Experiences rule. How do we know this? One reason is that more and more retailers are adding experiential elements to their brick-and-mortar stores.This PSFK article highlights "retailers delivering inspired, next-level customer experiences" in New York City. According to the article, Nordstrom Men's Store offers a complimentary personal styling service, where they create a digital Style Board with personalized recommendations that can be sent to your mobile phone, and FujiFilm Wonder Photoshop lets you make instant prints from your phone at...

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Southwest is being applauded for the way the airlines runs its business -- again.In his Inc. post comparing Southwest and another airline, Bill Murphy Jr. highlights a Maya Angelou quote:"People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel."  Murphy writes: "And those feelings develop based on our cumulative experiences: a combination of the shared experiences we all have from following the news, and our personal experiences interacting...

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We all want "the good life," right?What exactly that means can be different for everyone, but a new survey offers some insight into what some people want.When more than 2,000 Americans were asked, "What's most important?" -- "28% said 'meaningful connection' with community is most important."That's lucky for us! Because that's something we offer with live entertainment.The report also shares: "Consumers increasingly want products and services that are simpler and contribute to health and well-being."We've posted here on Selling...

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So, technically Disney would fall into the live entertainment realm (and so this isn't quite a "Think Outside the Industry"), but its new hotel is still worth talking about, given the way it's merging hospitality with immersive entertainment.Disney is no stranger to themed resorts and already pays meticulous attention to detail to create immersive experiences, but its new Star Wars hotel is on a whole other level.As PSFK reports, "Each guest will be given their very own storyline to...

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We all know concerts can be a blast, but can they actually improve your health? Well, this week an interesting article landed in our inbox from Alex Frank of Music Instruments Center. It lays out the many, amazing benefits of music, and offers ways to maximize them. Of course, one big way is:"Go to a concert or festival. Before recordings, people went to concerts and festivals to hear their favorite music. But even after streamed music became popular, people...

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When you think about pricing a show, a lot of factors come in to play. The budget of the production and the various costs, how popular you think it'll be and how high the demand will be for tickets, among other things.But have you ever considered the value of your show when it comes to creating emotions like happiness or calmness? Could you possibly put a dollar value on those experiences?Well, it turns out you can, in a way....

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Beer used to be simply a beverage, something you ordered at a pub or drank at a backyard BBQ and that was about it. But with the explosion of the craft beer industry and the trend of food becoming entertainment, craft beer is now so much more than a beverage.Take, for example, Stone Brewing's proposed 99-room hotel in Escondido, Calif. Skift.com writer Deanna Ting reports that the hotel will capitalize on the idea of craft beer as an experience,...

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According to Pacific Standard, they just might be. Tom Jacobs reports:"In a new study from Australia, people who regularly attend musical events and/or participate in dancing reported higher levels of well-being than those who did not. ...The findings reflect 'the important role of engaging with music in the company of others,' conclude Deakin University scholars Melissa Weinberg and Dawn Joseph. They report elevated levels of life satisfaction among Australians who take part in communal musical experiences --  anything from...

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This has been a tough year so far. As this CNN article points out: "There's contentiousness over politics and racial unrest in the United States. We've lost legends like David Bowie, Prince and Muhammad Ali. Add terrorism and fear over the world economy (looking at you Brexit)."And when times get tough, nostalgia can be so important, writes Lisa Respers France. And the '90s are having a moment."The Clintons are trying to make it into the White House, again. Folks...

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After Lauren Smith began attending "jam sessions" with her dad at a local music store in Sullivan, Missouri, she realized something: These jam sessions provided opportunities for connection between artist and audience.A freelance stage manager at the time, Smith began to relate what she saw to her work. Theaters, particularly those that produce classic works, she thought, could learn a few things from Westgate Music about providing such a gathering space for their patrons.You can find Smith's entire essay...

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