Call in Sick Without Being Sick

09 MAR 2009

Saatchi & Saatchi and Ski Areas of New York (SANY) are launching www.makeyourselfsick.com today to encourage New Yorkers to think about taking a ski or snowboarding trip midweek at one of New York State’s 38 mountains. 



“Tired of making up lame excuses to get out of doing stuff?” asked Saatchi & Saatchi’s Interactive Creative Director Matthew Atkatz. “Now through the magic of the Internet you can get sick without the annoying side effects and then to do something fun and exciting with your newfound free time.”



At makeyourselfsick.com, visitors can record a fun, phony message in a sick voice and add humorous filters like vomit and death rattle to add authenticity to their message. Then the recording can be sent via the Internet to a mobile device where the message is deposited into voicemail with an accompanying text.

“Like skiing and riding, Make Yourself Sick is Ferris Bueller-like fun,” said Scott Brandi, SANY President. He added: “We hope it gets people to use their days off to ride or ski on one of New York’s slopes or terrain parks.”



Makeyourselfsick.com will launch on February 23 and run through April 15th with the goal of generating more midweek traffic and business later in the season. Midweek skiing means little to no time spent waiting in lift lines, more mountain time on virtually wide open trails. Clearly, spring skiing has a potential for some sunny yet snowy days.

In addition to SANY, project support has come from Bristol Mountain, Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Gore Mountain, Holiday Valley Resort, Hunter Mountain, Thunder Ridge Ski Area, Whiteface Mountain, and Windham Mountain.