Post #329832 by Chip and Andy on Mon, Sep 3, 2007 9:06 AM

On 2007-09-03 08:01, bigbrotiki wrote:
Sorry, but that "wisdom of the general public" argument does not stick with me. ...

Yes, I agree. To aim for Lowest Common Denominator in any venture is like chasing yourself into failure. The public is fickle and will go to the next thing in a heartbeat.

And, No, I think you are completely wrong.

Would you rather see the Mai-Kai go completely authentic and close down because the modern customers would be affraid to go in thinking it was some sort of pagan palace (I have overheard that coment before so I am not exagerating).

Or, would you rather see lots of authenticity mixed in with lots of reasonably well painted tikis (no day-glo...).

And, no one in the area who is not already a member of this community is going there because they have tikis, painted or not. They are going to the Mai Kai because they provide excellent service, have amazing food and even more amazing drinks.

I know when I am there and I see someone stop and admire one of the many genuine artifacts, I offer a bit of story to go with it and see if they are 'interested' in more and then I direct them to the next little bit of authenticity and let them discover the next, and so on.

When I see someone taking thier picture in front of one of the less then genuine artifacts, I smile and offer to take thier picture for them. They have a great evening and will be back someday.

Both methods promote the Mai Kai and keep people coming back in. And, I occasionally get someone interested in finding out more, making for another tikiphile who will apppreciate how many genuine artifacts are already in the Mai-Kai hiding in and around the painted tikis that everyone seems to be so upset about.

And, we keep hijacking Pablus' thread here.....

Pablus, how was it last night? And, were you able to change your flight to make it one more time tonight?