It is manna to anyone with a creative bent and a sense of curiosity and invention – of looking at things differently.

During his career as a newspaper cartoonist – his legacy was his ‘invention cartoons’ where he looked at inventing incredibly elborate machine inventions to perform simple tasks such as pencil sharpening, or washing windows, avoiding bill collectors, peeling apples, putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. He was about creative problem solving in unconventional ways and having a lot of fun in the process .

Since his passing in 1970, his creative approach has continued to be celebrated in the form of his postcard format book called the “Rube Goldberg’s Inventions”.

IN essence these inventions over engineer very simple tasks in a very very complex fashion and usually features a series of chain reactions.

The Perdue Univeristy, Indiana USA, started the annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) in 1987 and the results have been creatively intriguing and always entertaining in terms of human ingenuity. The name of the game is to solve a problem in the MOST CONVOLUTED AND COMPLICATED MANNER POSSIBLE.

Now when you to take this Goldberg approach and mesh it with a very creative and quirky musical group OK GO – the result is a masterful visual and audible event. Memorable and fun.

OK Go’s song This Too Shall Pass” and it’s Rube Goldberged all the way. Enjoy.

Hope you enjoyed that as much as we did.

Of course this is not the first time this musical group have delivered on a memorable video clip experience.

A previous music clip, very very simple in execution and concept, was superbly delivered on the back of some fabulous choregraphy using treadmills. The clip is called “Here It Goes Again”.

Just fabulous… Rube Goldberg and OK Go… fantastic. The applications within the special event environment in terms of team building, in regards to stage showcraft, out-of-the-box thinking and creative innovation is wide ranging and excites the heck out of the FACTOR168 team and never fails to recharge our mojo.

Now for some Goldberg trivia.

Some Goldberg trivia – Rube Goldberg’s machine inventions were the inspiration for the much loved classic board game “Mouse Trap“. Compare his artwork, compare the board game… yeah, you can see it too huh?

PLUS in 1931 the Merriam-Webster dictionary adopted the word “Rube Goldberg” as an adjective defined as accomplishing something simple through complex means.

Source Notes: More on the creative world of Rube Goldberg and for more music got to OK GO.

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Ok we’re being cheeky buggers… we mean their website.

The screen shot below is what was presented to us when we were undertaking some research for a client of ours wanting to stage a beauty/fashion pagent in Sanya, Hainan (China).  The irony was not lost on us…

The official event website for plastic surgery gals (and I guess guys although we couldn’t see any) was being refreshed…. given a facelift and most importantly the site was being ‘vigorously’ worked on to completely ‘renew’ itself. Wow. Step back! These Hungarians are very serious about their plastics business.

If your in anyway curious as to the results – the site is now back up and running and can be found here.

1 a : a mere show : pretense b : an ostentatious display
2 : show, exhibition; especially : an elaborate colorful exhibition or spectacle often with music that consists of a series of tableaux, of a loosely unified drama, or of a procession usually with floats

It sounds like a fabulous Gala Dinner Event in the making!

Source Note: The little picture at the top of this post was sourced from here and is the 2007 Miss International Beauty Pagent. You can now stop wondering on that one.

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Oh and still on Ducks – by popular demand, we’ve been asked by many… okay specifically Todd the barista not batista down at the corner cafe with his feedback (analogue style… he spoke to us in person) on the Muse  – we present a classic Duck moment.

Join us fellow Gen Y’ers, Babyboomers, and the X tribe as we trip down memory lane… or in this case memory ’street’ as Ernie and his rubbery best pal celebrate their special friendship.

Enjoy. And then yes you can return to the destructive force that is Duckzilla! Bwwaahahaha!

Ernie courtesy of Sesame Street.

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I understand there is some Gridiron football involved and apparently today the New Orlean’s Saints had a famous win… but for the rest of the western world, the superbowl is all about the sideshow event – commercials.

This year was not any different and the Forbes website have been kind enough to provide a digital selection of some of these television advertising commercials for you to review, consider, muse upon and hopefully enjoy. Oh, and buy their stuff!

Which ad worked best for you?

And importantly which ad worked best for the company commissioning it.

We think the E*Trade one wins hands down. The ‘wolfie’ online brought a smile to our face and the line about his airplane travelling pal dancing style being described as… ‘haunting’ made us laugh out loud. Instant classics.

The Doritos ad with the nimble dog venting vengence ran a relatively close second. Hmmm… man… there’s so many people I’d love to collar and bark at… jus’ sharin’.

The not-so-great ads? There were a number.

Keep an eye out for the Dr Pepper Cherry flavoured soft drink (’soda’ in American-speak). It wasn’t the worst but it was far from good. Even with Gene Simmons from Kiss in it… or because of it – it was just plain lame. Pity.

Anyhoo, feel free to check out the superbowl 2010 ad’s below and see what you think.

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Celebrity New York wedding planner David Tutera has found himself in a spot of PR bother. A number of newswire reports claim he took more than AUD$224,000 from a Singapore couple in return for his creative expertise but didn’t actually show up at the event.

In fact – it is further claimed that he sabotaged the wedding by instructing vendors not to fulfill contractual obligations.

“There is no more money,” the dad supposedly said. “Don’t get on the plane.” “Tutera did as advised,” said spokeswoman Eda Kalkay. “He looks forward to clearing up this matter in court.”

Hmmmm. There seems to be more to this that what is being reported but we are not surprised – one potential Bridezilla and one celebrity TV star who seems to spend an awful lot of his expertise centered on floral arrangements, crockery and flatware…. tears were bound to happen.

It does strike me as odd that someone would spend a coupla’ hundred grand and a couple of pair of business class New York to Singapore tickets for a wedding planner to provide – a bridal bouquet, tablecloths, a dance floor or a VIP table.

He’s well regarded by many – although the Singapore couple described the reality TV star as being “despicable” and “arrogant” when planning the high-priced wedding. So now they’ll all get together in a  New York court.

We haven’t sighted them but apparently the photos of the wedding show the couple beaming on their big day and reveal that, despite Tutera’s absence, the couple managed to come up with a bridal bouquet, a dance floor and towering centerpieces. Bless!

Although the reception for some reason was bathed in purple light… but apparently that was on purpose…

And for those not familiar with David Tutera – enjoy some snippets of him in action.

So there you have it. A montage snapshot of the world of David Tutera in action.

Look, if you really must get some more David, then he’d be delighted to sell you one of his massive coffee table styled books with glossy pictures of ….floral arrangements… and other floral things.. arranged….  at his website which can be found over here.

In closing off this post, I implore anyone commissioning an event – be it personal or corporate, always consider a professional event service provider. If you don’t know of one, check out outfits such as the International Special Events Society of which FACTOR168  is a long standing member.

Sources: An Australian report here and a USA report is here.

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In a short number of weeks we will have said goodbye to the Year of the Ox and will welcome the Year of the significantly cooler Tiger. Grrrrrrrowl.

So with that in mind, we simply couldn’t resist sharing this festive image produced by the talented artisians within the Hong Kong office following Germanic ‘enigneering’ input.

Sure it is odd. But I kinda like it. It strikes a really nice balance – adhering to the organizations CI expectations while still injecting a strong sense of fun and energy. Memorable.

We have a great deal of affection for this East-West fusion company and how it arm wrestles with it’s cultural dual identity.

And on that note – we wish one and all a Happy Chinese New Year!

Image courtesy of Uniplan and their annual email blastout.

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Rubber Ducky, you’re the one,
You make bathtime lots of fun,
Rubber Ducky, I’m awfully fond of you;
(Woo woo be doo)

Seriously who doesn’t like Rubber Ducks.

In fact according to some – Rubber Ducks and Fundraising Events are a perfect match!

If you’re looking for a great charity fundraising idea, then organising a rubber duck race for a charity fund raising event is the perfect idea! A rubber duck race is easy to set up, wholesale rubber ducks are quite cheap to buy and you can make a good profit for your charity. People love watching rubber ducks float down a river or stream and are generally only too happy to sponsor a rubber duck to help raise money for your charity. There are plenty of great charity fundraising ideas out there, but we think that a rubber duck race can be a unique and fun event for all.

This blurb was taken from a UK outfit that sells wholesale Rubber Ducks. it just goes to show that there is always someone out there happy to sell something….

To me plain yellow is a tad meh’ – if you want to make a ’splash’ (LOL) at your fundraising event, consider ducks branded with your company logo or designer ducks.

Ok ok, so we got the ducky-vibe going on but what else for the rubber duck…

Wellstrap yourselves in, check your reality at the door and launch yourself into Rampant Duck Madness that is Rubber Duckzilla.

Lotta fun that. Also love the cool tag - ‘for people who don’t like drinking water’.

Yeah, I have admit it, I’d try an Oasis beverage based on this strange advertising event.

Imagine a fundraising event stormed by a RubberDuckzilla! Pocket ‘emptyingly’ Cool!

I also like that fact that you can extend this RubberDuckZilla event experience in the form of some equally strange online flash games  http://www.rubberduckzilla.com/

Rubberduckzilla was brought to you by The Coca-Cola Company.

Yeah, we don’t know why either but we suspect someone got fired over it … or promoted… but be rest assured, something would have happened for sure. You can’t create rubberduckzilla online flash games and not expect something to happen. It’s like a butterfly flapping it’s wings and ka-bammbee! We got tsunami for dinner.

Look having said all that – my post today is all about giving some consideration to ducks within your event desing. They are proven winners when used within fundraising events and can be suprisingly effective as prizes and props during team building exercises where guests need to get all their proverbial ducks in a row.

Anyhoo, some other helpful linkagery for you -

Rubber Ducky lyrics courtesy of Squidoo

The Logo Duck is brought to you by… Dell I guess via LogoDucks.

The funky looking designer duck can be purchased at a number of placed including Giftmonger.

Editor:  Arrr Greg mate, that’s a lotta outbound linkage we got right there. I can already hear our SEO expert fellow weaping and muttering inbound links people… inbound! But you know what, I am guessing you don’t give a proverbial ‘duck’ about that. Still, ducks are kinda cool…

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Almost everyone else, certainly all my peers,  saw it as witty and funny and just plain smart viral marketing in action.

What do you think?

Does this seriously promote and celebrate negative practices or is it yet another victim of political correctness run rampant… and do you think the makers of this clip kinda knew it would attract a consumer and media firestorm around it and banked on the upside of drawing more eyes to Air NZ as good thing regardless of how it is achieved.

* Just a quick clarification for those that have been living under a rock and don’t actually know what a ‘cougar’ refers to. It is often employed to describe a sexually active woman in her 40’s who are so desperate for affection and the pursuit of robust sexual encounters that they tend to target young often inexperienced men in bars and clubs.

