SAW a good idea

Joyful (Inappropriate) Art Viewing Gains Popularity on Web

What I consider socially acceptable is often not in line with the views of others.  Here are three examples of the inappropriate (I call them joyful) acts I commit on a weekly, if not daily, basis: dancing to my iPod in public, calling my superiors "Dude," and playing with other people's children (being a stranger).

While other art students from my old school in Boston would quietly sneak touches of artworks by artists they adored (if you're shocked, get over it - artists frequently touch each others pieces), I would get hyper and jump and shout when a piece really knocked me out.  I have received the nastiest "Your-behavior-is-SO-inappropriate!" glares in the gallery setting.   

Today, I found a sister in art reaction, Allison Reimus, a MFA student at American Univeristy in Washington DC.  Her blog, a compilation of user-submitted photos gathered since 2007, is titled Jumping in Art Museums.  I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.

Bearly Economical

Barely Political, the creators of the Obama Girl Video (series), pulled a cute stunt on Wall Street last Monday.  In keeping with their formula for successful, cheaply-made viral video (commentary on a current issue + nearly nude women = success), one of their writers set out in a bear suit to add some more wack to the already wigged out financial district.  Interestingly, a picture of the "man in a bear outfit wandering the streets" appeared on Gawker before the shoot was even over.  This should be considered a milestone for Barely Political, since this stunt went viral before the girls stepped out of a limo.  Of course the hot chicks probably do add some flavor to the "Bear Market...Bare Ladies!" stunt/video -- enough for a crowd of men on the street and almost half a million YouTube views in less than a week.  I think it's also important to mention that the New York Post gave the "man in bear outfit" a half page photo, with the ladies, of course.

Anything You Can Dunk, I Can Dunk Better

LeBron James and Kevin Garnett may have led in number of fan votes for this year's NBA All-Star game, but it is non-All Star Rudy Gay who is now taking and utilizing fan votes in the most incredible way. The Memphis Grizzlies' rookie has announced that he is accepting video submissions of fans from across the globe performing their best slam, and will repeat the dunk that he deems best during this year's NBA Dunk Contest. I am pulling out the Nerf hoop as we speak.

Do Not Adjust Your Monitor

I spent twenty minutes once typing in a secret code on a Star Wars DVD to bring up the Yoda rap.  It was totally worth it.  Secret "easter eggs" have made their way to websites.  Mostly, these are just fun throw-away items created by the developers for their own amusement. 

MINI is actively promoting the "easter eggs" on their site.  In the search bar on their site, type in "Reverse," "Take It For a Spin," "Under the Hood," or "MINImize," for a different perspective on things.

Get Turned On

In high school, I made a mix, consisting mostly of songs by Enya, which I used as the background music for the various make-out sessions my girlfriend and I used to get into.  If you haven't made out in the back of a 1986 Peugeot while listening to "Orinoco Flow", then I seriously suggest you try it. 

Obviously, I needed some help in the music department back then.  LuxuriaMusic.com has it figured out.  They play a non-stop mix of songs that'll help set the mood for a night of passion, or in my case as of late, working on the Sunday Times' crossword puzzle while consuming a half pint of Chubby Hubby and falling asleep in a puddle of my own drool. 

Renegade stepped in to get down and dirty with a guerrilla marketing campaign designed to promote LuxuriaMusic.  The campaign not only encourages the public to “Tune In. Turn On. Make Out” but also promotes safe shagging by distributing free condoms. Utilizing user generated content and wild postings, LuxuriaMusic hopes to bring the essence of its vintage-styled programming to life. 

Users are also encouraged to submit suggestions for "titillating tunes" that'll be played during the "Let's Get it On" show. 

Say Yes to Crack

99.999% of us are going to die.  There's really no way around it unless you're a vampire or Ted Williams.  The  American Red Cross Bay Area wants to help you live a few extra years, but wants those extra years to be filled with paranoia and a looming sense of dread.  Their "Get Prepared" stunts have been covered on this blog before, and they're definitely clever.  This week, they're creating a "super crack" in the middle of Union Square to show the devastating effects of a major earthquake in the San Francisco metropolitan area. 

Billed as a "pulse-pounding" special effect, the marketing push aims to educate the general public on the need to be prepared for a major disaster.  They'll be selling disaster kits in the park, which, unfortunately, don't let you create your own "act of God" but give you the preparations you'd need in case you're in one. 

