The Guinness World Records 2008 edition continues its worldwide launch so I’ve been collecting air miles again. Canada has been my latest port of call. I started in Toronto, spending a week appearing on many breakfast TV shows, promoting our search for the world’s tallest people. During the transmission of Good Morning Toronto a chap came in measuring over 7’4”, which is very pleasing as it shows that our efforts are working. I went to take in evil dead the musical while there, which was brilliant. Being a bit of a horror fan and liking a bit of cheese, it was right up my street and I enjoyed it immensely. After more media interviews, we then flew to Vancouver, where we continued to rack up TV appearances.
Once we had finished our Canadian leg, we had to take a trip to LA to get updates on our cover and while there, I received a phone call from a film producer wanting to arrange a meeting. Last year I was adjudicating the largest game of bingo record at Dodger Stadium, when I get a call from a documentary filmmaker who was shooting a feature length film called King of Kong, between two rival Donkey Kong players. This had since been finished and has already had a release. I was invited to the premiere where I was asked to adjudicate in a straight shoot out between Billy Mitchell and Steve Sanders, but sadly I missed the red carpet as I was flying to Vancouver at the time.
Anyway, back to LA now and the producer said that there were plans to make this into a comedy film and that it was being pitched to the likes of Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn. It transpired that they wanted to have me as a small but vital character in the film! They were wondering if I would give my permission for this to happen and to suggest whom I thought would be suitable to play me. They came up with Robbie Williams – not going for a real likeness there maybe – or Ricky Gervais, who I can see better. Having met him as well when giving him the record for most downloaded podcast, he could be brilliant. Mind you, I have sometimes been mistaken for Robbie Coltrane, so he might be even better.
Friday, 31 August 2007
Sunday, 26 August 2007
GWR 2009 Cover Search
From the seat of Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief, Guinness World Records
26 August 2007
01:00 GMT
Somewhere over mainland USA
Well, here I am, back on a plane. This time, I'm flying to the USA not
for a record attempt but to investigate potential new cover materials
for the 2009 edition of the book. I'm travelling with Patricia Magill,
GWR's Vice President of Publishing, and enjoying a midnight snack of
whisky and ginger while watching series two of Battlestar Galactica.
(If you've never watched this excellent series, I urge you to seek out
the DVD boxsets – it's a fantastic show that's been keeping my gripped
for weeks since I got hold of the DVDs. Of course, I'm thinking: any
records here? Watch this space!)
We're flying to LA, during a bank holiday weekend, because the cover
of our book is so important to us. For over 10 years, we've
pioneered many new print-production processes in order to deliver the
most spectacular covers. The first of these new generation covers
appeared with the 1997 edition, which was a black cover dominated by
the book title blocked in using a holographic foil. We then looked at
3-D "lenticular" covers – the kind you can drag your nail down and
feel the grooves that give it a 3-D or motion effect – and more
recently lenticular foils.
The 2008 "vortex" cover is, I feel, the best so far. Obviously I'm
biased but a lot of time, effort and money went into developing this
revolutionary design. The idea came about this time last year during a
trip to Toronto. While on a book-store check (we travel round making
sure the book is available and prominent in as many stores as
possible), a shiny red-foil gift-bag in the stationery aisle really
caught my eye – it was just the colour I'd had in mind, and the foil
effect added to the richness of the colour in a way I'd never seen
before.
The foil effect on the bag was a simple one, but it inspired our
designer, Yeung Poon, to create the unique vortex effect you'll find
on this year's cover. We also, radically, distorted our logo and sent
it flying into – or out of? – the vortex, creating an exciting,
dynamic effect. Finally, we worked closely with Spectratek, the
LA-based company we're currently en route to, to produce a series of
foil lenses, each one bigger than the next, to produce the vortex
effect and give the impression of depth.
I really do hope you look forward to seeing what each new edition will
look like, especially when it comes to the cover. The feedback we've
had in research is that people enjoy collecting the books
because of the fascinating, ground-breaking covers. Of course,
the insides are what really matter, but why not make the cover
as fun and as cool as possible?
What this means, however, is that every year we need to work that
little bit harder to develop an ever better cover than last year.
Hence the 12-hour flight to the US over the bank holiday weekend. Ah
well, I've got a few more episodes of BSG 2 to get through and I'm
being offered another Johnnie Walker and Canada Dry. I'm not one to
complain…
26 August 2007
01:00 GMT
Somewhere over mainland USA
Well, here I am, back on a plane. This time, I'm flying to the USA not
for a record attempt but to investigate potential new cover materials
for the 2009 edition of the book. I'm travelling with Patricia Magill,
GWR's Vice President of Publishing, and enjoying a midnight snack of
whisky and ginger while watching series two of Battlestar Galactica.