And this is what this clip is sending up with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Cougars stalking their younger prey. Anyway enough of that – check out the video and be prepared to enjoy it… or be offended… or perhaps both in equal measure.

Look I am sorry but personally I thought that was just brilliant.

Is it PC? No of course not. Offensive? Not to me.

I can see similar on mainstream media during primetime. Just not as amusing.

The American ABC network is airing a popular show based on this very phenomena. With that in mind, I kinda figure the notion of “Cougars” has firmly sidestepped PCness and been accepted by mainstream community social mores.

The show is called ”Cougar Town” and stars the very cute blue-eyed brunette Courtney Cox, previously of ‘Friends’ fame’, as she stalks her younger toy-boyish prey. Check out episodes from the official website here.

Look in all seriousness I think Air NZ deserves a big gold star for cutting through all the competing media clutter with a storng dose of humour and has achieved their marketing objective of elevating their brand profile amongst social media savvy consumers at little cost and in doing so also produced a moment that can withstand repeated viewings.

Big tick to Air NZ. In fact in a very backhanded compliment manner – it is very ‘Virigin’ of them in many ways.

Some source credits -

The little postit image at the top of the post advertises a show from Donna Moore.

The clip is courtesy of Youtube (but I suspect Air Nz had a huge hand in it).

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His advertisements for this chocolate bar with the wafer innards really spoke to us… he engaged and his message resonated like all good branded experiences. And it was smart and funny in a very understated English way.

Check the video clip of his TVC to see exactly what we are banging on about and then brew up a nice cuppa english breakfast tea and crack a Kit Kat or two. Then take a deep breath and thank your lucky stars your not a burnt out single-goal-driven Salmon. Not so far anyway.

On a slightly more serious note, you should always try to feature more fish in your weekly diet. I’ve been reliably informed by the health food store lady that Omega 3’s (sadly not code for a super small Dennis Quaid looking spaceman travelling around in your body) found in fish oil is meant to be fabulous for your brains and your bloods and so on. Cool. Anything that gives us an improved edge on the design and delivery of great event experiences that is legal and good for the heart can’t be all bad.

It should be said however that while writing about this – I have not eaten any fish or taken any fish oil capsules. I have however managed to polish off yet another Kit Kat… and in fact on passing glance, it also looks like the little line drawing of the Salmon at the top of this post has also developed a hankering for Kit Kats. Oh dear.

OK from tomorrow it’s fish for lunch for the entire events team!

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The good news is that we have been busy collecting all sorts of cool things and amazing event experiences to share with you and we’ll look at posting this into 2010 along with other things that take our fancy and we think you may take delight in.

And since I am the first to post in 2010 – here is a little randomness for you. A cool image of a brave Ewok warrior challenging the might and fury that is the gigantor Squirrel – all at grim and gritty pavement level. I can just see the SciFi and NatGeo channels launching themselves into a battle for event coverage of this epic battle.

Impressive and inspirational for sure and I think there’s is something in this for everyone.

This image is courtesy of ‘powerpig’ who has some fabulously fun imagery on his flikr profile. Make your day and have a look at the photostream. Oh and it kinda goes without saying – LucasFilms owns the Ewok.

To all fellow Ewok Event Warriors – do not fear but embrace the esteemed Brotherhood of Squirrel and have a fabulous 2010!

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This is a personal favorite from the current featured gallery.

If that doesn’t stoke the creative embers into a roaring fire of creativity nothing will.

Okay, got the creative fires roaring but from a live communication perspective how would this work. Good question.

Answer – many different ways.  We’ve employed similar artist-at-work techniques within public event spaces and have found it to be very impactful. The scope here is broad, from chalk on footpath artists, painters at easels, tagging spray painters to sculpturers. All on brand.

People really enjoy watching and participating in the creative process at work and this is particularly the case for corporate and invitational events.

From sandcastle making competitions in a hotel foyer, ice sculptures being formed in spectacular action, perhaps a brigade of roaming cartoonists descending on guests intent on creating an ‘impressions’ gallery.

There is no question that if managed well, this artist-at-work technique can provide a memorable thematic thread that can link a series of event moment together as one overall experience.

During a recent financial conference we had an artist-at-work and as guests returned from a coffee break and saw him onstage and his efforts projected to the event site screens – they were mesmerised. This then evolved into the next presentation about perceptions… and for this specific project we revealed the artist as a ’speed-painter’. With a rock’n'roll soundtrack, a series of spinning canvas frames, and unexpected audience participation – the audience went wild. Engaged. Message delivered. Big Tick.

Another fun technique we’ve employed with great results – specifically within expert panel discussions, is the use of a guest cartoonist providing real-time cartoon inspired editorials of the discussion as it develops.

Naturally an artist-at-work should be deployed strategically according to the event, the event program, the event tone and identified communication objectives.

For more of this amazingness - grab a mug of your fav’ brew, settle back in your chair, and then with single minded purpose – click on over to odosketch and be prepared to lose some time marvelling at the efforts of some amazing artists at work. Very cool. I like it.

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* And for those that want to give it a go themselves – go here for mad sketching!

At one point they form an image of the ‘Mona Lisa’ with the various coloured LEDs on their back. Cool.

Apparently more than a million internet users have watched the viral video in the four days since it was released online.

The creators of the video revealed that they recruited Welsh national sheep herding champion Gerry Lewis, and a team of Welsh sheep herders to guide the flocks into position. They also admitted to the use of computer trickery – which in a sense is kinda of a pity so let’s just quickly brush over that revelation.

Matt Smith, the co-founder of ad agency The Viral Factory said:

The people on camera are real farmers and they were really controlling the sheepdogs. Rather than trying to fake it all we did it for real. The sheep herding bit is straight up – no trickery but there is a fair amount of computer trickery and post production work. We thought the Mona Lisa was the big wink to people – once they saw that we thought they would realise it was not all real. But we have been quite surprised that there is still a debate about whether it is all real and people have been coming up with various theories.

Matt said the main problem on the shoot was not herding the sheep, but getting enough of them.

We filmed it at the end of last month and it is lambing season so we could not disturb the sheep that were lambing because it would have been too stressful. We used different sheep over the two day shoot because we couldn’t have them running around all day. We didn’t give them any treats because they got to wear an LED coat – I can’t think of anything better. The video is silly and joyful. This one has caused a real stir.

Here’s the ad – enjoy the cast, their flock of stars and their combined efforts… and forgive the computer trickery.. if you spot it that is. (we could tell you but then we’d have to have you with mint sauce!)

So how successful do you think their efforts were? Did it sell more Samsung product?

That we don’t know. But a quick show of hands indicated that this ad was a huge hit with the staff at FACTOR168 and the real testiment to the success of this ad was when we questioned friends and regulars at our local coffee haunt – a surprisingly large number of people remembered the ad and almost all associated it with Samsung.

This strong and positive recollection was, despite a considerable amount of time having passed since the ad went ‘viral’, pretty impressive to say the least.

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Well certainly the Japanese know all about this and the legion of ‘Hello Kitty’ fans but I have just made the discovery that needs immediate sharing!

Branding juggernaut ‘Hello Kitty’ as part of its ever expanding toy and apparel line now features… ( cue dramatic drum roll followed by snare) …yes you guessed it – an ATM and a cash card for all the little ones to use.

Good to get them young I always say. Now young’uns can sit around and take turns taking money out of baby ATMs until they are all overdrawn. <sigh> Yay.

When I was a kid I played with frogs.
And tagged along at a respectful distance with my sister and her pals as they went from house to house indulging in various arts and crafts. And played ball.
No ATMs for me… okay they weren’t invented back then but you get what I mean.

Kids should be allowed to enjoy a childhood free of adult preoccupations.
That comes soon enough.

Yes that’s right, I am having a little soap box moment here. You got me cold.
I am not personally a fan of overtly commercializing childhoods – but extending off Darren’s recent post about branded transactional experiences – this would have to be a prime example of a branded transactional experience in the extreme. Oddly enough – if we were talking about a ‘Hello Kitty’ branded Visa or Mastercard I’d be very okay with that. In fact that sounds kinda cool – if you need the credit and are a fan.

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Love this idea of making what is a pretty boring and functional transaction with a bank -a memorable fun experience instead.There should be more of it.

Sure, many cash machines around the world offer a number of language options but this is the first time I’ve come across a ’slang’ based version.

Customers on selecting this option are requested to enter their Huckleberry Finn (PIN) before they can receive their sausage and mash (cash).

Those wanting to withdraw £10 sterling will have to ask for a speckled hen, while the machine may inform users that it is contacting their rattle and tank, rather than bank.

‘We wanted to introduce something fun and of local interest to our London machines,’ said Ron Delnevo, managing director of operators Bank Machine.

‘Whilst we expect some residents will visit the machine to just have a butcher’s (look), most will be genuinely pleased as this is the first time a financial services provider will have recognised the Cockney language in such a manner,’ he added.

All the usual fees associated with an ATM applied but Bank Machine offer the actual Cockney display prompts at no charge. Must have been an oversight on their part.

Bank Machine have done well. They have in effect creatively customized a functional transaction and transformed it, at what I imagine is a relatively low cost exercise, into a distinctly memorable experience.

People that visit and transact with these machines will carry with them positive associations with Bank Machine units as part of the East London landscape.

No doubt Bank Machine partners will also love the extra trade that this sort of traffic, for a ‘butcher’s’ or not, will bring. And following their transaction, they’ll be ready to spend some of that ‘bangers and mash’.

This same thinking can be strategically applied to other relatively ’soul-less’ transactional activities that all companies share on a regular basis with staff and clients.

Certainly within the event spectrum, this same approach can be applied with great potential impact.

Event elements such as the registration process and post-event follow-ups are perfect candidates for being reimagined with a greater creative and interactive dimension. The possibilities are extraordinarily exciting.

Now for those that do not live in or visit East London – you can experience the Cockney slang in all of it’s glory with this fun little online app’. It is an English to Cockney translator.

Lor’ luv a duck! i’ is bee’s knees fun. Know what I mean?

* The image featured here is from Bank Machine.

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Consider branding slogans such as ‘Nike = Just Do It‘ or ‘, Compaq (HP) = Inspiration technology‘, ‘Nokia = Connecting People‘ or ‘FedEx = Absolutely, positively overnight‘. With amazing economy, they capture the essence of each companies personality, project their unique selling point, and are universally recognized within the marketplace.

A good event name and in turn theme should do exactly the same thing – present and project personality and purpose.

