CELEBRATING MARDI GRAS ON BOURBON STREET FOR THE FIRST TIME

“Mardi Gras today is about various cultures that come together to

celebrate the things that make them unique and uniting under the

common theme of being people who like to have fun and enjoy each

other to have a great time”, hence the phrase, Laissez Bon Temps

Rouller”.

Located in the center of the

French Quarter, Bourbon Street

is one of the most famous

streets in New Orleans. Also

coined “The Amsterdam of

America”, hundreds of

thousands of tourists come

from all over the world to

enjoy Louisiana’s most famous

and native holiday, Mardi Gras.

CELEBRATING MARDI GRAS ON BOURBON STREET FOR THE FIRST TIME

CELEBRATING MARDI GRAS ON BOURBON STREET FOR THE FIRST TIME

Celebrating Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street is forever memorable,

especially for those who are not native to the Louisiana tradition.

The many different experiences

people have are influenced by their

emotions and what they do to enjoy

the celebration to the fullest extent.

Laura Papa

Dustin Guidry

Jared Averill

Daniela Dieck

Katyana Pastora

Qualitative Research Assignment for MKT 3413, Spring 2011,

LSU

Critical Incident Technique

A way to analyze people’s feelings towards personal experiences

Assures a subjective response from each participant

Focuses on the consumers’ behavior

With Critical Incident Technique we are

able to measure and evaluate every

applicant’s response to a specific event

by learning how they feel before, during,

after, and now.

We chose to use this technique because: Mardi Gras has been a major event that millions of people have come

from all over the world to commemorate our state’s culture. Bourbon Street is a natural attraction and many tourists feel it is best to be there

during the wild parties of Fat Tuesday.

Foreigners, unlike natives to Louisiana, never know what to expect, and treat this holiday with much more anticipation.

The CIT helps us understand how and what they felt about Bourbon Street, specifically during Mardi Gras.

Questions: BEFORE

What were your feelings/expectations of being on Bourbon Street?

What did you do to get ready before going on Bourbon?

DURING

How did you feel about personal security?

What did you think of atmosphere and people seen on Bourbon?

AFTER Do you have any regrets for any actions taken?

Was it everything you anticipated?

How did you feel after leaving Bourbon Street?

NOW Would you go back to Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras?

Do you recommend Bourbon Street as a “hot spot” for the festivities?

Respondents

Young adults ranging in age from 19-23, all of whom are not from

Louisiana and are foreign to the Mardi Gras tradition.

►Collection ► We gathered our responses

through the Internet via email,

telephone, as well as in

person.

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Question 1

Nervous

Excited

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Question 2

Prepared

Sensibly

Built my

tolerance

for alcohol

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Question 3

Secure

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Didn't Care

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Question 4

Enjoyable

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Enjoyable

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Question 5

Regrets

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Question

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Met

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Question 7

Good

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Question 8

Would Go

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Back

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Question 9

Would

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mend

1. Marketers could design a small handbook that guides new visitors with different tips and tactics on how to have a great first time for Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

2. The booklet could include maps of the main streets that are safe to stay on, checklists for when packing, various tips for getting the best throws during the parades, as well as many other helpful hints that could put the beginners’ mind at ease.

3. This could help foreigners relax more when worried about getting lost, being unsafe, or even when they are in doubt with what to wear.