What) In Regina we have the "I Love Regina"; In Austin they have "Keep Austin Weird". The "Keep Austin Weird" slogan reaches far beyond a marketing campaign. Austin is the self-proclaimed "live music capital of the world" and the people of Austin reflect a friendly, accepting culture of artistic and individual expression that maintains the city as a vibrant and eclectic creative center and a haven for an LGBT community, intellectual community, community of naturalists and environmentalists, and for subcultures and people who are not mainstream. In a mostly conservative Texas, Austin is "Weird" because of that and because it continues to be liberal and progressive politically, socially, in culture, in the arts and in music, among other things. (1)
Why) At the
time I wrote this, I didn't know anything about Austin but I
felt that Pam and I would probably make up some kind of bet to
go along with it.
What) In October 2012, 27-year-old entrepreneur Brandon Chicotsky launched a unique service called Bald Logo, turning his bald head into a billboard for businesses willing to pay him $320 per day, and walking around Austin to get as much exposure as possible.
How does the old saying go, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”? That’s exactly what Brandon Chicotsky did after he lost most of the hair on his head at a very young age. ”Because I didn’t get to choose to be bald I thought I’d bring bald and beautiful back,” said Chicotsky, who also decided to use his head as an actual business. Last month, the young entrepreneur launched Bald Logo, and since then he’s been flooded with inquiries from businesses interested in having their logos temporarily tattooed on his or one of his coworkers’ heads, for a fee of $320 a day. Brandon and his team have perfected the tattoos to withstand any weather conditions, and will spend six hours a day walking the streets of Austin garnering attention for their clients. Bald Logo currently has three “bald angelicals” on its staff, but the ambitious businessman plans to hire more walking advertising spaces and expand to other cities.
In order to
get as much attention as possible when parading around town
with their logo tattoos, Bald Logo’s angelicas have devised a
strategy that involves attractive girls, camera crews and
full-body spandex suits. When they’re working, Brandon
Chicotsky and his bald co-workers are accompanied by two
female actresses carrying signs or waving flags promoting the
client’s business, as well as a third actor dressed in a
full-body spandex suit. To turn even more heads, they’ll have
a camera crew following them around. “When there are cameras,
people tend to inquire, ‘What is this about, what’s on your
head?’” (2)
Why) Although I don't remember it now, I do know that we made up a bet to go along with this one but we did not run into Brandon or his crew when we were walking around Austin so the loser probably "forgot" to pay the winner.
I do know
that every year I pick out my favourite Buckys of the entire
trip and this year it is the experience of being in Austin. I
can't point to one specific thing but there was something
about the people that resonated with me more than anything.
Out of all the cities we have visited on our trips, Austin is
the only one that I would consider going back to and living
in. 
help us out or make us feel welcome in Austin. This is just one example of the something that I mentioned above.
