What kind of experience do you want?

Doesn’t matter the context – it should be a memorable one, right? That’s what I thought – and yet, the concept seems rather skewed in interpretation by everyone around us. We get so caught up with trying to be “the person” who had the best angle for the picture/video of the moment in front of us… that more often than not, we end up missing out on the majority of that experience because of our selfishness. 2019 has ushered in a mentality where we can justify time spent adding filters to images instead of making conversation with the incredible beings sitting right across the table.

Don’t get me wrong now – there is always going to be value in creating quality content for accounts, especially as our world continues to advance in technological capabilities by the day. Content has become currency, and it has opened up opportunities for several people to pursue careers they have never thought possible when growing up. That being said, I think most of “our” generation (I’ll label us the 27-34 year olds for arguments sake) has started to figure out that there should be a delicate balance of time spent absorbing the pretty colors of our phone with the amazing gift that is real life.

I find myself asking the question more and more as I dive back into the world of hospitality here in Charlotte. Naturally, we want to create an environment that is “worthy for the ‘gram” – but we must constantly tread with caution. An atmosphere dominated by those simply striving to be an influencer in a concept that will outdate itself in a matter of years… is not the one we will all remember years from now telling our kids about. 

Taking a simple picture or two to capture the moment can always be part of the overall experience (one that we can frame on the mantle, if you will), but we cannot allow ourselves to fall into the pit of misery that consists of the blurry, not useable, not “likeable” pictures that plummet peers into depression. An article that went viral a few weeks ago talked about how a couple nearly split up after their lengthy honeymoon, because – and it may sound insane, I know – the bride spent so much time trying to get the PERFECT pictures to commemorate their time in paradise that it drove a massive wedge between the two… which is the exact opposite of what that time is supposed to be.

Another article mentions the desire for someone to be a “phone check” at the door, collecting devices the same way we check our heavy coats in the winter. While we all shudder at the thought of being without our device for more than a few minutes at a time, I love the picture the author tried to paint. In reality, we should feel comfortable shedding that layer of ourselves while we immerse in the experience that we have chosen to pursue for the night (which hopefully includes a stop at our lovely establishment).

Perhaps we don’t need to check our phones – but we should at least check our selves. Ask yourself what you really want out of a night out on the town spending hard-earned time and money – don’t be afraid to put your phone on silent and in your pocket after taking a picture of that pretty cocktail you ordered.