Bouncing into the record books

This week I went along with Sister Sam and Anny Chih to attempt to break a world record. For what you ask? Jumping on a mini trampoline. 300 of us turned up to bounce our way into the Guiness Book of World Records. We broke the record for being the largest amont of people simultaeneously jumping on mini trampolines for 5 consecutive minutes. We smashed the previous record of 250 people which was held by the UK. The event was held by Pure Health Clubs and was to raise money for asthma. It was so much fun, and one hell of a work out. 5 minutes on the trampoline is equivilent to a 20 minute run. I know which one I would rather do. Me and Sam bought our trampolines so we can do it from home, we also plan on starting classes.

We were told before we started that we were not allowed to step of the trampoline for anything, even if we were having a heart attack, yikes! The instructors were doing lots of fancy moves but I was so scared I would fall off I just bounced up and down and did the occasional twist. I didn't want to be the one to ruin it for everyone. I could just imagine the angry mob of jumpers chasing me down Queen Street Mall.

Me and Sam couldn't believe our luck when we were told we could represent Wicked and take part. We have the coolest job ever!

James Moffett

A few weeks ago we painted up a van for comedian James Moffett and in return he did a gig for Wicked staff and agents at Birdee Num Nums before setting off on tour. So along with my fellow evangelists Sister Sam, Brother Mark and Brother Paul and some other wickadees we headed out for a night of laughs. James was pretty entertaining and locked onto a table to tease, dragging one poor girl up on stage. Always a laugh. As Wicked evangelists we circulated the room giving out brochures and lanyars then the rest of the night was ours. Birdee Num Nums was cool and they even got into the ekka spirit by giving away free candy floss, or as you aussies call it, fairy floss. I must have had at least 3 helpings so I was on a sugar high. All in all a good night, comedy and free candy floss, you cant beat it.

River Fire

Over the last few weeks everyone has been getting pretty hyped up over Brisbane festival and of course the River fire. So curious to see what the big deal was I went for a wander down to Southbank on Saturday. It was mental. Channel 7 and triple M radio were broadcasting live hyping up the crowd for the big air show and fire work display. Southbank was covered with people holding their spot for the big show. They had their camping chairs and picnic blankets and a stock of food and alcohol with them so that they didn't have to leave their spot for anything (except for going to the loo of course). I had already decided that I was going to watch the fireworks from Eagle Street Pier so that I could have a good view of the Story Bridge. I was just at Southbank to soak up the atmosphere.
It was an extremely hot day so walking around in Jeans was not a good idea. So I headed home to chill before heading to my vantage point at Eagle pier. I set off to the pier about an hour before the show so that I could get a good spot. This was probably unnessesary but was all part of the experience. So I perched my self on a wall. It got pretty cold so I regretted not bringing a jacket. After an hour of people watching, the f-11 fighter plane flew by to signal the start of the fireworks. They were pretty amazing. They were set off all across the bridge, which looked really cool. Fireworks were coming from all directions as they were being set off at many different locations around the city, I think the ones from the bridge were the best though. They went on for about half an hour, I was torn between just enjoying them and trying to get really cool pics, I went for the latter. After 30 minutes the f-11 flew by again to signal the end. You could see the bright flame from its jet for ages as it went higher and higher. It was pretty incredible. One of the best fire work displays I've seen. It gave the firework display at Sydney New Year a run for its money thats for sure.

On a positive note

I spent the day with our 'we care' department, this consists of one person. We were sifting through the feedback forms that we ask all of our customers to fill out when they return a van. I was expecting there to be a lot of negative feedback, just because we don't often get to hear the good stuff, as they say people are more likely to talk about a bad experience than they are a good one. So as you can imagine I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of good feedback that we get. In fact about 90% of the feedback is good. People are having great roadtrips in Wicked Vans and they really connect with their van, one customer commented that their van became a member of the family and they were sad to have to give it up. This is what Wicked is all about, sure we could give you a nice van with a great paint job that just has Wicked on the side like most other rental companies, but wheres the fun in that. We like to make your roadtrip special and driving around with a unique design does that. It is a conversation starter and people really get attached to their vans. And if you see it driving down the street one day or parked up on the side of the road you know that that is the van that you called home for a short while. So who cares if not every one likes us, you cant please everyone. We love our customers and understand that it is them that make Wicked, if the walls of the vans could talk I'm sure we'd hear some amazing stories. So I am going yo ask for one thing, if you've had a wicked roadtrip, tell people, let them have some fun too.

One month at Wicked

I have been at Wicked for one month and I have to say its a strange old life. Days have been spent doing research, dealing with complaints from people with no sense of humour who take offence from 2 gingerbread men having sex, now come on how is that not funny, planning a tour to Ayers Rock and coming up with dirty words to spray paint on to undies for wet undies competitions held at bars around Australia. That was a bizzare task. I sat with Mr Wicked as we had a serious conversation about what we should put on these undies and debating what was too much. We decided on Blow Me, Touch Me, F*** Me and Spank Me. I then had to go down to the sign place to get some stencils made up, so I went with my head held high and explained that they were for Wicked Campers, the kind lady understood and got a kick out the fact that they sent a girl to get these made up. I then proceeded to spray paint 40 pairs of undies. Just waiting to hear how they performed on the night. It's true what they say when you start work for Wicked, no two days are the same.

