How Disruptive Stunts Can Gain Massive Traction

The Conservative Party Conference was always going to be a central talking point in the British media; given the current political landscape both at home and abroad it was always a given that Theresa May’s speech would be closely scrutinised.

But no one expected Lee Nelson to turn up.

In a surprising stunt that stole all the headlines, a prankster made it to the side of the Prime Minister, getting past some of the best security in the world, and delivered a P45 form from Boris Johnson. This was a brazen move, undermining what little credibility the foreign secretary had left given his recent gaffes, blunders, and jokes about corpses.

But the character of Nelson (real name Simon Brodkin) will come off stronger than ever, regardless of whether you agree with his politics, tone, or method. He uses stunts to build a brand, which is of course the essence of PR, and this is just the latest in his carefully orchestrated career.
Some of his most famous stunts include hurling money at FIFA President Sepp Blatter:

Walking onstage during a Kanye West performance at Glastonbury:

And presenting swastika-emblazoned golf balls at one of Donald Trump’s golfcourses, who of course would later go on to actually publicly sympathise with Neo-Nazis.

Using stunts to generate headlines can be advantageous, especially with social media allowing for stories to be spread faster than ever. The snap reaction to generate news in the short window where interest is at its highest will guarantee that your brand is featured across broadcast, print, and online.
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We worked with Lee Nelson, using his fame as a catalyst for media attention and instant brand recognition. Even though his fictional character is just an act, it is still just as credible as any celebrity, and can help boost any campaign. 

Consider using a spokesperson to help drive your campaign forward, or plan a creative stunt to ensure audience interest, as well as media coverage. As Lee demonstrated, the key to any stunt is rigorous planning, and a team of dedicated professionals behind the scenes working to ensure that the stunt goes off without a hitch.
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We can help plan a stunt from any stage: from the initial concept, through planning, until the actual performance itself, capture footage, and send out press releases explaining the stunt if needed.
We can even provide a free consultation to help plan your stunt, brainstorming ideas with our creative team to ensure it shows you in the best possible light, gets your brand name and messages out there, and won’t get you arrested, like Lee.