CPR Promotional Check-Up

A New Industry That's Really Cleaning Up

Crime scene cleanup services are a burgeoning cottage industry. Your weird cousin blew his brains out in your garage? Who're ya going to call? Try www.crimeclean-up.net. Or www.tragicsolutions.com

They take their gigs pretty seriously, so if you have any hope of getting them on the air, don't call them up and be wacky, goofy or any of the other adjectives normally associated with morning people.

Putting Butts On The Lot

One of the services that stations get when they retain the Peabody Award Winning(tm) services of Clifton Radio and CPR is 27/4 (3 better then 24/7) access for the AE's to pick my brain for ideas for their clients. And I cheerfully answer each and every call and try to send them on their way with something to take back to the advertiser. The bane of my existence though is this call: "I've got a car dealer (or club) and they want something, well, new."

Here's what car dealers want; they want a dog and pony show. Not unlike many popular bars in Tijuana. Elements that work?

• Give people something to watch (like a cheerleading competition)
• Give people something for free (food always works)
• Provide them a service (kid printing for example)
• Give them something to participate in (Musical Cars)
• Have a charitable angle (drop off an item or maybe donate blood)

I've done it all. Cheerleader car washes. The Car Alarm Olympics. You name it. The biggest draw we ever had was when we did the Frozen Alive bit with Mancow at a dealership in Pittsburg, California. About 30,000 strolled past to see the idiot DJ in the block of ice over a 48 hour period.

Tragically, Silkini is selling off his business and at least for now, torturing morning shows and moving cars will have to go on hiatus. But think "big" and "visual". Clowns. Games. Things that kids can play with. And you will have a good start towards appeasing these problem clients.

BYOWP (Bring Your Own Water Park)

I was just at a radio station's car giveaway. It was about 1000 degrees. These poor people registered and then had to stand in the sun for two hours.

It's a given that you're going to find yourself out at remotes and other places where people are going to be milling around in the heat. If you have access to water, then why not go to Toys R Us and get a Slip 'N Slide, some Super Soakers and some of those sprinklers that have octopus-like wavy arms. Set these things up and let people cool themselves off. Playing in the sprinklers draws the kids, and if you get the kids, their parents are sure to follow.