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"Personal branding reflected in the zeitgeist. Watching the pros in entertainment, politics, business. And now you. What makes YOU different?"

Sponge Bob, the superstar on the Hollywood Christmas Parade in LA

Well Mr and Mrs Celebrity are too busy to show up on this year’s Christmas parade. No big names, no big stars just Sponge Bob, William(the voice) Hung and Laila (the fist) Ali. In Michael Levine (his books are really hot!) words: “The parade used to be huge — a million people would come and there were huge stars. But today there’s no sense of obligation to anyone except yourself and the immediate. It’s a shame. The celebrities are missing a great opportunity.”
Source: Yahoo News

I just thought… what a joke. But by watching his videos this guy got my respect. He, as an ortodox jew, performs with a reggea band on stage mixed with a kind of rap and beatboxing mix.

Video1(Concert Stream)

Video2(CNN Interview)

more on his website Matisyahu

Well on one hand, it’s nothing special. On the other, he is doing his thing in an authantic way. He has his special target group, an unique look and fitting songs to his performance. He spices his performance up with this blond fiddle girl and an muslim beatboxer. So he establish cultural ties and entertains at the same time.

As you probably know, Karen Hughes is George W. Bush’s PR lady. You’ll find some Whitehouse stories and inside looks here.

Also mentioned in the Newsweek story is Reagan’s speechwriter Peggy Noonan . I bought her (audio) book “Simply Speaking: How to Communicate Your Ideas With Style, Substance, and Clarity”. It’s just about $10. You won’t find there some great secrets or whatever but some entertaining examples of the past presidential speeches.

By reading the featured link you’ll find out that Michael Sheehan prepared John Kerry for the debates. He actually did a superb job. Unfortunately there isn’t any book out on his work so take at least a look on his website: http://www.sheehanassociates.com/

Bono and U2 are just on a really inovative way to promote their new record. They are using quite unique and innovative ways. It is connected with the product, they are creating an experience and something worth talking about. So certainly a good way of spending their promotion dimes.

#1

The idea sounds like the result of a drunken-college-party-night. “Lets put everthing on the back of a truck, drive through the city, playing our music and promote the band.” However bono and his band did it. Nowadays its hard to tell how much of the footage you see in music videos is actually made for viral promotion. Regardless, its quite amazing that some type of top act like bono goes with such a kind of underground promotion idea.

U2 NYC VideoClip Download 6.1MB .mov

#2

U2 designed a special iPod edition. To be honest, I got the feeling ipod is trying to hard to be cool.

U2 Ipod Special Edition

#3

In germany the new U2 record was promoted by a subway trip for U2 fans (listeners chosen by a local radio station etc). The chosen uber fans got a special wagon where the new songs of the album were played. The subway line was of course named “U2″.

U2 Subway Promotion (in german)

These are really 3 interesting ways to promote a band. The first one is quite simple, absolutely cheap but a big attraction. And the third is the the same. That’s the way promotion is on its best. simple, not expensive but a big story and an special experience.

My thoughts:
…fans usually come to see a concert. but i like the idea of an artist coming to the place where the people are. Driving through the streets and not hiding on a stage.
…the u2 band- u2 subway line idea is quite nice. They just have the same name, nothing else in common. But this unusual connection creates attention and a story. And that is actually big thing: creating a story which is catchy and hooky so peoply will talk about it.

here is a recent story from britain. its a survey on 16 year olds on which people the admire most.

Which two people listed do you admire the most?

Nelson Mandela 25% (boys 24%, girls 26%).
David Beckham 20% (boys 20%, girls 19%).
Jordan 14% (boys 21%, girls 8%).
Kelly Holmes 12%.
Cat Deeley 10%.
Kate Moss 8%.
Ms Dynamite 8%.
Amir Khan 8%.
Tony Blair 7% (boys 9%, girls 6%).
Bono 6%.
Margaret Thatcher 5% (boys 3%, girls 7%).
Sara Cox 4%.
Michael Moore 4%.

Which two do you deplore most?

Tony Blair 37%.
Prince Charles 17%.
Jordan 16% (boys 13%, girls 19%).
David Beckham 14% (boys 17%, girls 11%).
Cherie Blair 13%.
Margaret Thatcher 11%.
Gordon Brown 8% (boys 12%, girls 5%).
Ms Dynamite 5%.
Bono 4%.
Michael Moore 4%.
( source: Guardian.co.uk)

i do not want to comment much on this. nelson mandela on the top of the list is bit unexpected but the rest is not a big suprise. bono seems to be promoting his new record really hard. there will be a seperate posting focused on this.

Welcome to the brand a face blog.

A face is a brand. A unique brand. Its animate. Its emotional. From scary post office wanted warrants to glitzy broadway billboards, a face hurts and a face sells. Your face is your brand.

This blog is not only about faces. Its about branding human beings. I’ll try to mask out any ideology and any (personal) rantings. The blog is just keeping an eye on individuals in public like celebrities, politicians, leaders in business, society or religion and how they brand themselves. But its also about you and me, how each and everyone can’t avoid beeing his own brand.

Please support me with any storys, any ideas, links or articles. Drop a mail to pj@brandaface.com

Thank you