Sign Spinning

So there a new trend emerging in advertising (at least here in the Valley and other major US cities) called "Sign Spinning".  The concept is relatively simple.  Give someone $10-$20 an hour to stand on a street corner and hold an arrow sign pointing to your business.  But it seems to have become much more than that.  The Spinners (as they are called) have learned elaborate dance moves and tricks with these signs to get your attention while you are sitting and watching them and not the light that just turned green in front of you.  So the moves have become more and more complex and the competition between these spinners ever-greater as those with the most attention getting moves and tricks can command the best paying positions with a potential to do it full time and earn as much as $2000 a month...  (and to think I decided to waste all those years in college!)

McDonald's has even made a series of TV commercial for Phoenix advertising their sign spinners advertising their coffee... Its advertising featuring advertising... go figure:

Here are some youtube videos of the sign spinners in action:

And here is a short documentary (6 minutes) on the sign-spinning culture in southern California (where like many things, it all began):