BEATING THE COMPETITION

Debbie D at the UFO conference

When fortune favors you and you’ve finally finished your book or film, the next, and most important step, is to let the world see what you’ve created. What good is finishing a project if it slips into obscurity because no one knows about it? No matter how good it is, your project will become dormant, and you’ll eventually be stuck with unsold cases of books or videos.

This is the story of how I was able to get the attention of my newly released DVD at a UFO conference, the same conference that vendors claimed was a tough crowd to sell too.

My video, titled, “Roswell? YES!” is a documentary of the UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947.  Bob Durant, an airline pilot spent 20 years investigating the incident and uncovered information that had either been overlooked or glossed over by other researchers.  I heard about Bob through a friend who had a poorly recorded video of one of his presentations. The camera was stationary and unmanned, so if Bob moved out of frame, only his voice could be heard. Despite the technical flaws, his presence and the substance of his research were compelling.

Impressed, I reached out to Bob and asked if he would be interested in filming a professional version of his presentation in a studio. I would cover all production costs and distribute the video alongside my other projects.  He agreed. 

I booked a studio in Montclair, New Jersey, and brought in parapsychologist Dr. Joanne D.S. McMahon, to conduct the interview.  To enhance the production, I included a live studio audience to provide immediate reactions to Bob’s insights.

When we finished the taping, I immediately edited the program, and in only a few weeks, the cover design was made, and the duplication began.

The final product turned out beautifully.  The next step was getting it into the public eye.

 About a month later, a UFO Conference in Hamilton, New Jersey, provided the perfect opportunity, and I signed up as a vendor. Bob, a regular at these events, cautioned me not to expect much, describing attendees as cheapskates.

Despite his warning, I was confident.

For added attention, I created T-shirts and hats for the event, and for additional attention, I hired large breasted women, wearing low cut blouses to sell the video.

I also hired a living mannequin who was perched on a platform wearing the T-shirt and hat, holding a copy of the video. She, Jane, was a pretty woman who had mastered the art of being a living mannequin. She performed a mechanical, robot-like routine that was fascinating.

Lastly, I hired, model and actor, Debbie D to dress as a “sexy alien” and walk around the show promoting the DVD and directing attendees to our table.

As the event started, Bob was shocked to see a line of customers waiting their turn to buy.  The area around the mannequin became so crowded, that it was difficult for people to move through.

Observing the scene, Dr. McMahon remarked, “They’re like flies to honey.”

At one point, Pat the event organizer, rushed over and asked if we could pause the mannequin’s performance, attendees were skipping the presentations, because, “Everyone is out here!”  

I obliged and Jane took a long-deserved break.

Meanwhile, Debbie D had taken the initiative. Without me knowing, Debbie opened the door of the presenter’s room interrupting the speaker and proceeded to walk the main isle, showing the video available for sale at our table.  Pat and the speaker were speechless, yet what I failed to tell you, is that most of Debbie’s alien outfit was made of see through material. When she left, everyone in the room laughed and clapped.

The results spoke for themselves.

We became the most successful vendor at the conference, and our promotional approach was talked about for years.

Even Joe Nickell (1944-2025) a skeptic who wrote for the Skeptical Inquirer Journal attended this show. He was known for his criticism of the UFO community including Bob Durant.

 He later wrote about the conference, expressing disapproval of what he called a “Shameful display of commercialism.” He mentioned the T-shirts and the promotional tactics, jokingly noting that what Bob lacked were baseball hats, apparently missing the ones we were already selling.

Bob wasn’t offended.  In fact, he was amused and asked me to send Joe a hat. The promotion worked.  What began in a small studio in Montclair grew into a project seen around the world.

In fact, Steven Spielberg once told me during a phone call, “This is the best documentary I’ve ever seen about the Roswell crash.”  He added that he wished he had seen it before producing his series Taken. 

It’s nice when a plan comes together.