Monday, October 03, 2005

Birthday Bash

"Most times in life people don't do what they are qualified to do". Shyam's ears were ringing with his (virtual) sister's words. Yes, that's exactly what he had done/ not done the previous day. Throwing all his marketing research reports (Refer previous blog) into the recycle bin, Shyam went ahead organising a non-booze, non-smoking, vegetarian party. Most people who were the subjects of Shyam's research earlier backed their words and didn't respond. But it wasn't long before our hero understood that he had had the wrong sample space for his MR. The response was overwhelming. People whom Shyam had never expected to reply to his invitation responded on positive notes. "Yes, ofcourse" he thought. These were the people who seldom attended parties. These were the people who formed the target segment of his product (party). Added to the happiness was the favourable nod given by the normal party-goers.

The party was supposed to be at 7:00 pm and Shyam knew that it meant 8:00 pm to most. When the turnover at 7 was zilch, a flat mate of Shyam remarked, "Something's not normal". But when slowly calls started coming in with people saying that they'll be a bit late, Shyam laughed, "Everything is normal"

It was a party with a difference. No singing, no dancing and ofcourse the other 'no's that were earlier decided. People were having a good time just chatting and munching with songs being played by a computer in the background.

Someone from the Gang: "Time for the cake cutting ceremony"
Shyam: "But it's only 10:45. Aren't birthdays celebrated at 12:00?"
SFTG : "This is a party with a difference. It'll now be a birthday with a difference"
Shyam: "ok, but I don't eat cakes"
SFTG : "Who asked you to eat it?"
Shyam: "grrr"
SFTG : "Chill off dude. We have got an egg-less cake for you"

SFTG: "Hey there is no knife"
Shyam chuckles: "It's non-violence day (Gandhi Jayanthi). Let me cut it with a spoon"
Seems to be a bad joke, no response at all.

When Shyam was in the bus stop sending-off his guests, someone said, "Oh! It’s 12:00 atlast. Happy Birthday man"

Inspite of going against his market research results, Shyam decided to prepare this event as a case study. Well, a rose is a rose is a rose, and so is an MBA. His report concluded,
"Market research reports should be taken with a pinch of salt/ common sense. In situations where one is launching a new product, interviews with customers of existing product may not help at all. The new product might attract new customers. Or, may be, it's all the charm of the brand ambassador of the product".
In non-MBA language it simply means, "May be people came because Shyam invited them and not because of the nature of the party"

P.S. Few people said that the previous post is not fully believable (the fainting part I guess). Guys, when Shyam isn't real, why would his stories be?
Corollary: Shyam enters the scene only when a bit of imaginary exaggeration is required to make things interesting. But my imagination is limited to around 5%

5 Comments:

Blogger Heidi Kris said...

Haha great to know that u had fun.. excellent.. :)

04 October, 2005 23:52  
Blogger Ram said...

onakkaaga naan sirikaren @ non-violence day :)) - :P

07 October, 2005 09:10  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Buddy,

Belated returns to "Shyam" for his B'day!

07 October, 2005 11:07  
Blogger Jammy said...

@Gannu
Shyam says thanks

07 October, 2005 15:10  
Blogger Shilpi said...

"it's all the charm of the brand ambassador of the product" - You are forgetting (or intentionally ignoring) the other star attraction of the party :-)
When someone travels 200 kms for the party, others get the momentum to travel 50 kms...

19 October, 2005 15:16  

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