Bestival at its best is coming to Billingsgate

Vauxhall has teamed up with Sunday Best and agency Jack Morton Worldwide to launch a consumer music experience.
The agency, famed for its Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies, is staging a London indoor festival on 3 May.
Bandstand is sponsored by Corsa and steered by Bestival organiser and record label Sunday Best. It will take place at Billingsgate and feature Grammy Award winner Mark Ronson.
Vauxhall Group Marketing Manager Richard Hughes said: “The event takes Corsa out of the traditional realms of communication for a car company and allows us to speak with potential buyers and to reward existing drivers. In Sunday Best, we have found a partner who shares our vision about doing something different, fun and totally unique.”
The festival will be themed around a magical park-like world of fauna, animals and characters. Themed rooms will include the Alice in Wonderland-inspired room and the Time Machine Disco. Other artistes lined-up include The Cuban Brothers and Rob da Bank.
Jack Morton Worldwide Managing Director Julian Pullan said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to unite and work with two such vital British brands. This event really speaks of the power of experiential marketing to create truly engaging, advocate-building experiences.”
Bandstand will appear at Liverpool’s Carling Academy on 10 May.

Jack Morton's New Year cheer

As 2007 drew to a close, several hundred thousand people witnessed the New Year's Eve fireworks over the River Thames. Millions more tuned in to the live coverage on BBC1. The celebration, which introduced the year of the Beijing Olympic Games and of the handover to London as the next host city was produced by Jack Morton Worldwide. Yesterday, the agency famed for its high profile Opening and Closing Ceremonies at major sporting events gave the live events industry something else to celebrate as it published the results of its global survey conducted amongst 277 brand marketers. The report reveals widespread plans to increase usage of and spending on experiential marketing in 2008. Here is a summary of the findings:

75% of marketers surveyed in the UK, Europe, the US, China and Australia affirm they will increase spending on experiential marketing in 2008.

Of those planning an increase, half plan to spend 5-10% more than in previous years, 12% will increase spend by 11-25% and almost one in ten pledge to increase spend by over 25%.

70% of brand marketers state that experiential marketing is extremely or very important to their organizations, and 71% report that experiential marketing will become increasingly important in the year to come.

Experiential marketing’s unique ability to reach, engage and make relevant connections with audiences has contributed to its growth. Highlighting this point, 93% of respondents agree that experiential marketing generates advocacy and word of mouth recommendations—the ultimate “user generated content” in an era of increased consumer control and hunger for authenticity. 92% agree that experiential marketing builds both brand awareness and brand relationships. 77% also state that it generates sales and leads.

The survey also reinforces the need for brands to “do” more and “talk” less. 98% of respondents agree that “brand experiences that deliver on brand promises are central to building commitment and loyalty”. 99% concur that “what a brand does is as important as what a brand says”.
To receive a copy of the report click here