Saturday, November 18, 2006

TARGET, SALLY & BLAINE

David's at it again.

Magician David Blaine, in his latest stunt, plans to be shackled to a spinning gyroscope suspended very high above Times Square. He will be secured in a three-ringed gyroscope spinning continuously in all directions. I believe this is to take place next week Tuesday until Friday ... unless he escapes earlier.

There are stories around that when Houdini did some of his underwater escapes he used to sneak out, go home for a cup of tea (or glass of something) and then go back for the public escape. I don't know about that, but it's an interestuing concept about making things seem more difficult and therefore spectacular than they actually are.

However, no chance of Blaine doing that ... it's an open 'cage', visible to all.

Minneapolis-based retailer Target have challenged him to escape by Friday, and if he does, they have invited 100 families, selected by The Salvation Army, to go on a $500 shopping spree (each) in their stores. The event will kick off Target's two-day Thanksgiving sale beginning on what has come to be known as "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving and the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Pretty cheap way to get all that publicity and 'feel good' factor it will generate. You can't buy those column inches for that kind of money.

Here's an extract from Target's Press release:

David Blaine and John Remington, VP of Events Marketing and
Communications for Target will meet the press on Friday,
November 17 to take the wraps off of Blaine's new challenge.

SUMMARY:
* The day after Thanksgiving is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Only a stunt on the world's biggest stage is spectacular enough to kick off the Target 2-Day Sale.
* Target has partnered with The Salvation Army to specially
select 100 deserving children who will benefit from Blaine's
successful completion of this challenge.

Blaine says that he has accepted this challenge as a way to give back to The Salvation Army, an organization that had memorable impact on him as a child. I wonder why Target are doing it! It did make me think: "IS that ALL?". Am I being cynical here? All THAT and only 100 children? Imagine the sheer cost of the event. The man--power, the time investment, the insurance premiums ... but perhaps thats nothing compared to the goodwill press The Salvation Army will get. Or will Target be the real benefactors?

You can read more about it here:
http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Abroad/0,,2-1225-1243_2032342,00.html
and here http://in.news.yahoo.com/061117/137/69h9x.html and no doubt everywhere.

OK, we don't have to do stuff like that to get attention or to "give back" do we? But have you asked yourself what you can do? What 'stunt' can you pull? What partner can you team up with? What action can you take that would get the attention of your target market, perhaps get some media attention, but of course, be aligned with all you stand for!? Is there a serious cause that you can team up with who could benefit from a campaign you could produce? Perhaps on a local scale? Or go for the world stage too. If you need some tricks of the trade, let me know.

For now ....

John Gordon
The Infotainer
http://www.theinfotainer.com/
http://www.show-stoppers.co.uk/