"Drivers coming off the Bay Bridge in to the city during the last week of 2011 will probably recognize this curious billboard message from "The Bay Bridge". The billboard was part of a crowdsourcing experiment from San Francisco-based startup LoudSauce..."
Read more of the story behind the Bay Bridge billboarin the SFist.
This holiday season, LoudSauce is doing something a little different. You've been following progress with our San Francisco billboard project- going up off the Bay Bridge during the final week of 2012. We've asked you to help us brainstorm, design, and vote for the best ideas- now with the billboard design in hand, it's time to fund it!
To celebrate the season of giving, we're kicking off the 12 Days of LoudSauce. For the next 12 days, we'll be humming our own version of the old song-- all about the gifts that spring up when people come together.
LoudSauce is an idea made possible by the generosity of others, so we're asking you to join us-- by getting into the holiday spirit and helping fund this project. Wouldn't it be cool if one of the last major advertisements of 2011 was a meaningful, community-driven message?
Each day we'll be adding a line to the song and a creative image to spread over Facebook- so keep your eyes peeled and join the choir. Donate here today: http://loudsauce.com/campaigns/59
The 12 Days of LoudSauce
To follow the rest of the song, follow us on Facebook!
On the tenth day of LoudSauce, the people made a pledge to the top 10 billboard ads of 2011,
nine bike share systems in major U.S cities,
eight nights of the festival of lights,
seven generations,
six hubs for social enterprise,
five ways to amplify,
four LoudSauce teammates,
three revolutions,
two sides of the San Francisco Bay,
and a billboard off the Bay Bridge.
Imagine if next year's Grammys were hosted by Planet Earth. Check out this awesome video from Pacha's Pajamas, the story and music album that teaches kids about the environment through pop culture.
Help Pacha's reach millions of kids by chipping in to spread the story of Pacha through the most popular YouTube videos. Donate today by visiting Pacha's LoudSauce campaign page.
Banned on the Hill (and in Europe!) from Franke James on Vimeo.
Wondering what's possible with a LoudSauce campaign? Check out this awesome video from Franke James, the artist who ran a LoudSauce campaign to take her blacklisted art to the streets (bus stops!) of Ottawa.
Cross-posted from Huffington Post San Francisco and Huffington Post Occupy Wall St
I remember ten years ago, as a middle schooler witnessing the tides change in our country -- seeing burning towers on the TV screen and in the months that followed, watching a war unfold. Over the last decade, Americans have faced a series of major upheavals, from housing crisis and the onslaught of the recession, to a historic election that stirred our guarded optimism. 2011 punctuated this decade of upheaval with a wave of unrest and revolution that spread from Tunisia to Wall St. As the year draws to a close, I can't help but feel as if a new era is approaching. What if the message that defines 2012, and this emerging era, came from the crowd?
For this historical moment in time, it feels especially meaningful to live in the Bay Area. I recently moved from Washington DC -- which I had long considered to be our nation's center of gravity -- fed up with working to affect change amid the political mudslinging, gridlock, and compromise. Here in San Francisco, I am in awe of the revolution that is taking place regardless of the political climate -- all around me, individuals are tossing out the rule book, redefining the game, rebuilding and re-imagining whatever systems and industries stand in our way.
Days after I arrived in San Francisco, the whole country suddenly was swept up in a major wake-up call -- people flocking together, deciding enough is enough, the current political and economic system has got to change. What inspires me most about the Occupy Movement is the collective realization that the wait is over -- across cities and towns, people are rejecting the notion that we'll have to wait for change to happen to us, for the economy to recover, for the jobs to be created, for the policies to change, for the conversation to start.
Simultaneously in San Francisco, entrepreneurs, innovators, and builders are already at work using their own ideas, creativity and strength in numbers to build a more just and sustainable system. There's Square -- which is revolutionizing small business transactions via mobile payments, and Benefit Corporation based out of the Hub San Francisco -- that believe business can do good and do well -- as well as Kiva,CarrotMob, and countless other ingenious and inspiring groups that have refused to wait for change.
One Bay Area start-up is concerned in particular with the role of media in bringing about meaningful change. LoudSauce, co-founded by Colin Mutchler and Christie George, takes inspiration from tools like Twitter and Facebook, which have enabled us to influence our friends and networks. LoudSauce is working to expand the definition of social media, to take people-powered messages one step further by providing people with the tools to reach beyond their current social network -- occupying billboards, bus stops, and TV ads with messages created and funded by the 99%.
