As most are aware there was a small festival in battersea over the past weekend – the LG Freeze. The main draws for the event were a host of UK snowboarding and skiing talent competing in a big air competition (see adjoining video) and a music stage with performers including Sway, The Enemy, Reverend and the Makers and Iglu and Hartly.  Ubisoft were co-sponsors of the event and this afforded some of us here at BJKE free tickets.

A thoroughly good time was had by all, not least those in media. From a small straw poll we took on Friday and Saturday the general public were very impressed – a highlight was Cyprus Hill headlining on Saturday night.

The event also proved to be a great branding exercise for the upcoming Shaun White Snowboarding game release by Ubisoft. The trailer (complete with Xbox’s and Wii’s) was mega busy all day and had queues round the block at its peak (check out attached photo).

If you were there, what did you think?

Ubi Freeze from BJKE on Vimeo.

Last weekend I ventured out in Bury St Edmunds (Nr. Cambridge) with a few friends. We went to a bar to be told that only tables of 4 or less were allowed – there were 7 of us. After a bit of a fuss and a lot of  tutting we sat spread over 2 tables pushed together to make one big table but because technically we were sat in a group of 4 and 3 it was ok. This got me thinking about other totally pointless and ridiculous rules out there and the reasoning behind them.

Has anyone else ever came across a rule that makes no sense whatsoever?

One of the most annoying ‘pointless rules’  I have come across comes from the beloved Subway, normally I’m full of praise for the yummy sandwiches but when I was at university our local Subway turned their toaster off at 6pm, it would really infuriate me because it is a totally pointless rule – why can I have my sub toasted at 5.59pm and not at 6.01pm?  The only conclusion that I could think of was that maybe the authorised toaster operator finished his shift at 6pm?….

Team Chrysler and Adam are feeling a little sore today after a massive session last night. We really went for it, and as a result are bruised black and blue and absolutely exhausted.

Of course, I am talking about our outing with Haymarket to the Go-Karting.
Being relative novices, both myself and Louise managed to get bumped and bashed about on the circuit as we embarked on a monstrous two hour endurance race. Amongst some fierce competition from rival agencies, Hayley and Adam managed to hold their own and our teams finished in fifth and eleventh – pretty respectable really!

I also learnt that when boys say “Oh don’t worry, it won’t be competitive, I’m rubbish really” what they actually mean is “I’ve been practising for the last 6 months, I’m going to annihilate you and intentionally bump you so you drive into walls”.

Liars.

On Thursday October 16th Matt (the man pictured in the ‘Mud Mud Glorious Mud’ blog below) and I were invited to a play-list meeting at the newly re-branded Absolute Radio office.

The idea behind these meetings is to sit down with several other members of the Absolute radio company and listen to selected tracks decide if it is a ‘hit, ‘miss’, or ‘maybe.’  Naturally, Matt and I went above and beyond what was expected of us.  Prior to arriving at the studio Matt and I decided to make a list of songs we would like to hear on the radio.  Our playlist quickly developed into an 80s power hour of music.  Our list ranged from Foreigners’ ‘Juke Box Hero’ down to The Thompson Twins’ ‘Hold Me Now.’

Upon our arrival we met with several members of the Absolute Radio staff that worked behind the scenes and received a small tour of where broadcasts occur, small live session are held, and found a guitar case full of sweets (my favorite part).  In our meeting there were five people other than us who work throughout the building but not directly with the music. 

Before I continue I must mention that I whipped out my page completely covered in names of artistes and tracks and handed it over to Ben Jones (one of the DJ personalities) who enjoyed our list and was going to give it a look over…

This play-list meeting required listening to six tracks and deciding what we thought.  We would have a little background information on the band and also discuss amongst ourselves what we thought of the sound of the song and what part of the day you would prefer to hear it. 

Overall it was an enjoyable experience and a valid reason to get out of the office on a Thursday afternoon.  Absolute radio is really taking on their new ad campaign (with the midget/dwarf in the T.V. commercials) and trying to find new artists as well as playing songs from our favorite artists that might be a little less known.  My favorite part of Absolute is the 80’s hour from 10-11am as well as the ‘no repeat guarantee.’  Now my ears are listening to Absolute during the work day in hopes to hear some to the more obscure songs that were on my playlist…
What are you initial thoughts on Absolute Radios new ad campaign of ‘Discover Real Music?’

I prayed for a pony when I was a little girl. It never came. I prayed for a free holiday to Hawaii. It never came. I prayed (along with others) for Cheryl Cole to guest appear at our BJK&E Christmas party… it’s not looking likely. Is there no one up there looking out for me?! It’s enough to make a girl an Atheist for God’s sake (sorry!)

I just wish there was some other form of reassurance I could turn to. Well, come January, there will be, in the form of a controversial bus campaign around London Town. The Atheist Bus Campaign, launched yesterday, with a  target of raising £5,500 through donations on its site – this morning it had reached over £50k!  They intend to run 30 of CBS Outdoor’s buses across the capital for four weeks with the slogan: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” This will be the UK’s first ever atheist advertising campaign.

It all seems a little light-hearted, and by their own admission is intended to brighten everyone’s day on the way to work. But does it raise a more serious debate about mixing advertising and religion? Is an atheist advertising campaign more offensive than a religious one?

http://www.justgiving.com/atheistbus

After the recent public statement that I bear an unfortunate resemblance to Mick Jaggar, I wondered what other celebrity look-a-likes we have in our agency..