With the instant recognition that comes with famous movie one liners, they too can also serve as a creative resource starting point when developing an event identity.

Two one liners that I like to drop into conversations with work colleagues and family alike are – whispering in a knowing way that ‘I See Dead People’. And falling dramatically to my knees, arms outstretched to the sky and screaming ‘Stttte-lllllllla!’ Care should be exercised when delivering this when receiving the bill or check in a restaurant. It is not appreciated as a general rule by anyone.

I am also mindful of not sharing these movie inspired one liners around my significantly better half. It would seem that my wife no longer is blessed with a sense of humor. Along with a new facial tick whenever I am in the house. She also objects to the sound of me breathing while I sleep. But enough about me.

Check out this compilation as it counts down in 200 second the 100 top movie one liners. It’s really interesting to note how many of these have now become a firm fixture in our day-to-day language.

Good fun and a great source of ideas for building a marketing campaign from. And yet…

I am a tad disappointed.
This compilation missed the two all time favorites.

Despite the huge number of Jack Nicholson appearances there was no ‘You Can’t Handle The Truth’. And the famous line taken from the last Tom Cruise movie, before he really lost his mind, didn’t make the list. My wife likes using this one. Let’s not go there. She is lovely, she just has shockingly bad taste in her men… thank goodness.

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This probably comes as no surprise that we are huge champions of brainstorming.

The results are always interesting. Sometimes surprising and curious. And brainstorming for us, has always proven to be a great source and driver of creative innovation in the design and execution of events.

We do it as a team, we do it with our suppliers and partners, and we love doing it with out clients.

But it’s not always about working in groups, some of our best ideas have come from individuals finding their ‘muse’ – we call them ‘idea-showers’. Taking a break in a new cafe, flicking through design magazines, a wander through an art gallery for lunch, justing sitting back eyes close with iTunes running Genesis style.

Different strokes for different folks.

Personally I subscribe to crunching up a ball of paper and tossing it across the office for a 3 pointer basket.

if you’d like to practice before indulging in the real deal – check out these two FACTOR168 approved flash games.

Totally free to play and accessible from any web browser – the first is strangely titled Cyrkam Airtos.

It’s a nice touch where you have to catch the paperball from another fellow wihtin the office before you get a chance to drop one in the basket. More difficult than it first appears.

The second game is kinda more ‘technical’ in that you need to contend with urban environment elements (desk, chair, rotating fan) to drop the balls square into the baskets. This game is called …to the rescue.

If anyone out in the wide world of webbery strays across other paperball games – sing out and share this strange passion of mine.

* The image above is courtesy of Chuck who seemed to have taken a stab at their own ‘mousetrap’. It would seem that Chuck have taken it upon themselves to reinvent the wasterpaper basket. Umm okay.

They call them the ‘waste-less’ baskets because they are constructed from 100% recycled cardboard, and printed with low VOC based inks that is totally recyclable.

Smart design at work. I wonder if the ‘world will beat a path to their door’. Perhaps.

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Now of course we still have ‘film award’ nights, we are just mindful of not replicating the golden Oscar, and I suspect with the recent legla efforts surrounding the notion of the Moulin Rouge, we’ll all continue to stage fabulous Moulin Rouge inspired events… we’ll just call them… oh I don’t know – the ‘French Cancan’, perhaps ‘Paris: City of Lights’ or as the Hear and Say Centre event organizer has done -simply rebranding a ‘Moulin Rouge’ event into a “le Windmill de Rouge”

Okay I get that there is always something to be gained from unexpected publicity but it seems to be a tad… petulant… to state it is NOT ‘Moulin Rouge’ while still overtly leveraging off the ‘brand’ name in any case…

And employing the likeness of Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, even slightly blurred… umm could this be a case of swapping one set of lawyers for another set. They do love sending letters out people. That said, I suspect they are safe, Nic and Ewan wouldn’t see much upside to lawyering up against a local charity. Bad business.

Still – good to see Thiess continued involvement despite these grim economic times.

This construction and development company is is an extremely well regard corporate citizen so it is nice to see them actively throwing their considerable support behind a worthy charity.

On a sidenote, as we are want to do from time to time – if your interested in the history of the Cancan then I recommend a quick visit to this site where we sourced the wonderful image of the three dancing girls.

And now for a wonderful video shot in 1943 showcasing the Cancan in action. Magnific!

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Themed events have a universal appeal and a lightning quick pre-recognition with all stakeholders but most importantly, unlike the potentially huge costs and resources involved in designing and developing a propriety branded ’signature’ experience, themed events with their universal properties and elements are completely scalable to budget.

Themed events are the great event ‘leveller’.
With their popular culture and folkloric references, interactive touchpoints, and the opportunity to weave a strong thematic thread throughout all elements of the event experience – every organization, with a strong professional business theatre partner in place, is well positioned to stage a memorable, motivational, entertainment experience for their guests.

The granddaddy of themes is the Academy Awards inspired events. Populated with red carpets, sky tracking spotlights on arrival, guests and greeting hosts in smart tuxedos and glamorous couture gowns, the prospect of movie stars and celebrities, movie inspired multimedia clips and soundtracks, and of course an appearance by golden Oscar inspired statues, film reels and movie-making paraphernalia.

There are an almost limitless number of themes that have enjoyed popularity. Themes that have been inspired by the Cirque du Soleil experience to more ‘traditional’ event themes such as ‘Jungle Jive’, ‘Under the Sea’, ‘Winter Wonderland’ or perhaps a ‘Beach Boys Summer’ or a ‘Cuban Buena Vista Club’ theme.
Musical and film inspired efforts are a safe bet with favorites such as ‘Cabaret’ or ‘Chicago’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, and ‘Cotton Club’, along with regional and period specific themes. ‘Aussie Outback’ for inbound incentive groups and the 1950’s Rock’n’Roll inspired ‘Happy Days meets Grease’ theme. And of course the endless incarnations drawing their inspiration from an ‘East-West Fusion’ approach.

Yeah. We love producing themed events. They are good fun and always well received, particularly for sales incentive events, channel partner gatherings, association social events eager for a event-wide ice-breaker. They can be extremely effective when applied to recognition and award galas.

The theme that without question runs a very close second to an ‘Oscars’ night in the popularity stakes would have to be Moulin Rouge. With its broad thematic strokes of song and dance and all things Parisian, Moulin Rouge is often considered ‘manna from heaven’ for the challenging not-for-profit sector working from tight operational budgets.

That is until the legal hounds of themeing hell were unleashed on a local Brisbane charity group last week.

The Courier Mail newspaper last week (5th August) published a strange little article buried on page 13 under the banner “Events fail French Test” that caught my attention. The reporter Steve Gray wrote in part:

A Queensland charity has been forced to rebadge planned fundraisers after legal threats from Paris’ famed Moulin Rouge cabaret.

…the charity had planned Brisbane and Gold Coast fundraisers themed on the Moulin Rouge experience, with wine, the can-can monsieurs and mademoiselles.

Posters and tickets were printed, publicity was creeping along – and then came a letter from lawyers representing the Paris cabaret telling Hear and Say to cease and desist.

What tha? Oh dear.

Lawyers like sending out letters. It costs them little effort and they charge like only lawyers can and do.

But surely this is a little too precious and silly even for the French.

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I’ve found them to be tremendously helpful and it helps with my transmissions from my imagination to paper. I am also pragmatic as I identify each closed black matt book with white marker paint down the spines. Adding to my growing library of musings. Happy and content.

That was until I came across a Moleskine that fuses the functional with the artistic.

Check out the following covers commissioned and sold online by Modofly.

Moleskines as functional art. Very cool. Must have cool.

…but so far I have been paralyzed in my add-to-cart action by the sheer glorious range of choices on offer but my personal shortlist is featured below.

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The Moleskine (pronounced as mol-a-skeen’-a) is a notebook made with an oilcloth-covered cardboard front and back cover. The best one’s also have an elastic band to hold them closed, a sewn spine so they can lie flat when opened, an expandable pocket (for receipts n’stuff) inside the rear cover, a ribbon bookmark and rounded corners. That’s a Moleskine.

Some creatives that I respect can take or leave a Moleskine. Some prefer color as a creative tool. Paul Kenny, a dear friend of mine who is an Australian Events elder and currently serving as an executive director at George P Johnson is adamant that yellow legal pads are the go.

Why yellow?

Well it has been said that the color yellow is more intellectually stimulating.

And I guess from a practical perspective – the yellow paper when compared with white seems to produce a less ‘painful’ glare and is therefore ‘easier’ to write on. Perhaps. I don’t really know about that. I do concede that black ink on white paper in terms of contrast is certainly more harsher than perhaps black on yellow.

I’d read somewhere that creatives (including of academics and of course those from the legal fraternity who share/tell/create stories for a living) like yellow pads because over time white paper ages and becomes more yellowish in appearance. The thinking being that if it is already yellow then what is written on it has also aged or is ageless – depending on your perspective.

Personally I don’t like yellow legals pads for two very practical reasons. The traditional yellow legal pads are bound with red glue and as a result I am forever losing pages and the second reason, these days they are not as easily purchased as other stationary products. Tools should be easily accessible and always at hand. If not then they are not tools but toys. That’s my take on it… but I am adaptable.

The modern Moleskine products are assembled and stitched in Italy despite being printed in China. I don’t get that but there must be a reason not to print and bind it at one place… perhaps having an Italian association makes it easier to charge more… like other luxury products made in China and marketed in Italy and France.

Moleskines are stitched. This means I ain’t going to lose a page. Sure I’ve losta  whole book, but not a single page.

And I can purchase them at any good stationary and at most airport terminal news and books outlets. If you really want to quench your curiosity about these books – check out their website and the full range at Moleskine and drool.

But is a Moleskin essential to the creative process? Or for that matter a yellow legal pad? Perhaps we are simply guilty of indulging in the romanticizing of the creative process itself.

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No not that one… nor the one with the Salsa dipping sauce and Mojo Webb soundtrack… no. It is my Finnish pleasure.

I can’t recall exactly when I cam across this musical… umm.. phenomenon… and I can’t remember who introduced me to them but I am externally grateful. They always brings a smile to my dial and when the creative well is a little shallow, this outfit always seems to refresh and re-energise me.

They are a Finish Rock Band created by a Finnish (you’ll notice that I really like using the word Finnish where ever possible in this paragraph) film director Aki Kaurismaki (seriously that is his name, cool huh?) who featured in his Finish film cunningly titled “Leningrad Cowboys Go America” starring a fictional Finish progressive rock band with a taste for polka – the Leningrad Cowboys. Finished with laboring the Finish.

