I told the story about the mega-drama surrounding my son’s prom date to a committee of my board members.  I shared the story because I wanted to underscore the great solution the BBB cell phone search tool provided to me when I was looking for a limo driver and tux shop I could trust.  One of my board members emphatically suggested that I share that story, and so I started devising a 30-second BBB commercial in my head.  I wrote my son into the script.  He’s a teenager so, of course, he makes a point of ignoring me through the entire spot, complete with headphones on.  Here is my Richard: TheSanDiegoBBB on YouTube

I was very excited when I came up with this concept.  What I didn’t expect was the reaction from my kids.  My son said, “I don’t wanna do it.  Get some other kid to do it.”  Are you kidding, some other kid playing my son in a BBB spot?  Really?  And have you tried to coax a 16-year-old to do anything lately, especially stand in front of a TV camera?  And how about my daughter’s reaction: “Mom!  I can’t believe you didn’t write a commercial for me!”  So in the swimming pool the next morning, I thought and thought about her experience with the BBB and how that would play in another commercial.  Of course, I had to consider our existing cantankerous relationship to make it realistic.  So I wrote a commercial in which she discovers the resources of the BBB and, naturally, flips me a little crap at the same time.  Here is my Ashley: TheSanDiegoBBB on YouTube

My little “test runs” on these gems have been startling.  To a person, people cannot watch these spots without a grin, especially those who have raised kids through their teen years.  I have to admit, the Ashley spot seems to be the going favorite, even though that one happened almost by accident trying to please my kid.  She actually wants to go to med school.  She doesn’t yet know I am secretly plotting my new career as her stage manager in Hollywood.  Anyone got connections?