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A way to possibly promote airsoft

  • 07-01-2011 01:22AM
    #1
    Private Snafu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,818 ✭✭✭


    Howaya lads,

    I was trawling around boards and found an interesting thread regarding the promotion of shooting primarily using ZozzyTV, a screen setup above the front door of St Stephens Green Shopping Centre.

    Surely this can also be used to promote our own sport :)

    Unfortunately I lack the time (and skill) to knock up a halfway decent clip, but maybe someone with a bit more experience might be interested ;)

    Ayone any ideas??


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Comments

  • #2
    Leftyflip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,463 ✭✭✭Leftyflip


    There's another on Henry Street, I was thinking it could be done. It's still a bit of a grey area though.


  • #3
    Private Snafu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,818 ✭✭✭Private Snafu


    No more of a grey area than actual shooting Lefty and from what I can read, lads are also interested in promoting hunting through this...
    In all honesty if airsoft can be reported on in good light on the RTE news, surely we can do the same.


  • #4
    Leftyflip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,463 ✭✭✭Leftyflip


    lperrozzi wrote: »
    No more of a grey area than actual shooting Lefty and from what I can read, lads are also interested in promoting hunting through this...
    In all honesty if airsoft can be reported on in good light on the RTE news, surely we can do the same.
    To the AV department! *superhero music*
    Maybe Oddy would be up for filming a short ad?


  • #5
    joe stodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 986 ✭✭✭joe stodge


    lperrozzi wrote: »
    In all honesty if airsoft can be reported on in good light on the RTE news, surely we can do the same.


    when did this happen??


  • #6
    Leftyflip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,463 ✭✭✭Leftyflip


    joe stodge wrote: »
    when did this happen??
    March last year I think?


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  • #7
    NakedDex
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,984 ✭✭✭NakedDex


    In all honesty, what's a 20 second clip of lads in camouflage toting rifles going to look like on Stephen's Green?
    Rule one of advertising; know your target market.


  • #8
    joe stodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 986 ✭✭✭joe stodge


    Leftyflip wrote: »
    March last year I think?


    links??


  • #9
    Stercus Accidit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,758 ✭✭✭Stercus Accidit


    Airsoft is doing fine by word of mouth as far as I can see, but if a retailer wants to advertise, and they do, they would be spending their money better at a promo tent at some pro-gaming expo or other targeted demographic.


  • #10
    Private Snafu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,818 ✭✭✭Private Snafu


    NakedDex wrote: »
    In all honesty, what's a 20 second clip of lads in camouflage toting rifles going to look like on Stephen's Green?
    Rule one of advertising; know your target market.

    Look I'm not saying that a video of lads skirmishing is required (but it seemed to work well on RTE, I know of at least one regular player today that started because of it), absolutely anything would do....


  • #11
    NakedDex
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,984 ✭✭✭NakedDex


    It's going to be pretty impossible to effectively advertise airsoft without showing it's three core elements: replica firearms, combat uniforms and an actual skirmish...


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  • #12
    Private Snafu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,818 ✭✭✭Private Snafu


    NakedDex wrote: »
    In all honesty, what's a 20 second clip of lads in camouflage toting rifles going to look like on Stephen's Green?
    Rule one of advertising; know your target market.

    Believe it or not, I do know who our target market are. A lunch time broadcast between Monday and Friday would reach a handful of male college students, surely 1 new airsofter is worth the 60 cent it'll cost to put on the screens.
    NakedDex wrote: »
    It's going to be pretty impossible to effectively advertise airsoft without showing it's three core elements: replica firearms, combat uniforms and an actual skirmish...

    Then possibly a PIP, the clips I've watched are up to 1:30 long so in theory it's not going to be a clip of a lad screaming at someone to take his hits:rolleyes:

    To be honest I can't see what harm a tastefully done clip can do (possibly have the IAA involved in it's creation).... As I've already said to show it 5 times will cost 3 quid, I'll foot the bill for that one myself if needs be ;)

    Also if anyone has a link to the RTE report filmed in Oakridge could they put it up here, I haven't been able to track it down.


  • #13
    MagicIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,902 ✭✭✭MagicIRL


    I think its a great idea- We constantly see people here on boards moaning that the sport is not growing fast enough, that there are too many sites for the number of players, etc etc. When someone finally comes up with a very good, cheap and useful method its shot down.

    Contrary to NakedDex, who believes that our target market wont be in town during the allocated time (And thats fine, its his own point of view), I believe it will. As lperozzi said, aim it at the College students at lunch time and even the more older males who will be on lunch at that same time.

    I see Airsoft at a crossroad. We want more members but we're sitting here afraid of Joe Duffy and his band of fools. From what I can tell, that portion of the population seem more afraid of the retailers then the actual skirmish sites.