After the film, the band not expectantly took on a life of its own. Recording music, making videos and giving concerts. The band appeared in two other Aki Kaurismäki films, “Leningrad Cowboys Meets Moses” and “Total Balalaika Show”.

This second film featured the band in concert and for the first time with the 160-member Alexandrov Ensemble. It was in Helsinki and it was magic.

The Cowboys followed this up with a slightly smaller ensemble, about 70 odd Alexandrov member. They played at the 11th Annual MTV Music Awards in New York to an estimated global audience of 250 million people worldwide. Not bad at all.

This strange musical fusion of Finnish Art-Pop and Russian Military gave birth to some of the oddest cover renditions I have heard, but nothing more so than their glorious take of “Sweet Home Alabama” – the signature hit song from one of the most famous airplane crash band’s Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Check out the wacky glory of the Cowboys and the Alexandrov’s in action below.

About ten years after this concert film the Cowboys and the Ensemble got back together for a concert imaginatively titled “Global Balalaika Show“. And they were still popular! They have since toured regularly including private corporate functions… although I suspect seeing them perform without the Alexandrov Ensemble would be a little disappointing in some ways. For me anyway. The clash of stiff Cold War feeling military uniforms with the pop-art explosion of the Cowboys loud-jackets and Cirque de Soleil inspired pointed hair and shoes. It’s this visual and audible clash set to music that makes it all work so wonderfully.

As a general rule, the Leningrad Cowboys consist of eleven cowboys and two Leningrad Ladies. Their songs indicate a strong thematic preference for Genghis Khan, Russian folk standards, tractors and rockets, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, and of course vodka.  Naturally.

That’s not to say that they haven’t tried their hand at more contemporary-ish songs.

The second clip embedded below is their version of that late ’90’s hit from punk-ish group Offspring. In some ways I like this song “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” more so than their other offerings. If for no other reason than it features the Ladies auxiliary of the ensemble opening the track by singing “Give It To Me Baby” in heavy accented English. Adorable and fun.

AND check out the way they have gone about staging the concert. Tiered stage levels and an elevated catwalk flown through and above the audience. Transferable to a memorable corporate environment? Yes sir.

The Leningrad Cowboys official site can be found overrrrr….overrr… here!

and the wonderful Russian Choir and Backing band is the Alexandrov Ensemble… and their site can be found……over….. there!

As a special added bonus for 168′ers – we have organized, kinda, for their entire site to be presented totally in Russian for a greater cultural experience. Awwww pretty.

Your most welcome.

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Options and combinations. Endless sides. Huge laminated menus. But thankfully they all shared a common trait – they were all unimaginatively literal. They detailed exactly what was in the meal to the exclusion of everything else. And that’s mighty handy for a traveler half out of her mind with roadtrip candy and cola.

America is the land of choice. No doubt about it. When I visit for business and pleasure, I always try to make time to spend sometime walking the floors of their supermarkets like Winn-Dixie or Vons. The long cabinets packed full of every different type of ice cream flavor possibly imagined. It leaves me gob-smacked and disgruntled by my poor excuse for a diary aisle back home.  Our chocolate and beer is far superior. There is that.

A personal favorite is the more upmarket (eye of the beholder) and the seemingly more personal service offered by Trader Joe’s. Love their little hand written menu suggestions, in-store product reviews, and a selection of cute shop-boys hard at it.

The thick paper bags in the West Hollywood store are so retro cute. They make me feel so much greener while I over consume  – well more so than my normal plastics. And they sound great when you crumple the tops up as you walk.

Anyway back on message – Americans are a lot of things, good and not so good, and one of them is that they are literal. They say it how it is. They are not shy about coming forward and spelling it out. Unlike say the French… sure they always sound cool and exotic in their accented English but really… what are they really saying? So… obscure.

And I suspect that as a nation the French share a limited appreciation for a massive range of diary confectionery goods to choose from. A vast wine or cheese selection? Sure. The French love it. Mint Ribbon Ice Cream with Pralines… nope. Only us Australians and Americans there… the English? Most probably still in the pub eating salt and vinegar Walker Crisps and nursing a pint of something warm that may with care and refrigeration resemble beer. Gross generalization but there you have it.

Sometimes being literal yields the most unexpected results. Rather than the extended song and dance… just ask for the sale… wondering – just ask her/him out. Unhappy? They’ll never know unless you literally spell it. Just as importantly – happy? Then literally tell someone… tell everyone.

The guys and gals from Dustfilms agree and have recreated some really funny results from their compact series of ‘literal videos’.

Drawing on their personal music video favorites (they are without a doubt Gen X), they have remastered them with ‘literal’ lyrics to match the video clip.

Sure – it is a little hit and miss.The Billy Idol rendition of ‘White Wedding’ isn’t so hot.However the following clip from Tears for Fears featured below is a clear winner. Enjoy.

* Check out the old card filing system in this video. Yes Virginia – their really was a world before the world wide web and ‘puters. Entire libraries were full of paper books with covers and woven spines, and ka-thousands of index cards and heavy date stampers to manage them all.

Take an electronic leaf out of the kindle book – and just say it how it is. What you want, what you expect, what you like, what you don’t. And hopefully there will be someone who will be listening and care – like we do…. and perhaps the cute guys at Trader Joe’s.  Literally speak and listen.

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Now in Australia we do have some cheerleaders… from the top of my head you can find them at National Rugby League games (well the more successful teams anyhow) and possibly the National Basketball League… although I don’t know about the basketball anymore.

This season there are no teams representing two of the largest population centers in the country – Sydney and Brisbane. The other largest city, Melbourne, may not also enter a team. It’s fair to say that basketball in Australia may be following deadly dull Baseball as a failure of American sporting imperialism… still the League, Rugby Union, Football (aka Soccer) and of course Australian Rules are very healthy…

Anyway I digress… Pom Poms.

I came across a Pom Pom supplier who provided very handy web tips for those not Pom Pom savvy. It addresses the big questions such as size, application & technique, the vexing issue of extra length.

It would seem that the jury is out on the question of length versus the inevitable ’stringier look that comes with…umm extra lengthage. Personally I am firmly in the camp that believes it should be more about what you do with your Pom Poms than physical ‘pomery’ questions.

Unless of course we are discussing the aesthetics of colour color. So many to choose from and of course combinations – go a contrast or just have colored accents… perhaps a three color mix. Perhaps you prefer holographics…. ooh boy.

Some handy tips to takeaway from the site include -  consider your performance area, consider your uniform, consider future performances, consider choreography. Not unlike a basic showcraft checklist when designing a staged event performance.

So after I finished researching the web for Pom Poms… with so, so, so many pretty cheerleaders demonstrating their Pom Pom skills – I came across this little gem on Will Ferrell’s Funny or Die website. Love the fun energy and simplicity of it.

It is a seemingly Brady Bunch inspired homage by Jonathon Smith to Missy Elliott’s track “Shake Your Pom Pom”.

Not quick on the uptake – this clip required a second viewing before I realised that each face was performing a very specific audible signature within the song track. Brilliant.

An event idea being formulated ahead.

This would be a great format for a corporate video clip showcasing top business achievers at play. In fact a series of these 3×3 ‘Brady Bunch’ styled clips could be produced and played progressively throughout the program as conference ‘zingers’ – kicking off each program element of a conference.

A finale clip of the day or perhaps as a presentation at a closing gala dinner could feature a compile build of all the various event speakers, guests, various stakeholders – expanding on cue from 3×3 through to perhaps 12×12 or 32×32 layout. With the physical use of multiple projection/display screens, a really cool full room effect could be achieved.

We have found that these sort of video production techniques have proven not only to be effective in terms of creating a memorable shared experience, but can also effortlessly restate the key event message as well as providing for an additional sponsors profiling platform.

Oh and don’t forget to add Pom Poms! Interaction is powerful.

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Some were voted because of significant popular culture reasons – like Jackson’s performance of Billie Jean at the Motown celebrations. This was the performance that introduced the world to the moonwalk and that glove. And of course it is an outstanding pop song with it’s driving baseline.

Love it almost as much as Smooth Criminal which introduced the anti-gravity foot lean dance movement. Sheer entertainment musically and visually that put many of it’s contemporaries of the time to shame. I’m talking about you Van Halen.

Others were unanimously nominated because they are plain and simple fabulous songs. Notably two of his earlier hits fall into this category -  Rock with You and Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough.

He was a very handsome man back then – young, black smiling, and with a ’softness’.

Other songs were considered very good but the larger than life big budget of Black and White pushed it up the rankings and crowned Jackson as the undisputed Pop King of music video blockbusters.

You’ll note some songs didn’t make our top 5. Notably Thriller and Bad.

Sure – they were better than okay, sensational production values, and those group dance moves were something else buuuuut… well over time they didn’t seem to hold up on their own merits as well as the less ‘flashy’ efforts from Jackson. And Man in the Mirror and Dirty Diana were considered way too creepy, even for us fragile souls.

The number one track was selected because of it’s timeless quality, it’s sheer energy and groove, and as event professionals we well know that if you ever want to fill a dance floor quickly or lighten the mood – cue this track. It is our favorite.

The Top 5 Michael Jackson Songs

Number 5. Rock With You (1979)

4. Black or White (1990)

Number 3. Billie Jean (1982)

Number 2. Smooth Criminal (1987)

Number 1. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough (1979)

SPECIAL MENTION goes to one of the best live performances with Jackson performing at the American NFL Superbowl with a ‘medley’ of his hits.

and in keeping with the Top 5 list – the best of The Jackson 5 with Michael up front.  “Blame It on the Boogie” (1978)

With thanks -Lean-to Image from Wikipedia, Rock with You courtesy of DailyMotion.com, Black and White from MetaCafe.com, Billie Jean from French site Wat.tv, Don’t Stop Till You Drop from MySpace Video, and all others from… you guessed it… Youtube.com.

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A good example is Jerome Murat, an Italian Mime. He is fabulous but virtually impossible to track down and book directly. We did but the exercise left us feeling like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Mimes. Was it worth it? Yes. Here’s why.

He’s unique. He connects and he engages with his audience completely.

He creates an emotional buzz.

About three years ago, Jerome performed on a European variety show and I understand won it. Pretty amazing for a mime and puppeteer… normally they are lynched or stoned well before they make it to a wider televised audience.

This particular performance has since become a global phenomenon, having featured on many appreciative websites around the world. Even though his performance has aged a little, it still impresses.

At the risk of presenting something ‘old as new again’ – we think his act is so good, so spellbinding and inventive, engaging and emotionally moving that it warrants an encore revisit.

