PART II

So, that was the story behind the Golden Sequined Jacket. And you would think that would be the end of it, right? Except... the rental was for 3 days. No way was I going to let a (literal) Golden Opportunity go unused.

The Management Team, the Salespeople and Marketing, and all the out-of-towners were staying downtown at the Hyatt Hotel (we are having our Annual Sales Conference). The Hyatt is at a very busy intersection. Their sessions ended at noon Thursday, and they scheduled a bus to pick them up in front of the hotel at 12:30 and take them out to some social event. So... at noon, in full Sparkly regalia (plus a hat and some really hideous shades), I was standing out on the corner. With a BoomBox blasting "Gangnam Style", and a giant sign with a handle on it so it spins. Yeah, I was a Spinny Sign Guy! (Here is a pic taken at the office, just before heading downtown)

I spent an hour out there literally Dancing In The Street. Twirling the sign, dancing, waving, jumping, all the crazy things that typical Sign Twirlers do. Tons of people honking, lots of pedestrians asking what "Edgewater Networks" is ("Honk if you love state-of-the-art cloud-based VoIP Session Border Controllers!") (yes, I actually said that). A police car cruised by and stopped in front of me. I saw him clearly typing into his terminal, but eventually he just smiled and waved, and moved on. About 3 minutes later, ANOTHER Police Cruiser came by and slowed down, and I could see the Officer laughing. I guess word gets out!

As my coworkers (well, hopefully I can STILL call them coworkers after all this) filed out of the hotel, I was able to, with the use of my handy sign and ninja-like spinning skills, guide them safely to the bus, with very little loss of life or lunch. Then, after they had safely departed (none too soon, based on the look on the bus driver's face), I continued to spin and twirl and wave and dance out in the street, because... well... because.

Looking back at the experience I take pride in the fact that I had achieved the Ultimate Marketing Success: a Lasting Impression made upon a potential customer base. Of course, one might argue that a "Lasting Impression" that also serves as a "Cautionary Tale" has limited corporate benefit, but who am I to quibble?

My buddy filmed the whole thing - over an hour of video (hopefully an edited version will appear online in the next week). But I was wondering if I could ask a favor of my AQ friends... I think it would be HILARIOUS if suddenly our company's online presence were to get a boost due to some "mysterious idiot in a gold suit". Anyone with a twitter account, send a tweet to @EWN_INC saying you saw someone in a gold jacket waving a sign, or you saw a picture online of a strange man in a weird outfit, or anything referring to a man twirling a sign in Downtown San Jose on Thursday or wandering around the bars Tuesday night. Feel free to say he made you laugh, or made you question his sanity, or made you embarrassed for humanity, whatever... just that it was somehow noticed. Any sort of blip in our otherwise dead twitter account would be immediately noticed, and maybe I could convince them to BUY ME the outfit! All that glitters is not gold. Sometimes it's sequins.

send a tweet to @EWN_INC saying you saw someone in a gold jacket waving a sign....

I don't really use Twitter although I created an account years ago. I think I tweeted something once like, "Look! I tweeted!" I could be wrong--it was a long time ago. But I know it was about that useless.

Anyhow, I found The @EWN_INC page, but I can't figure out what to click to actually send a tweet!

But I was left wondering what this photo is about. Is that one of your co-workers? A client somewhere? Whoever he is, I think he needs some help and fast! Maybe some drugs, even. =)

-- Ryan

Funny you should mention that. When that image first appeared on our website, I too wondered at the significance. Something about standing on the edge of security, taking a leap into cloud-based yada yada whatever. Yeah, I didn;t quite get it either. That's why I submitted THIS alternative to them. For some reason, they have opted not to use it! Go figure.

That's why I submitted THIS alternative to them. For some reason, they have opted not to use it!

It makes a heck of a lot more sense to me! =) Having images of employees/customers leaping to their deaths doesn't strike me as particularly inspiring. If they are just jumping onto a giant whoopie cushion--no harm, no foul! Heck, I'd like to give that a try myself! =)

-- Ryan

I have not one, but two Twitter accounts. I follow you on my personal one. The other is a professional one, but both could comment on it! Now to figure out how to approach the tweets.
Wassa, your work posts provide so much humor. They are so appreciated. I am currently looking for employment. Here is hoping that I will end up somewhere with amusing co-workers!

I'll bet you played Mousetrap as a kid, didn't you? My son has an internship doing graphics for a weather company, and I can totally see him putting together something like that!

I don't really use Twitter although I created an account years ago. I think I tweeted something once like, "Look! I tweeted!" I could be wrong--it was a long time ago. But I know it was about that useless.

Anyhow, I found The @EWN_INC page, but I can't figure out what to click to actually send a tweet!

The fact that you can't figure this out restores my faith in humanity. I feel sooooooo much better about myself now.

Wry Me
root word of twitter is "twit

very little loss of life or lunch

Ahem...."very little"???

That cummerbund looks like Walt Disney threw up. Actually the whole outfit looks like something out of a Disney acid inducted hallucination

Shiloh

This is why we love you!

Has anyone Tweeted anything?

I did. Hoping I did it right.

OMG Wassa! How incredibly funny! I would have loved to see it! Please post the video online so we can see it!

If I only had a Twitter account......

BB

Please post the video online so we can see it!

Here is a short clip, taken in Downtown San Jose (corner of San Carlos and Almaden, for those locals who care). The music you can't hear, but to which I am dancing, is Aretha Franklin's "Think" (from The Blues Brothers). WARNING: Contains blatant stupidity.

WARNING: Contains blatant stupidity.

I wouldn't watch it if it didn't! =)

-- Ryan

It's a shame you're so shy and withdrawn. If only you could come out of your shell a bit . . .