The Fix is In

Today Carl Jr. and "Don Johnson" are at a trade show. I designed a bunch of stuff for them to debut the new company like a new logo, business cards, booth banners, etc. I also designed a raffle box for them to have at their booth. You know, the kind where people are suppose to drop their business cards in and hope for a chance to win something. This box was to promote Carl Jr's new company, so the lucky winner would win a free product/service which he now provides. I don't want to get into specific (due to the whole anonymous thing), but let's just call his product a "Wicket". It's kind of like a Widget, but it's furry and has a tiny spear.

Now, if you didn't know, the real reason that companies put out these boxes is not so much to advertise their company/product (which they do in fact achieve to some level), but more so to build a list of contacts who they can later bug with sales calls and the like. If you've ever dropped your business card into one of these boxes in the hopes to win some sweet car or free lunch or free lunch in a sweet car, then you've probably gotten a coupon/email/phone call shortly there after not telling you that you've won, but offering you a chance to give that company some money. Honestly, I don't know of anyone really winning anything this way. I'm not saying all companies that do the raffle box thing are shady, but I am saying that most probably are. Let's not include those vacation/time share people, because they are their own kind of evil that receives special favors from Satan himself.

Last week, there was a spontaneous meeting here. The kind where people just gather around my desk, look over my shoulder, talk about the project and generally annoy me. The discussion of contest rules and how they were going to select the winner came up. Carl, Carl Jr., and Don Johson were all involved. I was here, but I just wanted them to tell me what copy they needed on this box. Don Johnson starts off by saying the right things like, drawing will be held on this date, winner will be chosen randomly, you win one free "Wicket" equal to this amount of money, blah blah blah.

Then Carl says, "Yeah, we'll pick the card of the guy who works for the biggest company. That way we can try to get more work out of him. We're not pickin some Joe Schmoe's card and giving him a free Wicket" followed by a weaselly laugh that makes my neck cringe.

Carl Jr. and Don Johnson laugh in agreement.

The moral of this story is: These people are not to be trusted...

And maybe I should design a business card where I make myself the president of IBM or something... then I might win all kinds of free stuff!

That's one to grow on.