Young Frankenstein Truck and Other Crazy Broadway Marketing Schemes

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 12:57am

How long has the Young Frankenstein truck blaring that horribly loud preview been driving around Manhattan? I've seen it a couple of times in the past week but haven't noticed it before then. It certainly attracted attention in front of Macy's on 34th Street earlier today.

Which raised the question. Could something like that really be effective? Have any other shows employed a full truck in lieu of the more traditional taxi ads? And what other weird methods have been used to promote Broadway shows? I didn't find much about that when I searched the archives.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 1:02am

Today I saw people dressed up like Igor and the monster in Jamba Juice trying to get attention. It was SO annoying,...not to mention you could smell the desperation in the air.

ps. I'm so glad this is a thread now:)

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 1:55am

OMG I saw that thing a couple weeks ago and wanted to throw things at it. It makes me ill.

[broadwaygirl99]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 2:09am

I saw it too but I guess they are just trying to think of creative advertising sceams. They just want the show to do well. Does it really bother you that much that a man is dressed like Igor trying to sell tickets to the show?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 3:55am

As weird as the marketing ploy is (I saw the Igor and he looked like he was about to collapse), does it get your attention? Yes! That's the entire point. And whether you like it or not, you are probably bound to pass on the information (as vespertine did), helping to generate more word of mouth about the show. Obviously, the unusual marketing tactics are working.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 4:04am

The truck isn't environmentally friendly.

YF has advertised in Netflix envelopes.

I posted something a while back about Legally Blonde advertising on milk cartons.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=969303 Updated On: 8/31/08 at 04:04 AM

[Anakela]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 4:35am

lol I have one of those Blonde milk carton pics too-




The costumed Igor and the monster are just sad and pathetic looking because their costumes are sad- there's something wrong in my thinking "oh look, the guy in the rent-an-Elmo costume (you know- the one who removes his head in the 47th street station, and charges a dollar to take pics with your kids) has friends now" the first time I see them, not realizing they're actually advertising for YF.

Although I am amused at the idea of Igor getting a Jamba. lol.


Updated On: 8/31/08 at 04:35 AM

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/31/08 at 10:08am

This Igor looked andorexic, it was really pathetic looking.