40 minutes in Lady Liberty robe proves educational
Photo
Gazette Reporter Cathy Idzerda, dressed as Lady Liberty, waves to drivers going north on Milton Ave to promote Liberty Tax Service.
JANESVILLE — Twenty honks in 17 minutes.
That’s 1.176 honks every minute.
Pretty good, but I probably shouldn’t give up my day job.
On Saturday, thanks to a smart idea from a co-worker—who shall remain unnamed—I spent about 40 minutes as the Statue of Liberty.
Or rather, I spent 40 minutes as the Liberty Tax Statute of Liberty.
You know the ones—they wear the aqua-colored liberty robes and fabulous foam hats. Their job is to smile, wave, and dance in an effort to make eye contact with potential customers during tax season.
It’s contact that counts, said Barb Bartlett, co-owner of Liberty Tax.
“People do taxes, cars don’t,” she said before helping me into the giant robe and foam hat.
The first five minutes on the street are awkward. Everybody is looking at you like you have a weird growth on your head.
But it’s not a weird growth; it’s your fabulous foam hat. Soon, the spirit of the hat and the robe take over, and suddenly you’re waving and smiling, and it’s sort of fun.
It’s an educational experience, too. In the brief time I was Lady Liberty, I learned:
- There are more wavers than nonwavers.
- Some of the best wavers and smilers are postal carriers driving their square trucks back to the main post office on Milton Avenue.
- The best honkers are ladies with neat, wash-and-set hairdos, and guys in large pick-ups. I don’t have an explanation for this.
- Young men between the ages of 16 and 19 do not wave. They tend to stare straight ahead, as though making eye contact would mean an immediate diminution of their coolness.
- “Aqua Paradise” is not an eye shadow that works well for a woman of my age and disposition. True, it matches the color of the Liberty Tax robe, but as soon as the robe came off, I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror.
Does that type of marketing work? I mean, do people pick someone to do their taxes based on a mascot?
“It absolutely works,” Bartlett said. “It’s the cornerstone of our marketing and brand recognition.”
Bartlett encourages her wavers to bring their iPods so they’ll keep moving.
“I always tell them to dress in layers when it’s cold,” Bartlett said.
But after 15 or 20 minutes of waving and dancing around, they’re back in the office, taking off some of those layers.
And they have fun, said Bartlett.
“We try to keep the shifts to two to three hours,” Bartlett said. “We don’t want it to get old.”
Mar 8, 2010 at 3:26 p.m.
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We wouldn't even need tax prep services if we had the FairTax! BTW, the Statue of Liberty is the symbol of the Libertarian Party.
Mar 8, 2010 at 3:07 p.m.
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In times like these,..... IT'S A JOB! I applaud anyone who can do this for 2 or three hours AND look like they are ENJOYING every minute! It's not glamorous, or big bucks, but they ARE working, and not trying to get by on all the free assistance OUR taxes are paying for!!
Mar 8, 2010 at 3:01 p.m.
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It would be a warning to drivers the one guy jumps up and down on top of the snowbank. Not very smart if you ask me. !0
Mar 8, 2010 at 2:22 p.m.
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Not only is this distracting to motorists, its also illegal to honk your horn unless warning other drivers of a hazard.
I'm glad I don't live in the area and have to listen to honking horns from January 1 until April 15.
Mar 8, 2010 at 11:43 a.m.
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The outfit is great, but the gloves have to go. And don't be afraid to go with more eye shadow, the camera loves you.
Mar 8, 2010 at 10:37 a.m.
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"Young men between the ages of 16 and 19 do not wave. They tend to stare straight ahead,"
wow the smart ones paying attention to the road. One day I was paying attention TO THE ROAD and they still tried to get my attention. I know you are there!!!!! I am watching the road thanks leave me alone!
I saw a girl wearing the mattress one day. She was texting on her cell phone not even engaging people in her new "uniform". I would have fired her on the spot.
I didn't know they got paid. I assumed it was the workers there exchanging shifts.
No I wont go to you JUST because you have a mascott .I will go to HAGAN who I trust if I had anything I couldn't figure out.
nukka- I missed it. The bear story said a "beat" bit off the ladies fingers.
Mar 8, 2010 at 9:33 a.m.
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Used Liberty Tax once,was charged $250 and this was for regular taxes. Needless to say will never use them again.
Mar 8, 2010 at 9:31 a.m.
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Nice picture Cathy. Now let's see you try to curl in that outfit.
Mar 8, 2010 at 8:37 a.m.
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This distraction to drivers, at this busy intersection, should not be allowed to go on. There is enough inattentive driving on Milton Ave. without adding to it with this foolish nonsence.
Mar 8, 2010 at 8 a.m.
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Personally I would not give this place the time of day, let alone do my taxes with that kind of foolish marketing.
Mar 8, 2010 at 6:55 a.m.
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They charge more for tax preperation than the accountant I've been going to for the past 15 years.
Mar 8, 2010 at 5:55 a.m.
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At least they are willing to work
Mar 8, 2010 at 1:24 a.m.
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Personally speaking, I don't do business with anyone that uses "human billboards."
Mar 7, 2010 at 9:39 p.m.
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stumblinzombie,
now THAT'S a story. who gives a crap that professional men seem to honk the most.
that someone needs a job like this one is the real story.
hope you're doing better zombie.
Mar 7, 2010 at 9:17 p.m.
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LOL.....I see gazette folks are still on the job and corrected the title!!;)
Mar 7, 2010 at 8:31 p.m.
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I had this job. It was horrible. Try standing in the freezing cold for 8 bucks an hour, getting flipped off by teenagers, and laughed at by adults. I got sick, then I got my daughter sick. On top of that, you aren't suppose to have to work if it's below freezing, but if they have someone else who needs the money even worse, and they will work, then you are off the schedule. Oh, and thanks for the "reference", Barb, I still can't get a job.
Mar 7, 2010 at 7:44 p.m.
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Grammar error ta boot.....poor Lady Liberty, no respect!! LOL
Mar 7, 2010 at 5:02 p.m.
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i think this story completely missed the point.
i don't care who honks the most -- i would much rather discover who is taking this job (and add the guy wearing the mattress just up the street), and how much they get paid. i would assume you are desperate for a job if you are willing to take this position.
a statue of liberty guy in rockford is beautiful -- he plays air guitar (with vim and vigor) as he dons his uniform. rock on dude!!!!!!!!!!!
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