For some reasons, hoodies are in the news. The Trayvon Martin case put hoodies in the spotlight, causing Geraldo Rivera to make a major faux pas about the symbolism of the hoodie as he urged parents not to let their kids wear them. (He since apologized and retracted the statement.)
And last week, Wall Street was in another of its fits over Mark Zuckerberg’s hoodie, and what it symbolized to the captains of industry. (Perhaps they should be more worried about the behavior of former stalwarts like J.P. Morgan.)
To somehow suggest, as several financial executives have, that perhaps Zuckerberg isn’t taking the IPO seriously speaks to the backwardness of that community. Was Steve Jobs disrespectful because he wore jeans and a black turtleneck?
The world has changed, and it is not a sign of disrespect or immaturity to be the brand or to exercise one’s sense of style. In fact, our own industry – radio – might re-evaluate its own dress code when The Radio Show hits Dallas in September.
A couple of years back in Philly when our Summit partnered with the NAB, one of our special guest sessions was Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski from MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
As Paul escorted the pair through the Philadelphia Convention Center, Scarborough viewed the austere hall and all the guys wearing business suits. And he asked, “Where are all the radio people?”
He was expecting to see energetic, engaged broadcasters – not Wall Street bankers.
When you look around at a “blended” conference like RAIN or Convergence, you see the signs all around you. There’s a more congenial vibe, and while the geek wardrobe has its own style rules, it’s a more casual, open mode of dress that may be symbolic of a more agile, adaptable form of doing business. To me, it suggests that we’re going through this maze together, rather than being locked into the way we’ve always done it (or the conservative ways we always dress and do business).
The Radio Show might be a more inviting, accessible world if there were a few more hoodies and a few less suits. The essence of radio – the sound that comes out of the studio – has been tempered over the past decade by the demand for ROI and the pressure to take a more business-like approach in what always was a fun, energetic collection of people and brands.
So perhaps Zuck should have donned a pinstripe hoodie like the one pictured here. Or maybe he should continue to confound Wall Street by being his own guy, not playing their game, and running his incredible company in his own style.
After watching the financial community’s behavior during the past several years – and last several days – a breath of fresh air might do everyone some good.
Clothes may make the man. But they don’t necessarily make a successful one in 2012.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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And the even bigger irony of the pinstriped hoodie is that it costs $148! For a hoodie????
What? You were expecting Men’s Wearhouse prices?