National Doctors Day 2009

Each day, doctors go to work to make the community a healthier place. In commemoration of National Doctors Day on March 30, take a moment to recognize the doctors and physicians who dedicate their lives to ensure the people of our community are in the best health possible.

Physicians who serve our community are truly heroes. These men and women dedicate their lives to the practice of medicine, and our community continues to thrive as a result.

National Doctors Day was first observed on March 30, 1933 when Eudora Brown Almond conceived the idea on the anniversary of the first administration of anesthesia by Dr. Crawford W. Long in 1842. With great approval by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, President George Bush signed a resolution into law in 1990 designating March 30 as National Doctors Day.

Our doctors do so much to keep us healthy. The next time you leave from your next appointment, be sure to thank your physician for their expertise and time.

Rendering of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts

The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is slated to open in October 2009 as a new multi-venue center for music, opera, theatre and dance.  As the new signature centerpiece of an already impressive Arts District, the city of Dallas will continue to shine with the largest urban arts district in the nation, spanning 19 city blocks.

Featuring five multi-state-of-the-art facilities, woven together by an urban park, will be a dynamic cultural destination that will be unparalleled in the world.  The Center will consist of:

• Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House  – Engineered specifically for opera and musical theatre, the Opera House seats 2,300 with stages that support dance performances, such as ballet
• Dee and Charles Wyle Theatre – A 12-level building that features a one-of-a-kind space that literally transforms to fit the needs of classical and experimental performances for audiences of approximately 600
• Annette Strauss Artist Square – The redesigned outdoor venue named after a former mayor of Dallas that accommodates audiences of up to 5,000
• Sammons Park – The largest park in downtown Dallas that collectively unifies the entire Center with a lush greenery and picturesque reflecting pools
• City Performance Hall – A 750-seat hall that will provide production space for Dallas’ smaller organizations (scheduled to open in 2011)

Today I had the opportunity to sit down with about 20 other young professionals to speak candidly with the representatives of the DCPA about marketing efforts to the 21-34 age group. It was truly a unique opportunity to learn more about this amazing project and to hear perspectives from others close in age.  Here are some interesting points that I walked away hearing:

• Eliminate Anxieties – Educate young adults about the performing arts and what they can expect as patrons of events at any of the Center’s facilities
• Price Point of Tickets – To get a group together for an opera or stage performance, ticket prices will have to range from $20 to $30
• Small Group Packages – It is imperative that ticket packages are offered with discounted rates for groups of 4 or 6 people
• Entertainment Packages – Increase commerce by developing ticket packages that include dinner at area restaurants, such as those at One Arts Plaza
• Customized Subscription Packages – Allow individuals to purchase tickets to performances that span genres

I would have to say that ticket pricing and small group packages are indeed something that must be taken into consideration. In close relation, standard ticket prices for the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art is $35.  While many of my friends, including myself, would love to go see the exhibit before it leaves on May 17, the fact is we perceive the price point too high.  I’d value the exhibit at $15—nothing more.  For a performance, $20 would be the idea price point.

What do you think? Let me know by posting a comment or contacting me directly.  If you are between the ages of 21 to 34 and are interested in participating in future focus groups, contact me and I’ll point you in the right direction.

Savor an international array of fine wines and scrumptious cuisine Tuesday, March 3 at 2 p.m. CT with Savor Dallas’ virtual food and wine tasting live on Facebook. Organized in-part by SRJ Marketing Communications, Savor Dallas co-founder Jim White and five of Texas’ top chefs will host members of the press and fans on Facebook with a discussion on highlights of the premiere wine and food celebration in the Southwest.

Facebook friends and fans will be able to join the conversation with these experts and interact with them about what they see as the food trends for today and what Dallas is doing to contribute to culinary excellence worldwide.

Savor Dallas has been recognized for its creative use of social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, to keep its fans in the know. With more than 1,000 active fans on Facebook, Savor Dallas has become one of the highest traffic culinary and wine pages on the popular social networking Web site.

“Today it’s all about listening to our publics and establishing meaningful relationships with them,” said Steven R. Jolly, principal of Dallas-based SRJ Marketing Communications. “Social media has an exponential value to digital public relations and is a great way to inspire two-way conversations with consumers, clients and other target markets.”

For wine enthusiasts like Brent Watters of Arlington, Texas, the virtual food and wine tasting is a great way to learn a little more about what he and his friends can expect this weekend.

“I’ve never heard of Savor Dallas until I noticed all my friends becoming fans of the Facebook page,” said Watters. “Tuesday’s interactive event will definitely be a great way for people like me to ask questions and get a better grasp as to the kinds of wines and foods I’ll get to sample this weekend.”

Savor Dallas happens on Friday, March 6, 2009 and continues through Saturday, March 7, 2009. Scheduled in several beautiful locations in downtown Dallas, the international experience of wine, food, spirits and the arts is expected to draw 4,000 people from Dallas/Fort Worth, throughout Texas, and 14 other states across the country.

Join me and take part in the discussion on Tuesday, March 3 at 2 p.m. Simply log into Facebook and visit the Savor Dallas page.