Consider it a worthy lightning rod for further creative inspiration when your creative well starts to dry. A great act like this can make your event truly memorable.

We present for viewing pleasure – Jerome Murat as ‘The Two Headed Man’.

This videoclip courtesy of myspace video. Thanks Mr Murdoch.

FACTOR168 | Creative Event Management Company

In the short term – no not really. Long term? Yup.

FACTOR168 works extensively overseas as well as across Australia, and in our experience it is not that uncommon for event producers like us and our valued clients to be presented with a whole host of ‘extra’ venue charges. Reasonable and not.

This can vary from city to city and site to site but can include access to service lifts and loading docks as put forward by the Brisbane Sofitel with this new fee/levy.

Although we have never been charged for ‘wear and tear’ to the building as raised and sensibly discounted by the Sofitel Brisbane General Manager – some charges we have incurred can be considered by many as very unreasonable when added to agreed general venue hire charges.

An example? Okay, working at Shaw Studios in Hong Kong, the venue insisted on charging for every car space within their private car lot (it was discovered later that the entire site was subsidized in part by the government to encourage corporate events…wow) and much to my amazement – was also keen on charging an access levy for each ’section’ of their private road network that criss crossed the event site. We are talking the access roads here!

Shaw Studios – on a personal level, lovely to work with but as a business event friendly venue, well let’s just say that unless our clients had some really serious motivations, we would encourage them to consider more cost controlled sites such as the Hong Kong Convention Centre. Which on a sister event they did and with the money saved from all those access fees, the show got extra sizzle to everyone’s delight.

I make this point as the Sofitel, as lovely as it is,  is not the only sole venue of choice.

Without a doubt – the two biggest and mission critical venue related charges incurred overseas is air conditioning and production power consumption.

I recall staging a heavily geared technology show for IBM (USA) in Singapore on behalf of Alford Media from Texas and being presented with an estimation of power charges by the venue. It was in the thousands.

Still in Singapore – try to rehearse a hundred strong song and dance cast within the Singex Exhibition Halls without air conditioning. Madness.You wouldn’t do it. I didn’t. My client and I haggled and paid. Singex were flexible with their ‘access’ fees.

As were the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH). It was a joy to work with Thai management who were very happy to accommodate us on site fees in return for our corporate event business. We have since returned there for a follow-up event and they continued their high degree of hospitality.

The upshot – well I guess if FACTOR168 is faced with only a $75 fee at the Brisbane Sofitel, we are not thrilled but we are certainly not desperately unhappy. We’ll just regard it as ‘av corkage’.

As a sidenote - this fee doesn’t actually surprise me at all. With the new AV inhouse supplier at Brisbane Sofitel being AV Partners you could declare this inevitable. Bankrolled by former Staging Connections supremo Gary Hackett, he had previously introduced a technician on duty or ‘TOD’ fee at all his contracted venue partners. From memory it was $60 or perhaps even … cue dramatic spooky music – $75 per hour. Not that dissimilar to the tech fees I have previously been charged at ‘teamster-styled’ unionised venues notably in Las Vegas and Atlanta.

Still at least the proposed Sofitel ‘av corkage’ is a fee in return for access.

Some convention centres in Australia have some very restrictive anti-competitive policies. Sydney is not so bad as they are happy to partner, the Gold Coast is sensational and a venue of choice, whereas Adelaide and to a lesser extent Brisbane are run almost as closed shops. I’d be happy to pay $75 at either of these two sites in return for free and unhindered site access with my partners of choice.

Ultimately – if you are staging an event in the Sofitel Brisbane and $75 is going to break the budget – I suspect you have some serious event budget issues and shouldn’t really be staging the event at all… and certainly not at one of Brisbane’s few five star venues of reasonable event friendly size.

For your reference - the ASE has published the letter announcing this policy from the Sofitel.

Perhaps the devil is in the detail with the second last paragraph of this letter from the hotel’s general manager indicating that this fee ‘may be altered at the hotel’s discretion’.

I’d like to think it could on particular circumstances the Sofitel ‘av corkage’ fee be waived outright… my gut however says that perhaps ISES are right to fight potential future fees for fear of hotels evolving into ‘closed convention shops’. I guess we’ll see.

In the interests of transparency, I should note that I have previously worked for many years developing Staging Connections overseas event footprint. Gary Hackett is a man that I respect, sometimes admired, and it would be fair to say that  I am always alert but never alarmed in his presence.

We have no commercial relationship. But I am always open to offers.

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We came across this clip from the Today’s Big Thing and thought you might really enjoy it just as much as we did and do.

The clip presents a television performance by a South Korean lounge band – and everyone seems to be on the same safe and dull ‘musical page’ until you notice the drummer in the background. He is having a a ‘wow’ of a time…

A star performer will always shine no matter where he or she sits within the ‘band’.

* Drum image courtesy of Lilguitar – fabulous images.

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Inspired by your NZ, Brisbane, and Vegas experience marketing TVCs, I thought I’d share this little conversational accented gem with you. This is not the very worst tourist genre advertisement out there (feel free to post your suggestions in) but gee it would have to be in contention. And this also serves as a good example of why a musical soundtrack or in this case the almost virtual absence of one can be so mission critical. By comparison the 100% Pure NZ ad is a masterpiece. Go on… en-joy.

I kinda don’t really get it. Is the ad trying to attract tourists? Business investment? Convince Albertans it’s good to be Albertans? Where is Alberta? You’ll find a handy map here but just think Edmonton or even better Calgary – they are full of Albertans. Think the middle of Canada and bang! you’re pretty much on the money… think of this ad… and your not.

And since we are talking about money – the non-conformer’s Canadian weblog last post back in Feb this year chronicles the mass media response to the “once golden goose of the Canadian economy, Alberta is now shedding jobs like feathers, Albtertains were hit last week with…(yada yada yada)” The thing is… during this time of economic recession, this is not Alberta specific… everyone is posting a deficit.

But let’s not go there today. Today it is all about being in a state of Alberta. And a quirky thing that screams Alberta to me is this giant roadside billboard (below) advertising the Naval Museum of Alberta. Which is really cool and very creative in terms of using the periscope… and yet so very very Albertarianly odd.

You see the thing that unhinges me here is that Alberta is landlocked. Between the Rocky Mountains and foothils, and a huge spread of forested plains – covering almost 90% of the area I’m so told. Sure. That’s what I was thinking – where the heck are the oceans for these Albertan submarines… ‘eh?

And now that I have settled a little, it just occurred to me that I have been referring to Alberta as a state within Canada but perhaps they prefer being called a province? After all some refer to it as the Princess Province – named after the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria… ummm… Princess.. Alberta. Any ideas. State or Province? And where are the subs?

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In addition to the to-camera confession and apology made by Vanilla Ice (posted here)we have also come across a number of other clips that were employed in the developing storyline for this campaign. We thought we’d share them with you.

The first documents Mr Ice wandering the streets of Florida… I suspect it may in fact be Fort Lauderdale rather than Miami as he lives there… just a bit of trivia. Could be handy in the future. Or not. Look this clip is a bit soft but I guess it gets the point across and helps build momentum.

The second better clip is a compile of Mr Ice seemingly ringing people randomly out of a telephone directly and apologizing to them… although some unkind people have suggested that he was just calling all twenty odd genuine fans.  This is not true people. Vanilla Ice has many a fan… and some have telephones.  Actually I like this one of the two as it seems less staged even though it clearly is.

We’ve employed a similar technique of story building with a number of different ‘developing’ clips as event invitation teasers and as a featured developing story revealed throughout an event run itself. This technique is very effective in providing a recognizable thematic thread to an event. It is effective in restating an events core messaging, and in turn proves effective in building on a shared event memory and ongoing event experience well after the event proper has concluded .

FACTOR168 recently employed with great success this technique with a ‘Jason Bourne’ theme for an overseas telecommunications company event series. The story documented a ‘teleco operative’ in search of his organizational identity within a harsh and unforgiving competitive world.

Atmospheric, layered, and entertaining. The story featured an ensemble cast of professional actors, industry ’star’ cameos, and host organizational identities.

For a greater 360 degree immersive event experience, this strong tie-in theme was employed within the digital and print invitations, themeing the event environment and catering, featured within to-screen support material, soundtracks and musical stings, speaker programming, registration process, room drops and gifts, and satellite social events. The end result was an enhanced attendee participation and 100% post event messaging recall.

And finally… so as to wrap up this commentary on what was in our considered opinion a brilliant event marketing campaign by Virgin Mobile, and disturbingly now seems to have evolved into a creepy fan inspired homage to Vanilla Ice – here is an interview between one of those cookie cutter entertainment reporters apparently living ‘backstage’ and the Iceman.He talks about his career and a forthcoming televised celebrity rodeo (what the heck? Yup <sigh> only in America I guess).

Oh and look out for his freestyle rapping at the conclusion of the interview which just goes to prove that investing wisely is a very very good thing to do. Which got me to wondering how much money if any did he really get from this record… I recall a story about him being forced to sign away all royalties to Suge Knight or be tossed out a window… anyway…

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It appears a lot of people have been hooked and the website appears to have taken on a life of it’s own as more bands/songs are nominated for a swift innocence or guilty verdict.

It has actually evolved into a rather fun website to be honest. And now features added dimensions including a top ten listing of ‘wrong’ which makes for curious reading.

Although the top ten is forever in a start of flux, I think most reasonable lovers of ‘pop’ music wouldn’t question the inclusion of people like Paris Hilton, David Hasselhoth, and leading the pack is the truly dreadful Fast Food Rocket who I think Australia may have been spared from as it was the first time I had seen or heard them… as horrible as it was.

Oh and the sickly sweet Jonas Brothers and all their songs make the list. Clearly with this last act, the tweens haven’t found this site yet.

Personally I thought the inclusion of Milli Vanilli was a bit rough and a bit of a ‘free kick’ as I rather like many of their songs. Sure – the two ‘faces’ of the band didn’t actually sing or contribute to them in a musical sense but set that aside for a moment… the songs themselves were good. I stand by this people.

The top ten also seems to have thrown up an awful lot of product… I mean songs from the ‘noughties’. Is this because Generation Y’s musical memory doesn’t extend back more than a decade or is it because this decade has really witnessed rampant out of control celebrity-mania. Maybe I’m getting old.

Having said that Milli Vanilli is a noughties exception as the boys from the one hit wonders ‘Right Said Fred’. I’d actually argue that although it was their only hit, it was a cracker in terms of being a bona fide dance floor filler. I cast my vote as being innocent. It appears that makes three of us now.

