For some lucky souls, there’s a moment in their lives when it all comes together: a realization, reflection or insight that seems to crystallize a universal truth, or point the way to their life’s fulfillment. Some luckier souls yet get to recount that moment on video, for a chance at television commercial stardom. And a fabulously equipped Airstream is the rolling center of memory collection.
Mutual of Omaha is the sponsor behind this 25-city tour, which boasts a full video studio in the 34-foot Airstream Pan American. This is the second version of the tour (and the second round for the Pan American), going to new cities; the inaugural tour videos were used as the basis for television ads that debuted at the 2010 Olympics. The declarations of clarifying moments truly run the gamut: according to Kaitlin Ebinger, one of the tour employees, “Talking with so many people every day, we certainly hear some funny and unusual stories. For instance, we had a man who came in today whose artistic medium is the paper napkin. He does some really cool little pieces, and he found that it was a great way to connect with his daughters.”
The Pan American is designed with a rear hatch for gear, but was customized by Airstream and a company called DTC Grip and Electric. The trailer is towed by a Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. All of the Airstream’s standard living quarters and plumbing were removed to install a broad range of electronic equipment and resources, such as LED studio lights, backdrop and multiple video cameras. The rear section holds the monitors and computers. “The Airstream works GREAT as a studio. It looks small from the outside, but it packs a lot of punch. We were able to accommodate a full lighting system for our needs as well as a camera mount and microphone tracks. We are a very small crew and conduct each interview one-on-one, so the Airstream allows for a more comfortable, intimate experience,” says Ebinger.
The tour began in early May and will continue until mid-August, hitting diverse, mid-sized cities from coast to coast. Contestants merely have to sign up in advance on the Aha site at http://www.ahamoment.com/ to set up the recording. Ebinger does a lot of the pre-screening briefings and paperwork filing for the “guests,” as she calls them. She and the other crew members blog about the tour and the recorded moments on the site. The tour team is staying in hotels, since the Pan American is bereft of beds.
Ebinger says that the custom trailer receives a lot of positive response, including that of Airstream aficionados who want to tour the inside. Apparently, the custom confines of a gleaming, technically outfitted trailer aren’t intimidating to the tour participants: “Getting people’s Aha Moments brings a lot of feelings to mind. Some are funny, some are sad, but it’s always inspiring to see people come out and really divulge some of their private moments. It has re-instilled my faith in people and community—it’s been wonderful,” says Ebinger.
After the videos are all posted, website visitors can vote on the best ones, which will then begin airing as commercial spots on broadcast television networks across the country