What’s Up Salem Besties!

I'm writing a book called How Parties Will Save the World, and I want every person in Salem to read it.

Whether you think that sounds brilliant or completely ridiculous, this book is for you. It's about why bringing people together matters - and more importantly, how to actually do it well.

Maybe you want to build deeper friendships. Maybe you're trying to grow your professional network. Maybe you're starting a business and need customers who love what you do. Whatever your reason, learning to bring people together is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.

I'm offering a $1 presale to Salem residents. Reserve your copy now, pay when it's published.

Click here to join in.

Please. I’m asking nicely.

Now, let’s look at what this can look like in Salem…

Cheers!

Was this email forwarded to you by a friend?

The city/community that has the most fun will win.

Do you know why? Because people like having fun.

Having fun makes people want to come together and talk about being there. You don't have to ask people to share photos when they are having fun and making new connections.

Is this guy joking?

I'm being 100% serious.

Imagine living in a city where we encouraged people to give people reasons to come together.

Where we highlighted people bringing people together, and supported the people throwing the best parties and events.

Imagine if when our city was brought up, people said to themselves, "Salem, yeah I like it there. We had a lot of fun last time we visited."

Imagine if we became the Funnest Part of Oregon instead of the Most Oregon Part of Oregon (I still have no clue what this means.)

Yes. Gerry Frank Amphitheater is underrated. Downtown has some highlights. Lancaster is super underrated. Lots of cool stuff is happening at The Forge right now.

But we need MORE!

First, let's figure out a process with the city that makes it EASY to get things done.

This can start with educating community connectors and party promoters how to get things done when working with Salem. (Maybe this is a project What's Happening Salem can take on.)

Second, let's start celebrating the people who are already making Salem fun. 

When Maria organized that impromptu salsa dancing night in Riverfront Park last month, did you hear about it? Probably not, unless you were one of the 30 people who showed up and had a blast. We need to amplify these moments. When cool things happen, everyone should know about it.

Third, let's make it easier for people to say yes to fun.

You know what kills a good time? Logistics. Finding parking, not knowing if kids are welcome, wondering if you need to bring anything, being unclear about the vibe. The best events remove every possible excuse for not showing up.

Here's what I'm thinking we try:

The Salem Fun Fund - A small pot of money (maybe we start with $500) that helps cover the little things that make events better. Need tables for your block party? Covered. Want to hire a food truck for your community garden celebration? We'll pitch in. Sometimes the difference between "meh" and "amazing" is just $50 worth of dry ice and string lights.

The Party Permit Workshop - Once a month, city staff teaches people how to navigate permits, street closures, and liability insurance. Make it friendly, not bureaucratic. Bring donuts. Answer real questions. Show people that the city wants their events to succeed. Find a sponsor to cover food and drinks. (Who is in?)

The Fun Scout Network - A group of people who go to events and then tell everyone else about them. Not influencers or marketing people, just neighbors who love seeing the community come together. Give them a simple way to share what they experienced so more people know what they're missing.

Monthly "What Worked" Meetings - Bring together everyone who organized events in the past month. What went well? What was harder than expected? How can we help each other do better next time? Steal shamelessly from each other's successes.

Look, here's the thing:

Portland gets all the attention because they figured out how to make "weird" into a brand. But weird isn't sustainable if it's not authentic. Salem's authentic thing isn't weird - it's welcoming. We're the place where people actually talk to each other. Where you can still afford to live AND have a good time. (I know it’s getting harder, so please don’t take that as a sign I’m out of touch.) But we are still a place where community actually means something.

But being welcoming only matters if there's something to welcome people TO.

The Real Test:

Six months from now, when someone asks "What's Salem like?" I want the answer to be "Oh man, there's always something fun going on there. You should come check it out."

Not "It's close to Portland or the beach or the mountains."

Your turn:

What's the most fun thing that's happened in Salem recently that not enough people know about? Hit reply and tell me. If it's good enough, maybe we feature it next week.

And if you're planning something fun, let me know. We'll help spread the word. (If you’ve shared an event and we missed it, I apologize! We are doing our best to spread the love as much as possible.)

Because the city with the most fun wins. And I think Salem can win.

P.S. - Yes, I know I said "Amphitheater" wrong the first time. But you knew what I meant, and that's what matters. We're not going for perfect here, we're going for fun.

Thanks for keeping up with Salem this week!

Spotted something interesting in town? Drop us a note at [email protected] We love hearing from you.

See you soon.