The
Joke Box
22 MAR 07
Note:
This article belongs to a series of top 3 crappy things that I did
when I was a kid. Before
the internet, TV was very popular. I watched A LOT of TV and one
of my favourite programs only second to cartoons are those art
and crafts for children. You know how it goes, they would teach
and demonstrate us young viewers on how to make a mouse from construction
paper and a pair of scissors. After watching, I would try it all.
Cardboard tanks, flying war planes and even paper dolls. But one
day, I saw an episode called the Joke Box and that was the beginning
of a downward spiral.
The
Joke Box was suppose to be a joke dispensing machine but without
the technical gadgetry. You are suppose to sit yourself in this
box and wait for “customers” to slot coins and in
return you are to slip a joke which you have prewritten on a piece
of paper. They even taught you how to make a cardboard knob to
let customers choose what sort of jokes they want- Knock-knock
jokes, one-liners, riddles etc. I was 9 years old then and to
me this was brilliant. Why didn’t I thought about that before?
And it so happened that my parents, just bought a spanking new
refrigerator and that means I had a huge box for my disposal.
Perfect! |
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The
Joke Box is made out of cardboard with nice paint designs on it. |
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Joke Box on TV was pretty, it had all sort of design and the guy
took his box to the streets. People were slotting in coins like
no tomorrow. It looked like a lot of fun. Soon, armed with some
magic markers and a cutter, I started to work on mine. It didn’t
look as fancy as the one on TV but everything was there. A huge
sign, a knob I made out of an egg carton and I even made up like
a dozen jokes. I
didn’t have a lot of paint so I guess my box would just
be in its natural color, brown. By this time, my annoying sister
is already on my case, telling me that nobody is gonna give me
any money and my joke box is a joke itself. But I’m determined
to prove her wrong. I don’t have to pay rent space and I
had zero overheads, it’s just a box, people. Any money that
comes in is pure profit! As soon as the money starts rolling I’m
so gonna patent this idea! |
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Basically,
the Joke Box has 5 important requirements.
No.1: You need a sign that says "Joke Box"
No. 2: You poke holes on the cardboard box.
This feature is for you to speak to your customers.
No.3: You cut a small slit for customers to insert coins.
No.4: You cut a larger slit so you can dispense your jokes on
small pieces of paper.
No. 5: The knob also made out of cardboard let customers choose
what sort of jokes that want. eg knock-knock jokes, one liners,
funny riddles etc
No.6: You are suppose to sit inside the box to wait for a customer.
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Don't
you just love your siblings sometimes. |
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I
place my Joke Box near the staircase of the HDB flat. Whenever
a stranger went up or down the flight of stairs, I would hold
my breath and brace myself. I have a fistful of jokes scribbled
on paper and I was psyche to sell my first joke. But nobody
seem to take notice. They didn’t even took the time to
stop and read my sign. Being inside the box was horrible. I
kept sweating even though I was armed with one of hand held
fan. It was very dark and I had to rely on the light that’s
coming from the box cracks. My sister was of course taunting
me and laugh every time a stranger ignores me. I realized that
I have to market my box in a different way. Location is everything.
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As you
can see, my sister is having a hell of a time. |
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I
took my box and place it in the middle of the voiddeck. Surely,
people will notice me now. I can so see it, they will swarm my
Joke Box like how MacDonalds sold their Hello Kitties. But hours
passed by and nobody came. I started to get bored. The only hi-light
of the day was when the wind blew the box, exposing me inside.
Now THAT was bad for business. It’s a good thing my customers
did not see that; my future shareholders will not be pleased.
As disappointed as I was, I finally told myself that this idea
is not gonna work. But on a high note, I did got one customer.
It was my sister. |
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Me with a fistful of jokes, getting exposed at the void deck.
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She
went downstairs, turned the knob, chose a Knock-knock joke and
paid me with currency that was accepted by millions of kids all
over the world; candy. I was elated. |
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Looking
back, I finally realized why the Joke box did not work. It needs
advertising.
Rabbit
in a box,
Evil Bunny
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