In most bathrooms, you see scribblings about phone numbers, who is skilled at what sexual technique, maybe a few drawings, even an occasional Zen koan or two. At BEA, you find determined marketing efforts.
On Friday, I noticed that a business card for a literary PR firm was placed on the edge of a urinal. I thought maybe someone just set it down while they took care of their business. But then I gazed at the wall in front of me and a bookmark for a self-published tome was wedged in a crack. There were a bunch of folks in the restroom and I really didn’t feel like punching my way out, so I refrained from whipping out my camera. I love Chuck Berry’s guitar playing, but I didn’t want to be accused of following his bathroom photographic techniques.
On Saturday, the business card and bookmark were gone, but this handout now rested in that honored place.
I can only assume that people were consciously placing these marketing items where they thought it would be most effective. It’s tough trying to break in as an outsider author. But, I guess this is the best place to communicate with a captive audience.
I’ve never seen business cards lying around the urnals where I’m from. However, our bowling alley and movie theater have ads in picture frames directly above the urnal and I’m sure they have had quite a few onlookers
The mind is most relaxed and receptive when the bladder is being drained. One would asmost suspect that we’re making room for information…..in our bladder? Are those moments in front of a urinal the ultimate moments? Relief, relaxation, open minds. Urinal marketing pays huge dividends on a modest investment. often times, a few well placed business cards…