It seems fitting that at the cusp of 2012, one of San Francisco's major commercial billboard spaces will be occupied by a message envisioned, designed, chosen and paid for by the people. Starting with community-generated ideas (via Facebook questions) and with the help of a handful of Bay Area designers and creative types, LoudSauce is asking the Bay Area to vote over the next three days on which message should go up on the billboard and greet over 600,000 drivers after crossing the Bay Bridge during the final week of 2011.
This project is just one of the many springing out of the Bay Area, showing the world that together, crowds of people everywhere can literally shape the kind of world we want to live in. I'm resolved in believing that 2012 will begin the era of the positive, entrepreneurial and crowd-driven spirit that will revitalize this country.
This holiday season, LoudSauce is asking you to help to shape the message that greets drivers crossing the Bay Bridge into San Francisco during the final week of 2011. First, we asked for your ideas on Facebook- tons of great slogans and concepts came in. Next, we held a brainstorming party to takes these ideas to the next level and enlisted Bay Area creative types to come up with some designs.
Drum roll please... The LoudSauce Highway 101 Billboard Campaign is now LIVE - now it's your turn to tell us which billboard design you LIKE best. The most popular design will be the one that goes up on Highway 101 and reaches hundreds of thousands of Bay Area commuters after the holidays.
Here's how it works:
1- Check out the billboard designs below or by visiting the campaign page
2- To vote, click the "Like" box under your favorite billboard design
3- After you've liked your favorite design, invite all your Facebook friends to like it too!
The billboard page will show up in your newsfeed, making it easy to invite, tag, post, and share with co-workers, relatives, friends, and housemates.
4- Don't forget to chip in- By donating, you'll be bringing this billboard to life. As a creative and meaningful holiday gift, you can also donate in honor of a friend or family member.
Let's usher in the new year by sending a powerful message to over 600,000 Bay Area drivers and showing the world how together, we can shape the kind of world we want to live in. We need you to help make this happen- which billboard should we bring to life?
Happy Holidays from the LoudSauce team,Colin, Caroline, Adrian, and Nick
Last night's Billboard Happy Hour at the Hub San Francisco was a major success and a lot of fun.
Our friends from Compost Modern and Big New Ideas, and the Presidio sustainable MBA program, as well as long-time LoudSauce advisors, Christie George and Charles Baker joined us for pizza, beer, and some inspired brainstorming around what to put up on the San Francisco Highway 101 billboard for the last week of 2011.
We started with some of the great ideas from our Facebook Questions poll- from LoudSauce fans around the country. A few themes that stood out:
----
In the next few days, we'll roll out these billboard ideas online. As we mentioned in our last blog post, we want YOU to decide which design goes up and reaches hundreds of thousands.
By donating, you'll be bringing this billboard to life. But don't just stop at donating- the idea with the most "Likes" gets the billboard, so if you really love the idea, spread the word and get all your friends, co-workers, and relatives to Like it as well!
We'll let you know the billboard campaign goes live- and we'll make it easy for you to tell everyone you know about it.
Stay tuned!
In the past year alone, LoudSauce has brought people together to fund some pretty amazing media- from the Story of Stuff on A&E's Hoarders to Franke Jame's artwork on bus stops along the streets of Ottawa. This holiday season, LoudSauce will put the power in the hands of our community from start to finish- we want you to decide what will go up on a Highway 101 billboard and reach hundreds of thousands of Bay Area commuters during the week after Christmas.
In the next few weeks, we'll be asking you to:
- share your ideas
- shape the image that finds its way to the billboard
- decide with your dollars which image to amplify
Here are the details. Please take a moment to tell us what you think- and stay tuned!
#1- YOUR IDEAS, PLEASE: Click here to choose your favorite billboard ideas and add to the growing list on our Facebook page. Post this poll to your Facebook profile and ask your friends to chime in.
#2- BAY AREA BRAINSTORM/HAPPY HOUR: This Monday night, we'll bring together some of San Francisco's innovators, creative-types, and do-gooders to take these ideas to the next level. This happy hour will spark the creation of clever, powerful, and beautiful images and messages that could find their way to the billboard. RSVP here.
