spot prize

Currently there is an advert playing where a bunch of a certain manufacturer's vehicle model meeting at the top of a mountain and line up side by side so drivers can talk to each other through the cab windows. The camera view shoots through the drivers side window, down through he line, framing multiple vehicles and their drivers at once, in the background, There is two possible directions for this shot from each vehicle.

What I propose is a visual anomaly. In one direction, one of the far backgrounded drivers is bearded but in the other the same driver is clean shaven. An on purpose mistake.

When the ad hits the airways, all the vehicle dealers are ready and waiting. If joe/jane public is first to mention the anomaly to one of the dealers, the prize is won. Publicity can then amp up about the clever win and interest the rest of the public to watch the ad more closely. The advert gets a second wind on it's bought allotted broadcast spend.

This is a hidden prize and someone may never win if too subtle. If too obvious, win mechanics may be down to how the anomaly is mention to parties involved. Anomaly has to be mentioned to counter staff for example.

This 'be aware' game is not limited to the visual but could involve music, mis-quotes, any subtly hidden clear factual discontinuity. Hopefully this advert technique will become a wide spread and the general public will be looking at more detail in their daily lives.

The key to this idea though, is keeping the secret so it can be found.