A Flash Mob. Southern Style.

You know what a flash mob is, right? A group of people get notified to show up at a certain place, and have an almost-impromptu pillow fight, or dance, or poetry reading, or whatever, then disperse in a matter of minutes.

That's the old-school flash mob. Then there's the AAF-Knoxville Southern style flash mob.

With our flash mobs, things are a bit more civil. People tend to linger, visit with each other, get to know one another. Instead of performance art, they exchange stories, ideas, and--often--business cards. People come and go as they please, and thanks to a few libations and snacks, people tend to mark the date for the next flash mob on their calendars (Hint: it's every second Tuesday of the month.)

If you haven't been to an AAF-Knoxville flash mob, drop by for a few minutes. It's an experience you'll want to have. Typically every time it rolls around.

See ya Thursday at Aubrey's at Northshore. 'Round 5:30, let's say. Look for us out on the patio.

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Congrats to WIVK!

We were just watching the CMA Awards, and Knoxville's own WIVK was name-dropped for winning the CMA for the best morning radio show in a medium-sized market. Congratulations to Andy, Alison, Jimmy, and WIVK from the Knoxville advertising community!

Surveying Knoxville's Advertising Community

The American Advertising Federation is asking Knoxville's advertising community to participate in a survey about the networking, professional development and other services it offers. Click here to put in your two-cents worth (password: district7). The results will be revealed at AAF-Knoxville's Membership Drive on Thursday, October 23.

Their Knoxville Ads Worked - Until I Went to Shop

I've got a bit of the new car itch. And I was hoping to scratch it a little this weekend by kicking some tires at a few Knoxville car dealerships. Why? Because their advertising in Knoxville worked - I saw the "Labor Day Sale" ads, liked the message of 0.9% and 1.9% interest rates, and decided to at least drive a few of the models that I've had my eye on.

I hate shopping for a car; I would rather go to the dentist. (Seriously, I love my dentist.) But on Sunday afternoon, I got myself psyched up and drove to the first of three Knoxville car dealerships I wanted to visit. As I was pulling up to the entrance, I could feel my blood pressure increase, then my pulse. I slowed down, started to pull in, then the gate was closed. I looked down the street, and the other gate was closed. The dealership wasn't open. So I went to the second dealership, and it was closed too. The third one? Yup, closed.

Ugh. All of that mustering up for nothing. Well, since I was out, I decided to visit a fourth Knoxville dealership. The cars it has are not within my first choices, but at that point I had nothing to lose. I park my car, get out, and am immediately approached by a sales professional.

"I'd like to drive your [blank] model with the [blank], [blank], and [blank]," I said.

"Oh, that one's out on a test drive," he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, how about another model. I like the [blank]," I said.

"We've got just one, and it's up here on the sidewalk on display," he gestured.

"Can I drive it?" I asked.

"Well, if you can wait a while. These other cars will have to move, and I'll have to get the ramps." he replied.

Then, silence. We just stared at each other. No offer to drive the same model in a different color.

"Um, okay. Well, can I sit in it?" I asked.

He went and got the keys, opened the doors, started up the car to get the air conditioning cranked, and offered me a seat. I sat in the driver's seat, and he got in the passenger's. I looked around for a few minutes, played with the buttons, and dialed the radio to a good XM station.

"I'd really like to drive this," I said.

"Well, what if you make an appointment for tomorrow and come back?" he asked.

So I made an appointment for Monday. Then came Monday morning. On my way back out to that dealership for my appointment, I decided to first stop by the other three that were closed on Sunday.

"They're all having 'Labor Day' sales, so surely they'll be open on Labor Day," I thought. I thought wrong. They were closed. Again. Ugh. Now I'm not in the mood to return to the fourth dealership to talk the sales professional into selling me a car. Or just letting me touch one. So I went to the grocery store instead.

If you're going to advertise it, be prepared to sell it.