#3- GIVING THANKS, LOUDSAUCE-STYLE: This Turkey Day, while we're home with family or visiting relatives, we'll be giving thanks for freedom of expression and the power of crowds-- and getting into the Spirit of Giving by kicking off the holiday season with the LoudSauce billboard campaign competition.
Talk to your aunties, your grandpa, your neighbors- what do they think should go up on Highway 101 Billboard this December 26th, 2011? Choose your favorite idea, donate to bring this idea to life, and tell your friends and family about it. It's winner takes all, so the most popular idea will be the one that gets the billboard.
#4- THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING: As the holidays draw to a close, we'll put up a powerful message- reaching hundreds of thousands of Bay Area commuters and showing the world how we can come together to amplify ideas that matter.
It's your turn- help create the message that matters to you.
We received news this morning that the #Occupy TV Ad produced by Glenn Grossman and David Sauvage, and funded by 168 citizens, is slotted to air tonight during the O'Reilly Factor. Note that as per the Google TV Ads service, it will air nationally ONLY for subscribers of DISH Network, Direct TV, and Verizon Fios.
Confirmed times for Wed November 9th airings for subscribers of DISH Network, DirectTV, Verizon Fios
For list of confirmed airings, you can see the following Google doc.
Watch, record and share!
In order to document the experience, go ahead and find a friend or go to a bar or community center with DISH, DirectTV, or Verizon Fios. Then record and share a video like the one below that was recorded on Saturdy during the airing during Charlie Rose on Bloomberg Business TV.
Then share it on the LoudSauce Facebook page and wherever else you'd like. And fund the new campaign to reach millions more along with two new ads.
In the last 3 weeks alone, we have managed to make major headlines for a very bold endeavor involving a 30 second Youtube video.
This weekend, #Occupy is coming to your living room-- and the living rooms of over a million other Americans! In order to make this first round of ads the wave that opens the floodgates, we need your help.
Starting today (saturday) and continuing till Monday, we're hosting the #Occupy Ad Nationwide Live Viewing Party. You don't need to go anywhere- just grab your camera phone and tune into Bloomberg Business News. Keep reading for the list of airing times and how to find your area channel.
Please take a moment to RSVP now and spread the word to everyone you know.
In town squares around the country and on online hubs like LoudSauce, people are congregating- so we think its fitting that this weekend, we witness this milestone- for the future of media and the reach of the Occupy movement- together.
We're asking you to join us by tuning in for the #Occupy Ad Nationwide Live Viewing Party- happening throughout the weekend from your laptop, living room, or local bar. Here's what will happen:
This week could become a tipping point for something bigger and bolder than even we are ready to believe ... just think ... Superbowl 2012?
In order to make this dream a reality, here's what we need from you: please RSVP to the #Occupy Nationwide Live Viewing Party on Facebook. Help us reach even more people by posting it on your wall and inviting all your friends!
We're so inspired to be a platform that useful to this movement, and glad you'll join us in experiencing this historic moment. Thanks for all that you do to bring democracy to life.
----
Watch for the ad which will air on Bloomberg Business News nationally at the following times:
For subscribers of DISH Network, DirectTV, and Verizon Fios, the ad will also be airing throughout the weekend and early next week on ESPN, CBS Sports, History International, Outdoor Channel, Gayle King Show, Grey’s Anatomy and Friends. We'll keep the full detailed list updated on the Occupy TV Ad airings Google doc.
----
What's this #Occupy ad about?
As the Occupy movement steadily grows in size and popularity, media pundits and news anchors are clamoring to find a way to characterize it, while many Americans are curious, watching, waiting and seeking to understand. Freelance film producer, David Sauvage wanted to capture the human faces that make up this movement- the real voice of the 99%- so they made a 30 second video clip that has since found received thousands of views and made its way through major news sources in the US and around the world.
More importantly, in less than a week, $6,278 was raised by 168 citizens- enough money to air the ad on major TV stations like CBS Sports and FoxNews and during shows like Friends and Grey's Anatomy. In other words, this ad has the potential to reach millions of average Americans who just want to know what the Occupy movement is really about.
Support the next wave of #Occupy TV ads
The filmmakers David Sauvage and Glenn Grossman who made this first 30 sec spot have already made 2 new ads, which you can watch and support on the new #Occupy TV ads campaign page on LoudSauce. They are looking to raise $15k in the next 30 days to support the production of these 3 ads ($5k), as well as $10k more in ad space to spread the ideas even more.