Seriously – this song appears to be a special event standard expected of all DJ’s toiling their skills at corporate gala dinners and it has certainly competed with “Eye of the Tiger” as a soundtrack of choice for all those sales incentive kickoff videos. Most are okay, some are very smart and funny, and those made in-house are most often simply appalling. People – I beg of you, get your event management company to handle this video along with everything else. It’s for the best.

And now ladies and gents, for those who like myself can’t help but stroll down memory lane in your baggy Turkish silk parachute pants, here is the track that kicked off this websites hunt for those guilty of music crimes – the original ‘Ice Ice Baby’ version courtesy of PPGTV.

Note: This kinda goes without saying but all rights are reserved and remain with the owners of any video clips and images that may be used for illustrative purposes.So support our creatives and buy in this case a Vanilla Ice product. At least once. And then gift it as part of Secret Santa later in the year.

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A beautifully shot advertisement showcasing the diversity of ‘the long white cloud’ in it’s locales and it’s people. The legendary story of this nations birth and the soundtrack of ‘forever young’ – it’s powerful and it works. I’d go…

This advertisement would have to be best in genre.
It’s a pity that their website lets them down so very badly.

Cluttered and difficult to navigate, and let’s be frank – just not that visually appealing. It has all the standard tourism site tools – the travel planner, event calenders and so on. I did however like the extension of the strong storytelling device evident in their advertisements with the send-a-friend a postcard and the the showcasing of visitors, residents, and fans home made films uploaded as 100% Pure NZ video experiences.

Fantastic ad, ordinary web presence. This should serve as a lesson to all of us. It’s not really good enough if there is no branded experience consistency across all facets of a project.

It would be akin to sinking the majority of your event budget into an expensive headline act and neglecting the event environment, high care table service, or even fundamentally a smooth and warm registration process. It never fails to amaze me that even today, some people spend a fortune on staging an important event only to neglect setting aside within their budget and site times for adequet presenter and techincal rehearsals and then wonder when things ‘happen’ or worse… don’t. Seriously talk with us or your current professional event management partner to best determine how to strike a considered balance between all aspects of an event so that you and your guests are assured a consistent and impactful experience across all aspects of the event cycle. It just makes sense.

Since we are on the subject of tourism style advertisements, a good one creates an expectation of a unique or at least a memorable experience and motivates the viewer to act on it. Consider the next clip which had the very hard task of promoting one of Australia’s east coast cities commonly regarded by many as a big country town – Brisbane. I think they did a pretty good job although would it compel me to holiday there or just make me feel warm and fuzzy about living there?

And finally, a personal favorite of mine. An advertisement for Las Vegas. What I like about this advertisement is it doesn’t show the Vegas most of us know – the shows, the strip, the neon lights, the gambling tables, the dancing and so on… no it just presents a little story and you fill in the ‘blanks’ with your own Vegas experience. Smart, fun, and effective. I’d go… for the shopping of course. Enjoy.

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Smart, brave, savvy, edgy, timely and consistent with the cultivation and management of their brand personality. This time, Virgin Mobile have stepped forward with a fabulous cross-medium event marketing idea. Nice one.

The idea has crystallized itself in a carefully engineered popculture ‘movement’ called Right Music Wrongs – which neatly dovetails into the Virgin Mobile branded V Festival.

When you have a precious spare moment, check out the super short manifesto on their website and the entire rational becomes… well crystal clear.

For those that are happy to take my word for it -in a nutshell, Virgin Mobile argues that music should not be about quantity, as in how many tens of thousands of MP3 tracks you own but rather how good your tracks are. And of course it may all come down to personal tastes and preference. And this is best illustrated by those musical hits that have sold in the gazillions (which is a lot even on Duran Duran’s Planet Earth) of copies but the question posed is – does quantity equal good?

Bands with their songs are put forward by the readership of the website and the faithful are invited to review each candidate and determine whether they are indeed guilty or innocent… of musical crimes against humanity I’m guessing.

But I digress. What this website has done for Virgin Mobile so effectively is squarely targeted its youthful, tech-savvy, and opinionated target demographic. In establishing the website, there was a progress marketing strategy of raising the profile and participation of the website through a mix of advertising mediums and starring one of the most famous of potentially guilty one hit stars.

The ’star’ engaged to kick off this campaign was the high recognition (and I suspect relatively cheap) and some say cringe worthy world’s ‘first’ white rapper Vanilla Ice with his global hit “Ice Ice Baby”.

The Virgin Mobile guys and gals brilliantly reinvented him as a cause célèbre of epic proportions as means of activating their audience. Seems to have worked.

People flocked to the website to cast their ancient Roman inspired thumbs up or thumbs down… and much to the surprise of everyone, Australia declared Vanilla Ice innocent of all charges. A masterstroke in their campaign was to have the forgiven Vanilla Ice come out of ‘retirement’ (although I can reveal that he wasn’t actually that retired or retiring… I saw him in of all places a Hong Kong nightclub performing two years prior… very odd) and star… well contributed a featured performance at Virgin’s proprietary music gathering – V Festival.

Below is one of the successful video clip trailers featuring Vanilla Ice seeking forgiveness for his popculture crimes and inviting people to cast their votes at the website (oh and kinda slowly slowly be indoctrinated into a Virgin Mobile world). He apologizes…well for pretty much everything, all the while his instantly recognizable track is beating in the background. Product and brand awareness raised, traffic was strong to the campaign website.

I voted innocent and I still love this song to this very day… yes i know. I also like MC Hammer so there you have it. Oh shush. Check out the homepage and my vindication with the majority judgment of his innocence. Yay… curse you Virgin Mobile, I’m getting hooked! Word!

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How to best describe bucky balls?

Well the manufacturers describe them as as “the Amazing Magnetic Toy with Millions of Uses”. Really? Look I think that’s a stretch but it’s a nice tag line in any case.

The bucky balls are a collection of magnetised balls that allow you to fiddle and fumble with them as you create different shapes and patterns. Consider them a strange toy cross breed between perhaps a Rubic’s Cube, possibly an Etcha-a-Sketch (check out the wacky Etcha-a-Sketch LAND …so umm way cool and chillin in ma hangout… apparently) and without question a fistful of BB air gun pellets.

Okay. Granted. It sounds kinda boring and somewhat… well.. dumb.. but I assure you once you start playing with them (or crafting a new muse if someone in the office inquires) it can become very very addictive.

The Bucky Ball guys website can be found here.

It has a couple of info-commercial videos that are a guilty enjoyment. And of course if you feel so compelled, you can order directly from these fine folks your own set of balls. Enjoy.

Oh, and since this is our finding and sharing our creative muse part of this website and since it seems all my compadres seem compelled to post with a youtube insert, I thought you might enjoy the creative efforts of this basketball fan as he employs the etch-a-sketch toy at an NBL event with some sensational results.

Hoo-boy! Can this guy sketch. Amazing. He’d be great as a sizzle moment during a tradeshow me thinks. Check it as they say. Man, I am so not hip to the ways.

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It is all very nice but really what we are more interested in is what you think ! So feel free to click on the blogged rating shield within this post and add your own review and or rating. I mean it’s the world wide web – be heard and share alike!

….the image you ask? oh…no particular reason other than we like the picture and we like the idea of our site being like an old Vegas-styled roadhouse lounge that you can drop by at anytime with your frosted beverage, wonder why there is in fact no girls girls girls and enjoy our at some point during the day live blog service… rather than just visiting one of those huge multinational IP monoliths staking out all corners of google.

This post forms part of Ed’s world,. Welcome to FACTOR168 Muse.

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Consider this if you are in anyway fragile, remotely prudish, or just not too keen on the French or watching people walking a lot.

For the rest of us – here is a great music track with a catchy driving beat and addictive chant like lyrics supported by a very simple concept and memorable vision.

In brief – a series of girls take turns striding down a series of streets in Paris, relieving each other relay style with Dylan-esque lyrics repeatedly masking out their genitals. Okay then.

Sure sure there is a certain degree of titillating shock value to be found here I guess but I’d counter that in this day and age… it isn’t actually all that shocking. Just enough ’shock’ I’d imagine to ensure it reaches a global audience. The fundamentals of viral marketing appear to be all ticked here (let’s face it – this very post is testimony to this) ensuring a greater enhanced profile for this band.

As evidenced by their extensive touring now being undertaken it seems to be working out just fine for them… and having good music in my humble opinion certainly can’t hurt.

Artistically there is a lot to like about this project. It’s smart and simple.

And I love the effortlessly smooth transitions the ladies perform between each other. To be honest, I didn’t even see the first relief girl enter the scene until her dress came up.

From a purely commercial point of view, what I really love about this project is that for a relatively modest budget outlay – an allocation for a camera mounted vehicle or motorbike (or even a scooter), talent fees, and a reasonable block of edit time, this almost no-cost exercise has delivered a great result with huge ongoing potential for the band.

It is fair to say that this particular approach is not for everyone or for every business. But this notion of creating a strong vibe through an experiential event staged within the public arena is well worth considering for some.

It can certainly ensure media coverage. It can generate genuine word of mouth buzz  around the brand or product. It can seriously elevate profiles through the ‘compounding magic’ of viral electronic marketing.

A number of things to be mindful of in considering this style of experiential marketing. Safety above all else.

If staged in the public space and your undertaking a guerrilla approach like this clip – then speed and surprise are everything. If not, expect to either be shut down very quickly or even worse – public reactions may be much more studied and contrived and let’s face it this isn’t so hot. Forced moments invariably consign video productions to the edit suites as a ‘fix-it-in-the-edit’ casualty. Suddenly there’s CGI everywhere and a budget bled out all over the floor.

Other elements to consider are -a practical budget and a strong sense of what is ‘appropriate’ and what isn’t in terms of general public sensibilities and brand identity.

You’ll also need a seasoned experiential events partner to help produce, navigate, and execute the project at hand to ensure maximum value and impact is achieved from the ‘moment’.  Of course, above all else, you and your organization will need to demonstrate courage and conviction.

The music clip is not so surprisingly called “Baby Baby Baby” and is courtesy of the bands myspace website – Make the Girl Dance

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Like a good flash mob moment, they appear to be democratically spur of the moment and yet a huge amount of pre-planning can often be involved. And they are becoming more and more popular, just check out the number of city specific zombie walks listed in the zombie walk forum. A clutch of states in the US, Australia, the UK, Finland, Brazil… people urrrrrrrrghhhh like it.

The zombie walk in Brisbane is a great example of the commercial power of flash mobbing with the charity of choice being…. you guessed it – The Brain Foundation.

