Live at YVR (The Vancouver Internationa Airport Storyteller Contest)

If you remember the movie with Tom Hanks “The Terminal” (2004), you’d get a bit claustrophobic and somewhat not excited about the possibility of living in an airport. I did. When the PR company that is helping Vancouver International Airport promote their contest, Live at YVR, first pitched me, I said that the winning storyteller would feel claustrophobic. Kudos to them for answering my questions (scroll to the bottom of the post for more detailed information about the contest that was provided to me by the PR company of YVR).

This weekend (on Sunday), I came to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to pick up my Mom (who lives in Mexico, but comes to visit me every summer for about a month). I have been flying worldwide through YVR since 1996 (yes, 15 years already) and I still travel through at least a solid 20 times, if not more (in the past month alone, I went through the Vancouver International Airport 7 times). I have an extreme appreciation for our airport, I have to say.

As I was sitting in the International Arrivals I realized how much of a world-class airport YVR is. I’ve lived in cities with outstanding airports (Paris’ Charles De Gaulle, Madrid’s Barajas, London’s Heathrow and Gatwick’s and Mexico City’s Benito Juarez), and yet I’m still very impressed with Vancouver’s YVR every time I come home. Had the funky contest to find the Vancouver International Airport’s 80th Anniversary Storyteller (or as they call it, “Live at YVR”) happened during a time I don’t teach or when I don’t do client work, I probably would have applied to be the airport’s storyteller for 80 days and 80 nights.

Photo credit: Michael Wu (Singular Outdoor) on Flickr.

To celebrate YVR’s 80th anniversary, Vancouver Airport Authority is going to provide someone with the opportunity of a lifetime. They are running a contest to find YVR’s resident Storyteller to LIVE at the airport for 80 days and 80 nights. That’s right- Live.at.the.airport. For 80 days. But if you’re going to be a houseguest for 80 days, you’re going to have to earn your keep. The winner of the contest will be provided with an HD video camera, editing software and access to the people, places, and behind-the-scenes spaces most have never seen. Until now. The Storyteller will shoot video footage every day, editing together stories and uploading them to the Live@YVR website (LiveatYVR.ca) – an online channel where they will share their 80 day experience with the world…as well as the stories, people and secrets that make YVR the number one rated airport in North America.

The Live@YVR Storyteller will also tweet and update the Live@YVR Facebook page regularly, as well as turn the camera on him/herself with weekly video diaries. (we want to know how they will feel on day 1…and on day 40…?!) The storyteller will not be allowed to leave the airport and Sea Island for 80 days. But… the lucky Live@YVR storyteller will get to sleep at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel every night. Nice.
Do you love to meet people? Are you a storyteller at heart? Do you have strong video and editing know-how…lots of stamina…and most importantly, do you think that living at YVR for 80 days sounds pretty sweet? (Because we’re not kidding when we say that the winner can’t leave the airport or Sea Island for 80 days.) If this sounds like you, visit LiveatYVR.ca to learn how to enter.

Key dates:
· June 23 – July 18: Submit your video entry (all approved video submissions will be posted on the LiveatYVR.ca site for the public to view)
· July 25 - YVR will announce up to five finalists
· July 25 – August 5: Public votes on the finalists and chooses the Live@YVR winner
· August 17 – Live@YVR Storyteller is announced and he/she starts day 1 of 80 days at YVR (until November 4)

A discussion on the PR strategy behind Live At YVR

I wanted to add this bit at the end of the post, because it’s an indication of how a PR company changed my mind about a pitch that I originally was not going to write about. I include this information not only for the PR company to learn more about what they did right, but also for other PR companies as a case study.

I will fully admit that the copy submitted to me as a pitch totally hit me the wrong way (hence why I didn’t write about the contest at first). I’m not a fan of “you won’t be allowed” and “you’ll have to earn your keep” language. I prefer language that is much more “action-positive”, like “you will get to enjoy getting to know our airport better by staying within the bounds of Sea Island for a full 80 days“. But hey, I’m not the PR company behind the campaign, and I am not going to tell anyone how to do their job.

BUT. Here’s what the PR company did, after I responded the reasons why I didn’t think it was a good fit for my blog and why I didn’t want to blog about it. Below is an extract version of my online email conversation with the PR representative.

Raul - Saw your contest, and did retweet it. I’ll admit I find it a bit creepy. That’s why I didn’t blog about it. I find the contest kind of creepy. There must be ways to improve/redesign the contest with the client so that it doesn’t sound as claustrophobic as it sounds to me.

PR company - I really appreciate your feedback and can understand where you’re coming from. However, I just wanted to clarify that having to Live@YVR for 80 days and 80 nights doesn’t mean the contest winner will be stuck inside the airport. The assignment not only includes YVR proper but also the rest of Sea Island. Therefore, the contest winner will have ample opportunity to get out, explore and tell amazing stories about the beautiful area around YVR, as well. Hope this makes you feel less creepy about the contest and if you have any more questions/concerns, do let me know.

Raul - Does the blogger receive any sort of compensation? You do realize that this means that someone may not be able to work for a full month and a half – how are you guys dealing with this?

PR company – The Live@YVR contest has some fantastic prizes. The contest winner will receive a $15,000 (CAD) honorarium and for the duration of the 80 days, he/she will also receive: complimentary accommodation at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, meals, a phone/data plan, and video editing equipment/software. If you would like more information about Live@YVR contest prizes, you can find it here: Prizes for the winner of Live at YVR

I think this is the way to go for any PR company. If I have concerns or questions about your project, have a conversation and build a relationship with me until I’m satisfied. And frankly, knowing that the winner is going to get some amazing prizes is what made me write about Live at YVR. Now, go and submit your entry!

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