Summer in the City

Things I need for a hot summer day: a pool, a refreshing beverage, servants slowly waving palm fronds over me whilst misting me with water from the Swiss Alps.  At the very least, I'd love an ice cream sandwich. 

JetBlue came to my rescue.  With a branded ice cream truck, a representative from JetBlue handed out free ice cream sandwiches to the sweaty citizens on New York.  The event called attention to the free services they offer on board their flights.  It was a smart move by a company looking to get back their exemplary service status.  And on the hottest day of the year, it was met with warm smiles.

Who Did What Now?

There is a growing trend to market products by confusing people.  Show them something fascinating, but don't tell them what it is.  Such is the case with a mysterious trailer that aired before Transformers this week.  In the trailer, a group of friends attending a farewell party for a friend in New York City feel an earthquake.  Things go rapidly downhill from there, as they watch as downtown New York (and effectively Chelsea Market, where Renegade is headquartered) is obliterated in a fireball.  The trailer is capped off with the head of the Statue of Liberty sliding down a street.  Shot entirely with hand held cameras and without a title, no one is sure what to make of it.  One thing is positive, it got a lot of people talking.

Here's what we know.  J.J. Abrams (Lost, Felicity, Mission: Impossible 3) is producing the film.   Online tipsters directed people to this site, which offers cryptic information about someone named Ethan Haas.  The "cover" name for the film is Cloverfield, which is merely the road that the Paramount lot is on.  And finally, Matt Reeves is directing the film. 

This just goes to show you, if you want people to talk about your product, don't tell them what it is. 

[Update: View the trailer here.]

iSit

There have been many unsightly pictures of a sweaty and shirtless Greg Packer making the rounds on the internet.  Currently camped outside the Apple Store on Fifth Ave, Packer is first in line to get his hands on the gadgety-goodness that is the iPhone tomorrow night. 

Packer, who dubs himself a professional line sitter, has become a mini-celebrity as news outlets are eager to hear his story.  No longer exposing the world to his rotund belly, I noticed that Packer was sheathed in a brand-new "Fresh 102.7" t-shirt today and it made perfect sense.  I don't know the details, but I'm sure the folks at "Fresh" forked over a few hundred bucks to cover Packer up and get some cheap advertising for their station.

And Mr. Packer, if you're reading this and want to pick me up an iPhone while you're down there, I'd appreciate it.  Seriously.   

(Photo courtesy of Engadget)

Your Turn, Intern

At Renegade, we'd never submit our interns to the "dancing monkey" antics that some companies do.  Sure, they get us the occasional coffee, stand in line for 72 hours outside the Apple Store to secure a few of us some brand new iPhones, and pull all-nighters while the rest of the staff goes to Tijuana for authentic margaritas.  But we'd never humiliate them publicly.  Mentos doesn't share our thinking.

Trevor, the official Mentos Intern, will do anything anyone on the internet wants him to do.  (Within reason)  Do you want him to call your mom and tell her you send your love?  Done.  Need him to read a fairytale to your daughter?  Done.  Does that guy who lives above you who you're convinced gives tap dancing lessons at 4 o'clock in the morning need to be "taken care of"?  Probably not.  But the things people make Trevor do are often funny and entertaining.  You can chat with Trevor, watch as he goes about his tasks, and view past videos.  Trevor, it would seem, is enjoying the job and the attention. 

That Itchy Scratchy Feeling

Apparently, a fellow driver viewed my parking job as less than stellar.  Lacking a pen and paper or the time to wait for me to return to my car to discuss it like a civilized person, they took to scratching a nasty word on the hood of my 1995 Volkswagen Golf.  While I won't utter the word here, know that they spelled it wrong. So I know the frustration of having your car scratched.

I was interested with the campaign that Chevy did for their new Captiva in London.  Billed as the world's first "Scratch Car-d," the Captiva spent months being painted with the silver latex found on most scratch-off cards.  With the car parked in the middle of a Covent Garden street surrounded by 16,995 pennies, one could simply walk up to the car, grab a penny, and scratch a designated panel on the car.  The person who found the lucky panel was awarded the car.  There's no word on whether or not Chevy would pick up the tab for a new paint job.

Beer: The New Currency

They finally got the barter system right.  (More info at the New York Times)

The New Filtering System

A total disregard for decency or one of the single greatest marketing schemes ever created?  That's the debate raging through my head as I spend a little too long on the Dee's Nuts site. 

