Hot sauce should not be peddled solely by hot chicks
Dear Clancy's Fancy,
I have always thought of your lovely hot sauce as classic Ann Arbor. And your new ad campaign plays right into that. But hiring only hot chicks in dresses, with done-up hair, to peddle your product at the football games is not very Ann Arbor. Not at all.
I understand that this ad was placed by an outside PR company. Maybe you aren't aware of what they're asking for. So let's discuss.
First, the craigslist ad asks that applicants provide the following, amongst the usual resume, etc.: • Headshot • Bodyshot
Asking for a headshot is bad enough, but "Bodyshot"? Ew. Plus, the term bodyshot makes me think of people pounding Kamikazes off of each other's stomachs at Rick's (isn't that what a bodyshot is? Help me out, I've never seen this done). I'm feeling creepy just having typed it several times. Now it looks weird. Bodyshot. Bodyshot.
This is not a bodyshot town. This is a beers at Casey's (where they provide an ample supply of your product) kind of town.
My favorite part of the ad, however, is emphasized in all capital letters. I quote: "YOU MUST BE COMFORTABLE IN A DRESS AND BE WILLING TO SHOW UP ON SITE WITH MAKE UP AND HAIR DONE."
Now I am not adverse to dresses. I own quite a few, and I wear them. I have my share of sparkly, impractical heels. I have even been (affectionately, I hope) mocked for my propensity to wear party dresses to all Skatepark events.
But I can't abide here. It makes me think of Captain Morgan's girls.
My suggestion? Grab a table of people from the Old Town. Give them a ride over to the Stadium, hand them some bottles of Clancy's, and put them to work. Not only will they accurately portray their affection for your product and the city you're trying to represent, they will probably be able to hold interesting conversations about literature, art, and film. Now that is sexy.
If that plan doesn't work, I encourage the men of Ann Arbor to put on your finest frocks, do your hair up real pretty-like, and head on down to the corner of Stadium and Main on Saturday.
Represent.
Sincerely, Jordan Miller Jordan Miller is the lead blogger for The Deuce. She can be reached via E-mail: A2jordanmiller [at] gmail.com, or on Twitter: _jordanmiller_
Comments
JOYA
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 11:26 a.m.
Hey Jordan....$17 an hour! Not bad, and they didn't suggest an age range. I am willing to wear a dress, makeup, and comb my hair for that, even though I will be 80 on Labor Day. Where do I sign up? Although, come to think of it - I seem to have been an early Feminist.. I worked at a drive-in at age 17, and when the boss at Ross's on Woodward Ave. replaced our pleated (short) skirts with CUSTOM MADE red outfits, shorter than short-shorts and white boots, I quit after two days. (He was competing with Scotty's down the Avenue) (Wow was he mad) Even though I made GOOD tip money, averaging $52 a week plus $1 weekdays, $2 on sundays (!) (family house payment was $40 a month for a comparison), I did not value the 'exposure'. So... I guess I won't apply after all. Wonder what redhead Clancy would think about this....She started the business in a space at the old Tech Center, along with many others. Unusual woman, great product.
Jennifer Shikes Haines
Sat, Sep 5, 2009 : 10:05 a.m.
Jordan, I'll keep that in mind, but I'd still like you to run.;-)
Rex Roof
Fri, Sep 4, 2009 : 4:22 p.m.
I don't really like the hot sauce, but I like their advertising techniques!
Jordan Miller
Fri, Sep 4, 2009 : 1:28 p.m.
Jennifer: The amazing irony of your comment is that the mayor and I once ended up as impromptu spokesmodels together, a story that I tell WAY too often, because it was hilarious. Mr. Hieftje makes a lovely spokesmodel.
Jennifer Shikes Haines
Fri, Sep 4, 2009 : 1:21 p.m.
Jordan, I think you should run for mayor. Seriously.
Chrysta Cherrie
Fri, Sep 4, 2009 : 11:43 a.m.
Ew. I'd expect this level of conduct from, say, The Captain, but not Clancy's. Plus, aside from the obvious reasons this is so lame, Clancy's is a delicious enough product that they shouldn't have to resort to such a lowest-common-denominator approach. Also, I like the idea of objectifying men instead. Mix it up!