Searchlights

Over the past few weeks, observant Peepers no doubt have spotted the “Searchlights” screen grab we’ve placed at the top of the right-hand rail of this site.    Here’s some context.

“Searchlights” is the first episode in our “Get Creative” series of Fast Horse branded vignettes.  We’re trying to have little fun while bringing people into our proposition.  Our sweetspot is the intersection of creativity and non-traditional marketing.  We know that big ideas can trump big marketing budgets, and our clients typically turn to us to help them navigate the waters that lie beyond the 60-second TV spot and glossy print ads.

The “Searchlights” vignette was inspired by the gentleman’s club up the street.  Minds out of the gutters, dear Peepers!  I’m not talking about THAT kind of inspiration.  What did inspire us is the notion that the proprietors of this club seem to spend their entire annual advertising budget on that staple of traditional marketing — searchlights.  They have for years.  Clearly their target audience is rather moth-like.

Who are these people who are taken in by searchlights, giant inflatable gorillas, neon sandwich boards, balloon clusters, those giant figures that flap around crazily as air is forced through them, urinal advertising and dancing cowboy banner ads?

Fess up.  Is it you?


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  • http://www.chrisgallevodesign.com Chris

    Yep, it’s me and most people I think. Don’t forget the guys dressed up as giant Corona bottles, booth babes or any signs with the word FREE in it. It’s all a set-up to get our attention in the quickest way possible no matter how ridiculous it is. Now if the payoff, whatever it is the thing’s trying to sell, is worthwhile then it’s a win for everybody. You’ll gain even more attention if someone with a camera phone ends up putting it on YouTube and/or Twitter. Just hope it’s preceded by “Hey, check this out, it’s super awesome!” and not “Hey, check this out, it’s super lame!”. As for the searchlights, throw in FREE lunch buffets and you guys will be unstoppable!

  • http://www.fasthorseinc.com Mike Keliher

    We don’t have a free lunch buffet, but we do have a lot of candy. Is that close enough?

  • rachel

    flappy guys: the flappy guys catch my eye because they are hilarious and ridiculous, but they don’t get me in the store. Just give me a laugh!

  • http://www.chrisgallevodesign.com Chris Gallevo

    A giant sign that says FREE CANDY works, too but combining that with the spotlights and your location in the Warehouse District might draw the attention of local law enforcement as well :)