"i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th

[nlknauss]

Check out the ABC press release on "i.am.FIRST" ABC special filmed at World Championships this year.

http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...STversion2.pdf

Looking forward to it!

[kstl99]

Thanks for posting this. Seems like a great use of the will.i.am name to attract viewers who would not otherwise watch a FIRST special. I am looking forward to it because I was unable to go to the championship.

I still wish he would wear the FIRST hat Dean gave him at the kick-off.

Originally Posted by kstl99

I still wish he would wear the FIRST hat Dean gave him at the kick-off.

As do we.

[rsisk]

Help an old guy out here....

Do I promote this as will.i.am and FIRST?

or Black Eyed Peas and FIRST?

Is it correct to promote the man or the group?

[JamesBrown]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Help an old guy out here....

Do I promote this as will.i.am and FIRST?

or Black Eyed Peas and FIRST?

Is it correct to promote the man or the group?

Not knowing the make up of the show I would promote it at will.i.am, from the Black Eyed Peas, and FIRST. will.i.am is really establishing his personality and brand outside of the BEPs, however I still think there is value in tying him to the BEPs.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by JamesBrown

Not knowing the make up of the show I would promote it at will.i.am, from the Black Eyed Peas, and FIRST. will.i.am is really establishing his personality and brand outside of the BEPs, however I still think there is value in tying him to the BEPs.

It is will.i.am that approached FIRST to make the show, but the BEP are the performers so I would say "will.i.am, of the Black Eyed Peas and FIRST"

I am SO excited for this show. The concert was a HUGE moment for FIRST. I've been lucky enough to see some of the material from the show (I'm interning at FIRST Marketing, so promoting this is obviously a big part of my job) , and I was fortunate enough to get some time to talk to will.i.am and his mom (who presented Dean's List with my grandmother) at the Championship. HE GETS IT, guys. He really gets it.

August 14th, 7pm on ABC. One more step toward a culture change for us all.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Libby K

I've been lucky enough to see some of the material from the show (I'm interning at FIRST Marketing, so promoting this is obviously a big part of my job) , and I was fortunate enough to get some time to talk to will.i.am and his mom (who presented Dean's List with my grandmother) at the Championship. HE GETS IT, guys. He really gets it.

August 14th, 7pm on ABC. One more step toward a culture change for us all.

So, does some of this promotion include the - My Robot Is Better Than Your Robot - taunting theme that I'm seeing pop up in Facebook newsfeeds? If so, I'm getting more confused about the message of FIRST and what is being conveyed through promotion and advertising.

Jane

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

So, does some of this promotion include the - My Robot Is Better Than Your Robot - taunting theme that I'm seeing pop up in Facebook newsfeeds? If so, I'm getting more confused about the message of FIRST and what is being conveyed through promotion and advertising.

Jane

Jane,
its just for humor. Loosen up a little.
This TV special is indeed a great first step towards really showcasing FIRST.

Glenn

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by waialua359

its just for humor. Loosen up a little.

Sorry to disappoint, Glenn.

To the people that don't know FIRST, they'll see that as the same old message they've grown up with. No culture change there...

I'd rather go for inspiration. Something like, "We're all in this together." Or - "Competing like crazy - we're all in this together." Or, the real message: "Making the grade, we're all in this together."

But that's just me.

Jane

[Ankit S.]

I've been watching all the interview/video things and I noticed two things:

1. All the "Who are the..." teams are Californian and went to SVR,

2. Justin Bieber says "US FIRST" rather than just "FIRST". The irony.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Well, hopefully I'll be able to have someone record this since I don't own a TV.

[NickE]

This is really fantastic publicity. I'm extremely impressed by the great lengths Will.i.am and his crew went through to produce and publicize this special.

Originally Posted by BeltSanderRocks

All the "Who are the..." teams are Californian and went to SVR

Several members of the film crew were at SVR filming and interviewing teams. I know 254 and 1868 were interviewed and I suspect 1538 was as well.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by waialua359

its just for humor. Loosen up a little.

I'm not a facebook person, so I've not seen any "My Robot Is Better Than Your Robot". I'll admit I've said almost the same thing to Jane in the past when it comes to rumors. (If you've been here for long, you know her opinion of the rumor mill.) In this case though, I have to agree with Jane 100%. Even if its intended to be in a joking manner, it will be really hard to convey this to someone outside of FIRST. If I recall, we've always said work together off the field...compete like crazy on the field. That is one of our biggest selling points that I hope influences the culture today. Let's try to be aware of how an unknowing bystander will see it whenever we put something in the public eye. Facebook is a perfect example. If we continue things like this, it doesn't look good for FIRST. I'm not trying to ruin people's fun, just saying lets keep this sort of thing out of the public eye. At the very least, if you want to brag about your robot do it on CD and not on Facebook. You'll be doing the cause a favor. Just remember, not all publicity is good publicity.

Jason

[JaneYoung]

Jason, it's an actual ad/trailer. The celebrities take turns saying it. It's a part of the current promotion campaign for the Special.

I'm not so sure folks are worried about good publicity or bad publicity at this point. They like -> publicity.

Jane

[Molten]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Jason, it's an actual ad/trailer. The celebrities take turns saying it. It's a part of the current promotion campaign for the Special.

I'm not so sure folks are worried about good publicity or bad publicity at this point. They like -> publicity.

Jane

It would seem its much worse then I had thought. I hope that someone points out the flaw in this campaign and it gets straightened out. We are just starting to get the ball rolling. I'd hate for progress to slow down due to bad publicity. I hope I'm not the only one that sees a big difference.

Jason