Here's the premise; all of Dee's Nuts are "cleavage-filtered" meaning that they "take a drive through the Valley before heading into the jar."  I hope you follow me.  Personally, I freak out when the plastic gloves on the woman mixing my salad at Hale & Hearty look like they've absorbed a little too much balsamic vinaigrette.  So I don't want to think about my food product touching any part of anyone before I consume it, even if it happens to be filtered through one of the greatest places on Earth.

But like all slightly perverted products, it'll definitely sell based on the gimmick alone.  After all, when was the last time you went to Hooter's for the food?

(Via YesButNoButYes)

Behold the oPhone!

Week of Webs

Where's my cape?  Where's my wisecracking sidekick?  And seriously, let's talk about snagging a cool cave/lair/hideout where I can monitor the city and protect it from villains.  After all, these are my tax-dollars at work.  Spider-Man 3 opens this weekend, and it's officially Spider-Man Week in New York City.

As it stands, I haven't seen a red-draped man climbing up my office building, nor a villain intent on taking over the city for his own maniacal reasons.  And with the huge chunk of cash that's ripped out of my paycheck to keep this city running, I'd like a little kick-back from this event.  I want to see a fight atop a subway car.  I want to see a man bungee through the Manhattan canyons, chasing evil-doers and saving the girl. 

According the the official listing of events for Spider-Man Week, it looks like the most action I'm going to get is a lecture on spiders from the American Museum of Natural History.  With events scheduled for the whole week, there really is something for everyone.  And while it's another inconvenience for those of us trying to get to work in the morning, as well as a handy cross-promotional tool for Sony Pictures and the New York City Tourism Board, it's all in good fun.  However, let's hope they don't re-brand the bases in Yankee Stadium.

A Hair-Raising Idea

So maybe i didn't win the Powerball lottery. And maybe I didn't do so hot on the NCAA Tournament pool (though I got $10 for finishing in last. Meanwhile in a friends pool, a friend of mine's hamster won the whole thing, but that's a completely different story for a completely different time). But if there's one thing that I know, it's American Idol. I've watched all 6 seasons of the show, which is water cooler talk in this office.

The show is a ratings monster, so if you can get any sort of plug (and your name is not Ford or Coca-Cola), then it's impressive. In this case, the product is Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the company took aim at Sanjaya Malakar, the contestant who likes to shape his hair in a variety of poses. KFC's proposition - shape his hair as a KFC bowl and win a free lifetime supply of KFC bowls.  In addition, KFC will cut a check in his name to Colonel's Scholars, a charity providing young people with college scholarships. This comes from KFC President Gregg Dedrick in an open letter on April 2.

Needless to say, it didn't happen, but KFC, which has had a history of attempting to woo Idol singers to endorse their product, once again put themselves on the map as people wondered what style Sanjaya would actually be wearing. And as we look towards next week, KFC, to continue their speculative marketing, can only hope that Sanjaya Malakar's chances of winning the show hasn't flown the coop. 

Blame Canada

Canada should celebrate April Fool's Day like they celebrate Thanksgiving- outside of the stringent holiday guidelines of the United States.  (Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October to coincide with their harvest, which occurs earlier than the United States'.)  Of course, March Fool's Day doesn't have the same ring to it.

I pride myself on not falling for the tricks played on April Fool's Day.  I'm always weary.  And yet, a Canadian company called lululemon pulled one over on me.  lululemon is a seller of yoga inspired technical outwear, and their store in Lincoln Square is very popular.  So I was shocked when I walked past on Saturday and noticed  brown paper covering the windows and large signs announcing the closing of the store.  They even had an article that looked like it had come from the New York Times explaining why they were closing.  People rushed into the store, hoping to find last minute deals and perhaps some further explanation as to why this gem was shutting down.

It turns out it was all a joke.  The article states that a made-up government agency was closing the store due to employees being too happy.  Fearing the spread of happiness, lululemon was being forced to shut their doors.  The article explained in amazing detail the outside activities the company promotes and supports their employees in. 

I was amazed at how smart and simple this marketing project was.  Not only did it increase interest in the company, but it did it in a smart, funny, and informative way. 

The Red Cross: Scaring the Piss Out of You Since 1863

I love Michael Bay movies if only because he makes things explode better than anyone. I'll watch as he destroys Grand Central Station, causeways over Biscayne Bay in Miami, and most of San Francisco, knowing I can go home and sleep comfortably in a much less chaotic world. 

