Marketing is as tall as it is wide. It’s the crossing of an ocean or the breath of a word. It’s hard enough to market art, let alone when that art is in Bremerton, because Bremerton itself needs to be marketed.

This complex issue particularly came to mind last week when I was in Tacoma. I’m in a bagel shop on Broadway, a couple of blocks from the State Historical Museum and the Dale Chihuli Glass Museum. Progress is going on everywhere, and people are scrambling here and there.

“When does the Dale Chihuli Museum open?” I ask the person behind the counter. She shrugs and tells me that she has never heard of the guy. I start over and say, “You know, the glass museum.” She looks to the worker next to her and reiterates that they don’t know the place. This small incident made me realize that Bremerton may be more like other cities than it is different. Marketing art in the field of tourism is a kick-start device we’re seeing across the country.

I worry so about Bremerton and its lack of marketing. I guess the Tacoma bagel girl made me feel a lot better about Bremerton when she made such a horrendous marketing faux pas as not to be aware of one of Tacoma’s major tourist attractions only a matter of yards from where she was standing.

Bremerton has a reverse situation in that anyone in town can tell you where all the hot spots are – and there are a lot of hot spots. Bremerton’s problem is that they need the people to tell it to. That’s where the marketing comes in.

When tourists find their way to downtown Bremerton it’s often by happenstance (like the ferry ride) and not because of anything the town did. These tourists are generally amazed at what they find – six art galleries, three museums, two performing art facilities, several unique restaurants and other related shops. Then to hear Bremerton has a symphony, opera and ballet too!

Have you heard Bremerton is the success waiting to happen? In three to five years it will be a raging boomtown. Can anyone see me jumping up and down, flailing my arms and screaming to the high heavens, “Market us damn it! Market us now!” Waiting three years isn’t good enough. With all Bremerton has, it’s a natural tourist draw, but without better city and county marketing many businesses might as well throw in the towel.

It is bad marketing to be negative, but it is good business to state specific needs. Bremerton businesses are hurting and they need help now – not three years from now when new condos gleam in the sunlight and towering government buildings expand the work force.