Cafecito Caliente recently partnered with Celebration Theaters to bring the 1997 movie Selena back for the weekend in Lansing, Michigan. The movie Selena was played the last weekend to time it with the 23rd Anniversary of her death on March 31, 1995. The Saturday showing sold out.
According to Wikipedia, Selena was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, model, actress, and fashion designer. Called the Queen of Tejano music, her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. Billboard magazine named her the top-selling Latin artist of the 1990s decade, while her posthumous collaboration with MAC cosmetics became the best-selling celebrity collection in cosmetics history. Media outlets called her the “Tejano Madonna” for her clothing choices. She also ranks among the most influential Latin artists of all time and is credited for catapulting a music genre into the mainstream market.
It was a fun experience but at the same time it was heartbreaking. Of course we all knew the ending. I heard from a couple parents who stated that their younger kids were asking “mom, why are you crying?” There were plenty of tears shed over the weekend. We sold out the Saturday morning showing and had a healthy attendance at the other two showings.
When Selena first came out in 1997, many of us would go see the movie and then we went out to eat. Why? Well, the two go hand in hand but people also wanted to talk after the movie. We didn’t want to go home. We looked for comfort in watching a movie that relived a memorable, but tragic death back then. This time, in a completely different way, many of us walked away with plenty of emotion. Not only did we relive the tragic ending, many of thought back to the time we heard the news of Selena’s death. Almost as if we got punched in the gut twice.
I myself was enjoying the humor, the music, the family and then bam, I suddenly remembered what was coming when she dropped the rose. At least a few people admitted when Yolanda Saldivar held the gun to her head, they wanted her to just pull the trigger. As a friend of mine said the next day after her death, “well, no more Bidi bidi bom bom”.
Again, thanks to everyone who came out. History will remember Selena for being another senseless tragic death. Our culture will remember her as someone who was one of us and her life was just beginning. Selena was truly a beautiful soul who inspired us with her personality, her music and her playfulness. Sadly, we never got to watch her grow old but there are quite a few young ladies born in after 1995 who were named Selena in her honor. Rest in Heaven Selena Quintanilla-Perez 1971-1995. You are still loved.
There were many doubters who said people wouldn’t buy tickets for a movie that everyone has seen 20 times and own the DVD. My response was, explain to me why over 400 people buy $13.00 tickets to a baseball game in August (Cafecito’s Latino Day with the Lugnuts) and don’t watch the ball game? In 2017, Cafecito took over a school district event that was barely alive. We nearly tripled the attendance and if they had given us the time as they promised, we predicted we would bring in 700 folks at their event. People go for the experience. Latinos are family oriented and want more happenings that cater to our families. Nostalgia plays well. And when you have the relationships built, gaining peoples attentionYes folks, the culture is alive and well. We just need to create the space. Cafecito Caliente, can do just that.
Is your business attempting to attract the Latino market? Perhaps your business would like to engage with the Latino community but isn’t sure where to start or your current marketing vehicles aren’t generating the value your looking for? Contact us and we might have some ideas for you.
