Office Party Guidelines

A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Puppet
Mannequin American views and guidelines on marketing/PR trends, news from the world of puppets and ventriloquism, bits of humor and other interesting but useless information. I post every Tuesday and Friday.
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You Can Choose Doritos' Super Bowl Ad

Doritos once again asked individuals to submit ad ideas for its Super Bowl commercial. The company has narrowed the entries down to five finalists. Now you can pick the winner of this year's "Crash the Super Bowl" contest. Whichever ad receives the most votes, will be aired during the Super Bowl.  All five are funny in their own way. So go to the Web site, watch the ads and vote to see if you're able to choose the ad that eventually runs during the big game. I voted and I'll let you know if I picked the winning ad. Think you're a better judge of ads than this Mannequin American? Prove it. 

Sneak Preview of CareerBuilder Super Bowl Ad

Click here to see CareerBuilder's entertaining commercial that will air during the Super Bowl. I miss the monkeys from previous ads, and I object to the way they use the word "dummy," but it's still a funny ad.

Real Estate Company Pulls all National TV Ads in Favor of the Web

Century 21, one of the first real estate companies to advertise on TV, is pulling all national TV advertising in 2009 and redirecting its efforts and ad dollars to the Web. With the beleaguered real estate market showing no signs of a turnaround, the realtor has decided to play the numbers and go where the buyers and sellers are: online.

Century 21 spent $26 million on U.S. media in the first nine months of last year. The company spent $2.3 million of that online.

"There are a lot of possibilities online, not only classic display advertising but a lot of methodologies with search-enhanced listings for real estate properties and enhanced technologies," a spokesperson said.

Squeaking Balloon Animals


We all hit an age where our innocence is lost and we should be kept away from balloon animals. Why? Because, given the opportunity, we'll grab two and put them in compromising poses. Capitalizing on this sad phenomenon, condom maker, Durex, produced a short online video, which has been dubbed kama-balloon-animal-sutra.

Yes, I believe the balloon animals are made from condoms. And be warned, the video is not exactly "office friendly." But it's pretty darn funny.  The sound of squeaking balloons will never seem the same again.

Movie Poster
I'm sorry that I don' know who created this mock movie poster. But it was forwarded to me and because I'm old enough to have grown up with all of these characters I think it's pretty clever.

Office Party Guidelines
There are few "fun" activities quite so vexing as the Office Holiday Party; that obligatory gathering of bosses and subordinates, cronies and rivals, back-stabbers and back-stabbees; plus a horde of husbands and wives who spend the entire night planning their escape.

Every year you fantasize about sending an RSVP marked "Thanks, but no thanks." Then you return to reality and break the news to your spouse. "It'll be different this time," you lie. "It'll be fun."

"I'll go to yours, if you'll go to mine," your mate responds. "And you have to promise to behave."

This brings us to the art of gaffe avoidance. After all, who isn't but one faux pas from the unemployment line? Dodging the pitfalls of office party protocol can be a daunting challenge. But with the help of the following "formal" agreement, you'll survive yet another function with your job intact. 

AGREEMENT entered into on ____________, by Husband and Wife (collectively referred to as "Couple").

WHEREAS, Couple's employers suffer from the delusion that Office Christmas Parties are good for morale;

WHEREAS, Couple, being sane individuals, would prefer to stay home; and

WHEREAS, although Couple can't prove a connection, everyone who skipped last year's bash is now unemployed.

NOW, THEREFORE, Couple hereby agrees to the following office party guidelines:

To view the guidelines ... (and they'll make you laugh if you've "been there,") click here.