The Bay Area Red Cross (no relation) has taken a chapter from Bay's book and created pictures of a destroyed San Francisco, blown them up to billboard size, and slapped them on the side of trucks, which just happen to park in front of the non-destroyed scenes they're depicting.  Each ad has a message urging citizens to create earthquake emergency plans and other safety precautions. 

Sigma Alpha Zune

Remember back in college when those frat guys said you should join their fraternity, even though the house was covered in dog hair, there may have been an illegal cock fighting ring operating out of the basement, and some guy named Dr. Tetrahydrocannabinol turned one room into a rain forest ?  Well, the marketing geniuses at Microsoft thought these would be the perfect guys to turn you onto their Zune music player.

Recently, Microsoft sponsored a fraternity party at the University of Pennsylvania and peppered the soirée with Zune propoganda posters.  In some ways, it was a smart move.  The college crowd would be the most likely to purchase a Zune, and the party generates buzz for a product with low name recognition.  The event produced great photo opportunities and placed the product in the hands of super consumers.  So everyone wins, except the guy who did the keg stand and wound up swimming naked in the Schuylkill.

Super Shows

Friends
The Simpsons
The X-Files
The Practice
Survivor: Australia
Malcolm in the Middle
3rd Rock From the Sun
The A-Team

What do these shows have in common?

They have all seen their popularity skyrocket after being viewed as the show after the Superbowl.

Arguably, the most popular sporting event of the year carries a huge viewership with it, which allows a greater set of eyeballs  to see what  the networks are offering. Hits that have premiered right after the Super Bowl include Airwolf, The Wonder Years, Homicide, Family Guy, American Dad, and yes, The A-Team.

Other shows, such as Survivor, the X-Files and Malcolm,  saw their popularity explode, as each show lasted at least 4 seasons after their episode was featured in the Super Bowl. The Friends episode was watched by over 52 million people (SMELLY CAT!) and lasted a good 8 years afterwards.

Let's even look at last year. According to Media Life Magazine, ' When ABC aired “Grey’s Anatomy” after last year's Super Bowl game, it proved a turning point for the medical drama. That episode held onto 42 percent of the game’s audience, the best post-game performance since 2001, when CBS premiered “Survivor II.”

Suddenly everyone was talking about “Grey’s" and the show, which had been building audience and increasing buzz, took off, its average in adults 18-49 growing 15 percent in the weeks after and going on to become a top-three show.'

Not every show has been a hit, though. In 2003, ABC plugged in Alias to try to restore the show. It failed, holding less than 20% of it's audience, and Sydney Bristow faded out less than 3 years later. Have you ever heard of The Good Life, Davis Rules, or Extreme? Not many people did either after those shows got yanked after a few months.

Now this year, the show that gets the limelight is...Criminal Minds. Will the show, which is getting a ratings surge, be the next big hit? CBS is betting on it.

By the way, I predict the Colts 35, Bears 17.

Mooninites Ate My Baby

Someone once told me, "During a gold rush, sell shovels."  In other words, sell a product that relates to the hype of another product.  (All those iPod accessories and peripherals come to mind.)  When that hype comes at the expense of the City of Boston, a few marketing execs at Turner, a fellow marketing company, and two guys with hair issues, it may be met with jeers and negativity.  And yet, the spirit of East Coast sarcasm carries on.

T-Shirts featuring a Mooninite, the same image on the lightboxes that caused a terror scare in Boston, and featuring the phrase "1-31-07 Never Forget" have already started popping up for sale around the internet.  Tasteless?  Probably.  Kitschy-funny?  Sort of.  Would I buy one if I hadn't just blown all of my money on the sheet music for the Theme from Baywatch?  Most definitely.

America wouldn't be America if we couldn't laugh at how serious we take ourselves sometimes.  If I were the creator of the shirts, I'd start selling them as fast as possible.  In a few weeks, no one will understand the reference.

Dancing on the Walls

To promote the release of their new operating system, Microsoft had people dancing on the walls ... literally.  Vista, which is scheduled to be released tomorrow, is Microsoft's newest version of Windows.  The GROUNDED Aerial Dance Theater danced on the side of a building on Manhattan's Westside to promote the new product.  This is just one of the many marketing and promotional campaigns surrounding the launch of the new system.  Included in the promotion is Show us Your Wow, which lets participants upload extraordinary photos or videos to the site with the chance to win prizes.

Mighty Fun From MINI

Why does it seem that MINI Cooper drivers are having the most fun?  Are the car's owners, generally, a fun and sugary-sweet demographic?  Or has the company figured out that, perhaps, getting a consumer to buy your product only gets you half-way?   However, keeping that customer with the potential to buy again and/or having them recommend their cars to a friend might be the key to success. 

