My job hunt is over

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to meet with me or pass along a contact here in NYC. I’ve started a gig at The Concept Farm. And it’s a good thing or this poster might have started to appeal to me.

copyranter already has a post up on this sperm donor ad complete with comments from the manager.

I just want an excuse to say "polybag" 'cause it sounds dirty

I've managed to avoid Disney's High School Musical. But I do like how cleanly this bonus disc was attached to an issue of TV Guide. Looks much cooler than the usual polybag.

Ad Age's Madison and Vine has an article on innovations marketers are using to tap into this juggernaut. (subscription required)

Got bowls? Don't need em.

Saw this ad for Kellogg's Cereal Straws on a gallon of milk at my parents house.

I guess they figured the media placement is so good, they didn't need to do much with the creative.

More jetway ads

Had to fly home unexpectedly on Friday and saw more of the HSBC campaign at LaGuardia.


The simplicity of the different opinions is growing on me.

A copywriter's dream billboard

I hate when you come up with a bunch of good lines and only one ad gets produced. So how about an ad with multiple headlines?
I posted awhile ago about Mini’s LED boards. But only recently saw one.

Are people crazy about your brand?

Went to see Psycho last night at the Bryant Park Summer Film Festival.

Since the event is sponsored by HBO and Citi, they played a forgettable Citi commercial before the movie. Then this came on the screen:

People actually stood up and danced to this old HBO opening. And I couldn't help cheering along with the crowd.

Don't tease me eBay.

I was sitting in front of this windorphins ad on the train,

when I overheard a woman behind me say, "Why would they put up an ad telling you to look out the window?"
I guess she didn't get "it."

HBO says laughter is the best medicine

HBO has a fake storefront in Times Square with "packages" of shows and their side effects.

Put your money where your mouth is

Spotted this along Madison Ave.

There’s a little line along the bottom that says something about “a revolution in pharmaceutical advertising.” So of course, jointheuprising.org redirects you to a slick agency site.
I assumed from the placement that they’re trying to poach some creative talent.
A quick search turned up this story trumpeting the fact that TBWA/WorldHealth is using their own “Disruption” tactics to rebrand their agency LLNS as LyonHeart.
Here’s how the press release sums up the campaign, “a series of unbranded initiatives intended to drive clients, prospects, industry leaders and potential employees to a website. The agency purchased space on outdoor kiosks (outside of key clients’ and prospects’ offices in New York City), provided free papers wrapped in the launch story, placed client-directed magazine feature stories and sent viral emails to drive viewers to their site and explain the agency’s new mission.”

Jargon aside, it's an effective job of showing what they do.

Airport art and commerce

Flew to my sister's wedding last weekend and saw that HSBC made a smart buy on the jetways at LaGuardia.




Then we passed these cool sculptures after we landed at Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta.

Maybe

Leaving dinner the other night, a friend said to me, "Times Square is like the Mecca of your business."

Last pic from the road

Saw this the last time I filled up that beast of a moving truck.

I dig the illustration style, but I'm not sure why anyone would spend time at ALittleBetterGasStation.com.
Another nice url and there's something to be said for not overpromising. But why just a little better? Maybe because some link farm already staked a claim on ABetterGasStation.com.

The death of creativity

Who needs a clever headline? Or even an attractive typeface for that matter? All it takes to attract customers is a descriptive url.

Hard to argue with LowestFordPrices.com

Apple puree

I've already become dependent on my iPhone. But if you're sick of hearing about it, this should help:

Before everyone started abusing the term viral, the world had never heard of Blendtec. So Will It Blend? helps keep me a believer.

Time for a mystery I guess.

Saw this in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere. I don't remember what state we were in and have no idea what it means.

On another note, I stopped counting blank billboards after 30. That’s a lot of wasted impressions. Although I did include the dozen or so that Lamar had up advertising their own boards. You know, the ones that say things like "Does advertising work? Just did."

Someone should do a Burma shave style string of boards with all that extra inventory.

More sights from the road

We made a pit stop at Memphis’ oldest diner, the Arcade,

and saw this great piece by local artist Allison Furr-Lawyer at a gallery down the block.

I love art that plays with branding.

Unexpected details equal great service

The night before the last leg of our move, we stayed at the Four Points Sheraton at Niagara Falls.
The first surprise was getting upgraded to a gorgeous room on the top floor overlooking the falls. The second was the funny little captions hidden under the complimentary toiletries.

Hey La Quinta, what's Spanish for mistake?

We stayed at a La Quinta our first night on the road. It was fine for a cheap hotel, except for two things. First, the front desk gave us the key to a room that was already occupied. And this is how they still refer to the internet:

My girlfriend spent a summer studying in Mexico and finds La Quinta’s “Spanish for…” campaign slightly offensive.
I wonder if Hispanic people are insulted by it?

Play Madden on the big screen

In a recent story on Microsoft and EA's dynamic ad platform that will allow the ads you see in their video games to change, Adrants asked, "Can you imagine playing your favorite sport in the middle of Times Square?"
On Thursday night, at least two guys got to find out how it feels.

They stood on a raised platform in the middle of the street staring up at the giant screen playing their game live. Both of these Madden '08 players were wearing the jersey of their on-screen team.
I didn't have time to get closer to get the full scoop, but I assume they won a contest.

Aflac backlash

I bet Gilbert Gottfried hears this all the time:

t-shirt spotted for sale at a truck stop in Tennessee.

Punch it Mini

Sorry for the crummy shot through the windshield.
But I love the Star Wars reference, especially since I had the truck topped out at 64 mph at the time.

The newest New Yorker

We arrived safely last week and it’s been nothing but unpacking and interviewing since. I’ll post a few shots from the trip soon.

2227 miles and I only hit two things with this beast. Now that's a successful move.