One of the best and most cost effective ways of boosting record and ticket sales are through controversy, especially if you’re in a band.
Motley Crue received the best type of unsolicited publicity any band could ask for. Today, The Sault Star has reported that a city councilor wants to ban Motley Crue from playing a festival in the city of Sarnia on July 10, 2008. Link to original article. What really got under my skin was the fact that the Coun. Dave Boushy, man behind this discriminating idea, openly admitted that he knows nothing about the group and based his conclusions on an article about the band in a local paper promoting Bayfest. But I do have to give credit to other city officials for not being so narrow minded, and stopping the motion to ban Motley Crue in its tracks.
This little debate and controversy just gave the event a promotional boost and increased interest from the public. Ultimately resulting in increased ticket sales, records sales, and more traffic to the band’s website. The lesson here is that it’s in our basic human nature to seek things we cannot have. The more you deny us access, the more ways we’ll to fulfill our desires to rebel and seek things we want.
John Wanamaker once said:
“Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.”
In new Al Gore’s $300 Million climate awareness advertising and media campaign we finally get an answer to that Mr. Wanamaker’s statement. Both halves are wasted.
On April 1st 2008 Al Gore announced 300 Million Dollar consumer advocacy and advertising spanning for 3 years that will create awareness and educate the public about the effects of Global Warming and Climate Change.
I personally do care about the environment, and the issues we’re facing are clearly evident and are not being ignored, but this ad campaign must the biggest waste of advertising and marketing dollars. The $300,000,000 can be more wisely spent.
First and foremost, there is no guarantee that this will have any major impact on the general public. The public already ignores most of the ads. Second issue is the fact that this campaign will run only for 3 years. In order to have a meaningful impact and curb the environmental issues we’re facing today the project must last indefinitely.
If Mr. Gore is aspiring to be a leader in promoting issues associated with climate change, I think he’d be more effective if he led by example. Instead of burning through $300 Mil, the money could be spent more wisely on projects that would have lasting effects and higher ROI.
Try these:
• Build a solar farm
• Build a wind farm
• Clean up the lakes
• Invest into renewable energy research
• Provide tax rebates to homeowners that use alternative/renewable energy source
• Provide tax rebates to businesses that use alternative/renewable energy source
…this list can go on and on.
