Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

A similar ad is presently being run on tv to promote new eye glasses - and it is rather cute. The one that comes to mind is the man who has poured dog food rather than charcoal into his grill. There is at least one more but it escapes me right now.

Sleep deprivation brings less humorous things to mind such as falling asleep while driving. However, I do remember an email that went around a few years ago that listed "excuses" if you were caught asleep at your desk. Will have to think about that and see if I can "resurrect" any.

Good Luck!

CVN

Walking outside without clothes (I see blurs in the "right" places!)... head bobbing during a meeting...

Sleep Deprived Scenarios...

1/ man walking into closet putting on clothes, but finds out he has walked into his wife's closet and is putting on her dress/blouse.

2/ man talking in background and is about to tell his girlfriend that he wants to marry her. Close up of woman shows she is so tired so doesn't comprehend he has just proposed.

3/ Woman is part of an orchestra but all of her notes are off key (too slow behind the rest of the orchestra)

You could have a lot of fun with that.

After misfeeding the cat, you put him in the car seat and try to drop it off at daycare. (have the lady yell to hubbi-- I can take Suzy to daycare-- so people don't freak that your leaving the child home alone)

Then at work you overflow your coffee mug, just staring ahead.

Then the boss asks, "why is the Johnson contract in the refrigerator?"

You go to lunch and walk into the drycleaner asking for a Big Mac.

You leave work and try your keys in the wrong car-- some guy charges out telling you to stay away from his car.

Then you're back serve the whole family kibble for dinner. (I like the full circle) And the cat got the chicken.

Then you give the cat a bath (comeon Suzy you love baths) and put the husband out. (Think Fred Flintstone)

Curl up with the kid and say "goodnight honey-- boy I've been so tired today"

2nd thought-- do the whole thing around that Fred Flintstone intro-- the real story -- the cat didn't put Fred out, Wilma, sleep deprived did.

Depending on the budget-- taking scenes from --as in Karen's Chandler example or mine-- the real Flinstone story (and paying for rights to use) would go far-- as people already know these scenes. You'd get an immediate connection. You could pull things from so many established shows/icons. 3 Stooges were always falling asleep and getting in trouble. Go back further and research Charlie Chaplin. There comes a point where the image becomes "public", like stock art. It depends on who protects the image. Maybe find a classic in your price range.

It certainly would be different and hip.

There is a chiropractor in my area (small town) that has a huge billboard using the classic Peanuts comic, Lucy taking the football from Charlie Brown and the tagline "Look like you need Dr. Whatever". I have never asked him the associated costs with that image, but he's a small biz so unless he's Charles Schultz's grandson, it must have been attainable-- the image grabs and you make an immediate association.

Also - instead of showing the negative effects of lack of sleep, show the positive benefit of sleep (incredible dreams, that are more vivid, interesting, and empowering than the person's daily life).

Okay, found the excuses for sleeping at your desk - maybe one of these will trigger an idea (you got some good ones here already!)

Good Luck!

CVN

14 Best Excuses If You Get Caught Sleeping At Your Desk

1. “They told me at the blood bank this might happen.”

2. “This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in the last time management course you sent me to.”

3. “Whew! Guess I left the top off the liquid paper”

4. “I wasn’t sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm!”

5. “This is one of the seven habits of highly effective people !”

6. “I was testing the keyboard for drool resistance”

7. “Actually doing a “Stress Level Elimination Exercise Plan” (SLEEP) you learned at the last mandatory seminar your boss made you attend.

8. “I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Are you discriminatory towards people who practice Yoga?”

9. “Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem.”

10. “The coffee machine is broke….”

11. “Someone must’ve put decaf in the wrong pot.”

12. “Boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won’t wear off!”

13. “Ah, the unique and unpredictable circadian rhythms of the workaholic!”

14. “Wasn’t sleeping. Was trying to pick up contact lens without hands.”

Having a 18-yr old adopted son whose pretty much has been sleep deprived since the night he arrived at 3, I (and his teachers) have seen the zone-out effect all the time--it can lead to some hilarious, if not completely frustrating, moments for those of us who have to deal with the open-mouth, not-quite-with-it attention span, etc.

You've got some awesome suggestions from these folks--best of luck

jag
MarketBase