| Culture fluffing…
Ok, first, thank you to Broke-Ass Stuart for having me on his show last Friday. It was really fun!
Second, I feel I should explain the Fluff bottles with my picture on the lid. The ones that were on the store shelves at Cost Plus World Market in Oakland, California. The ones that read “Rusty Blazenhoff LOVES Fluff!” and have a photo of me sitting in my home’s breakfast nook. Ya. Those.
Let me just say, right off the bat, I was surprised by everyone’s reaction when I posted them online with the caption:
“Cost Plus stopped carrying plain Fluff (which is sad because that’s the only place that has it for sale around here). They only have this special kind!”
They (you?) wrote stuff like, “Are you serious?!” and “How the hell did this happen???” and “Congratulations!”
And…
“Are they real?”
Well, yes, they are real stickers on real jars of Fluff. It’s like when people used to ask me if “Rusty Blazenhoff” was my real name. “Yes” is the answer, but it’s not the whole answer. Sometimes, just a “yes” is sufficient. I don’t think it is in this case.
I think the answer lies in this question: Are they “official”?
Well, no, they are not. Durkee-Mower, the makers of Fluff, are in no way involved.
But, wait, there’s a story.
I’ve had this idea for a while, to put stickers on jars of Fluff, but probably not for what you think. When people come to visit my home and see my Fluff room, I almost always get asked if they can try some. I’ve started keeping some jars on hand to out on such occasion. The idea behind the sticker was that they would get a special jar from my house. Haha, funny joke, take Fluff, bye.
So, I finally got around to making the stickers. While I was putting the art together for them, I was chatting with a friend and told him I was making stickers for the top of Fluff jars with my picture on them. He immediately asked I was doing a guerrilla marketing campaign.
I wasn’t, but WAITADOGGONEMINUTE, I SHOULD.
I was surprised *I* hadn’t thought of it, as I have a long time history of culture jamming.
It was perfect, the stickers could be used for both purposes. When they arrived, I couldn’t wait to show people. A few close friends immediately got a text from me with an image of one jar of stickered Fluff (and no explanation), and all but one thought I had cut a deal with Durkee-Mower.
Oh, that surprised me.
Then, the next day, I took a trip to Cost Plus with a newly recruited partner-in-crime to sticker all of the jars at the local Cost Plus. It was fun! They looked great on the shelves. I secretly wished they were real and that I did have a deal with Fluff.
Then, I posted the photo on social media, thinking all my friends would know immediately it was an “inside job.” Given my years in the Cacophony Society and all the crazy pranks I’ve pulled, I was flabbergasted when everyone thought the jars of sugary cream with my mug on them were…bona fide.
Panic set in. I froze. I didn’t know what to do, so I didn’t do anything. Until now.
I love all of you who thought it was real, because that means you think highly of me. I mean, it seems like a crazy idea to me, probably because it would be the most awesomest thing ever in the history of me…but, all things considered, it’s really not that crazy. Much crazier things have happened.
Now what?
Well, would you like to help me sticker jars? Does the store in your town sell Fluff? Ping me with your snail mail address and I’ll send you a few stickers so you can help me with my little “culture fluffing” experiment.
And, don’t be mad. I’m looking at you, east coast friends. 🙂
— Rusty Blazenhoff
p.s. It’s almost over, will it make its goal? http://kck.st/1cJAF7u |
