Brands, music, urban, AR codes, exclusive content….

Musicians are more and more reliant on getting in to bed with brands, they have to, the music industry just does not have the money that it used to. Most of the music people I know are totally aware of this and activity encourage it, artists coming out now are looking for ways to extend their brand beyond just the music. Beit a line of hats, a clothing range, a scent even a travel company.

For the last 5 years, I’d say about 85% of brainstorms I am in will have an idea which includes a music star in some way or another, if you do an event, you need entertainment, if you are selling a mobile it will often be with exclusive music from blah blah and so on. Nowadays it is fine to work with brands but you have to find a cutting edge, new, interesting and credible way to do it. The idea needs to add to the consumer experience so it does not appear to be a sell out.

Refreshingly bottled

Lucozade have teamed up with Aurasma in a campaign devised by Billington Cartmell to offer exclusive content on the actual bottle. Artists such as Tinie Tempah and Plan B have designed a bottle each and when viewed through an Aurasma app the consumer gets to see lots of exciting shiny content. Obviously for the fan to get the full experience they then have to click through to the next stage, therefore deepening the consumer experience. Not rocket-science but smart and drives actual product sales.

In a previous life I had a similar idea… but better of course… ha ha. Until I find a vehicle for it I ain’t giving it up tho StaFac-ers!

Picked up on PSFK.com

Andrew Logan – The Boy who never knew the word ‘can’t’

Andrew Logan... never did like to blend

I was not aware of the ‘Alternative Miss World Competition’ until recently and it feels like it should be something I learned about at school, albeit a very bohemian lefty school where cross dressing, outrageous make-up, sexual cheekiness and crazy loud eclectic music are the norm.

The Alternative Miss World Competition first took place in 1972 when maverick artist Andrew Logan put on what is basically the anti-Miss World, taking the elements of the better known version but subverting it so that anyone could enter regardless of age, sex, size, shape, sexuality and talent, it was all about expression and inspiration. Maybe the best part of the contest was that it was not so much about winning but celebrating diversity, creativity and fun, Logan created something amazing and all because he never knew of any reason to not express himself

Every entrant created wonderful home made costumes in the theme of morning, day and evening wear. Each had weird and wonderful names and walked the catwalk to fantastical music and no little amount of camp draggy theatre.

Andrew Logan... still blending

Andrew Logan was both host and hostess with his half and half costumes, usually created by 60’s design legend Zandra Rhodes, each year he would have a variety of co-hosts ranging from Devine to Julian Clary to Richard O’Brien to the latest with Ruby Wax. The likes of Leigh Bowery took part, Andy Warhol was a judge and it was so popular David Bowie could not even get in.

What made it even more interesting was that it was always a family affair with his 4 brothers mucking in to build, manage and even drag up for the show. His sister has been the only contestant to enter every time it has been staged.

Tea anyone?

The tiny screen 2 at the ICA was the perfect setting to watch The British Guide To Showing Off with fellow dress fancy fans, we were even in the company of two people who had attended many of the events throughout the years as contestants. If you missed it then gutted darling!

Every guest gets their own hot man to carry you too

It puts to shame the fancy dress parties I go to… although my 30th is around the corner so maybe not…. watch this sparkly space!

I could carry this off...

NZ Police get in on the Stencil Art Tip

Down under the Police have decided, if you can’t beat them, join them. In a rather bold move masterminded by M&C Saatchi the New Zealand Police have taken to their creating their own street art in order to try and recruit new cops.

Cop this

In theory I like this as it subverts the norm and could actually bring the establishment some more understanding and kudos…. but then again there is the flipside. For one it maybe smacks of hipopcracy, does this mean that people caught spraying graf in NZ will be commended on their line work? Secondly, the designs created by Otis Frizzell are hardly original and pretty much rip off work by Banksy…. how much kudos would that give your average savvy graffiti artist?

You never know what is around the corner

In other news Police in London were spotted skinning up L plates in Brixton  so they can get the numbers on the drug squads up and in Amsterdam the female officers are wearing their uniforms for ‘evening work’ in the Red light district offering an extra special service.

 

Is this a new Banksy? And more to the point does anyone really care?

A comment on Materialism? #artforall ahem!

