Over the weekend, thousands of people across North America bared their dangly bits and wrote a new page in the Guinness Book of World Records. The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) engaged legally-sanctioned nude beaches from almost every North American locale to host a coincidental skinny dip. While the final tally is forthcoming, it’s expected that several thousand people jiggled their way into the water at more than 130 locations in 37 States and 5 Provinces (the Alaskan contingent was, understandably, absent).
The record is a new one for Guinness and more than a little orchestration is required to get the clothes off a few thousand people at the same time. First, the cause is designed to promote a “wholesome tradition as old as mankind and frequently honored in art and movies, celebrates the natural joy of plunging into water without hindrance of clothing.” The message was front and center on the AANR website. From there, the event was posted and promoted on Facebook.
So, yes, the event gets the AANR in the Guinness Book of Records but here’s the real point. The cause gained amazing levels of promotion and press because it was interesting. Whether you found the event appealing or appalling doesn’t really matter…it was talked about.
The front page of USA Today showed the cause.
A Google search on “World Record Skinny Dip” shows 133,000 results.
Every major network ran the story (many with the website address) as a kicker.
In short, the event was a slam-dunk success…with or without the record.
The event was fun, engaging, and participation was simple. It gathered global interest and the message was propagated using tools that are available to all of us. The price of admission…was nothing more than the clothes off your back.