What a fabulous tie-in and with not for profit outfits desperate for low cost or no cost special events that generates income and raises profile – this is a perfect fit. As an added bonus – unlike many other charity outfits with a more conservative position, the foundation through such a… well let’s be frank odd theme, also enjoys great targeted access to the difficult to mobilize Gen Y and to a lesser extent Gen X.

No surprise that the best example of flash mobs can be found in the USA. The following clip is a great example of a flash mob in process. Staged at Grand Central Station in New York – the mob on cue all froze, held their positions and then on signal reactivated. Memorable, well managed, and certainly worth watching… if for no other reason than enjoying the poor guy on the service buggy caught in the middle of the whole thing. Enjoy.

This and other similar flash mob moments were staged by Improve Everywhere – check out their site and the sister site Urban Prankster. Very inspirational for developing marketing campaigns that really create unsual and impactful experiences at ground zero.Certainly beats product tasters or girls in too small tops handing out leaflets.

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A girlfriend of mine who also works as a producer of special events sent us this link and we love it so much we thought we should share it. Cue dramatic organ music followed by a manical laugh from the stationary cupboard “Maaawwwwaaaahahahaha!”

Importantly – you’ll need speakers for this link…otherwise… well you’ll find out.

So turn the speakers up, click the link and sit back and listen… one of the things we really like about this is that the longer you listen the more the ’story’ develops… good fun and we recommend leaving it running while you pop out for a meeting or lunch… guarranteed to drive your workmates zombo-crazy. Enjoy – zombo.com

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Some of us have lucky socks or undies, perhaps a handful of sunflower seeds… or a jangly keyring doo-dad…a single well worn poker chip… you know what I mean. Lucky stuff. Just to be sure.

One of our founding creatives, Darren Kerr, has a very odd ‘lucky’ practice he harbours when delivering a special event. Once he has conducted his Q2Q rehearsals, done his site walk through, greeted and briefed speakers and talent alike, and ensured everything is as it should be … he feels the need to play his lucky track through the room’s PA before he is content and good to ‘go-for-doors’… that track is “Funky Town”.

Importantly – we are not talking about the classic Lipps Incorporated 1970’s disco hit version but rather the 1980’s cover version by Aussie synth band Pseudo Echo.

We suspect it is the ‘funky’ Korg keyboard slung over the shoulder that seems to appeal most. In fact he loves the track so much he has attempted to book the band a number of times for clients eager for a really fun ’80’s themed retro event… thankfully he has so far been thwarted by the FACTOR168 good taste style police. He has however successfully engaged other ’80’s musical warriors such as ‘Air Supply’ so you can’t win them all. Oh dear.

‘Funky Town’ fast approaches. Strap in.

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This video ‘mash’* has creatively cut together a number of period Jazz musicians together and married them to a funky psychedelic soundtrack. The results are great. Love it.

This sense of taking the old and reinventing with a fresh new take is very liberating and can be applied to all sorts of things. Reinvent a product or a service, perhaps a business process or even a brand identity – I suspect most things could do with a thorough ‘mashing’ from time to time.

A great ‘mash’ opportunity is the much loved and anticipated ‘happy-faces’ event video clips we are often asked to produce and run at the conclusion of incentive styled events. A ‘mashed’ approach could work really well here. But of course like most things, be mindful not to over do it as the impact of this stylized effect can be lost or become…well… annoying.

* This videoclip is apparently called a ‘mashup’.

I wasn’t sure what this was but have been reliably informed it is a technique where as number of different data sources are are brought together to produce an integrated result that was not the original reason for producing the raw source data.

Ummm okay… so ‘mashing’ is where a collection of video images are edited together as a running montage to a cool soundtrack…. new words old meanings. Man do I feel old.

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It is grim. It is 1984. The Gordon Geckos are on the loose. Everything is beige.

Britain’s miner strike, big teased hair, asteroid video game (loved this thing along with the sitdown Pacman), brick mobile phones, vinyl records, leopard prints, Maggie Thatcher lurks behind the scenes and the Cold War Cowboy is at work across the Atlantic. Travel is chorelike and sucks.

Cue the Frankie Goes to Hollywood inspired soundtrack and out stride forth the Virgin Atlantic glamourzillians in their fitted bright red uniforms and sexy stilettos – cutting a swath through a sea of tired beige. Ruby Cool. Very Ruby Cool.

Yup. Based off this ad alone, I’d want to change airlines too. The promise of an attractive branded experience over a simple transactional service can be very powerful. Well done Virgin Atlantic.

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In an office poll – his recent marathon effort “Australia” with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman was declared to have sucked the big one for being too self indulgent and long. And yet – everyone loves and admits to owning a copy of the iconic “Strictly Ballroom” starring a very young Paul Mercurio.

His other two efforts are also either adored or loathed -  “Moulin Rouge” again with Nicole and a strangely cast Ewan McGregor, and “Romeo+Juliet” with a pre-Titanic Leo DiCaprio and the Gwyneth Paltrow double, Claire Danes.

For myself personally, I can’t help but feel that Baz isn’t so much a great storyteller or a fabulous film director but rather his is a uniquely visioned cinematic stylist. His films are all stamped equally with the rich visual dimensions of his visual signature. Interestingly his partner in crime and wife Catherine Martin, is a three time Oscar nominee and a winner on two occasions for…. you guess it – costume design and art direction. Hmmm.

In any case – Baz (and or his muse Catherine) illustrate well practised artistic skills in re-visioning and re-packaging. Skills that are central to good business theatre practices. To take the familiar and the pre-existing in terms of set performances and audience expectations, and to revision (or as our Disney friends are want to say – reimagnieering) these elements into a newer, fresher and more impactful experience.

“Moulin Rouge” and “Romeo+Juliet” are both very good cases in point.

The well known Shakespeare story of forbidden love is expertly placed into more contemporary settings while “Moulin Rouge” draws heavily on the Toulouse Lautrec inspired historical Parisian setting threading musical sequences laced with distinctive and iconic pop music lyrics. I can assure you it was not just Ewan McGregor who appeared a little perplexed at this… but it worked. Which is a forced segway to today’s show and tell moment.

This music clip was employed at the time of the “Moulin Rouge” film as a great cross-platform promotional effort and what a great effort it was. Taking on a classic 1970’s dance floor hit “Lady Marmalade” by Labelle – this refreshed version starred the four biggest popstars at the time – Christina Aguilera, Lil’Kim, Mya, and the FACTOR168 fav’ Pink.

The results: a great musical cover version, a great cross-promotional experience, strong Baz inspired visuals, and a collection of distinctive thumbnail personalities presented by the girls. Not surprisingly – we’ve designed similar “Lady Marmalade” experiences and delivered them within the event context. Taking affectionately memorable moments and artfully redesigning them into even more powerful updated experiences. Good fun for all.

Enjoy the clip and the sisters in action!

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I can’t explain it but I just can’t stop at one and the more I peel the more I need to peel….

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FACTOR168 | Event Management Company

Listen carefully and for those that have worked or crossed paths with event production crew in all their strange and wonderful forms – you’ll know that Obama is on the money.

FACTOR168 | Event Management Company

FACTOR168 | Event Management Company

Again – enjoy responsibly.

We really digged this clip as it had all the right ‘mix’ of components that translated into a good communication experience. Strong characters, a good storyline, a strong sense of humour, a fresh take of pop culutre (preps rapping!) and above all – much like the product – it was all good fun.

Enjoy. But of course in moderation.

Sure, it’s comfortable, safe and I guess perfectly acceptable but eventually the aged but much loved couch starts to lose its sense of value.

If neglected, one invariably starts to consider other more appealing couches that offer more than just a functional legacy. Perhaps a more appealing, more contemporary, better conditioned couch that better fits our lifestyle and needs just that little bit better.

In our opinion, pretty much all businesses over time evolve into my Grandma’s couch.

And they keep evolving if neglected straight from the living room to the garage and in turn to the refuse tip weighted down by all the other items that had lost their appeal.

Of course this can be avoided by applying the mantra; you know the one – embrace change and evolve. Armed with this outlook, a collection of great ideas, and most importantly a sense of personal and organizational courage – you can re-envision Grandma’s couch. Revitalise and refresh it by considering where and how it could be better employed into the future, perhaps refurb it or better still apply a styling makeover.

The thing is, even with courage, the application of great ideas can be challenging. It is the nature of great ideas that they can be demanding. Ideas can be pushy and hard work but that’s kinda why they are so powerful and energizing for everyone involved.

Okay so perhaps your Grandma’s couch may not evolve into something way cool. Like a clunky Sony cassette walkman into an intuitive stylish Apple iPod or a telephone handset morphing into a next to no cost communication experience via Skype – but it might very well become the very best and most appealing couch around. Couch couture.

Let’s face it – we all like to sit down. If it means sitting down with a couch (or business) we already have a pre-existing relationship with or with a new impersonal one that doesn’t yet quite mould to our preferences for… well sitting – then I for one will take Grandma’s facelift couch every time.  Same with like-minded businesses who keep their appeal with great ideas.

No one in the office has ever recieved more than 25 roses ever – and 108 means marry me, so we were wondering what 168 would mean?

A single bloom of red rose    love at first sight or “I still love you”

A single rose in any colour    indicates simplicity and gratitude
2 roses           mutual feelings
3 roses           “I love you”
7 roses           “I’m infatuated with you”
9 roses           “We’ll be together forever”
10 roses         “You are perfect”
11 roses         “You are My Treasured One”
12 roses         “Be mine!”
13 roses        “Friends forever”
15 roses         “I’m truly sorry”
20 roses         “I’m truly sincere towards you”
21 roses         “I’m dedicated to you”
24 roses         “Forever yours”
25 roses         Congratulations
36 roses         “Remembering our romantic times”
40 roses         “My genuine love for you”
50 roses         Unconditional love
99 roses         “I will love you all the days of my life”
101 roses       “I’m completely devoted to you”
108 roses       “Will you marry me?”
999 roses       “I love you till the end of time”

Sure.. though this sounds like the name of some long-defeated Decepticon, I assure you fine people (and Autobots) that it’s something far less diabolical.

Simply visit  the Gravatar website , sign up for the free account, upload the photo you’d like to use, and you’re all set. Your newly-created avatar will now show up here along with a plethera of other website and blogs.

Well, as long as you put the electronic mailing address you used to sign up to gravatar.com in the e-mail field when adding your comment.

That’s it. Easy. So do it.

We hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed compiling it and if there are any flowers that we have missed, please drop us an email with your suggestions. A Sunflower for you all.