(If you've never watched this excellent series, I urge you to seek out
the DVD boxsets – it's a fantastic show that's been keeping my gripped
for weeks since I got hold of the DVDs. Of course, I'm thinking: any
records here? Watch this space!)
We're flying to LA, during a bank holiday weekend, because the cover
of our book is so important to us. For over 10 years, we've
pioneered many new print-production processes in order to deliver the
most spectacular covers. The first of these new generation covers
appeared with the 1997 edition, which was a black cover dominated by
the book title blocked in using a holographic foil. We then looked at
3-D "lenticular" covers – the kind you can drag your nail down and
feel the grooves that give it a 3-D or motion effect – and more
recently lenticular foils.
The 2008 "vortex" cover is, I feel, the best so far. Obviously I'm
biased but a lot of time, effort and money went into developing this
revolutionary design. The idea came about this time last year during a
trip to Toronto. While on a book-store check (we travel round making
sure the book is available and prominent in as many stores as
possible), a shiny red-foil gift-bag in the stationery aisle really
caught my eye – it was just the colour I'd had in mind, and the foil
effect added to the richness of the colour in a way I'd never seen
before.
The foil effect on the bag was a simple one, but it inspired our
designer, Yeung Poon, to create the unique vortex effect you'll find
on this year's cover. We also, radically, distorted our logo and sent
it flying into – or out of? – the vortex, creating an exciting,
dynamic effect. Finally, we worked closely with Spectratek, the
LA-based company we're currently en route to, to produce a series of
foil lenses, each one bigger than the next, to produce the vortex
effect and give the impression of depth.
I really do hope you look forward to seeing what each new edition will
look like, especially when it comes to the cover. The feedback we've
had in research is that people enjoy collecting the books
because of the fascinating, ground-breaking covers. Of course,
the insides are what really matter, but why not make the cover
as fun and as cool as possible?
What this means, however, is that every year we need to work that
little bit harder to develop an ever better cover than last year.
Hence the 12-hour flight to the US over the bank holiday weekend. Ah
well, I've got a few more episodes of BSG 2 to get through and I'm
being offered another Johnnie Walker and Canada Dry. I'm not one to
complain…
Friday, 10 August 2007
US Book Launch: Day 6
From the bed of Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief, Guinness World Records
9 August 2007
10:00 pm Eastern Time
W Hotel, Union Square, New York
9 August 2007
10:00 pm Eastern Time
W Hotel, Union Square, New York
Have just been to see A Chorus Line on Broadway, a show that
for years was the longest running show on Broadway, a record it broke
on 29 September 1983 after 3,389 performances (and on that night, to
celebrate, the producers organized the world's longest chorus line,
with an incredible 332 top-hatted dancers on stage at once!).
The show premiered on 25 July 1975 at the Shubert Theater in New York
and eventually ran for 6,137 performances until 28 April 1990. And if
the production I've just seen is anything like the original, I can see
why it lasted so long. (Incidentally, in a previous job as a theatre
drummer, I had the pleasure of playing percussion in a touring version
of the show in Scotland; it was years ago, but I had such fun, the
memories remain vivid.)
It's an incredible piece – a string of desperate, competitive dancers
striving to secure work in a chorus line bare their souls – and often
more – at a tense audition. And how these actors and dancers can move
they way they do while singing and acting so well is beyond me. Go see
it if you can!
The current record for the longest running musical on Broadway is
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, which opened on
26 January 1988 and had its 7,486th performance, at the Majestic
Theatre, on 9 January 2006, beating Webber's own Cats.
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
US Book Launch: Day 5
From the bed of Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief, Guinness World Records
8 August 2007
4:00 pm Eastern Time
W Hotel, Union Square, New York
What an exhausting day! Up early once again, this time to find that
New York had been hit by a torrential storm that had flooded our
hotel, not to mention most of the subway system. I was hoping that
this spectacular storm might have put an end to the heatwave, but once
the sun rose, it was hotter than ever. The city was in chaos, too, as
the closed subway meant that the streets were jam-packed and the
traffic was a nightmare. You couldn't get a taxi for love nor money.
Luckily, Neil and I were only briefly aware of this as we cruised,
albeit very slowly, down the street in our stretch limo!