    Surely an advert promoting the sport and not the shops would offend noone of merit.


  • #14
    se conman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 981 ✭✭✭se conman


    I am not picking on any poster because it has been posted several times in different threads but who is our target market ?I ask this because any site I have played on has an age group from 14 to 60 , several nationalities , all walks of life , all types of jobs or no job , all levels of wealth , male and female.So what is the target ?
    By the way I think it is a good idea , advertise the sport , not the shops.
    On a bit of a tangent , what about static displays in cinemas when new action films are opening ?We get to advertise (with proper permission , Garda)and they (cinema)get a floor show.


  • #15
    Stonewolf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭Stonewolf


    I think the "market" is more interest based than demographic based.

    (with, using a very broad brush indeed, the possible exception of gender)

    EDIT: The things that are best to show in such a video (in my opinion) are active pursuit, outdoors, fun and teamwork. These should be the main thrust of the video using airsoft as a context.


  • #16
    Stercus Accidit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,758 ✭✭✭Stercus Accidit


    For the time and effort it takes to make an effective ad, you could set up a table at some nerd fest similar interest event (:P) and have loads of people try the sport afterwards, what would 20 seconds of footage achieve compared to that though? I know the screen in question and I have never bent my neck to look at it. Maybe there is a better solution?


  • #17
    se conman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 981 ✭✭✭se conman


    While there may be better options and yes we have to take small steps , at the moment we are taking no steps.At least the OP has put something forward that is cheap once the film is made and we have the means within the sport to make the film.


  • #18
    Private Snafu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,818 ✭✭✭Private Snafu


    A better method, definitely..... but one as cheap and easy to setup, probably not.
    And again it should be noted the videos I've seen on this system are not restricted to 20 seconds.

    I'm all for better methods of advertising, in the end we all want to see more honest airsoft players on site but bar word of mouth (and stalls at salute) to date there's really no other way to showcase our sport :)

    EDIT Conman beat me to it


  • #19
    Lemming
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭Lemming


    Stercus Accidit wrote: »
    For the time and effort it takes to make an effective ad, you could set up a table at some nerd fest similar interest event (:P) and have loads of people try the sport afterwards, what would 20 seconds of footage achieve compared to that though?

    I can think of several conventions where the above (tables, not video) would yield positive results. Much like Salute. Video can be misinterpreted and trying to distil airsoft into 20 seconds of airtime would require someone with not just expertise, but talent (and by talent I mean "gifted") in the realms of media. But with a stand, you have real people with which to interact and ask as many questions as possible.


  • #20
    bullets
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,612 ✭✭✭bullets


    se conman wrote: »
    By the way I think it is a good idea , advertise the sport , not the shops.

    I think that is a pretty good suggestion you've made.

    I could be talking complete rubbish here as I've ZERO facts to base
    this opinion on :D

    I think there tends to be more of a knee jerk reaction from the types
    of people that ring Joe Duffy when it comes to hearing about Shops that
    are selling big bad nasty weapons of mass destruction to the Public.

    However if your advertising the Sport itself or a Site the reaction may be
    less harsh like ....Oh its like that paintball thing or re-enactment.

    Its focuses more on this is a sport/activity where people goto places
    and participate rather than anyone can walk into a shop and legally
    buy a replica gun.

    Of course you will still get the whole, they are training like Terrorists
    or encouraging violence blah blah blah yapping from some of them.
    but some people you just cannot reason with.

    ~B


  • #21
    Puding
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,261 ✭✭✭Puding


    problem is the key visual aspects of airsoft you would have to use as there what make airsoft what it is, are replica gun, camo and shotting people, tbh video is not the perfect medium for this as it can be very easy for people to get the wrong impression


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  • #22
    NakedDex
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,984 ✭✭✭NakedDex


    I'm not at all saying a video promotion is a bad idea, but I am saying a video on Stephens Green is. A video online, linked from related sites like shops, fora, outdoor sports sites and the IAA site itself will effectively reach an already curious audience.
    Walk down the street of any city and you'll see dozens of advertising posters for various things. By the end of the street you may only remember bits of a couple, maybe none at all, because they held little interest for you. Go into a store like Outdoor Adventure Store and you'll find advertising for third party tours, kayaking, mountain climbing etc. Those are the ones that are noticed because they're targeted.

    You may have 50,000 people see a video on that screen, but how many will see it and suddenly decide to take note of checking airsoft out when they get home? How many will even remember to do so, even if they were interested?
    Show the same video online with the right links, and the viewer doesn't have to do any work at all, beyond clicking into a shop or forum and browsing for information or pictures.

    What concerns me is the motivation of those who would see that video in such a public place and take offense, sparking up further public outcry and "think of the children" articles without proper research. There were 5,000+ complaints in the UK about a soap opera storyline the other day. This is the mentality you're dealing with - the super PC brigade.