If you're a MINI owner, it's time to get personal.  Like those notes your mother used to put in your lunchbox, MINI wants you to feel special.  You can now get customized messages on various MINI billboards throughout the country.  Simply fill out some information on their website and they'll send you an RFID keyfob.  When driving near the billboards, you'll be identified and a personalized message will appear on the screen.   There's no word yet on how the government will use this to track your movements, so if you're a spy or a member of the A-Team, you might want to avoid it. 

Popping the Questions

Your Pop-Tart knows more than the average breakfast pastry.  That scone you had yesterday?  It doesn't have the cognitive ability to sharpen the #2 pencil your Pop-Tart used to take the Mensa test.  That's right, it's Stephen Hawking, "Let's calculate quantum-gravity," smart.

Kellogg and Hasbro have teamed up to produce Pop-Tarts with Trivial Pursuit for Kids questions on them.  (Don't worry, the questions are placed on each tart's frosting with an edible ink.)  Adding to the trivia environment, the Pop-Tart boxes contain fun facts as well.  So your kids will finally have that nagging answer to how deep 20,000 leagues under the sea really is.  (60,000 miles)

Personally, I restrict the "expanding of my mind" to reading Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books and only on Arbor Day and bank holidays.  But the dual-promotion is a great partnership, especially if it averts your eyes from reading what's exactly in that delectable little breakfast sweet.

Bottle of White? Bottle of Rome?

I buy wine based on how well designed the label is and whether or not the box will fit in my fridge.  In other words, I'm not exactly a wine connoisseur.  But I know what tastes good, and I know that free wine usually tastes the best. 

A new wine is coming to an Italian restaurant near you and it's compliments of the folks at HBO.  Promoting their series Rome, the cabernet sauvignon (produced, strangely, in California and not Italy) is yours if the table you're sitting at has a card stating "A taste of 'Rome' awaits you, Ask server for details."  Each bottle is branded with the Rome logo and it's season premiere date. 

It's unobtrusive and highly effective marketing at it's best; reaching an excellent group of consumers without throwing it in your face.  (Unless you're date ends the way my last one did.) 

BuzzMW

Sometimes, the best way to generate buzz about a product is to confuse people.  Show them some random images or movies and let them speculate.  The "BMW Product" has started spreading its way across the internet, leaving plenty of gadget geeks bewildered as to its purpose. 

Scheduled to be released later this month, the device has been rumored to be an Mp3 player, a GPS, and a Mr. Fusion*.  Still, the prospect of BMW possibly launching products outside of their luxury sports cars is intriguing.  Stay tuned on this one. 

*OK, I think it's a Mr. Fusion. 

Little White Flakes

We didn't want to be the ones to break it to you.  But if not us, who?  We've established a trust these past few months and, quite honestly, we only want to help. 

That black sweater you bought which, in your words, is fierce when combined with those new shoes, makes for a great outfit.  We agree on that.  But your dandruff problem makes your shoulders look like a Colorado mountain pass five hours after a blizzard. 

These conversations don't have to be so awkward.  The gently-reassuring folks as Head and Shoulders have placed a camera on the ceiling of British photo-booths so those concerned about psoriasis can get a bird's-eye view of their noggin. 

A good secondary use is keeping track of that rapidly expanding bald spot. 

How to Market Knights

As if the premise of robbing a celebrity weren't enough, the marketing guru's at ABC have gone into overdrive to push their new comedy, The Knights of Prosperity.  The show, which revolves around several blue-collar workers' attempt to rob a celebrity, will premier on January 3rd. 

The network has started dropping thousands of wallets at locations in major markets to create buzz for the show.  Those who find the wallets will discover a Knights of Prosperity membership card and claim checks for a platinum watch, a jet, and a chopper (all fake) inside. Further, a note will drive the wallet holders to the show's site. 

Aside from the dropped wallets, street-teams are handing out Knights of Prosperity T-shirts, fake receipts with more than $30 million dollars worth of purchases, and a chance to grab cash in a money booth. 

Got Diesel Fumes?

The City of San Francisco needs to lighten-up their overly-stimulated olfactory senses.  What's better than the smell of freshly baked cookies?  Absolutely nothing.  Not even kittens playing with yarn or smiles on children's faces can compete.  The smell of cookies can prevent war AND fix the Ozone layer.  Which is why I'm amazed that the forward thinking city of San Francisco has removed the innovative "smell billboards" for the Got Milk? campaign from their bus stops.  (This is also the city that banned the environmentally friendly Segways from its sidewalks.)

