I do not like television adverts for books. I just don't. If I am going to read a book, I will find out about what is within by reading a review or the blurb on the back. If I see an advert that involves explosions, shouting and/or chases, then it is already promising me more than it will be able to deliver. If you want to advertise a book, either read an excerpt or don't bother. If I see a trailer-style advert for something that has neither pictures nor sound, then I will wait until it is at least on DVD. Similarly, don't advertise films on the radio. If something has been made - specifically - to be watched, don't attempt to sell it without the pictures.
It's like going to a gig where the band you want to see and the band that are supporting them are of two different genres. Why? What would possibly drive someone to see it as a good idea? I once went to a Reel Big Fish gig with my brothers and my dad. Lively, personable, funny ska. Bring on the trumpets. What were we greeted with as a warm up? A big welshman who was somehow fusing together metal and dance, whilst shouting aggressively at the crowd for not dancing. He may have been lively, but he wasn't personable or funny. Nor was he playing ska.
My point for the two is keep things in the medium that people want them in. If it's a film, advertise it at another film showing; if it's a warm up act, have it play in a similar style to the band that it's supporting. It's not that hard.
Rowntree has brought us some new and exciting sweets. Huzzah. Rowntree's Randoms. Now. Are they random? Or are they just another stupid use of the word random? (Clue: it's the latter). I posit that they are, indeed, far from random. I think you will find that they are all created by machines, presses and moulds that have been created - exclusively - to form the shapes. Maybe if they just dripped molten gelatine from a point to form truly adventitious shapes. That would make them random. At unspecified times, with different sized drips and of whatever colour they happen to be. In packing, differing amounts would be put into the bags. Maybe one bag contains 15 sweets, maybe another holds none. This would be random and deserving of the name. These are created with colours in mind, shapes designed, approximate number of sweets per bag and to a deadline. This is what they should be called.
I went to Rockin'Asia tonight. It's a little club in my little town. I went there because Beats Phatree were playing and they are very good indeed. Not only are they highly skilled in their instruments of choice, they are pretty intelligent to boot. A fantastic all round group. Their renditions of songs are fresh, their sets are tight and you can see that they are having a good time doing what they do. Cheeky smiles from one to the other, a chuckle half way through the songs. Had I known the words to the songs they were playing, I would have been up on the dancefloor, singing along. Unfortunately, my knowledge of pop music (and indeed classics) leaves much to be desired, so I simply sat and watched. I'm not a dancer and I'll write about that another time, so sitting and watching a band is my way of enjoying it. A Michael Jackson song was played. I know the tune but not the title. It was delivered in their ever-fresh style and was neither cheesy nor cliché. A fitting tribute to the King of Pop. As the night went on and their set was coming to an end, they were still spot on, showing no sign of tiring. If you ever get the chance to see these guys play, take it. Grab it with both hands. Truly a joy to experience.
Well I'm not sure how to finish this. I'm going to find a picture that seems to fit the content and then I'll try and think of a witty title. Of course, you will have seen both before you read this, so this little paragraph is pretty moot.
Join me again next time, when I'll be talking about Postman Pat, fake memories and things that I though were widely known but are not, in fact, widely known.
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