Have a scan of the pics and let us know your thoughts..

Angela Bustard for one is the spitting image of Scottish singer Amy Macdonald..

Maybe we should do a Stars in Your Eyes contest to raise money for Marie Curie?!

Ooooh a honky tonk woman lalalala

Upon reading the current issue of media week (14th October – ‘There’s no Excuse For Self-Abuse) I was shocked (and obviously amused) as to the topic and content of ‘Media Dilemma. I guess it goes to prove how relaxed this industry is, but do you think its appropriate or necessary content in a trade publication or is Media Week just trying to sensationalise working life and make their problem pages similar to those of trashy womens weeklies?!

Tuesday evening saw Team Triumph heading down to Cafe de Paris to look at a bunch of arses!

I’m not talking about the usual type of WAG Wannabees or dodgy blokes you might usually find frequenting these types of establishments, but real live bona fide bottoms!  Even better it was for work related purposes and everything!

This was the UK “show me your sloggi” competition, in which the winners not only won a Vespa but will go on to represent the UK in the international final in Paris, where they will be battling (bottoming?) it out against the finalists from 32 other countries to win the prestigious title of “best bottom in the world!” (plus some cash and potentially a modelling contract).

Needless to say a great time was had by all: We all got drunk.  I decided that if Media doesn’t work out for me then I could always pursue a career as a “bum expert” (yup such a job does exist), Tim got so excited by the bevvy of lovely ladies that his specs steamed up and the lovely Lou managed to get herself a date!  All in all a very successful evening.

Go to www.smys.sloggi.com for more details or see below…Which bum would you chose?

As the Credit-Crunch scare mongering machine continues to gather momentum, a plucky Kazuro Hirai (Sony Computer Entertainment) suggests that videogaming will ‘weather the storm’ *. 

Could it be true that this once fledgling industry [see Retrospective Futures Spring] has not only risen to leading entertainment giant with world record breaking sales** (GTA IV), but has actually become recession proof?  Is there no end to the meteoric rise in its popularity?  Certainly, highstreet retailer Game seem to think there’s a buoyant future ahead; having already seen half-year sales boosted 54%***.  And with rumoured shortages of Nintendo’s Wii (again) this Xmas one could easily be mistaken for thinking that gaming is realising a definite renaissance.

I guess it comes down to this – if living becomes more expensive as job security becomes less, would you not turn to an alternative form of social entertainment free of risk and expenditure?   Now consider that over the next 3 months gaming across the three main platforms (XBOX, PS3, Wii) will witness some of the greatest developments in modern gaming.  Mass user generated content (Little Big Planet), full voice-controlled gaming (EndWar), expansive open worlds and revolutionary map editors (FarCry2)… balance board snowboarding anyone (Shaun White)?

Rumours, often met with scoffs and disbelief, have already surfaced of next generation consoles and their ability to be played using just your mind!****   Nobody knows what the future holds but some thing’s are certain; Nintendo will continue to push the boundaries with their innovative product design, gaming will continue to evolve into our everyday lives with products able to help us cook, dance and even give up smoking, and core gaming will continue to spur debate between those who support it, and those who accuse it. 

Either way the future is very much in favour of gaming as it continues to dominate our spare time and share-of-wallet.   

Source:
*      http://www.mcvuk.com/news/32008/Hirai-Gaming-will-be-less-affected-by-credit-crunch
**    http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30484/GTA-IV-Biggest-entertainment-launch-of-all-time
***  http://news.icm.ac.uk/business/retail/grand-theft-auto-helps-boost-sales-54-at-game/545/
**** http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/mind-control-coming-to-ps3-xbox-and-wii-432822

Hey Guys, wanted to take a minute and bring to your attention the launch of a newly designed TV advert that played live yesterday evening. 

The advertiser is Nokia 7610, and the aim is to get people from watching the TV Ad to, switch to watching the complete drama online, Web 2.0. The Ad is set to run in 10 different languages, with a constant feed of content.  

The TV spot introduces three characters Anna, Jade and Luca, starting with intrigue about one of them having listened to another’s voicemail and sets the scene for how their lives might unfold.  Fans will be able to learn everything about the characters through their text messages, photos, videos and calls on somebodyelsesphone.com, as well as signing up to their Facebook pages to have a more personal conversation.
The micro-site is supported by mobile content, interactive partnerships, widgets, Facebook pages, banner ads and a number of events in association with partners including Parisian boutique Colette.

This to me has always been what TV adverts should have been doing, using all platforms available to them, engaging their viewers with an initial taster of what is yet to come and grabbing viewers initial interest. Running a story across platforms, all areas of the mediums, and making sure that the rest of the story is available in full form online, building the buzz and most powerful ‘word of mouth’ on the street or maybe in the office. That then spurs unified action. To watch, engage and then hopefully react. With the end result, creating a loyal fan base, mini episodes of watchable content, that everyone is talking about?

Take the old Nescafe, BT couple, Daz  (that really is giving true meaning to the word Soap Opera) … building up traffic across all platforms, and showing TV is still a very powerful medium, in getting user numbers online, and then once there using a consortium of viral tools to engage the user more.

Anyways let’s see how successful this advert format is with the public… To be continued….