Sadly, my name was absent of the list of Balihoo bloggers last week.  You'll be glad to know, though, that I was off having an adventure.  My husband and I were able to take a couple of weeks and travel to Paris and then around southern Norway to visit family.  It's so nice to get away like that every once in a while and just remind yourself that the world is a big place with lots of things going on and lots of history.  It helps put things in perspective.

While wandering around the streets of Paris, taking in the architecture and history, and generally perspectifying ourselves (yes, I realize perspectifying isn't a word, but it should be), we came across quite a spectacle and soon found out that history was about to be made right at the base of the Eiffel Tower where we stood.  It was a media spectacle, and it jarred us out of our perspectifying.

An in-line skater was about to make the Guinness Book of World Records by jumping onto a ramp from the highest point ever attempted (attempted intentionally, as one news source pointed out).  His launch point?  The base of the Eiffel Tower.   Apparently when you combine a semi-obscure sport, the Guinness Book of records and an historic landmark, it’s media worthy. 

Here we are in of the most historic and architecturally significant cities in the world surrounded by a frenzy of X-gamers. 

My husband and I remarked at the coincidence that we happened to be in Paris at the same time, marveled at the excitement around us, took a picture of the preparation and magnitude of it all, and then moved on with our day.  And we didn't give the event a second thought, until now. 

What does this have to do with local marketing?  Almost nothing.  But it did occur to me the power of reaching the right audience when it comes to marketing - local or otherwise.  You can reach a ton of people and shout out the significance of your event or promotion, but if it's the wrong audience, they aren't going to listen.  If you get the right audience, you don't have to scream it - they just get it.  

Luckily for these Parisian roller-blade enthusiasts, they had an audience, and they were listening.

Oh, and if you're wondering if he made it - sorta.  Take a look.