Don’t get me wrong…. I am not a Banksy hater (I even sold a Banksy for 1p in a previous life) but he also isn’t the most popular with some people such as Robbo and many people think he just ripped Blek le Rat. While the film he released called Exit Through the Gift Shop featuring Thierry Guetta was interesting and nicely put together, it also cheapened the Street Art idea because Mister Brainwash managed to put on this frankly ridiculously huge exhibition and sell pieces for thousands of $$ without actually really being an artist.  It also gave a poor impression of the American art buying public who were just mindlessly bidding for pieces, some of which they had barely seen let alone tried to understand the piece.

I am not for one minute claiming to be an art aficianado, far from it, I just like pretty things and I like what I like, just merely posing the question…. Is Banksy relevant and credible anymore?

Spotted at foreignstudents.com

 

Neil Buchanan is following me on Twitter

I love doodles and I love tattoos… so

So would the two combined make for a great long term
statement, I am not sure but if it was this one then it is yes…

Doodle raaaaa tat

David Shringley held a live art session at ANDFestival or Abandon Normal
Devices for those in the know, punters could have one of his exclusive doodles
scribbled on their arm, then if they wanted to they could get it tattooed on
over the road so it was there forever. Xx was not convinced it was a great idea
but there are far shitter tattoos you could have

David Shrigley was at the ANDFestival which is a regional
event to show new cinema and digital channels. David is part of a trio who have
created Pass me the Spoon on now in Glasgow. It is an opera about food and features
someone getting eaten…looks good but bit far for your friendly scribe to
travel to right now

Dazed

Sickboy – Heaven & Earth

Launch last night at the Truman Brewery… this reviewer is not going to cover himself in glory to be honest. I was in there for 7 minutes and there were some hot men in there to ogle but my friend was dying for a pee and we had to leave

Who we saving again?

Anyways quick review… Looked alright, was not blown away in all honesty, caravan serving drinks but unfortunately I do not go in for all this cider malarky, so was not interested. Sickboy had created a a confessional booth complete with a pastor to confess to. Now your writer has far far too much to confess so decided to walk away rather than create a bottle-neck up in that place

Time to confess

The trainer that made me a trainer freak – Remixed for 2012

Nike Air Huarache 2012 - Swoon

I was about 9, when I spied for the first time a shoe which was better looking than the offspring of Brangelina could ever threaten to be. It was unlike any other trainer I had ever seen and I had to have them, despite my mum saying she would never spend so much money on a trainer I would ruin. It is amazing what a 9 year old can do when he puts his mind to it. I believe it took 3 weeks of badgering, offering to mow the lawn, sulking, begging and making cups of tea before it was mission accomplished.

Nike Air Huarache circa 1990 - Swoon

I think I must have re-laced them about 100 times and wore them as house shoes for weeks, such was my love for them

Now for 2012 we have the new version, subtle changes in colours and finish ensure it is as beautiful as the first time I saw it. For me it has to be the shoe version but all three on display on Hypebeast work for me.

(Fashion + Art) x Charity = Sales + Feel Good Factor

How do brands communicate with their target consumer in a cool and relevant way? Well it has to be music, preferably new music. Or it has to be art, preferably Street or Graf. How about fashion, maybe through sport. All of these are tried and tested or some might say a little staid

To get cut through in an ever more suspicious and marketing savvy world, adding a touch of ‘Charidy’ is the perfect way to gain cut through with media sick and tired of PR jobs and consumers who want to have something cool whilst feeling all warm and fuzzy inside

Arty shoes

US based shoemakers Bucketfeet have created a fashionable product in a simple plimsoll with the art work of global artists then added a dash of feel good by donating 5% from each sale to partner charities, kid’s charities, kid’s charities that enable art, music and sport. Ta-daaaa Bucketfeet you are smashing it, all bases pretty much covered.

Consumers are also attracted to the idea of having a piece of artwork rather than a mass produced piece of design, getting artists involved who’s primary concern is all about the art, adds an additional level of attractiveness for me

I’ll challenge anyone to manage to make Crocs look anything like shoes for twats though….

This is id-iom

True say

Friends of StandardFact, top boys and great artists. I have one of their pieces hanging in my WC. I give you id-iom. en-joy