Door Number 3 @ South by Southwest: Thursday, March 19
Posted on Thu Mar 19 2009
Bryan Keplesky and Prentice Howe of Door Number 3 in Austin, Texas, are filing reports for BrandFreak from South by Southwest. They are looking at emerging trends, technologies and strategies that brand marketers are using to reach today's trendsetters and tastemakers.
MOUNTAIN DEW
This is so smart, I almost wish it wasn't from Mountain Dew. Right now, every available space is overflowing with stapled-up posters, almost to the point where it's easier to just ignore them. But I couldn't ignore these giant green X's. It's such a cheap, easy way to get people's attention and a great way to break through all the visual static that permeates downtown Austin. They're for Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound, a sort of hybrid music label/Web site that backs a handful of popular indie bands.
BMI, ALTERNATIVE APPAREL
Here are two companies that understand Austin weather. It was a beautiful 85 degrees and sunny here today,
and unprepared people all over town were sporting these BMI hats and Alternative Apparel sunglasses. They were available at a variety of venues all over downtown Austin. Even if these folks never spend a dime on either of these companies, at least for today they are ambassadors for the brands.
AVITIA
Brand managers aren't the only ones feeling the downturn. Here to ring in the SXSW Music Festival is the band AVITIA, and they want you to sign them. Problem is, you're not an agent or a band manager, are you? Well, neither am I. But hopefully they'll run into one this week who's in the mood to read a sandwich board with bullet-pointed rationale. Regardless, you have to admire their unabashed approach. "Hey, these are desperate times," said the lead singer. "We're in a recession, dude."
