How AWARD School graduate Jess Wheeler’s ‘Enchanted BBQ’ ad went viral around the world
Jess Wheeler is a junior copywriter and recent AWARD School graduate, trying desperately to break into the industry.
There are a number of projects he’s working on, and one of them has gone viral over the last week.
On December 29, after much nagging from the Mrs, he put a satirical ad up on Gumtree to get rid of their old barbie.
After only 36 hours it approached 9,000 views, and he was inundated with texts, emails, calls and voice mails.
Since then The enchanted BBQ has gone viral all over the world.
Wheeler told CB: “I have been receiving messages from Brazil, South Africa, Canada, America etc… My phone and email have been bombarded with literally hundreds of messages.”
The ad ended up on BuzzFeed, The Courier Mail and news.com.au, NineMSN and Yahoo UK.
A Google search of ‘enchanted BBQ’ will find a number of links to internet forums and other areas where it is being spoken about.
Someone even made a piece of artwork out of the enchanted BBQ.
Says Wheeler: “The visitor counter crashed and was reset on the Gumtree ad, and we lost at least 100,000 hits unfortunately. According to LinkTally, it has been shared over 50,000 times on Facebook alone.
“I have received all kinds of hilarious, and often bizarre, messages from people including romantic advances and marriage proposals, people offering to trade their souls, a man offered to trade his wife, and one woman sent a message saying that the ad had saved her husband’s life by giving her a much needed laugh, which prompted her to ‘postpone a completely justifiable homicide’.
“I’ve had some offers of freelance work and writing gigs in the music industry and various areas, but really I just want to get into a creative agency as a copywriter.”
He can be contacted on 0412288198 or via email
15 Comments
It went viral for the sheer randomness of the ad and probably Reddit – but shesh – way to many words for a wannabe copywriter and lets be honest, it’s been done. Lets see if this kid can work to a brief.
…that BBQ smells a little something like this from 2009
http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-real-mans-bloody-awesome-non-latte-sipping-barbecue/
http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/740346-webhilarious-ebay-sale-bmx-bike/
The only comparison to that thing from the Punch is that it’s an ad for a BBQ…
While the “quirky gumtree/craigslist ad for a mundane object” has been overdone, I really hope someone does get in touch with Jess. I really like his story.
Jim Ingram and Ben Couzens now ECDs at CumminsRoss were lecturers at last year’s AWARD school program.
Nothing is original…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=970ulMO4iHo
Welcome to the blog Jess.
My first piece of advice is never read this blog again if you want to believe this is an industry worth working in.
Good onya for putting yourself out there – social and PR are mostly where it’s at and you’ve demonstrated an understanding of both.
Good luck.
You guys are all fucked.
It’s unfortunate that she’s entering in to your industry.
It’s a unique way to get some attention in a saturated industry.
What’s everyone else who’s graduated award school doing? Emailing their same 10-12 pieces of work to CDs and hoping they get a foot in the door.
Well done for having the initiative. Fresh blood might liven up these fossils. All the best.
Wicked Styx was already done by Napolean Dynamite meets David Thorne meets everyone who has ever written humour or satire. Silly to compare.
Welcome to CampaignBrief Jess, where anyone who isnt getting as much attention as you, is having a sook.
Great stuff!
You’d think someone commenting about what is required of a “wannabe copywriter” would at the very least use proper spelling. Yeah, nah… epic fail!
I liked it. Give the guy a go. Clearly he’s got the foundations for some good thinking and writing!!
Yeh guys the 100,000 people who checked it out wall all definitely wasting there time. Funny and awesome article and creative approach to get yourself out there, that’s all there is to it nice work!
You wankers need to get a life. Jess has done a funny ad, it’s gone viral- well done. You knob heads really need to get a life. He’s not saying it’s winning a Gold Lion, he just wants to start his career.
Jess, if you’re reading this- good job. It’s brilliant you’ve done something that’s got noticed around the world. Don’t listen to these bitter hacks. Or maybe do, and choose a career where you won’t get hacked to bits by narrow-minded haters.
A bit of positivity pleas people. It’s a new year. Don’t be jaded and cynical already.
Good to see someone actually demanding attention instead of expecting it.
You don’t need Award School.
You need to demonstrate initiative and flair. Which is why this work positions you as an exciting proposition for any agency. And I haven’t seen your Award work, or need to.
I would also look to some of the more creative agencies overseas. You’re probably at a stage of your life that’s relatively footloose and free so capitalise on this and the momentum your trusty old BBQ and creative mind has given you. Either way, only pick an absolutely top agency. The first step is an important one.
Don’t lose the passion Jess. You put yourself out there and there’ll always be knockers. Hopefully you’ll get the chance to prove what you’ve got. Best of luck.