Am I the only one who feels this way?

[argytunes]

Maybe it's because it's February and President's Day is an excuse to sell everything from automobiles to bunk beds....but have you noticed there's more screaming ads than ever before? ???

I live in Southern Maine...but have noticed the yelling and screaming from advertisers has started to get "out of control?" Granted it's cheaper for a car dealer or a spokesman (or woman) with limited talent to sing the praises of a discount furniture store....but how many people reading this (whether they're broadcasters or just visitors to the board) ARE GETTING SICK OF BEING YELLED AT?

While one or two advertisers are probably convinced that screaming about their product is their way of getting our attention....doesn't the practice make you ANGRY? Especially when the 'shot gun ads' come in succession?

Granted....an advertiser can spend unlimited sums of money in order to appear in his (or her) own commercial or infomercial. Sometimes their pitches are moderately credible? But most of what I've heard or seen lately is ANNOYING!

So am I the only person who would NEVER step into a furniture showroom, a car dealership, or even purchase a product that was "infomercialed" because of a pushy or loud spokesperson---who thinks their message is actually being heard? ;D

argytunes

 

[Infidel]

I bought a sofa recently, and I purposely went to a local family-owned place because they are one of the only ones who DON'T run repeating radio spots.

 

[Varulven]

the volume levels of the commercials are obnoxious. Any radio station that claims the volume on the commercials is not louder is lying when the listener notices a huge difference...it's particularly obnoxious at the gym when the music turns into minutes and minutes of gibberish which echoes around the room.

 

[SonicOverload]

lately, when there's a commercial break for a station, I either switch somewhere else or shut off the radio until I know they'll be back...

 

[oldrover]

Sometimes yelling and loudness is good... Chuck Igo did a great ad for an indoor karting company here in the Portland market that's loud but sounds fun.

However, I agree... yelling in a commercial should be done only as part of the overall tone, not just for the sake of being loud. Keep in mind, though: radio people listen to ads a LOT differently than normal people. JMHO.

 

[JIBGUY]

Chill out guys!

Listen instead to WJIB-740 or WJTO-730.
No loud commercials.
No obnoxious commercials.
No commercials at all!

No felons, frauds, freaks or phonies on 730/740.

 

[oldrover]

You're not suggesting that all advertisers are freaks, frauds or phonies, are you While I love your stations and your commitment to doing radio the way you feel it should be done, I also feel that radio ads for desired products and services deliver value for both the listener and the advertiser and, when done well, can contribute to the overall sound of a station. Of course, YMMV. ;D

 

[argytunes]

old rover...

I can certainly understand why most advertisers on radio...or tv, for that matter...want to get the biggest bang for their buck! But isn't the true test of effective advertising based on copy, audio content, and style of delivery...not to mention a product that most people want to learn more about?

Does screaming at your audience create a "desire" to run to your checkbook and sign up for a 5-year installment plan on an automobile...or a "free mystery sleeping potion" if we spend 2 grand on a comfortable mattress?

Here's an idea!

Next time you're pulling an all-nighter...either because you want to or because you can't drop off to sleep...why not channel surf some of the infomercials? When you find one you like, close your eyes and listen to the volumn of the sound along with the copy content of the audio.

Without the benefit watching one or two individuals behaving like "bozos", I'll bet your ears will discover how lame and loud those 30 minute advertisements REALLY are?

argytunes

 

[Oldbones]

So am I the only person who would NEVER step into a furniture showroom, a car dealership, or even purchase a product that was "infomercialed" because of a pushy or loud spokesperson---who thinks their message is actually being heard? ;D

No you aren't the only one. Even if I were interested in driving a "Honder" or "Tie odor", I wouldn't buy it from Ernie Boch because his commercials are so annoying. That having been said, I can think of very few car dealerships whose ads are NOT loud & annoying. Likewise furniture stores. I don't know why these businesses in particular seem to think that being loud & obnoxious is the way to attract customers.

Another thing that's equally annoying are spots voiced by the client who either has a thick, unintelligible accent or just sounds illiterate. The ones WBZ airs for Nina's Lighting are horrible, Linux Financial is another one...they must be effective if the guy keeps doing them, but I can't see how they can be.