Ayers Rock Tours

I have been at Wicked for one month now and I have been given a project to work on. I have been putting together a self drive tour to Ayers Rock from Alice Springs. A wicked idea from Mr Wicked. The customers will be provided with a 4x4 car and some swags and sent on their merry way. They will embark on a 3 day adventure of hiking through red desert, be given an idea of what Mars would look like and experience the complete serenity of the out back. Long hikes during the day followed by relaxing nights spent toasting marshmallows over an open fire and sleeping in a swag under a blanket of stars. The tours are self drive so you can also work to your own schedule. What more could you ask for. Keep an eye out for this tour, hopefully it will be up and running over the next few months.

Chillin in Byron

I spent a couple of days last week chillin in Byron Bay and talking to people who rent campers. It was pretty quiet but the laidback atmosphere was pretty relaxing. You wouldn't think the resident's were so laid back after reading their local paper, 'The Echo'. Its a smalltown newspaper with local news and its quite large. I was amused to see that a story on a new member of staff starting up at the local bank had made the paper. It also consist's of a lot of moaning. Every other story was a complaint about something or other so I wasn't surprised to hear that Wicked Campers had made the hitlist. There was an article about Wicked renters being dirty and inconsiderate, now I feel that that is a bit unfair, people who rent Wicked are no different from people who rent other campers such as Juicy. In fact I saw more Juicy vans parking illegally than any other company so I think Byron needs to loosen up on Wicked.

People I spoke to were pretty positive about Wicked and loved the designs on the vans, there only problem was that some of the vans are a bit older and not in great shape. This is being sorted out, we are getting 200, maybe 300 new vans and we will be phasing out all of the old ones, so there will be no excuses any more for people not renting Wickeds. So just chill we are aware of our downfalls and we are fixing the problems.

I've spent the last few days getting to know travellers and finding out why they travel. Most people travel because they want to have lots of experiences and want to meet lots of people. What better way to achieve this than to rent a Wicked Camper, you have the freedom of the road and the moment you set foot inside a van you are part of (for lack of a better word) a club. When you see other vans on the road there is an unspoken bond between the renters. So you can imagine why I was surprised to find that alot of travellers take the bus, boring! They say they travel this way because it was cheaper, not true. If there is a couple of people, renting a wicked van works out cheaper and you don't have to follow a bus schedule. Travellers are then left with more time and are presented with more oppurtunities to have these amazing experiences they have come all this way have. What would you rather do, drive yourself with the stereo blaring and stopping when ever something takes your fancy or sitting on a stuffy bus full of hot sweaty people only stopping at servo's to change drivers, hmm I know what I'd rather do.

Orientation Week

Its orientation week at the Uni's and of course Wicked was there promoting the amazing student deals. I went down to USC on Tuesday with fellow evangelists Mark, Mary and Sam to let the students know that we had something to offer them. I had a blast, the atmosphere was great and all the students were really interested in Wicked and lots of people had seen the vans on the road and wanted to rent them, they also loved our new 'Caution May Be Nude' bumper stickers. I wondered around talking to the students telling them about Wicked, I also visited all of the other stands to see what freebies I could get. I was glad I didn't pack my lunch with the free pancakes, BBQ and sweets (or lollies) on offer. It was good to get out and hear lots of positive feedback about Wicked, even the oldies were telling me how great the vans were and that they planned on renting one. To top the day of I had a go on the giant inflatable twister game, I'm sorry to say I did not win but it's the taking part that counts (-:

Yesterday we went down to QUT, it was a bit tamer and there wasn't any free food, but we still had a good day. Even though it was really hot the wind played havoc on our stand with leaflets flying about the place. It was pretty quiet but we managed to get a lot of people interested, especially an ozzy man who plans to take his American wife travelling, he loved our vans and especially our Wicked sense of humour, he left with a 'Nude' bumper sticker and intentions to rent a Wicked. So a successful couple of days really and I discovered that there is not an age limit with Wicked, everybody loves them.

Exploring Wicked

This is the last day of my first week at Wicked Campers and I have to say that it has been an experience. I have pretty much spent the week finding out what Wicked is about. I spent the first few days hanging out at the Brisbane depot getting to know the guys down there and meeting all the Wicked travellers getting ready to embark on their adventure or returning from it, always with a big smile on their face. The people picking up the vans are always excited to see what will be on their van, the more obscene the better, its all about the experience. I drove around in a van with bums painted on it, it always got a laugh or a thumbs up when I stopped at traffic lights, it made my trip pretty memorable. Thats what Wicked claims to be about, creating experiences that are memorable. Wicked says that if you break down don't complain, make the most out of the situation, explore the area and see if you can't make it a story worth telling. I will be with Wicked for the next year and I plan to find out what its all about and answer the questions that are on my mind and possibly yours too.



Is Wicked up its own arse?

Are they all about the money or are they here for the customer?

How far can they go with the slogans?

What are they all about?



Keep reading over the next year and these questions will be answered, one thing I know for sure, Wicked is not for the faint hearted. If your a traveller you'll love us if your a tourist we don't care.