I’ve seen the future of humor and it’s no laughing matter. Statistics show that humor in advertising works. It has been proven to be one of the best techniques to create an emotional attachment with an audience. And it works if you want to sell more products or services. I could site numerous case studies on this, but that would be like explaining a joke. Look no further than Virginia-based Geico‘s success (made by our friends down the street at the Martin Agency) if you want proof that satirical humor works. #BringBackTheCaveman
Long before Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” ads and the Flinstone’s hawked Busch Beer, Milton “Uncle Milty” Berle donned a dress for Texaco. But the amount of humor-inspired ads are on the decline. Today, only 18% of TV ads and 29% of radio ads use humor and 10 years ago those numbers were significantly higher – 24% and 35% respectively. Why?
Booking comedians on college campuses used to be BIG business, but many of the nation’s best comedians don’t play colleges anymore, according to NACA – the National Association of Campus Activities) Comic heavyweights like Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld say it’s because younger people are too “politically correct” and they are offended by satire. The average age of a comedy club attendee has increased from 28 to 38 over the last decade and so has their income level — which is good news for the clubs, but bad news for the future of funny. So Gen X and Boomers respond well to satirical humor, but what about the next generation? Are we losing our sense of humor?
Email me what you think. Bonus points for the best one-liner.
Monday, July 10: Something Good On The Horizon
On Monday we hosted a great meeting with our friends from New Horizon Bank. We really enjoyed working with their great team over the past few month and pleased we could deliver some great marketing and PR ideas for them.
Tuesday, July 11: A Bold New Brand For Richmond Raceway
Tuesday was big, bold day. At a 9:00 a.m. presser at “the action track,” Richmond International Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier – joined by Governor Terry McAuliffeand International Speedway Corp CEO Lisa France Kennedy – announced their new name and brand, Richmond Raceway. We were extremely proud to be the agency who created this work, and humbled by the kind words from Dennis and his team.
Wednesday, July 12: Things Were Heating Up Wednesday
On Wednesday Marketing & Partnerships Coordinator Sophie Fisher went to the monthly Chesterfield Chamber luncheon, where hizzoner Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney wowed the crowd.
Meanwhile Sr. Account Manager Kaitlin Riddle and Communications Manager Kent Brockwell were meeting with Stoney’s Police Chief Alfred Durham and his team at RPD. They had a very productive meeting about an exciting new crimefighting project we are working on for Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General. #advertisingforgood
Wednesday night’s Bold Bash! was smokin’ hot…literally. Over 100 friends, clients and media-types braved the nearly 100-degree rooftop temperature at Quirk Hotel and joined us for cold cocktails, a cool view of the city and a lukewarm $315 fruit plate.
Check out the fun photos by our talented intern Amber Parker.
Thursday, July 13: Beat The Heat And Save
With high temps on everyone’s radar, we released another series of web ads for Virginia Energy Sense, designed to help Virginians save energy and $ on the power bills.
Friday, July 14: Cooking With Wine
Account Manager Meredith Mason is going to New Kent Winery tonight for a cooking class with Todd Butler, from Butler’s Catering. I hear they will be cooking with wine. #smartpeople
Me? I’ll be sipping a nice chilled glass of New Kent Chardonnay and cooking dinner for the kids or taking the kids out to eat for 5th night in a row. My bride Sue left this week for a loooong visit to her native Isle of Man. If you’ve never heard of the Isle of Man, it’s a beautiful little place, once described as “80,000 geriatric alcoholics, clinging to a rock in the North Irish Sea.” You should Google it.
“Don’t tell my mother I work in an advertising agency – she thinks I play piano in a whorehouse.” – Jacques Seguela