This Week in Branding: Turning Funny-Tragic to Funny-Haha
Cities are like freelancers, constantly pitching themselves to tourists. And like freelancers, they often rely on gimmicks to get the job done. Some, like Stephen Glass or New Orleans, turn their shatters into a strength; others like Toronto and Greg Lindsay, trade in on their dorkiness. Hence we get this gem from New Orleans. According to New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Mary Beth Romig , quoted in a Yahoo news piece, "We have to allow ourselves the permission, a year and a half later, based on what we are hearing from the general public, to take what they are questioning us about and at some times, laugh a little," she said. Hence 2 years after Katrina we get this. (Pretty quick considering it took more than half a century for a Hitler Comedy to come out in Germany):
On the other side of the spectrum, Toronto is trading in on its image as smug, pasty white dorks with small tits to hilariously smug small-titted results. As part of the TO Live With Culture campaign, Toronto is defined by negation. Not like Hollywood (the ad below), not like Italy (no adultery), not like New York (pregnant ladies happily yield cabs to other passengers). Of course the second part of the ad mentions that, in terms of cinema, opera, and theater, Toronto is like those places. But what is cinema without the tits, opera without the adultery and theater without divas? I guess the answer is Toronto. 
Note: The woman is asking if she needs a breast reduction.
Ad Controversy [TO Live With Culture]
New Orleans Turns To Humor to Lure Tourists [Yahoo]
Complete set of N.O. Ads [PDF]
Previously: Country Branding, Seattle Falls for the Miniscule Neologistic Slogan, Slogan Failure: Germany, Orlando: The City With No Slogan, Esteem
