Planting Pennies for Page Views

0806zoompenny.jpgEx-Road Ruler, and current-prankster, Jake Bronstein was back on the streets recently. This time he wasn't trying to get laid by wearing a wookie suit on the subway, he was getting strangers lucky!

Putting $50 of pennies to use, he "affixed little messages to the underside (the 'tails' side) using spray adhesive and gobs, and gobs, of patience." What would the lucky penny-picker-upper get? A message saying "It's Your Lucky Day" immediately followed by a plug for Bronstein's website! The penny plug did yield some unsubstantiated facts about the oft cast-aside coin, however:

  • A lone penny is more likely to be picked up then a penny placed in a group.
  • People instantly understand what it is you’re doing when you put a penny down… and they smile.
  • People are almost twice as likely to pick up a penny in Soho than they are in Williamsburg.
  • Homeless people aren’t nearly as interested in pennies as one might think. In fact, they find them borderline insulting.
More than you ever wanted to know about pennies and Bronstein's "luck-vertizing" scheme, here.

Email This Entry


Comments (5) [rss]

user-pic

About the homeless ... this is why pandhandler-bashing should be an Olympic event. I don't want to suggest to just anyone should go around bruising as busker. I mean, leave it to the experts. Like me.

And that's why I don't give change to the zomb... I mean, homeless. If they can't be grateful for my spare pennies, then fuck 'em.

Old joke:
Man to panhandler:
I don't give money to men on the street.
Panhandler to man:
What do you want me to do open an office?

How do I get to Carnegie Hall?

user-pic

At first I thought this was the Fakest Bravest guy.

ooo he's so zany. so original.

this guy is seriously a huge tool.

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

The Evolution of the Hipster: from 2000 to 2009
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us