Hooray for Spring!

Thank goodness the long, dreaded winter season has almost passed in Branson. For those of you who have never visited during the season we call "Hot Winter Fun," I have to say this is the saddest time of the year in the little tourist mecca. Frankly, because the tourists aren't here. It's not really "hot," and definitely not so "fun."

Despite numerous efforts to make Branson a year round destination, we have failed. Don't get me wrong, a handful of shows and attractions are open year-round. But they are far and few between. Of course, in order for people to come here- there has to be a draw, and since so many businesses close all winter, why would visitors even want to come? On the other hand, for businesses to stay open, they need customers. Aaahh, the age old question, what came first- the tourists or the "open signs."

Mid December through mid March actually remind you how few people actually live in the area, as they are the only folks you see out and about- you can cruise down the Strip at 50 miles an hour if you're lucky enough not to be attacked by one of the cops preying on locals this time of year (but that's a story for another day). You'll frequently find more home foreclosures in the newspaper than "help wanted" ads. And if you can manage to go to the grocery store without getting behind the desperate family trying to decide which items to keep and which to forgo when they run out of food stamps, you are lucky. Area churches have even come together to provide free, hot meals every night of the week to those in need . There's even a bus that will pick you up and take you there if you don't have transportation or gas money. How many towns will you find that kind of service, or need? Actually, if you have a job at all during this time of year, you're amazingly fortunate. Claiming unemployment every Sunday morning is about as common in Branson as heading off to church with the family.

Well, if this happens every year, you ask, why are people not prepared? Unfortunately, it's pretty much impossible to get too far ahead when you work in Branson. The majority of jobs here are hospitality related- the ushers, the housepkeepers, the type of jobs that cater to tourism. And those jobs, while they do usually pay above the minimum wage, do not leave a lot of extra cash to tuck into a rainy day fund for when the paychecks aren't coming every week. The only people that do actually make bank in Branson are the ones that own the shows, hotels and attractions- and with the declining tourism numbers, even they aren't making as big of deposits as they have in the past.

I regret to admit- Branson is depressing this time of year. When the "neon and nature" aren't turned on and blossoming, it's a pretty miserable place to live- a side rarely seen by those who love vacationing in Branson. It's our dirty little secret that the folks who work so hard to make this a wonderful place to visit, are truly hurting during this time of year. It's Branson's proverbial skeleton we hide in our closet- we don't want people to see how we live during the dry months.

So how do we remedy this situation? Maybe we try to promote why people should come here in the winter. Realistically. The new Branson Convention Center is the perfect driving force, but the city has failed to embrace its potential. Maybe the theatre owners could actually come together (good luck with that) and work to provide entertainment this time of year. Maybe we can't afford to have 45 theatres open during "Hot Winter Fun," but if we could choose a few venues to leave open that would feature visiting stars from other theatres that do not stay open, we might actually sell some tickets. Can't you just imagine a double feature with the Baldknobbers performing the first act and the Presleys performing the second act on the same stage each night- people would actually CHOOSE to vacation here in February if they could see that! And let's promote the value of Branson during the off-season. Everyone is looking for a bargain, now more than ever. A movie production company who chose to film here this winter was able to get group room rates for under $40 a night at the Hilton. Yes, the new Hilton at Branson Landing. You can also pick up deals at the outlet centers that make you feel like you're going to get arrested for stealing when you leave the store. Where else can you find $40 Gap sweaters for $2 each? Plus, it's easy to get around town, and you won't wait in line to get a table. Ever.

In order to truly have a town that welcomes our guests with open arms and provides an vacation that makes them want to come back year after year; we, as a community, need to do more to make sure that the people who live and work here are happy. And what would make them more happy than a year-round paycheck that actually supports their families. Happy employees are loyal employees, too. I wouldn't be the first to notice that Ozark Mountain Hospitality isn't really that hospitable any more. Maybe it's time to focus on the locals for a change instead of our visitors. In doing so, we may just find those visitors increase, and go home a lot more satisfied.

Welcome!

For those of us lucky enough to live in the "Live Entertainement Capitol of the World," we KNOW it's not your typical town/ city. At its roots, it's a small, small town; it just happens to host more than 8 million visitors annually. Think- Mayberry on steroids.

As a transplanted "local" whose been in the area for more than a decade, I can appreciate what Branson has to offer, but I can still separate myself enough to look at Branson as an outsider. Daily, I laugh at the things that happen in Branson that I am pretty darn positive would not happen anywhere else in the world- our entertainment, our leadership, our mentality.

Don't get me wrong, I love living here. I'm just not afraid to sit back and giggle at "America's Hometown." This blog will follow the adventures of a Branson Insider who's a little more Neon than Nature, a little more Glitz and Glamour than Ozarks Hillbilly. This is not intended to be a gossip sight- just my everyday observations. For those of you who live here, too, I think you'll find it humorous, too. Enjoy!