song online. And if pricing reaches double the standard Uber fare, YACHT will post the remix as well. The band says it’s a comment on the city’s bad reputation for traffic as well as a consolation prize for the people stuck in it.

The lesson: Most people expect music to be free. So artists have to find new and interesting ways to release their new music. This clever connection to Uber’s surge pricing helps YACHT do something nice for their fans at a pivotal moment.

Learn more: YACHT

4. Check it out: Me & My Other Me

Some celebrities, like Bill Gates, Mick Jagger, and Michael Jackson, were or have been in the spotlight for decades. So we’ve gotten to see their transformations from young to old. In this series, artist Fulvio Obregón illustrates the two versions of these celebrities standing next to one another.

Check it out: Me & My Other Me

[contact-form-7 id="27185" title="contact-form 3 TellAFriend-Post"]