BEING PROUD TO BE AN ASIAN, PAPADUMS!

It’s about creating the perfect buffet- not about mixing a chicken Madras curry with linguine and tapas and some croquettes, but bringing together the right entertaining entertainment ingredients for those during these Post pandemic times looking for new travel destinations, different cultures and Netflix storytelling with that certain mystical touch.

Linking it all together in whatever one is working on must be that elusive emotional connection, something that’s easy to say, but hard to pull off when it’s caught somewhere between trying to be new and cool with what’s from the old school that’s been hanging around the lamppost for decades passed its Use By date.

It’s 2025, the world is battered and bruised and confused and it’s about offering what the post pandemic generation needs, but don’t really understand what this might be.

Frankly, no one does, but surely this means the opportunity to have a blank canvas. 

We are at a time to be ahead of the curve. Because of experience, in my case, advertising and especially music marketing, and understanding history and today’s different market segments, this could give one a head start in helping the next generation and us in creating without fear, a brave new and multi culturally rich and wise world.

For the past few years, I have spoken to quite a few people up there at the top of horse racing’s totem pole about the need for the pastime to be more likeable and with a true emotional attachment with its core customer base. 

Perplexing advertising slogans like “Love Racing” and almost force feeding ‘live’ music into various empty slots when it doesn’t fit, and with nothing of any real substance nor the strategic thinking and forward thinking of Don Draper to attract a younger and aspirational mainstream audience, don’t help.

Stringing together a montage of predictability and calling it advertising is also not the answer.

This just becomes something of a cockatoo on crack squawking, “Me, too! Me, too!”

But BUNDLE horse racing with other business partners, so that it’s one thing that’s seen in different ways by different people, and what could be a sunset industry on its last legs, just might suddenly be seen as something rising from the ashes like a phoenix- even if it’s a horse.

This is where horse racing, or any industry for that matter, cannot afford to be a cliché.

But how many leading industries know when they’re being clichés?

Will they have the gonads to own up to it and admit that they need help- advice that just might help set them and even an entire city, on a different and more forward looking path?

How many know which is the best path to take?

Technology has created a spate of different businesses. Some will succeed and others will fail.

For little old Hong Kong that’s looking burnt out, here is the chance to rise to the occasion and be the optimistic little engine that could.

But what I have seen are many too tired to bother and quick to put their hands out for a free hand out, but slow, or even unable to deliver anything.

In all my many years in Hong Kong, I have never seen what’s been a home for me and the family looking so askew.

I have also never seen a city so misguided by the need to be seen as wealthy and has become a city whose product personality is one that is equal parts superficial, arrogant, lacking in creativity and hypocritical.

We in little old Hong Kong are at the moment nothing much, but we can be so much more.

The problem in reaching this place where good things can happen starts with The Peter Principle where mediocrity is constantly being promoted and somewhat selfish and spiteful personal agendas are at work along with the blind loyalty of The Shoeshine People.

Hong Kong has not looked so flat while a handful of pompous beached whales ponce around believing that money buys everything.

It doesn’t. It buys flatulence and falsehoods.

It only shows up the pockmarks and how tacky and bigly showbiz items are blocking the view of everything that’s of real substance out there.

The oldies running the “Hong Kong Can Do Show” are seemingly clueless about how the next generation in the city can, with the help of mentors and guides, take the necessary steps to look at how much something like the gaming sector has changed because of technology and how it can be everything more than it’s not.

Most of those in charge are clueless and hiding behind pomposity and verbosity that is boundless.

I was invited at lunchtime yesterday to meet with some young game changers, especially from around Asia, and those from the West present to see what they can learn.

I don’t know about those from the West, but I learned much from the very diverse quality of wonderful production work coming out, especially from Indonesia.

Do please check out the links below.

There is wonderful production work and created with such a positive energy and passion to work together and see what we Asians can do.

Having been born in Ceylon, and what is now known as Sri Lanka, I don’t know about “We Are The World”, but I am definitely seeing the rise of “We Are Asia”.

Those in Hong Kong leading the call for change should Immerse themselves in understanding the future world of streaming and be ready for its next game changing step forward.

This could change the world of ‘live’ events and ways of showcasing one’s work forever.

It’s obvious to me that it’s not about more of those embarrassing kumbaya moments that promise much, but deliver a sponge cake of mumbles that are sometimes promises.

I personally think it’s time to switch sides and join the team you believe will win.

These teams are being very quickly formed with much of the talent, funding and entrepreneurial thinking coming from all over Asia, especially Indonesia.

Hong Kong?

I don’t recognise the role of the city anymore.

It’s here and there with many talking about plans, but not anything specific.

Maybe, there are too many throwing too many things against the wall hoping something sticks.

More of the same never does.

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