The "I'm a Believer" Detroit Promotional Campaign

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February-01-11, 01:08 PM
BrushStart

The "I'm a Believer" Detroit Promotional Campaign

Okay, I've seen the commercials several times now, and I have to say, how are those supposed to get people interested in getting involved in Detroit?

Without debating the merits of a Detroit ad campaign, could they have made these commercials a little more engaging? I like the fact that they brought a diverse group of people into the mix, but who is this commercial convincing?

They should be showcasing local entrepreneurs and people that stand out amongst the crowd. They could have highlighted a young restaurateur, a retired couple renovating a house in West Village, a local artist, a musician, a local merchant. People with talents bringing life back to Detroit. Feature the cleanup of Roosevelt Park or Spaulding Court. The "I'm a Believer" commercial is so drab. There's no pictures in the background. The music is barely lukewarm. There are no examples of current developments. It's just bland and uninteresting.

So, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0m-5-eChjw

If it were up to me, I would make a video that was somewhere between the current "I'm a Believer" commercial and this video below, incorporating the things I said above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_zwdmz0hE
February-01-11, 01:31 PM
daddeeo

Talk is cheap. Let's see what happens when the rubber hits the road with real projects getting off the drawing board.
Had to control myseslf from laughing when I saw Brooks Patterson's ugly face on that commercial.
February-01-11, 01:38 PM
dookie joe

These commericals will do about as much good as the anti-drug public service radio spots which featured The Coasters singing "Yakkety-Yak, Don't Smoke Crack."

This is just feel-good, tax-deductable nonsense. I'd be shocked if the movers and shakers who supposedly donated money for this crap thought for a minute it would actually do some good. But they want to be on record as having TRIED to do some good.
February-01-11, 01:39 PM
BrushStart

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddeeo

Had to control myseslf from laughing when I saw Brooks Patterson's ugly face on that commercial.

Worst part is, he doesn't even sound sincere, just a thinly veiled hate for Detroit disguised with some scripted words. Seriously, watch it again and tell me how much that guy wants to be in that video!
February-01-11, 01:40 PM
DetroitPole

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddeeo

Talk is cheap. Let's see what happens when the rubber hits the road with real projects getting off the drawing board.
Had to control myseslf from laughing when I saw Brooks Patterson's ugly face on that commercial.

He's on a billboard on the Lodge too. Seriously? Maybe he thought it was "Be leavin' Detroit."
I get sick of these tired campaigns, though I like that it is as a resource to volunteer.
February-01-11, 01:41 PM
BrushStart

Quote:

Originally Posted by dookie joe

These commericals will do about as much good as the anti-drug public service radio spots which featured The Coasters singing "Yakkety-Yak, Don't Smoke Crack."

This is just feel-good, tax-deductable nonsense. I'd be shocked if the movers and shakers who supposedly donated money for this crap thought for a minute it would actually do some good. But they want to be on record as having TRIED to do some good.

I agree completely. But, if you're going to do something, why half-ass it? They could have easily done something creative that really caught peoples' eye. Maybe inspired them. The best hope for a commercial like this is that it goes viral and gains far more exposure than the daytime TV crowd watching Judge Joe Brown.
February-01-11, 01:44 PM
Detroitnerd

I think I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw Mitch Albom.
February-01-11, 01:47 PM
Zacha341

LOL! Hit the road indeed! I wonder who did the creative on these? Which agency or studio designed this art and art directed this.....?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitPole

He's on a billboard on the Lodge too. Seriously? Maybe he thought it was "Be leavin' Detroit."
I get sick of these tired campaigns, though I like that it is as a resource to volunteer.
February-01-11, 02:12 PM
Gannon

Brooks probably got PAID to do the spot...and he IS a believer, now that Kwhyme taught him the horse doesn't have to be galloping to be ridden high in the saddle and the cow can give plenty of milk even when sick, tired, and largely starved.
February-01-11, 02:13 PM
Detroitnerd

They left a trail of cocktails along Southfield Road. It was only a matter of time before he waddled into the studio.
February-01-11, 02:27 PM
Hypestyles

are there specific volunteer agencies, non-profits, linked with the volunteer efforts..
February-01-11, 02:29 PM
Pam

Quote:

The music is barely lukewarm

I thought they'd be singing the Neil Diamond penned Monkees hit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts
February-01-11, 03:20 PM
boogiechillen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I think I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw Mitch Albom.

