As a proud native East Tennessean and someone who attended Sundown in high school, I have to say the series is a great part of downtown. I hate that people don't patronize the local joints. If they do, sometimes they don't tip well or at all. It is frustrating. I have close friends who work down there and I hear about it. I also hate that Market Square is covered with trash every Thursday night. But that comes with any public event: Christmas parades, football, 4th of July festivities, etc. People litter. People can be cheap. Period.
I wonder if there is some way to create more awareness about those two things without calling people names, stereotyping them, or sending them away. That approach, as you may have seen in our comments section, is not healthy. Nor do I like it at all. The people that attend Sundown are eclectic and I feel like they represent a cross-section of the community in which we all live. The more the merrier.
I liked those "Don't throw down on K-town" stickers that surfaced a couple of years ago. I wonder if there could be some "Don't throw down on Sundown" kind of campaign that would make people aware that if they are being served it is customary to tip. Don't throw down on our servers, etc. Be good patrons y'all. Another part would encourage people to keep each other accountable for picking up their trash. There are a gazillion trash and recycling bins around the square. It isn't that hard to pick up your stuff (if you even sat it down in the first place) and put it in the proper bin. Be good citizens y'all.
respectfully.
MAX.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
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The problem is that(and this was ALSO pointed out in the comments) is that free concerts by their nature will bring out the elements in society that don't have the acumen, means, or desire to be good citizens. Is there a motto or signage about keeping Knoxville clean or tipping well that will resonate from outlying counties that don't have the pride we have in downtown? Good question.
Taylor, the rose guy, told me the other day that the police told him if he tosses rose petals on people in Market Square (which he only does to people he knows) that they will write him a ticket for littering.
But throwing actual trash on the ground during sundown and football games is permissible. Whatever...
I realize my view of Knoxville is deeply based in living and working downtown, so maybe it's a narrow one, but here it is: Events like sundown or football games are fine in and of themselves, but somehow I feel like visitors attending those events don't get a well-rounded taste of what Knoxville is about, but I guess that's tourism for you- Natives have been battling tourists forever, everywhere.
Yes, Max, I think it's up to Knoxville to be solid in what it wants for itself, whether it's implementing no littering campaigns or what have you. That way, when people come here, they won't be able to help but notice how bad ass this town is.
aaaand I think I'm done with this conversation
for now ;)
I wouldn't say that littering at football games is permissible.
Also, anonymous, I think there should be a campaign regardless of where the concertgoers reside. If we do it, people will know that we care about our city and want to enjoy it while keeping it clean. I understand that there are people out there who will just litter or not tip, but that shouldn't keep us as Knoxvillians from trying to put an end to it.
I wonder if that same policeman would fine a tree for littering it's leaves in Market Square? Silly trees, always trashing up the joint.
I have an idea!! Why not have AC and/or the city trade free "tickets" to Sundown for a couple hours volunteering done at a local entity? Qualifying institutions could be a house of worship, community service group, local government organization, educational institution, etc. Ticket issuing institutions could be in the countryside as well as inside Knoxville city limits and might want to have booths at Sundown as well. Harness the power and attraction of the Sundown event to champion community involvement and encourage a diverse and responsible audience at the same time. To be accompanied by a tremendous media blitz that qualifies as PSA...
The sad fact is, you may never get someone to tip more than they feel like it. And it's the ones with plenty of money to tip that can be the stingiest! I tip at LEAST the customary 15% and I'm a flat broke single mom. I consider the tip part of the meal, if I cant afford the tip too, I don't eat there or get take out.
Same goes for the trash, it's just part of large public groups. I do think it's pretty awesome there are recycle cans downtown now. I wish malls and shopping centers would get them too.
Keep Knoxville Beautiful has done a great job of putting local AmeriCorps members to work setting up those "clear-stream" recycling receptacles. They weren't out there two years ago. And I know that they appreciate any help they get cleaning up.
an ad campaign about "getting serviced in East Tennessee's town with balls"(the wigshop & Women's B-Ball Hall of Fame of course) would be hard to forget
-the inappropriate neighbor
Mike, is that you?
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