    Also, when I said 20 second clip, I wasn't talking about how long the video lasts, but how long someone on the street, possibly carrying their shopping or with friends/partner etc, would have their attention held for. I've seen these screens, but I've never given them more than a few seconds of a glance as I walked past. Nor have I seen anyone stand around watching one.


    I commend you for thinking of a promotional video, and I genuinely support such a pursuit. I've been to skirmishes armed only with my camera gear on a few occasions with the sole intention of getting images from games that might change peoples thoughts on it. Pictures often convey an emotion that any text or speech wouldn't. I intend on doing the same again this year (when the weather gets a tad more favourable to humping a grands worth of glass around a field without destroying it...) and hopefully these pictures can do similar to what you aim to.
    Video is equally powerful, but the best adverts can easily go unnoticed. You wouldn't put an ad for the new Audi TT on Nickelodeon during a cartoon. You put it on BBC during Top Gear. That's all I'm saying.


  • #23
    Puding
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,261 ✭✭✭Puding


    You may have 50,000 people see a video on that screen, but how many will see it and suddenly decide to take note of checking airsoft out when they get home? How many will even remember to do so, even if they were interested?
    Show the same video online with the right links, and the viewer doesn't have to do any work at all, beyond clicking into a shop or forum and browsing for information or pictures.

    on the other hand, how many take offense to it and start making a fuss, it was only a few weeks ago we had all the fun and games in limerick with airsoft on display in public

    know do not get me wrong it is not a bad idea but as other have said i believe it needs to be targets, Ireland is not the first to think of these types of things but there is a reason why you do not see this type of thing in the uk or mainland europe where airsoft has been around a lot longer

    the guys at Bellurgan have done a great little video and you can find examples of others on youtube, but there is no point sticking it up in your local shopping complex for example, but it would be perfect at events thought out the year and great resource for websites to link to


  • #24
    Puding
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,261 ✭✭✭Puding


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqzqmvwWKmY


  • #25
    markomongo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 153 ✭✭markomongo


    Puding wrote: »
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqzqmvwWKmY

    I was thinking about posting this up on its own after seeing this thread. :D

    Just so everyone knows, this was a college project so some of the scenes are a little dramatised. It was a group of college students from DKIT who came to us with the intention of doing a short piece about airsoft, just before we opened shop. After being initially skeptical we gave them some advice then let them roll.

    We gave the lads complete artistic freedom but I stressed that they be very careful about how they portrayed the sport due to the issues already mentioned in this thread. I think they done a good job.


  • #26
    Lemming
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,157 ✭✭✭✭Lemming


    markomongo wrote: »
    We gave the lads complete artistic freedom but I stressed that they be very careful about how they portrayed the sport due to the issues already mentioned in this thread. I think they done a good job.

    Very good job imo; I enjoyed watching it and that it didn't feel like 10 minutes is testament to them putting out a well edited & finished piece


  • #27
    OddysAirsoft
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 634 ✭✭✭OddysAirsoft


    My personal view is that Airsoft players need to start educating the masses carefully as the PaintBall industry has done already! We must stop being a closet sport afraid that we may upset people and loose our sport. We must aggressively and carefully educate the masses and the best medium is video.

    The highest subscriptions to ANY youtube channel is to ScoutTheDoggie with over 125,000 subscribers and over 4 million hits to his vids! That's staggering!


    If a sport is kept in the closet it is an easier target to get rid of than one that is out in the open!

    Airsoft is worth over 12 million annually to the Irish market so it's not small change!


  • #28
    MerryDespot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭MerryDespot


    I don't know Luca ... I reckon that Stephen's Green SC would be a bit of a step.
    That said, the centre manager (at least when I was last involved with the place) is a former marine (USMC that is). I stress former. Ex-marine was pointed out to me as being an unacceptable form of address. Eagle globe and anchor on the wall of his office and all...


  • #29
    MerryDespot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,397 ✭✭✭MerryDespot


    FRUoddy wrote: »
    Airsoft is worth over 12 million annually to the Irish market so it's not small change!

    Now now - there's no need to flaunt your annual spend like that! :D


  • #30
    Sparks
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    NakedDex wrote: »
    20 second clip
    60 seconds (and 200Mb and there are also format restrictions) is the maximum, not 20 seconds. Just FYI.


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  • #31
    MagicIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,902 ✭✭✭MagicIRL


    Given the possible hostility to a full on gun-wielding, weapon-flaunting video why not concider the following:

    A simple information based, almost Slideshow, type approach. A brief description, perhaps a few pictures and inform the public to search youtube for Oddy and Scoutthedoggie to see vidoes. That way we (the community) will easily have enough time and enough space to convey our message.


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