We also had a chance in the car to read the Daily Post article – we
made an entire page with our photo and story, so that was cool. The
hassle of the day before was certainly worth it.
After a brief appearance on CW11, our first show of the day, the big
man and I headed off to another TV studio for our "Satellite Media
Tour". This weird experience involves sitting in a tiny studio, in the
glare of baking hot lights, with just an earpiece connecting you to
the outside world. The idea is that we get beamed into the studios of
TV shows around the USA and interviewed by the local hosts; they can
see us, but we can't see them, we can only hear them in our earpiece.
"You're on the bird!" shouted the camera operator, which I eventually
understood to mean that our picture was being beamed live from the
satellite and that we shouldn't be picking our noses or saying
anything that we didn't want broadcasting!
We must have cracked off about a dozen interviews in a couple of
hours, answering the same questions each time. We also had to keep
standing up to show just how tall Neil stretches. I've never felt so
small in all my life…
I'm now back in the hotel, enjoying my comfy W bed, which I've notice
can be bought and shipped home – a very tempting offer! As I tuck into
the complimentary chocolates that keep on materializing on my pillow
every time I leave the room, I wonder what the largest object ever
posted was. Somewhere in the back of my head, I seem to remember a
story of an architect in the USA who posted a bank building, brick by
brick, through the mail system, resulting in a state law banning the
delivery of buildings using the postal service…
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
US Book Launch: Day 4
Tuesday 7 August
Manhattan NYC
Another early start, this time for Good Morning America! I did this show last year, when host Bill Weir broke the record for the highest pancake toss, so it was a real pleasure to be invited back, this time with Neil. We shared the show with a team of inline skaters, an American bald eagle, a dentist who could diagnose illness by looking at your teeth, and a grandmother who gave birth to her own twin grandchildren - a mixture almost as random as our very own book of records! Indeed, I must make a note to follow up the grandmother - I think this would make a fascinating record category: Oldest person to give birth to their own grandchildren!
Neil and I secured a slot at the end of the show, when Diane Sawyer asked some interesting questions of Neil's stature. In terms of all the interviewers who spoke with Neil, Diane asked some of the most pertinent and sensible questions, and the segment went really well. Diane was also keen to feature the result of our search for America's tallest man - the results of which will be announced on 8 November this year as part of GWR Day. Hopefully, you'll even see the results on Good Morning America!
Manhattan NYC
Another early start, this time for Good Morning America! I did this show last year, when host Bill Weir broke the record for the highest pancake toss, so it was a real pleasure to be invited back, this time with Neil. We shared the show with a team of inline skaters, an American bald eagle, a dentist who could diagnose illness by looking at your teeth, and a grandmother who gave birth to her own twin grandchildren - a mixture almost as random as our very own book of records! Indeed, I must make a note to follow up the grandmother - I think this would make a fascinating record category: Oldest person to give birth to their own grandchildren!
Neil and I secured a slot at the end of the show, when Diane Sawyer asked some interesting questions of Neil's stature. In terms of all the interviewers who spoke with Neil, Diane asked some of the most pertinent and sensible questions, and the segment went really well. Diane was also keen to feature the result of our search for America's tallest man - the results of which will be announced on 8 November this year as part of GWR Day. Hopefully, you'll even see the results on Good Morning America!
Monday, 6 August 2007
US Book Launch: Day 3
Monday 6 August
Manhattan NYC
An early start today, thanks to a brief appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly. Serial record holder Suresh Joachim began his attempt at the solo karaoke marathon, and to fit the end of the 26-hour non-stop attempt into tomorrow's show, we had to start early, pre-recording the kickoff. I gave Suresh his 3-2-1 countdown and listened, in agony - it has to be said - as the determined record smasher crooned his way through some of the worst karaoke classics ever. I guess the fun of karaoke is listening to someone who can't sing wail their way through some of the cheesiest songs ever, but at 8 am? And Suresh - we love you, mate, but you can't sing! You can run 257.88 km (160.24 miles) in a day on treadmill, or stand on one foot for 76 hr 40 mins, but singing ain't your game...
One of the fun things about these shows, if you can survive the early starts, is the weird feeling that you're on the same show as other really famous people. Regis wasn't around, so Carson Kressley of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (and record holder for the Highest Annual Earnings for a TV Stylist!) took his place alongside the lovely Kelly. What's more, Steve Buscemi of Reservoir Dogs fame popped in, as did fellow actor Chris Tucker. There's nothing quite like acting cool in the green room when some of your favourite actors are sharing the croissants!