The ads release what's called MagniScent into the air reminding bus riders that nothing goes better with cookies than a nice tall glass of milk. However, due to the chemical sensitivities of others, the Municipal Transportation Authority requested that they be taken down.  It looks like San Franciscans prefer the smell of diesel fumes and urine to the heart warming and mouth watering smell of cookies. 

It Takes "Guts"

Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, Diary) is known for unusual and shocking elements in his novels.  While on a speaking tour in 2004 promoting his book Diary, Palahniuk read a short story called "Guts" from his forthcoming novel Haunted.  The story was so grotesque and disturbing, it's been claimed that at least 60 people have fainted during it's retelling.  The faintings made headlines and readers lined up at the stores to get their hands on the now legendary book in an attempt to see if their constitutions could withstand the horrors described within.  (In a case of life imitating art, Palahniuk's earlier novel Lullaby creates a similar situation when a certain story is read to people.)

It has been said that members of Palahniuk's fan club, referred to as "The Cult," staged the faintings to add to the horror of the book.  Whether or not this is true, it drove word of mouth and increased the visibility of the novel.

It's beginning to look a lot like Starbucks ...

Starbucks is going all out for the holiday season. If you have eyes, you've seen the holiday-themed red and white cups, decorations, and even seasonal flavors that this coffee megabrand offers during the winter months.  To extend the reach of their brand from food and POS, Starbucks also has a couple of guerilla marketing tactics to bombard city-dwellers with good caffeinated cheer.

The first?  An effort that spans Denver, Washington, and Portland that consists of this:
 
If you see this car, stop the driver and alert him/her to the misplaced cup, and receive a free cup of coffee!

The second effort involves something called a Cheer Pass, a pass-it-along, trackable good deed promotion. The coffee company hopes that these internet-trackable cards will not only promote the Starbucks name, but also inspire people to make this season a little merrier.

'Coaster Shopping

Whatever happened to keeping your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times?

The Uniqlo experience

I'm a bit late to write this, but brands hoping to launch a new product in an already over-saturated market should take a few pages from the Uniqlo book on how to do it right. It started with a pop-up store to test the waters. Then 5 shipping container stores strategically scattered around the city, brilliant in that they could be transported on the back of a truck and simply unloaded. Finally, a couple weeks ago Uniqlo opened the doors of its 36,000 square-foot mega-retail store on Broadway. I went to check it out last weekend and man it's huge!

Take a look at the attention to detail of every single molecule of the Uniqlo brand, from the red-threaded binding and paper-stock of its free 'zine, to the T-shirt design project, to the website, to the store design by Wonderwall's Masamichi Katayama, famous for designing all the Bape stores. Okay. I won't comment on Bape as a label, but admit it, the stores are pretty impressively designed. And it's an incredibly strategic move to align the brand with good design, especially since in the UK and Japan, Uniqlo has the equivalent reputation of Old Navy or Gap. Check out the store and pick up one of the Uniqlo "Papers." It has $15 discount coupons, and some pretty great interviews with Glenn O'brien(TV Party), Kim Gordon(Sonic Youth), Masaharu Morimoto(Iron Chef) and Masamichi, the architect. Good read.

Jagshemash!

Full disclosure: from the second I saw the trailer for Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, I began counting the seconds until the movie premiered.  Thankfully, it's opening this week and my months of annoying backwards counting are about to come to an end.  And yet, the movie isn't "tracking" very well.  The reviews have been outstanding, some saying it's the funniest movie ever.  And yet, the buzz for the film has been such that the distribution company reduced it's theater count by 400 screens.  In fact, the Santa Clause 3, which I've been camping outside the theater for the past three months to see, is tracking better than Borat.   

How do you market a movie to people that the movie makes fun of?  It's a tough sell and it appears middle America ain't buying.  Borat, a film about an anti-semitic and misogynistic reporter with a limited grasp on the English language and even less of an understanding of the country's culture, illustrates just how idiotic we as Americans can be through juxtaposition.  In typical bipartisan American fashion, the movie is getting a lot of hype on the coasts, but the middle of the country isn't too familiar with it.  So how do you get noticed by that huge expanse between New York and California?  You go on the Today Show.  You make an appearance on Saturday Night Live. 

