I’ve been a big fan of Richard Branson and the way he conducts business for a long time. The ultimate good time guy, Branson is one of the people in the world today who realises that work can also be play. That work doesn’t have to mean depression. I’ve read his biography and his short book “Screw It Let’s Do It” and it is in fact that book that I keep by me at all time, paging through it when I need a little inspiration.

So as you know, Virgin have a different way of doing business and it’s a formula that works for them. I first caught glimpse of this free Virgin festival (You don’t get free virgins, entrance is free, the brand is Virgin) ona message on Richard Bransons Twitter page (HERE) announcing that they will be throwing a free festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia. That’s nowhere near Cape Town! But I still think it’s an awesome piece of marketing by Virgin, holding a free concert in the midst of one of the worst economic recessions in recent times.

Bransons Twitter message

Acts include Blink 182 and Franz Ferdinand, and while I’m not too sure who the other are, it’s still free! Jimi Hendrix has played at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Green Day and Led Zeppelin, so it’s got quite a bit of histroy right there. The amphitheatre itself is located in 40 acres of forest, between Washington D.C and Baltimore.

If you are interested in this just from a marketing perspective, and how to really conduct business during a recession, then simply click HERE.

Sean Lloyd

Editor