(My ultimate green-room moment of the past year had to be chewing the fat with Beyonce in Michael Jackson's private green room while waiting as the superstar had his hair done at the World Music Awards last year! Sorry, I love just dropping this into conversation!)
Next was a photoshoot in Times Square with Neil. Standing at 232.5 cm (7 ft 7.56 in), Neil is unmissable, and we emerged from our black stretch limo into one of the busiest junctions in the world, we were swamped by curious onlookers all keen to tell Neil that he was tall. "Wow, you're tall!" they'd exclaim. "What's the weather like up there?", etc. Despite the constant pestering - and his hangover! - Neil coped well and posed with me for some cool shots for the New York Daily Post.
Manhattan NYC
An early start today, thanks to a brief appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly. Serial record holder Suresh Joachim began his attempt at the solo karaoke marathon, and to fit the end of the 26-hour non-stop attempt into tomorrow's show, we had to start early, pre-recording the kickoff. I gave Suresh his 3-2-1 countdown and listened, in agony - it has to be said - as the determined record smasher crooned his way through some of the worst karaoke classics ever. I guess the fun of karaoke is listening to someone who can't sing wail their way through some of the cheesiest songs ever, but at 8 am? And Suresh - we love you, mate, but you can't sing! You can run 257.88 km (160.24 miles) in a day on treadmill, or stand on one foot for 76 hr 40 mins, but singing ain't your game...
One of the fun things about these shows, if you can survive the early starts, is the weird feeling that you're on the same show as other really famous people. Regis wasn't around, so Carson Kressley of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (and record holder for the Highest Annual Earnings for a TV Stylist!) took his place alongside the lovely Kelly. What's more, Steve Buscemi of Reservoir Dogs fame popped in, as did fellow actor Chris Tucker. There's nothing quite like acting cool in the green room when some of your favourite actors are sharing the croissants!
(My ultimate green-room moment of the past year had to be chewing the fat with Beyonce in Michael Jackson's private green room while waiting as the superstar had his hair done at the World Music Awards last year! Sorry, I love just dropping this into conversation!)
Next was a photoshoot in Times Square with Neil. Standing at 232.5 cm (7 ft 7.56 in), Neil is unmissable, and we emerged from our black stretch limo into one of the busiest junctions in the world, we were swamped by curious onlookers all keen to tell Neil that he was tall. "Wow, you're tall!" they'd exclaim. "What's the weather like up there?", etc. Despite the constant pestering - and his hangover! - Neil coped well and posed with me for some cool shots for the New York Daily Post.
Sunday, 5 August 2007
US Book Launch: Day 2
Sunday 5 August
Manhattan NY
Thanks to my lost luggage situation, I was forced to go clothes shopping today with Sam (GWR Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing). I hate shopping, particularly for clothes, but there was, however, one highlight: the pretzel dogs in Macy's. One of my more vivid memories of last year's book launch was being introduced to Auntie Anne's pretzel concession on the second floor of Macy's. There, you can buy for a couple of dollars the most amazing foodstuff ever: Auntie Anne's pretzel dough coiled around a Nathan's all-beef hot dog then cooked - maybe even deep fried? Being Scottish and hence from the land of the deep fried Mars bar, I can appreciate a snack such as a pretzel dog. I had to stop, though, after three. Three is pushing it. Then, of course, the thought popped into my head: could there be a record in this? Most pretzel dogs eaten in three minutes? Fastest time to eat three pretzel dogs?
The regular hot-dog-eating Guinness World Record is four in 3 minutes, by none other than GWR glutton Peter Dowdeswell, back in 2001. This involves downing the dog plus bun and condiments - and using only one hand, just to make it extra-difficult! I wonder what Peter would make of Anne's pretzel dogs? These babies slip down so easily, I bet he could establish an impressive standard to beat! If you're interested in setting this record yourself, why not make an application today? Just click the "Break a World Record" button off the homepage. Good luck!
Manhattan NY
Thanks to my lost luggage situation, I was forced to go clothes shopping today with Sam (GWR Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing). I hate shopping, particularly for clothes, but there was, however, one highlight: the pretzel dogs in Macy's. One of my more vivid memories of last year's book launch was being introduced to Auntie Anne's pretzel concession on the second floor of Macy's. There, you can buy for a couple of dollars the most amazing foodstuff ever: Auntie Anne's pretzel dough coiled around a Nathan's all-beef hot dog then cooked - maybe even deep fried? Being Scottish and hence from the land of the deep fried Mars bar, I can appreciate a snack such as a pretzel dog. I had to stop, though, after three. Three is pushing it. Then, of course, the thought popped into my head: could there be a record in this? Most pretzel dogs eaten in three minutes? Fastest time to eat three pretzel dogs?