Sasha Baron Cohen, who plays Borat, has been popping up all over the airwaves in character, and even made a stop outside the White House, as the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was set to make an appearance there the next day.  The guerrilla tactics have paid off through news stories, but whether or not half of America will find Borat the funniest movie ever remains to be seen.   

Get Your Shave On

Ah to be shorn in public, is there a greater feeling?  Equal only to ice skating in Rockefeller Center when you don't really know how to skate, but your girlfriend insisted on it so you sucked it up and now 3,000 tourists are taking pictures of you falling on your face accompanied by the pointing and the laughing.  In other words, losing body hair in front of others is really putting yourself out there.  This didn't stop Mens-Groom from taking to the streets of Manhattan to teach us "partial-Neanderthals" the skills required for a well performed shave.

According to Promo Magazine, a truck will travel the streets of New York looking for men in need of a little facial-hair restructuring.  Women in tracksuits and robes will lure men into this truck of iniquity for some first hand knowledge of the Mens-Groom products and some tips from a stylist. After all, what man can resist temptation from women ... in tracksuits and robes?  The truck will be on the road until November 3rd, hitting Boston and Philadelphia as well.  I'd like to try this promotion out, but it's hard for me to grow facial hair and when I do it comes in patchy.

Will Direct for Food

You were a member of Monty Python and are now a famous movie director with a few notable awards on your mantle.  Your movies are known for their unique visual style and odd stories.  And when you approach a movie studio about releasing your newest project, a film called Tideland, they turn you down.  You decide you've had it with Hollywood and their cookie-cutter products and non-acceptance of independent films.   So you  take the fight to the street ... literally.

This is just what Terry Gilliam (Brazil, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys) did.  He approached the queue of people waiting to get into the Daily Show and asked for change to support independent filmmakers.  Sporting a cardboard sign (with Tideland's one sheet on the back) asking people to support a studio-less filmmaker with a wife and children to feed, Gilliam collected about $25.  The stunt not only brought attention to the release of his film, but also to the lack of support studios give low-budget and independent films. 

To watch Gilliam in action, click here.

Swear By It

Everyone knows that sex sells.  According to Sicap Industries, makers of Sinus Buster, so does the occasional expletive.  Radio ads from the company airing on the free-from-the-FCC satellite radio broadcaster Sirius featured the slogan "The best (expletive) that ever was ... Sinus Buster."  The ads aired during commercial breaks on the company's two Howard Stern channels. 

The National Association of Broadcasters, Radio and Records was quick to issue the soap in the mouth solution of condemning the ads, but by then it was too late.  Sales of sinus buster shot-up like a blast of hot pepper through the nostrils because of the spots and, well, the company is pretty (expletive) happy. 

This begs the question, is it worth the risk (and potential fines) to create a shocking ad that gets noticed and, more than likely, pulled quickly?  In Sicap's situation, it would appear so. 

Sci-Fi's Eureka!

While reading Engadget, I came across an advertisement for the Cryo Kennel, encouraging me to "deep freeze" my pet the next time I consider going on a long trip.  I don't have a pet, but I was excited.

The banner ad led me to the Made in Eureka site, where I learned about all sorts of other fun (and fake) products.  The TemporalVision Monitor is a television set that lets me see "yet-to-be-produced" shows, and the DVD Hologram Projector that can make 3d holograms out of regular films.

As it turns out, Eureka is a new show on the Sci-Fi channel, about a town full of scientific geniuses assembled by the government to do top secret research.  While you can’t buy a Cryo Kennel, you’ll be able to learn about the show, enter to win a Blu-ray™ player, and get psyched about the fun gadgets of the future!

Share the Air

Last Friday evening, we launched the new Panasonic Action Sports Site. The interactive site is a cool place for action sports enthusiasts to experience the Panasonic brand while expressing themselves creatively. The site features an Action Sports film contest, Dew Tour info, a gear section, and an Oxyride sweepstakes page.

Another highlight of the site, the photo blog, offers unique perspectives from action sports heroes Atiba Jefferson (photographer, editor of “The Skateboard Mag”), Sam Smyth (Team manager of Girl Skateboards), and Jimmie Mcguire (motocross athlete). The photos are, of course, taken with Panasonic digital cameras.

Ricola “Thanks a Million!” Promotion

Ricola, known for its herbal cough drops, recently launched a promotion that sponsored a cash prize of up to $1,000,000 for lucky people who spot a wandering “Ricola mystery cougher” and offer them a Ricola cough drop. By clicking online pushpins, you can read pop-up postcards of winners from around the country. This promotion was hugely successful, having won the gold “Reggie” for event marketing from the PMA. It incorporated a clue helper website, radio advertising, a game, a prize, and a big mystery. 

