Yeah, we write about Houston a lot. We tweet about it relentlessly. We ride around town on our B-Cycles and snap pictures of our favorite local hot spots. We rally around our beloved city at any and every opportunity. WE KNOW.

And guess what? This blog isn’t going to change anything. (Not a damn thing, really.)

With the recent launch of the GHCVB’s and Houston Arts Alliance’s Houston is Inspired campaign, we challenged ourselves to think of the innumerable ways Houston continually inspires our agency. We’re lucky to live in a city rich in creativity, diversity and passion — a city teeming with innovation on every corner.

So, how are we inspired? Quick trips to the Rothko Chapel, Menil Collection, Beer Can House and The James Turrell Skyspace whet our aesthetic appetite. From the cherry-iced donuts at Shipley’s to James Beard-nominated Chris Shepherd’s shrimp and grits, our cuisine is top-notch and can’t be beaten. Whether we’re sippin’ whiskey at Poison Girl, “drunk donating” at OKRA Charity Saloon or drinking St. Arnold’s poolside, there’s no denying that Houston’s cocktails are downright delicious. We could go on for hours about the inventive installations and exhibitions brought to this city by innovative art organizations (Fresh Arts, Lawndale Art Center and our very own Spring Street Studios) — not to mention the local leaders, artists, musicians, writers, thinkers and dreamers that make things happen in exciting, effective ways.

We’ve got a Mayor that’s laser-focused in implementing green and zero-energy initiatives. There’s a dude who rollerblades down Montrose EVERY SINGLE DAY. (Seriously, we can’t get enough of you, Juan Carlos. NEVER CHANGE.) We’ve got a motley crew of zany, unforgettable citizens that pepper this city with rich character.

Sure, it’s the oil and gas capital of the world, but did you know Houston is also one of the greenest cities in the nation? Not only is Houston America’s coolest city — but it’s also a booming arts mecca and busy paving the way for small businesses.

That’s a whole lot to get inspired about, huh? WE KNOW IT IS. But really, the answer is simple. Houston inspires us in every way.

This got us thinkin’. We’ve been adding our favorite things about Houston to our Hell Yeah, Houston! Medium board for the better part of a year. It’s a carefully curated collection of everything that inspires us about our hometown. In a sense, it’s a running tally of everything #houinspired in our lives.

And with the Black Sheep Agency’s fourth birthday just around the corner, we’ve decided to celebrate it ALL. We’ll be throwing a Hell Yeah, Houston!-themed birthday Shin-Dig at one of our favorite little Houston joints, the D+T Drive Inn. Mark your calendars, Houston: the magic goes down Wednesday, June 5.

Hell Yeah, Houston! — A city that keeps us inspired.

Regular

On Monday, our flock returned to work after a long weekend at Free Press Summer Fest. Sure, we were slightly sunburned and in need of copious amounts of coffee. But more than anything else, we were impressed. Every year, this Houston born and bred music festival gets better and better.

The Free Press Summer Fest crew members are masters of learning from the past and improving. Need proof? FPSF was first held in 2009 — just five short years ago — when a smattering of bands (some better known than others) played for a crowd of 30,000. But this year, 90,000 music lovers braved the Houston heat for two days of concerts by hit-makers and legends like Macklemore, Of Monsters and Men, Mavis Staples, Gogol Bordello and the Postal Service. And the concert festival doesn’t just keep getting bigger. More importantly, it becomes better too. Public relations and marketing pros (And everyone else, too!), take note, FPSF has a recipe for repeated success.

Consider your audience. Anyone who attended FPSF last year can remember waiting in a long line under the hot sun to get into the park. But the organizers made that a thing of the past by sending guests their wristbands in advance. All security had to do was scan barcodes and check bags, allowing music lovers earlier access to their favorite bands.

Whether you’re throwing a killer music fest or writing a social media post, it’s all about the customer experience. Think about the audience’s experience and what they’re going through. Gather feedback. (This is where social media comes into play.) Consider what they liked and what they didn’t like. And then try to fix the things they didn’t like. They’ll appreciate it next time. Trust us.

Try something new. Things felt a little cramped at FPSF 2012, even though less people attended. So this year, the staff moved things around to make more room for guests to navigate the park. They could have become stuck in a rut and done things the same year after year, but the staff was smart enough to take a risk and experiment.

You can do the same thing when you promote a brand. Don’t write a boring old press release, just because you always write a press release. Brainstorm on what you can do to branch out and make things better. Design an infographic, create a Pinterest board or host an event. The best way to create real excitement is to do something new and exciting.

Amplify success. This year’s FPSF brought waaay more food options and experiences from sponsors. (Chipotle VIP for the People, anyone?) The event organizers used growing attendance to attract more sponsors and vendors, making the customer experience even better (Which, as we discussed, is what it’s all about, right?).

You can do the same thing as you promote your brand. Rather than trying to accomplish all your goals at once, focus on growing over time. Once you gain recognition, whether it’s a mention from an important influencer on social media or a front-page story, you can use that to show more potential audience why your brand matters. Your patience will pay off and pretty soon your brand will be a household name — just like Free Press Summer Fest.

You see what we mean? FPSF wasn’t just a rockin’ weekend, it was a prime learning opportunity too. (What can we say, we’re a little nerdy when it comes to music.) Take your notes, musical or otherwise — from the pros and learn from the past.

Sold Out: Lessons from Free Press Summer Fest