You stole the words [[and vomit) out of my mouth.
February-01-11, 03:28 PM
Detroitnerd

Actually, a lot of the people in that ad were hard-right, anti-union figures, not just Mitch but LBP and Purtan too.
February-01-11, 03:32 PM
blackmath

I'm not a believer until I see her face.
February-01-11, 03:53 PM
JMarx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I think I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw Mitch Albom.

Semi-related: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...ng_in_det.html

I know he does a lot of good things with charities, but sometimes does come off as a ...
February-01-11, 04:01 PM
fryar

Somebody get on the ball here...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

are there specific volunteer agencies, non-profits, linked with the volunteer efforts..

This is a job opportunity for somebody. When you drive past those adopt-a-highway signs, those companies surely [[for the most part) are outsourcing the task of actually cleaning that stretch of highway. Same goes for their adopt-a-bus-shelter program, I should think, where you keep an eye out for maintenance and clean it up [[I think it said) monthly. Someone needs to try to be entrepreneurial and hire themselves out to handle that for the sponsors.
My 2 cents anyhoo.
February-01-11, 04:04 PM
Motor City Sam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Actually, a lot of the people in that ad were hard-right, anti-union figures, not just Mitch but LBP and Purtan too.

True. And fi I'm listing the anti union people in that ad I'd probably mention Bing before Purtan and Albom.
February-01-11, 04:05 PM
Detroitnerd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motor City Sam

True. And fi I'm listing the anti union people in that ad I'd probably mention Bing before Purtan and Albom.

I forgot Bing. Good call. Apparently, the slogan means "I'm a believer" in Detroit, but not in organized labor.
February-01-11, 04:10 PM
Motor City Sam

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackmath

I'm not a believer until I see her face.

Funny. Nice to know that the time I spent watching the Monkees after school has paid off.
February-01-11, 04:12 PM
Motor City Sam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I forgot Bing. Good call. Apparently, the slogan means "I'm a believer" in Detroit, but not in organized labor.

The only person missing was Snyder. :-)
February-01-11, 04:21 PM
blackmath

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motor City Sam

Funny. Nice to know that the time I spent watching the Monkees after school has paid off.

Yes it did, but the time you spent watching the Partridge Family did nothing but cripple society and destroy many young lives.
February-01-11, 04:33 PM
Detroitnerd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts
February-01-11, 04:43 PM
Motor City Sam

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackmath

Yes it did, but the time you spent watching the Partridge Family did nothing but cripple society and destroy many young lives.

Hey, I'm not taking the blame for that. I only watched one or two episodes total of The Partidge Family my whole life.
February-01-11, 05:08 PM
Downtown Lady

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motor City Sam

Hey, I'm not taking the blame for that. I only watched one or two episodes total of The Partidge Family my whole life.

What?! But David Cassidy is so cute...
February-01-11, 05:26 PM
Motor City Sam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downtown Lady

What?! But David Cassidy is so cute...

I guess I just never picked up on that. :-)

Good to hear from you, Downtown Lady. I hope that all is well with you and yours.
February-01-11, 06:04 PM
Pam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts

Sorry, I beat you by two hours with that clip.
February-01-11, 10:04 PM
DetroitDad

I like it. It's simple, and looks like it was made completely through volunteers, and does accomplish the goal of catching the viewer's attention.

More important than what any of us thought about it, is that it directs people to the [[new?) promoted website; http://believeindetroit.org/. That site appears to be a decent tool to direct people to information on how they can volunteer in a large number of initiatives. That is something that Detroit has been missing. Volunteering information and signup should be just a mouse click away. For some events/people it has been, but for many it has not.
February-01-11, 10:49 PM
BrushStart

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitDad

I like it. It's simple, and looks like it was made completely through volunteers, and does accomplish the goal of catching the viewer's attention.

