The Big Fat Marketing Blog

About 20 years ago, holography was supposed to be the next big thing. Every client explored it, trying to bring three-dimensionality to their print work. I remember visiting the Museum of Holography with one of our big clients fine-tuning the photography process so we could create life-like burgers on the menuboard. But the whole time I was thinking “what’s the big deal?”

Holography was–and still is–funky one-color imaging that only impressed you when you crained your neck just so, in the right light, at the right angle . . . and now in 2008 it’s still nothing more than a movie studio parlor trick. This came to mind a couple of weeks ago when I saw the new issue of Esquire, with the “revolutionary” digital cover. It features digital paper, or what they call e-ink. What sounded cool when it was described to me was underwhelming when I finally got my hands on one. It’s really not much more than fuzzy lenticular-looking assortment of still images, which gain their limited impact only when you crain your neck just so, in the right light, at the right angle. We’ve been waiting for technology to reach the printed page for so long, it seems like we’ll celebrate any little twist. But until somebody figures out how to capture light, sound and motion, it’s barely worth the effort.

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When I travel, I like to hit a ballgame. Major Leagues, minors, I don’t care. I think it’s a great way to learn about the city and it’s people. And it’s also a great place to buy a $10 beer and finagle a free t-shirt from a credit card company.

But when I’m at a ballgame, I don’t want a sales pitch. And I really don’t want to consider buying a timeshare. But if you go to a ballgame at AT&T Park in San Francisco, you’re going to get the pitch.

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Who are you going to be for Halloween this year?

According to information gathered from The Lycos 50, based on Internet search results the top 10 costumes so far this year are:

1) Batman

2) Indiana Jones

3) Joker

4) Iron Man

5) Hulk

6) Transformers

7) Hannah Montana

8 ) Sharpay

9) Love Guru

10) Hellboy

The results are based on Internet search terms and trends for the week ending Oct. 4, 2008.

Is it me or do these costume choices seem a little more “adult” than in the past? Especially when I think about the recent Batman and Iron Man movies, which are pretty violent. While Indiana Jones, Hannah Montana, Sharpay and Love Guru are innocent enough, the others are pretty dark and sinister.

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With due respect to Ruth Stevens, there are a couple of things that she failed to mention in her first-rate book on B2B conferences—“Trade Show and Event Marketing” (Thomson, 2005). It may be helpful to review them as we head to the DMA fall event in Vegas.

The first is don’t get drunk and throw up on a client. A certain amount of substance abuse is permissible, but you have to be professional about it. Don’t denounce the presidential candidates, don’t paw anyone and make sure you show up at the booth in the morning, no matter how hung over you are.

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Here and there around the Web…

Come on in. The water’s….fine? The Huffington Post reports on Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s comments at the American Magazine Conference that the Web may become a “cesspool of disinformation.” The solution? High quality journalism.

Green Christmas? If you plan on sending paper cards to spread holiday cheer to clients, you might want to read this article from U.K.-based BusinessGreen.com, which reports on the massive amount of greetings that will end up in rubbish bins.

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