Friday, August 15, 2008

Thank Gawd I found my cell phone!



The above photo was captured this morning with my cell phone camera. Normally, I don't find my cell phone until the day's over, but today, it was right there. It's a ritual - lose my cell phone, find my cellphone, lose it, find it, lose it, find it, lose it, buy another...

Anyway.

Poking fun at churches isn't my thing, but this billboard is too interesting to ignore. The headline, "Searching for something? Join us!" is either a regrettable mistake or bold admission.

Imagine walking into the sanctuary on Sunday morning, hundreds of heads turn over their shoulders to watch you pad down the aisle - furrowed brows and expressions of deep concern mask the faces of the faithful. You holler, "Have you found it yet?!" The congregation responds (in unison), "No! Join us!"

"Well, I'm just lookin' for my cell phone! Seen it?!" You holler back.

he he he.

I hope this headline gets discovered. And replaced.

ADDITION: Thanks to a sadvertising reader who wondered, "What happens if they find it?" Well now, that's a GOOD question! I would imagine they'll do what people usually do - start another church. Or a war. Or a conference. Or maybe the pastor will tell the congregation to "Shhhh! Let's keep it a secret!" and quietly take the billboard down. Then, refer everyone to the Unitarian Church down the street.

"Nothing to see here. Move along. There you go...keep moving..."

Thursday, August 14, 2008

An honest photo shoot.



The other day, we had a photoshoot for a restaurant chain. While we're setting up the first shot - a huge plate of sumptuous, tasty, yummy stuff - the client looks up at me and says, remember, the customer has to have a decent chance of getting what we're advertising.

Here's a big salute to our client for caring enough about its customers to ensure that they get what they pay for...and not a bunch of glossy-photo idealism that ultimately leaves a person more unsatisfied.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Old fuel - not that there's anything wrong with that.



The above graphic is a can of "Gay Fuel" - a failed energy-drink, targeted at the...well, Gay Community. As I'm not in the product's target market, news of "Gay Fuel" took a while to trickle down to me.

Gay Fuel was real. Gay Fuel also fell limp.

Though the specifics of why Gay Fuel sales couldn't perform aren't known, it appears that the creators made one of the few but key errors in naming - being TOO specific. The gay/lesbian/transgendered/?? "community" has been labeled since time began; why on earth would they want to walk around with a tacky can?!

"Hey. You must be gay."

"Why yes, I am! How could you tell?"

"You're drinking Gay Fuel!"

(looks at can.) "Why, yes! I am!"

"Now, you must be REALLY gay!"

"Now that I finally have fuel, I feel Gayer than EVER!"

Silly, really. Of course, no "sillier" than PIMP Juice.


(pause for wide eyed stare of horror)

Can you imagine what would have happened if someone would have combined the TWO?!? RUN. FOR. THE. HILLS!!



AND WHAT ABOUT RED BULL?!?!?!? AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!