 

[Garrett]

You are not the only one who feels like this.
I'm particularly ticked at the GM President's day spot which starts with that aweful music and goes "Ladies and Gentlmen, the President of the United States..."

I can't think of anything less connected to each other than George Washington and Chevy Impalas. What an absolute unpatriotic and cheesey way to sell a product?

No wonder GM is in debt. Perhaps if they spent more money on building cars....

Maybe it's because it's February and President's Day is an excuse to sell everything from automobiles to bunk beds....but have you noticed there's more screaming ads than ever before? ???

I live in Southern Maine...but have noticed the yelling and screaming from advertisers has started to get "out of control?" Granted it's cheaper for a car dealer or a spokesman (or woman) with limited talent to sing the praises of a discount furniture store....but how many people reading this (whether they're broadcasters or just visitors to the board) ARE GETTING SICK OF BEING YELLED AT?

While one or two advertisers are probably convinced that screaming about their product is their way of getting our attention....doesn't the practice make you ANGRY? Especially when the 'shot gun ads' come in succession?

Granted....an advertiser can spend unlimited sums of money in order to appear in his (or her) own commercial or infomercial. Sometimes their pitches are moderately credible? But most of what I've heard or seen lately is ANNOYING!

So am I the only person who would NEVER step into a furniture showroom, a car dealership, or even purchase a product that was "infomercialed" because of a pushy or loud spokesperson---who thinks their message is actually being heard? ;D

argytunes

 

[BoredModerator]

"I DOUBTTTTTTTTT IT"

 

[oldrover]

Here's an idea!

Next time you're pulling an all-nighter...either because you want to or because you can't drop off to sleep...why not channel surf some of the infomercials? When you find one you like, close your eyes and listen to the volumn of the sound along with the copy content of the audio.

Without the benefit watching one or two individuals behaving like "bozos", I'll bet your ears will discover how lame and loud those 30 minute advertisements REALLY are?

argytunes

Actually, I've written infomercials for TV. They can be quite effective as well, if done properly. Some aren't. But quite a few are.

 

[Garrett]

Well then, if you are an infomercial producer, you are quite biased, aren't you?

 

[oldrover]

You don't read so good. I said I've WRITTEN infomercials, not produced them. Big difference.

FWIW, I also spent over ten years as a jock. So... no, I'm not biased one way or the other. Why? Are you? ;D

 

[argytunes]

Garrett and Old Rover...

I think YOU BOTH have valid points.

All infomercials aren't terrible. But it's pretty easy to see (and hear) the ones that have poor direction...and are obviously populated by bad actors! While I'm sure the on-camera exposure is wonderful, I keep asking myself: Would I honestly want one or two of these nut jobs inside my home?

Having served as a Creative Director (during the 80s and 90s), I've seen several terrific copy ideas get turned into 30 or 60 seconds of mush! And even though I willingly made the changes the client requested, it got pretty frustrating when a simple, easy to digest concept got over-produced and the message was LOST!

Pizz--AZZ is wonderful----until the bells and whistles begin to override the product or service that a spokesperson or advertising is attempting to sell! :

argytunes

 

[PTBoardOp94]

You are not the only one who feels like this.
I'm particularly ticked at the GM President's day spot which starts with that aweful music and goes "Ladies and Gentlmen, the President of the United States..."

I can't think of anything less connected to each other than George Washington and Chevy Impalas. What an absolute unpatriotic and cheesey way to sell a product?

No wonder GM is in debt. Perhaps if they spent more money on building cars....

I didn't mind the spot too much until they said the President's day sale was extended until February 28th. The remix of Hail to the Chief is quite catchy, but I agree that GW is a long way from Chevrolet in my mind.

 

[thathoustonradiogeek]

Great ! A place for me to vent!

Being bi-lingual I listen to both english and spanish radio. There's a big furniture store here in Houston whose english radio ads are tolerable, but their spanish ads feature a dialogue between a loud obnoxious anglo guy speaking spanish and a hispanic guy speaking with a stereotypical Mexican accent (think Speedy Gonzalez at normal speed). Both are VERY irritating.