More important than what any of us thought about it, is that it directs people to the [[new?) promoted website; http://believeindetroit.org/. That site appears to be a decent tool to direct people to information on how they can volunteer in a large number of initiatives. That is something that Detroit has been missing. Volunteering information and signup should be just a mouse click away. For some events/people it has been, but for many it has not.

I agree that it has good intentions, and the website is nice. But, couldn't they have done more with the commercial? They could'a got Kevin Saunderson to mix up some of that funky electro, thrown in some clips of people at work, people renovating an old building, Russell Industrial, Sugar Hill, the Riverwalk, some soundbites from actual Detroiters, new and old, that are engaged in the city. Shown some smiling volunteers, other than LBP, Worthy, and Albom.
February-01-11, 10:54 PM
DetroitDad

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrushStart

I agree that it has good intentions, and the website is nice. But, couldn't they have done more with the commercial? They could'a got Kevin Saunderson to mix up some of that funky electro, thrown in some clips of people at work, people renovating an old building, Russell Industrial, Sugar Hill, the Riverwalk, some soundbites from actual Detroiters, new and old, that are engaged in the city. Shown some smiling volunteers, other than LBP, Worthy, and Albom.

Maybe, but it depends on who they were trying to get to notice.
February-01-11, 11:05 PM
BrushStart

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitDad

Maybe, but it depends on who they were trying to get to notice.

True, but the present commercial is so bland, it runs the risk of being forgettable for all audiences.
February-02-11, 02:24 PM
Orthophonic

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downtown Lady

What?! But David Cassidy is so cute...

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...t6TXPAXZsQOXZAAfter a run-in with Reuben
February-02-11, 02:36 PM
fryar

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrushStart

True, but the present commercial is so bland, it runs the risk of being forgettable for all audiences.

The website's not bad, though, it seems pretty useful. [[www.believeindetroit.org)

Although maybe it would be a more effective campaign if the theme was "I'm sick and tired enough of this shit at this point to want to do something about it myself." I noticed they had a neighborhood watch-like, Detroit 300-type program on there, for example. [[believeindetroit.org/opportunities/132)

That's politically unpalatable, of course. ;-p
February-04-11, 01:59 AM
erikd

I am a staunch believer in this city, but I really hate these stupid promotional campaigns. I have seen no evidence that these slogans and commercials help achieve anything.

I don't want to see Bing, Ficano, and LBP on some pointless TV commercial claiming their love of the city and issuing a call for an army of believers to step up and save the city from whatever. This city and region already has an army of believers who have been stepping up for years. What we really need is these ineffectual leaders to stop passing the buck and actually do something to solve the problems.

These "leaders" need to spend less time on TV commercials and marketing campaigns, and more time working on real issues, like creating a regional transportation authority and merging our bus systems.
February-04-11, 10:07 AM
313WX

It would have been merginally better if they had average joes off the street doing it instead of the "high profile" people that we hear or see everyday on TV or Radio who were probably paid very well for their lies in this PSA.
February-04-11, 12:05 PM
Scottathew

The music is laaaaame.
February-05-11, 01:46 PM
daddeeo

How about a Howard Beale type commercial where citizens yell, "It's my city and I want it back."
That would be fun and get a heck of a lot more attention.
February-06-11, 03:16 AM
Red Devil

Here is a promo from when the Monkees came to Detroit. They brought along a new band from England which made its US debut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oms2593gXPM
March-07-11, 09:37 AM
Scottathew

Every time the "I'm a believer" commercials come it makes me cringe. I think the message "I'm a believer [[in Detroit)" is a good message. It's great to see people like L. Brooks setting aside the politics of the past to say that he wants to be part of the revitalization of Detroit, even though it may mean uncertainty for Oakland County.