I was deeply touched by the Good Samaritan aspect of this campaign, especially since we all know kindness is contagious :) 

Entourage Stunts

HBO is pulling some interesting stunts to coincide with the new season of Entourage.
*  Read all about it
* Interview with Ari online at InterviewWithAri.com
* Create an entourage on MySpace, collect the largest entourage, and win cool prizes.

Blue faced Cingular Ad man

In this post, "Bad Guerrila is twice as annoying as Bad ads," Adland talks about the their encounter with a blue faced US cellular walking ad-man where his blue face and annoying habit to yap loudly on a mobile phone while in transit is paid off with "Talk Until You're Blue in the Face, with U.S. Cellular." written on his backpack.

Gareth Kay, Planner at Modernista, has also written numerous posts about the fallacy of cutting through the clutter by creating more clutter

Sony: $500 trade-in bonus for Dell notebooks

[Via Gizmodo]

In a bullying move to blatantly rip market share from under Michael Dell’s nose, Sony is offering a $500 trade-in bonus on [working] Dell notebooks as well as paying solution providers additional spin-offs. The offer obviously helps anyone who can’t afford Sony’s pricey Vaio laptops, which start at over $1000. But you better act fast, this is only good for the first quarter of this year!

Sony Offers $500 Trade-In Bonus On Dell Computers [Information Week]

Flickr Photobooth

While all the digital camera companies seem to be coming up with easier ways to print, my bet is on the company that figures out how to make it easier for people to share images online.

[From PSFK]

The Shine bar on Mission is San Francisco has installed a photobooth that sends photos directly to photo sharing site Flickr. It's turned out to be pretty popular as CNET reports

CNET Article
Pic Of Photobooth In Use (On Flickr of course)

Person of the Year

To build anticipation for Time Magazine's 2005 Person of the Year announcement, from now until December 18, your face could be flashing across the  Reuters electronic billboard in New York's Times Square. Anyone can achieve temporary fame by submitting a headshot via a special website. These images of normal, everyday people will appear individually on the billboard for a few seconds, sometime before the big announcement—right along with the rotating images of the famous leading nominees. Best of all, each fleeting moment of fame will be captured by a web cam and stored in a searchable archive on the site, allowing users to find, print and email their enlarged mugs starting December 8.

Custom Photo ATM Cards

[Via Josh Rubin]
Dutch bank Postbank now offers customers new custom photo ATM cards, called "de paskamer." By uploading a photo via the de paskamer website, customers can easily create a background of their choosing and will receive the card in about six working days. It appears the service is only offered in the Netherlands currently.

Similar services for checks are widely available in the U.S, so wouldn't be surprised if this appears here in the near future.

Vans X Portland Skateparks

[Via Coolhunting]

Local 35 is a two-year old Portland multi-use space that sells independent clothing lines and shows art. Their latest show, opening tonight from 7-10pm, fuses art and fashion, commissioning over 15 artists with customizing a pair of Vans to benefit Skaters for Portland Skateparks. Eric Railton, the man behind Akadia clothing, emblazoned his entry with a wolf (pictured) - the image that seems to be the current animal-of-choice among designers and also appears on one of the tees in his Fall/Winter line. Other participants include Eyeformtion and Brown Sound, and the show runs through the end of November.

Psssst ... Sony PSP campaign?

[AdFreak] In what appears to be a guerrilla marketing effort, chalk-like drawings of children holding or playing with large Sony PSP consoles have been popping up in a number of cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco, according to gamer site joystiq.com. And the Wooster Collective, a New York site dedicated to street art, has posted images currently appearing on Seventh Avenue scaffolding on its site, in addition to the one pictured here from Philly. Assuming this is an ad campaign, and not social commentary, it's the work of TBWA\Chiat\Day, which handles domestic advertising for Sony PlayStation. But while the Wooster Collective seems to like the effort, people commenting at joystiq.com gave it mixed reviews.

Zombies are coming!

DDB Colombia for Zinema Zombie Second Season/Bogota Museum of Modern Art, winner of the best event poster at the London International Awards.

The sleeping beauty (guerrilla style)

[Adverblog] A cool outdoor campaign in Barcelona by Match.com.
Copy says: "Don't wait for the love of your life. Find him on Match.com"