The regular hot-dog-eating Guinness World Record is four in 3 minutes, by none other than GWR glutton Peter Dowdeswell, back in 2001. This involves downing the dog plus bun and condiments - and using only one hand, just to make it extra-difficult! I wonder what Peter would make of Anne's pretzel dogs? These babies slip down so easily, I bet he could establish an impressive standard to beat! If you're interested in setting this record yourself, why not make an application today? Just click the "Break a World Record" button off the homepage. Good luck!
Saturday, 4 August 2007
US Book Launch: Day 1
From the desk of Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief, Guinness World Records
4 August 2007
16:30 GMT
London, UK
I’ve never been a big supporter of the theory that humans are destroying the planet with the carbon dioxide we produce. As far as I’m concerned, the Sun, that fiery, 1.4-million km-diameter ball of nuclear fusion that we orbit, is far more likely to be the cause of global warming than the taxi I’ve just taken to the train station.
Until I hear otherwise, I’ll continue to have the same feeling in my gut that I had when I first heard about the Millennium Bug. (My journalist friend Simon Richmond was one of the first to “break” this story in the UK, and I doubted him from the moment he first talked about it.) There’s a lot of bandwaggoning going on, and as someone who works in an office where everyone’s forever flying around the world, I feel under a lot of pressure to act.
But who can say for sure that we need to? For every argument in support, there’s another against. In The Times today, for example, we learn that your carbon footprint between your home and the corner shop is larger if you WALK than if you DRIVE! Why? Because the production of the food that you require for energy to make that walk is more damaging to the environment – especially if you get your energy from those pesky methane-producing cows, and particularly organic cows, which give off more of a whiff! – than the production of your car’s fuel and its emissions.
Anyway, whatever the case, I’ve decided to offset the carbon dioxide emissions from the flight I’m about to take from London to New York. If the whole thing is bogus, I’ve at least still contributed to the promotion of industries that care about the environment. This, to me, is important – we need to do what we can to limit the impact we have on the environment, from caring about litter to reducing waste. Also, it’s a win-win situation – especially given the fact that it costs a mere £4.80 ($10) to off-set this one-way flight.
Find out more about the impact we – and the sun – are having on the planet by checking out the forthcoming edition of GWR 2008. And be sure that, going forward, everyone at GWR will be trying our best to offset the amount of travel we do. After all, we don’t want to be contributing to the breaking of any more environmental records!
CG
4 August 2007
16:30 GMT
London, UK
I’ve never been a big supporter of the theory that humans are destroying the planet with the carbon dioxide we produce. As far as I’m concerned, the Sun, that fiery, 1.4-million km-diameter ball of nuclear fusion that we orbit, is far more likely to be the cause of global warming than the taxi I’ve just taken to the train station.
Until I hear otherwise, I’ll continue to have the same feeling in my gut that I had when I first heard about the Millennium Bug. (My journalist friend Simon Richmond was one of the first to “break” this story in the UK, and I doubted him from the moment he first talked about it.) There’s a lot of bandwaggoning going on, and as someone who works in an office where everyone’s forever flying around the world, I feel under a lot of pressure to act.
But who can say for sure that we need to? For every argument in support, there’s another against. In The Times today, for example, we learn that your carbon footprint between your home and the corner shop is larger if you WALK than if you DRIVE! Why? Because the production of the food that you require for energy to make that walk is more damaging to the environment – especially if you get your energy from those pesky methane-producing cows, and particularly organic cows, which give off more of a whiff! – than the production of your car’s fuel and its emissions.
Anyway, whatever the case, I’ve decided to offset the carbon dioxide emissions from the flight I’m about to take from London to New York. If the whole thing is bogus, I’ve at least still contributed to the promotion of industries that care about the environment. This, to me, is important – we need to do what we can to limit the impact we have on the environment, from caring about litter to reducing waste. Also, it’s a win-win situation – especially given the fact that it costs a mere £4.80 ($10) to off-set this one-way flight.
Find out more about the impact we – and the sun – are having on the planet by checking out the forthcoming edition of GWR 2008. And be sure that, going forward, everyone at GWR will be trying our best to offset the amount of travel we do. After all, we don’t want to be contributing to the breaking of any more environmental records!
CG
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