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Jeffrey Freedman: Regarding ‘captive ads’ and the matter of good taste

Posted: April 05, 2011

I am writing to welcome the Erie County Holding Center to the wonderful world of advertising and to congratulate our county officials on “captive ads.”

Captive ads, in case you missed it, is the new Metrodata Services advertising program that allows defense attorneys, bail bondsmen and anyone else who would like to advertise to the captive audience of the recently arrested on big screen TVs in the Holding Center.

Advertising has been a part of my business for more than 30 years and — although I try to err on the side of good taste — I acknowledge it is a powerful tool. In fact, I’m wondering if the county isn’t missing the boat. Why stop at advertising to the inmates of the Holding Center? Advertising is about space, and the county owns a lot of space.

For example, why not pitch urologists to place their ads on the urinals at the Ralph? Collision repair shops would jump at the chance to have “wraps” on county snowplows.

Erie County Medical Center is a potential gold mine of space. Picture the possibilities for hospital gowns. Give patients a choice: Viagra or Cialis today, Mr. Smith?

And just imagine elevators and waiting rooms papered with the faces of compassionate, personal injury attorneys. “We don’t charge a fee unless we win your case.”

What about the backs of traffic tickets? Most responsible drivers go over their traffic tickets with a fine-tooth comb to make sure they don’t miss a point that might increase their fine. Maybe bars could offer drink specials: “Drown your sorrows and chill out!” after that DUI you got on the way home from the big game.

And—here’s an idea—if we can sell the names to our sports arenas, why not our county buildings? Which brings us back to the Erie County Holding Center. I can just see the sign now, “The Jeffrey Freedman Holding Center.” Too bad I’m not a defense attorney. It just wouldn’t work for me. I wonder if it would be a conflict of interest to have my name on the Bankruptcy Court?

It’s not that I’m against advertising. That’s not what’s bothering me. I was one of the first attorneys in Western New York to advertise. It’s that “good taste” thing. And then there’s that “conflict of interest” thing.

Guess I’ll have to go back to my Six Sigma handbook and see if this is something I need to worry about . . . or if I should just forget it and see if Metrodata Services is planning to put a big-screen TV in the Bankruptcy Court.

Reprinted from The Buffalo News, April 5th 2011. You can read the original story here.

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