What's in a name? (or welcome to the Kings Heath International School Fete)

By Mik Barton on May 22, 08 12:58 PM in Creative industries

All of us doing business in Birmingham are tied up, whether we like it or not, with the reputation of the city. We help create it and we are measured by it.

Your address is a part of your company image. That's presumably why big corporates like tall buildings (and why helicopter shots of Canary Wharf feature in the title sequence of 'The Apprentice' even though Sir Alan Sugar's office is miles away in Brentwood.

Or it's why traditional craft industries like to use pictures of country cottages and rural workshops in their literature.

I've recently been having a debate with a company about whether to keep quiet about their history or, as I believe, use their geographical roots to build some great PR. More later perhaps.

So what of the image of Birmingham? And why did the Rover Group use to use a Warwick address for its international HQ (castles and Shakespeare perhaps?)

For too long Birmingham used to think it had to call everything 'national' or 'international' - hence we are known by initials: the NEC, ICC, NIA. This sort of self-important naming does not build an instant reputation and merely downgrades the word Birmingham.

Around the time of the ICC opening, you couldn't go out in Birmingham without stumbling across an international this and that. We had an International jazz festival with mostly the same artists as Brecon Jazz (great for the image of Brecon), an international street festival, international film and TV festival etc etc. I remember once questioning the organisers of an event about the rather grand choice of title only to be told the mother of one of the performers was from overseas. International it was not.

So last night I was at the Kirov Ballet at the Hippodrome (told you I'd write about it Marc). Brilliant!
It was part of the International Dance Festival Birmingham (website: IDFB)

Now from a glance at all the dancers biogs from Baimuradov to Tershkina, the cyrillic lettering in the theatre and the name 'Kirov' itself I was pretty sure this was international - but thanks IDFB for letting me know.

The other week I also went to see Hofesh Shechter and 2FaCeD DaNcE Company in Victoria Square. It featured local dancers and was directed by Tamsin Fitzgerald from Hereford. Hofesh is Israeli-born, but now based in the UK (Eastleigh according to his website).

We didn't really know beforehand who would be performing in Victoria Square or where they came from. The 'international' tag wasn't the slightest lure. Yet the performance was stunning. It was just as brilliant as the Kirov Ballet and it was part of the BIRMINGHAM dance festival. Let's be proud of our city.

"International". You're fired!

Comments (2)

Tag:
Brentwood,
Canary Wharf,
Hippodrome,
ICC,
IDFB,
International Dance Festival Birmingham,
Kirov Ballet,
NEC,
NIA,
Sir Alan Sugar,
The Apprentice

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2 Comments

Sid Langley said:

Very good point. Strange how I get people's attention in Hall Green, London and New Jersey when I tell them I'm writing something for the Birmingham Post. It's a brilliant brand. So is Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Rep - not the slightest feel of Second City about any of them!

May 25, 2008 8:22 PM

Jason Norris said:

Very valid and very good point. I was new to the city in August of last year, to take on the role as the UK Graduate Apprentice, a role which is unique to Birmingham. I was amazed by the number of 'international' and 'national' events. I think that Birmingham is a truly fantastic city, with a reputation among many which needs addressing. Perhaps by making more of our name, the reputation may evolve, and change perceptions of people who have not been here for years. Being International is great, its the cultural diversity which makes this city what it is, but my opinion is that Birmingham can be International as Birmingham, and that there is no need for the universal branding. Birmingham is at the heart of the UK, and its about time that more was made of this.

June 2, 2008 10:28 AM