A Little Comic Relief/Alivio Comico
Text & Video: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Photos & Translation: Francisco Collazo
[vease abajo para la version en espanol]
For the past few months I’ve been gathering material for long-term project that has the working title, “Buscando Un Guiso,” or “Looking for Work.” The premise of the project is simple: a photojournalistic essay about people who pick up odd jobs for a living.
I’ve collected photos of clowns who dance their way around cars stopped at red lights in Mexico City, itinerant vendors, shoeshine men, and all other kinds of hustlers and buskers.
But yesterday, while doing some shopping at Wal-Mart in Mexico City, I came across a new one: part-time temp dancer for the Alpura milk company. The dancers go from store to store, dressed in their Alpura-gear, and dance for hours in an effort to get customers to buy Alpura instead of, say, Lala.
Good thing we had the camera… those waxed Wal-Mart floors are great for splits:
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En los ultimos meses, he estado colocando material para un proyecto de plazo largo que lleva el titulo tentativo, “Buscando Un Guiso.” El proposito del proyecto es sencillo: un ensayo fotografico sobre las personas que yo encuentro que trabajan de manera improvisada.
He tomado fotos de payasos bailando en el trafico en la Ciudad de Mexico, de vendedores ambulantes, limpiabotas, y todos tipos de jineteros.
Pero ayer, mientras hicimos compras en Wal-Mart en la Ciudad de Mexico, encontre un guiso nuevo: bailarin tiempo-parcial y temporareo para la lechera Alpura. Los bailarines pasan de una tienda a otra, vestidos en su ropa que lleva la marca Alpura, bailando horas para convencer la gente a comprar Alpura en vez de Lala.
Que bueno que llevabaos la camara con nosotros… los pisos resbalosos de Wal-Mart son buenisimos para los “splits”:
September 19th, 2008 at 9:30 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
And what about that split, heh?!
September 19th, 2008 at 9:53 am
This is cool! They may just not buy Alpura but it will keep looping in their head forever. Besides, they achieved a feat by you sharing this with us all.
Reminds me of a wooden floor company promoting their new product - this was some 10 years ago. They placed a 10X10 piece in the middle of South Street Seaport mall and hired two flamenco dancers to dance away. Talk about taking the stomping.
Would love to see more videos like this.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Thanks, Lola & Emon!
You know, I was conscious of the fact that we were promoting the Alpura company by showing this, but it was just too good not to turn into a video!
September 21st, 2008 at 12:51 am
I completely agree. If what they’re doing is different, memorable, and worthy of sharing I have no problem promoting a company.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 am
That is really cute. You wouldn’t see that in my WalMart! Creative advertising adjusted to the audience.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Wait. Wal-Mart is international?
September 25th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Tanya:
Yes. Sad but true: Wal-Mart is international. Has a huge chain of stores (including Sam’s) here in Mexico,as well as a restaurant chain, VIPS, and another department store chain called Suburbia. They’re taking over Mexico. Wal-Mart is also big in China. And a few other countries that I know of, though if I recall correctly, it didn’t go over so well in Germany. And Francisco says that I should mention Wal-Mart is NOT in Cuba. Of course.
September 25th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Data Entry Services: Thanks for reading and commenting! Sorry your comments keep getting hung up in the spam filter, which I don’t check regularly– I’ll try to be more diligent!