white with foam

Photo by Bootsy Holler

In February 2001, a snake-oil salesman by the name of Peter Lowe filled up Key Arena with a seminar called “Success 2001.” Outside the building, about a dozen of us staged a tongue-in-cheek protest just as they were leaving. We had a march and rally, and handed out free misfortune cookies and a tract featuring pen and ink work by Tim Foss.

Our primary message — that individuals can and must overcome their own confidence and self-esteem, and commit themselves bravely to Failure — predictably confounded the people coming out of the Peter Lowe seminar, and also provided local media with the kind of foil needed to talk about the event. To the extent that our shadow event got equal time from the Seattle Weekly and the Times, and even merited a brief, embarrassing interview on KIRO radio, you could almost call it a success.

NEXT: The mighty Anxiedes

Tags: 1 Comment