Scabiosa Admiration
Scilla                            Forgive & forget
Snapdragon                  Please don’t misunderstand
Snowball/Viburnum     Commitment
Spider Flower               Elope with Me
Stock                           Lasting beauty
Sunflower                    Adoration
Sweet Pea                    Delicate pleasures
Smilax                         Loveliness
Snapdragon                 Deception; Gracious Lady
Stephanotis                 Happiness in Marriage; Desire to Travel
Stock                          Bonds of Affection; Promptness; You’ll Always Be Beautiful to Me
Sweetpea                    Good-bye; Departure; Blissful Pleasure; Thank You for a Lovely Time

Tulip, Cream I will love you forever
Tulip, Red                   Declaration of love; Believe Me; Declaration of Love
Tulip, Yellow               I am hopelessly in love; There’s Sunshine in Your Smile
Tulip, General             Perfect Lover; Frame; Flower Emblem of Holland
Tulip, Variegated        Beautiful Eyes

Veronica Fidelity
Violet                          Modesty
Violet, Blue                 Watchfulness; Faithfulness; I’ll Always Be True
Violet, White               Let’s Take a Chance

Waratah Prosperity
Willow                         Bravery & humanity Zinnia Thoughts of absent friends

Zinnia, Magenta Lasting Affection
Zinnia, Mixed            Thinking (or In Memory) of an Absent Friend
Zinnia, Scarlet           Constancy
Zinnia, White             Goodness
Zinnia, Yellow            Daily Remembrance

We’ve delivered a huge number of projects in Sydney Australia and the state of Sydney is New South Wales. The state flower is the Waratah. Nice.

We like Nasturtium, we just find it hard to pronounce. And rosebud is a gem as a flower, even Citizen Kane loved it… the flower and as a decorative finish on snow sleds.
Magnolia Nobility
Marigold                    Cruelty; Grief; Jealousy
Mistletoe                   Kiss me; Affection; To Surmount Difficulties;Sacred Plant of India
Monkshood               Beware; A Deadly Foe is Near
Moss                         Maternal Love; Charity
Myrtle                        Love; Hebrew Emblem of Marriage

Narcissus Egotism; Formality; Stay as Sweet as You Are

Nasturtium                Conquest; Victory in Battle
Oleander Caution
Orange Blossom         Innocence; Eternal Love; Marriage and Fruitfulness
Orange Mock              Deceit
Orchid                        Love; Beauty; Refinement; Beautiful Lady; Chinese Symbol for Many Children
Orchid, Cattleya         Mature Charm
Paeonia Bashful
Palm leaves               Victory and Success
Peony                        Shame; Happy Life; Happy Marriage
Petunia                      Resentment; Anger; Your Presence Sooths Me
Phlox                         A good partnership; harmony
Pine                           Hope; Pity
Poppy, Oriental         Silence is golden
Poppy, Red                Consolation; Pleasure
Poppy, Scarlet           Extravagance
Poppy, White             Tranquility; Consolation
Poppy, General          Eternal Sleep; Oblivion; Imagination
Poppy, Yellow           Wealth; Success
Primrose                   I Can’t Live Without You
Primrose, Evening     Inconstancy
Ranunculus You are very attractive
Rose, Black                You are my obsession
Rose, Champagne      You are tender & loving
Rose, Leonidas          Sweet love
Rose, Nicole              You are graceful & elegant; aristocratic
Rose, Orange             You are my secret love
Rose, Pink                  Brilliant Complexion; the glow of your smile; Perfect Happiness; Please Believe Me
Rose, Red                   Passionate love; Love; I Love You
Rose, Single Stems     Simplicity
Rose, White                I am worthy of you; spiritual love; Innocence and Purity; I am Worthy of You;
Rose, White & Red      We are not separable; unity
Rose, White & Red Mixed    Unity; Flower Emblem of England
Rose, White-Dried     Death is Preferable to Loss of Virtue
Rose, Yellow              I am not worthy of your love; Decrease of Love; Jealousy; Try to Care
Rose, Bridal               Happy Love
Rose, Dark Crimson  Mourning
Rose, Hibiscus          Delicate Beauty
Rose, Leaf                 You May Hope
Rose, Tea                  I’ll Remember Always
Rose, Thornless        Love at First Sight
Roses, Bouquet of Mature Blooms    Gratitude
Roses, Single Full Bloom    I Love You; I Still Love You
Rosebud                   Beauty and Youth; A Heart Innocent of Love
Rosebud, Red           Pure and Lovely
Rosebud, White        Girlhood
Rosebud, Moss        Confessions of Love

FERN Magic; Fascination; Confidence and Shelter
FIR                                 Time
FLAX                              Domestic Symbol
Flowering Cabbage        Prosperity
Foget-Me-Not               True Love; Memories
Forsythia                       Anticipation
Forget Me Not               True love

Gardenia You’re Lovely; Secret Love
Geranium                      Stupidity; Folly
Gerbera                         You are the sunshine of my life
Ginger, Pink                  Diversity
Ginger, Red                   Unlimited Wealth
Gladioli                         Give Me a Break; I’m Really Sincere; Flower of the Gladiators
Gladiolus / Sword Lily   Strength of Character
Gloxinia                         Love at First Sight

Heather, Lavender Admiration; Solitude
Heather, White               Protection; Wishes Will Come True
Helenium                       I miss you very much
Heliconia                       Great returns
Holly                              Defense; Domestic Happiness
Hyacinth, General          Games and Sports; Rashness; Flower Dedicated to Apollo
Hyacinth, Blue               Constancy; Predictability; reliable
Hyacinth, Purple            I am Sorry; Please Forgive Me; Sorrow
Hyacinth, Red Or Pink   Play
Hyacinth, White             Loveliness; I’ll Pray for You; Subtle and graceful
Hyacinth, Yellow           Jealousy
Hyacinthus, Pink          Active; energetic
Hydrangea                    Thank You for Understanding; Frigidity; Heartlessness; Arrogance; aloofness

Iris Fleur-de-lis; Emblem of France; Your Friendship Means so Much to Me;                                                         Hope; Wisdom and Valor; My Compliments; Passion
Ivy                                Wedded Love; Fidelity; Friendship; Affection; Friendship; fidelity; marriage

Jasmine Amiability
Jonquil                          Love Me; Affection Returned; Desire; Sympathy; Desire for Affection Returned

Larkspur, White Joyful; happy-go-lucky
Larkspur, Pink               Fickleness
Larkspur, Purple            Sweet disposition
Lilac                              Field Humility
Lilac, Purple                  You are my first love
Lilac, White                   You are so pure and innocent
Lily of the Valley           Return of happiness
Lily, Calla                      Your voice is music to my ears
Lily, Casablanca            I am in heaven when I’m with you
Lily, Pink                       Romantic
Lily, Stargazer               I see heaven in your eyes
Lily, Yellow                   Live for the moment; nothing is forever; I’m Walking on Air; False and Gay
Lily, White                    Virginity; Purity; Majesty; It’s Heavenly to be with You My love is pure and innocent
Lily, Calla                     Beauty
Lily, Day                       Coquetry; Chinese Emblem for Mother
Lily, Eucharis               Maiden Charms
Lily, Tiger                    Wealth; Pride
Lily Of The Valley        Sweetness; Tears of the Virgin Mary; Return to Happiness; Humility

Naturally budget makes an impact on our selection as does the season, but above all – it is the artistry of the design of the floral work that is key. Together with our floral artists we have created some sensational creations – beautiful celebration bouquets, featured ‘hero’ displays, table centrepieces that serve as great conversation starters and so on.

But sometimes that’s all not enough…

What we discovered on one high profile event for an international financial firm from Hong Kong was that flowers came with specific associations that we needed to be mindful of. We were familiar with roses but anything more than that… thankful our client guided us and the day was saved and happiness was everywhere.

It took us some time, a couple of missteps, but eventually we developed a quick reference list of major flowers and their possible meanings. The flowers listed from A through to L are detailed here for your consideration.

Acacia Concealed Love; Beauty in Retirement; Chaste Love
Ambrosia                            Your Love is Reciprocated
Amaryllis                            Pride; Pastoral Poetry
Amaryllis/Hippeastrum      I am proud of you; pride
Anemone                            Forsaken
Anemone/Mona Lisa           I don’t want to lose you
Anthurium, Red                  You work to get where you are
Anthurium, White               Think of me
Arbutus                              Thee Only Do I Love
Aster                                  Symbol of Love, Daintiness

Aster China                        Variety is the spice of life

Azalea                                Take Care of Yourself for Me; Temperance; Fragile Passion; Chinese Symbol of Womanhood

Bachelor Button Single Blessedness
Begonia                             Beware
Bells Of Ireland                 Good Luck
Bellflower / Campanula    Gratitude
Bird of Paradise Flower     Freedom, Good perspective
Bittersweet                       Truth
Butterfly Orchid                You are always on my mind
Bluebell                            Humility

Cactus Endurance
Camellia, Pink                  Longing for you
Camellia, Red                   You’re a Flame in My Heart
Camellia, White                You’re Adorable
Carnation, General           Fascination; Woman Love
Carnation, Pink                I’ll Never Forget You; Motherly love
Carnation, Red                 My Heart Aches For You; Admiration; I hold you in high esteem; respect
Carnation, Purple             Capriciousness
Carnation, Solid Color      Yes
Carnation, Striped            No; Refusal; Sorry I Can’t Be With You; Wish I Could Be With You
Carnation, White              Sweet and Lovely; Innocence; Pure Love; Woman’s Good Luck Gift
Carnation, Yellow             You Have Disappointed Me; Rejection; Enjoy the moment
Cattail                              Peace; Prosperity
Celosia                             Fortune
Chrysanthemum              You’re a Wonderful Friend; Cheerfulness and Rest
Chrysanthemum, White   Truth
Chrysanthemum, Yellow  Slighted Love
Crocus                             Cheerfulness
Cyclamen                         Don’t lose faith in me
Cypress                            Mourning
Cyclamen                         Resignation and Good-bye

Daffodil Regard; Unrequited Love; You’re the Only One; The Sun is Always Shining with You
Daffodil Narcissus           You are an angel
Dahlia                              Fickleness
Daisy                               Innocence; Loyal Love; I’ll Never Tell; Purity
Daisy, Garden                  I share your sentiment
Daisy, Red                       Joy
Daisy, White                    Innocence; truth
Daisy, Yellow                  I will try hard to earn your love
Dandelion                       Faithfulness; Happiness

It is certainly not an exhaustive list so if a flower doesn’t feature and it should – your feedback is appreciated.