HOWEVER. The music in the commercial is just terrible. It just sounds jaded and cheesy. It's not consistent with the message of a region coming together to make a hip, young, connected, NEW Detroit.
March-07-11, 10:06 AM
canuck

Unfortunately, you are right. The proof is in the reaction everybody has on this thread. They are soliciting emotion with uninspired blandness. Something along the lines of the Eminem Chrysler spot engaged the audience on an emotional level and whatever the reactions of individual viewers, the point is it did the job it was meant to do. Detroit is a powerhouse of music and that was obliterated.
Let's start over.
March-07-11, 11:14 AM
rjk

Unfortunately it's apathy and laziness that keeps people from becoming a volunteer to help improve their community and not the lack of of a fancy Hollywood produced ad. If only it was that easy to get people to care. Someone who isn't doint anyting now to help their community isn't going to get off their ass because of some fancy ad.

That's part of the beauty of the Chrysler ad. It made people feel good without the expectation of having to do anything like volunteering.
March-07-11, 12:03 PM
BrushStart

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjk

Unfortunately it's apathy and laziness that keeps people from becoming a volunteer to help improve their community and not the lack of of a fancy Hollywood produced ad. If only it was that easy to get people to care. Someone who isn't doint anyting now to help their community isn't going to get off their ass because of some fancy ad.

That's part of the beauty of the Chrysler ad. It made people feel good without the expectation of having to do anything like volunteering.

It's not about getting people off the couch to volunteer immediately after watching the ad. It's about creating the emotional attachment that causes people to get involved when an opportunity lands in their lap. It gets people to believe that they should care about the city.

I agree that the "I'm a Believer" campaign lacked the creativity to catch people's attention and to evoke an emotional response. If it fails, I'd credit that failure to the craftsmanship of the ad itself. Advertising is a powerful thing, especially when it is selling social awareness or a social movement and not a product. People do pay attention to this stuff and it does lead to action if it is convincing. Unfortunately, I don't think the "I'm a Believer" campaign is going to motivate very many people.
March-07-11, 12:12 PM
Scottathew

My company sent out an internal email stirring people up and telling them to volunteer. It showed the kids we'd be helping and the email got me off my butt. I volunteered half a day at Edison Elementary in Detroit making some take-home care packages for the kids, giving them stuff they needed like supplies, healthy snacks, etc...

Felt damn good too, to help out the city I work in, the region I live in.

But back to the topic of the "I'm a believer commercial", just as others stated, drab, dull, uninspiring, and they're running it a lot.
March-07-11, 01:00 PM
jt1

Seems they always have new slogans, campaigns which is just throwing away money.
Has anyone ever shown any tangible benefit from this slogan, the 'I'm in' campaign, etc?
March-07-11, 01:28 PM
Kevgoblue

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjk

Unfortunately it's apathy and laziness that keeps people from becoming a volunteer to help improve their community and not the lack of of a fancy Hollywood produced ad. If only it was that easy to get people to care. Someone who isn't doint anyting now to help their community isn't going to get off their ass because of some fancy ad.

They certainly won't. This situation is a result of years of social disinvestment. Years ago, the majority of the upper class [[socioeconomically speaking) citzens up and moved out. Rencently we've seen that same scenerio repeat itself with the middle class. First white, then black. Whats left in the majority of neighborhoods is a group that is disproportionatly poor and undereducated. Home ownership rates are amongst the lowest in the state.

Years ago poor people still took pride in their homes, even if they didn't own them. They also had higher expectations for their children's behavior and school performance. This social paradigm has changed.
How to reverse this change is indeed a tough question to answer.
March-07-11, 07:23 PM
DetroitPole

Has anyone looked at this site? It would be one thing if this were a comprehensive list of volunteer resources, but there are only a couple dozen listings there, mostly by the same organizations. Basically, this is more about the self-aggrandizing spokespeople getting their asses in front of the camera and on billboards than about volunteering, since there are more of them than than actual volunteer positions.

Ralph Godbee simpers ironically at you at the corner of Harper and Dickenson. Believer?! Look around that neighborhood and you can't help but ask yourself, "how could the be a God that would let this happen?"

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