(drumming music)
- Hi, I'm Tereasa.
- And I'm David.
- And we're hosts, parents, preservationists
and published authors.
- And we both tell stories for a living
as creative directors in advertising.
- And this is Camp Won-Dah-Wee-Gah
in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
It's a 25 acre property
that we've been restoring for the past 15 years.
- [David] And it's actually where I spent
most of my childhood summers.
- [Tereasa] But it's history dates back way farther.
It used to be a brothel
and a speakeasy, and a refuge.
- [David] We bought this place back in 2004
and as we started fixing it up
and sharing our story, it struck a chord with people
and they've been visiting us ever since.
- [Tereasa] And a few of the folks started to know us
as well.
- [David] Here are our tips
on how to find and share your story.
- [Tereasa] Even if you don't have a 100 year old
speakeasy, there's always a story to tell.
- [David] It's not just about how many bedrooms
or how many baths or what kind of amenities you have.
Think about your community.
Think about what's interesting.
Is there some really cool places to go
right in your area?
- [Tereasa] You just have to dig a little.
Do a little bit of research.
Find what's interesting about the home,
the property, the town that you're in.
There's so much that you can put in your listing.
You just have to dig.
Don't be perfect.
- [David] You don't be perfect.
- [Tereasa] You don't be perfect.
- [David] Don't be perfect.
- Don't be perfect.
In the beginning David was writing proper advertising ads
in this very high brow way.
- [David] Relax in the sunset and have a cup of tea.
- God, I'm just cringing.
And it just wasn't us.
It's not Won-Dah-Wee-Gah.
We're an eighth of a star.
We don't have any amenities.
We barely have Wi-Fi.
I think at the end of the day you just have to be honest
about who you are
and not try to be something that you're not.
- [David] And that's why we wrote our manifesto
of low expectations.
It's playful and it's real,
and we lean in to that.
- Most people find us on social media first.
It's a great way to get discovered.
Visual storytelling, it's so important to create scenes
that people feel like they can just step right into.
- [David] Try walking from room to room
and think about how you can create the perfect
life moment.
Try showcasing experiences people can have in your home
and in your city.
- [Tereasa] Whoo, I didn't hit it.
- Embrace the up veil as we like to say.
Storytelling is a big part of our ethos
but as much as people love to hear stories
of the mob and the madame and all the things
that happened here,
the don't necessarily wanna know
exactly what happened in the room
that they're staying in.
- [Tereasa] The trap door under the bed in room 26.
- [David] Don't talk about that.
- Do you wanna see it?
Don't be afraid to fail.
You'll start to find your own voice
and learn what's resonating with your audience.
It gives you confidence.
It gives you wisdom.
And it gives you perspective to move forward.
- Yeah, let's do it together on three.
One, two, three.
Share the journey. - [Tereasa] Share the journey.
So in the beginning I was really scared to share
our before and after photos.
We didn't know how people would take it
but it's funny because it's actually
gotten more engagement
than anything else we've done.
And I think our bookings have actually gone up.
Where do people wanna go?
They wanna go to the same places you do.
They wanna experience your favorite things.
- [David] Think about your favorite coffee shop.
Think about where you like to go for walks
in the morning.
Think about your favorite Italian restaurant
down the road.
- [Tereasa] They want the inside of what it feels like
to be someplace, to live someplace,
even if it's just for a few days.
Are we sharing enough journey?
Should we sing Kum Bae Yah?
- [David] Kum Bae Yah my Lord.
- [Tereasa] Feel like some of the most memorable
things that we've experienced
have happened at camp.
And the fact that we get to share that with others
has become our why.
- [David] Because great stories build relationships
and make people care.
And at the end of the day
that's what it's all about.
We hope these tips help you find, craft
and share your stories with the world.
- We need them.
People wanna hear them.
And they help bring us all closer together.
I'm Tereasa.
- [David] And I'm David.
- And we're hosts here at Camp Won-Dah-Wee-Gah
in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
Happy hosting. - [David] Happy hosting.
(upbeat drumming music)