<body> Public Ad Campaign: Lossing Billboards Left and Right
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Lossing Billboards Left and Right

I made an observation a few days back about the financial crisis possibly hitting outdoor advertising companies in New York. I made it because there seemed to be a few billboards without any content around my studio and I hadn't witnessed that very often. Sure enough one of our diligent commentors told us what's up by posting "I know you hate billboards & etc, but Jan-March are THE WORST MONTHS for outdoor advertising no matter what." I was glad to have been informed of the slow season in outdoor advertising.



It seems that the season this year might be a little slower than usual. Driving along Houston street west of Broadway, one of the most advertising rich sections of NY outside of Times Square I know, looked like the above. Eight outdoor advertisements were missing from Broadway to Sixth avenue; that's a mere 6 blocks. Call it a coincidence if you want to "anonymous" but I think I was right.

We are seeing a dramatic decline in outdoor advertising investment suddenly. One can only speculate that advertisers are unwilling to risk wasting money, knowing the consumer has lost confidence in the market and is therefor spending much less and therefore unaffected by advertising messages. If I can't afford it I definitely don't want to persuaded to buy it, in fact to do so almost offends.

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18 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The last time there was a recession, there was a 1% drop in outdoor advertising.

This time around they are predicting a 4% drop.

As stated prior, Jan-March are THE WORST times in outdoor advertising no matter what.

Instead of being happy, how about you forget that you despise this business and that AMERICANS are being affected?

Just think about it before you get all preachy.

28.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Something tells me that Jordan is from an extremely wealthy family and does not have to hustle.

Instead, he gets to rid the world of all of its "SINS".

Must be nice.

28.1.09  
Blogger Jordan Seiler said...

As much as I'd like to comment directly on the last two posts you made, I will refrain. Please do not make assumptions about who I am or my sexual orientation. You make yourself look ignorant and we would all rather not waste our time with your little quips.

sincerely the rich gay kid trying to change your world.

28.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah please don't try to change my world .You don't know what your doing."Jordan Seiler The Rich Gay Kid" Now that deserves to go up on a billboard near your house!! What area do you live in I'll make it happen...

28.1.09  
Blogger Jordan Seiler said...

buddy. please cut out the petty bullshit. I really don't want to erase comments but no one wants to read our little back and forth. by the way I'm not rich or gay, so take your hatred somewhere else.

28.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You can erase whatever you want.Street artist hahaha your not artists your a menace to the city we live in.

28.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

did u hear from the attorney's at Van Wagner yet?

28.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jordon, you're right - I don't come to your blog to read this petty back and forth commentary. However, I do want to give my input. If folks disagree with Jordan's posts, might I suggest some constructive feedback instead of hostility? I'd be interested in reading why you disagree instead of personal attacks on a stranger.

Yes, these are hard economic times, but perhaps they reflect on past economic policies and indicate that there is a need for change. Perhaps, if people are less focused on consumption, they can focus more on building community and local autonomy. Loss of billboards with oftentimes lewd, sexual ads geared at telling people what they want and how to get it (by buying their products) is far less bothersome to me than actual layoffs. We need alternatives. We need to create our own jobs to fulfill everyone's basic needs, no matter how rich or poor you are. What we don't need are billboards for things we must be convinced to buy but can't afford. Instead of blaming the rich and the GLBT community (which makes no sense), go out and create some positive change, like saying hi to everyone you come across. We're all human and we're all suffering. Let's give each other some support and respect.

28.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is wrong with a person or company or anyone coming up with a product and letting people know about it and where to get it.Advertising creates jobs and feeds families.It helps stimulate the economy.In a good economy there is alot in a bad economy there is not.I don't understand how any of you can think grafitti is art and advertising is ugly.Graffitti is ugly and it brings down the neighborhoods were you see it.Advertising on trains actully looks cool graffitti on trains looks ghetto.If your bothered by a billboard then dont look at it.If it wasnt for van wagner the phone booths would be covered in graffitti gum stickers piss and garbadge they clean the phone booths constantly and keep them looking good.If you want to see atrwork in them then pay for the use of them.Im sure noones lawyers will be contacting anyone .Cops usually do that and I cant wait to hear the news of posterboys arrest!!!!All you are is vandals whatever you want to call yourself you clearly are not.Definately not artists Graffitti is not art vandalism is not art stealing is not art.Grow up...........

28.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thank you anonymous for allowing me to have a chuckle on this lovely sunny day with your incoherent babbling...i can't even bring myself to type any kind of a legititmate response to your post because i'm too busy laughing hysterically....thank you!

29.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We are all human, but please stop living in a fantasy world.

Billboards & etc are not going anywhere in cities like NYC, LA, Chicago and Miami.

Sorry, they can try for all the legislation they want, but it will never be 100% gone.

San Paolo is a dream world.

29.1.09  
Blogger Jordan Seiler said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

29.1.09  
Blogger Jordan Seiler said...

San Paolo doesn't exist.

Sao Paolo on the other hand does. Not a dream, A real city.

29.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

excuse me for the wrong spelling.

and btw, my money has it that billboard ban will be eventually done away with.

You do realize the money, power & etc the advertising giants have in NYC?

Brace yourself for more advertising in NYC!!!

29.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Anonymous: it's pretty obvious that just because an industry creates lots of jobs that lets people feed their families, doesn't necessarily mean that industry is "good".

I wonder how you would feel if an advertising agency wallpapered your room with ads for stool softener (I'm convinced you need some and that's why you're so wound up). If they bother you, "just don't look at them." I suppose though that you'd think it was great since you were helping create jobs, stimulating the economy, and obtaining valuable information on a great new product.

Just because someone is willing to pay doesn't give them the right to dictate our environments, public or private. Public space, simply should not be sold to the highest bidder with disregard to the public's wishes.

Many of your comments make it clear that you haven't actually read Jordan's posts.

To everyone else: I suspect we have all (myself included) broken one of the internet's wisest rules: "Don't feed the troll."

30.1.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its not the public's space.It's the person who owns the property's space,if they want to put a billboard on that property that is there choice not yours.Advertising stimulates the economy and helps everyone not just those in advertising.

1.2.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous, the billboards are in the public's perceptual space and therefore it's not entirely up to the property owner what he displays on his property. If it was, we'd see porn ads all over the place.

And as I said before, just because something "simulates the economy" doesn't mean it's good. Child prostitution stimulates the economy of third word nations by attracting perverted tourists... I think we can all agree child prostitution is a bad thing.

2.2.09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its not the publics space its the owners.Stimulateing the economy of America is good no matter what right now.People are loosing there jobs everywhere.What are you people trust fund babies.Child prostitution third world countries thats what you come up with.Move to the suburbs if you dont like advertising its the fukin city get over it.. Oh yeah and HA HA PosterBoy Got Arrested ha ha!!!!Next up Jordan Seiler!!

3.2.09  

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