There is something quintessentially American about neon signs. In many parts of the world, advertising is ? or was until recently ? decidedly understated. Shops would have small, neat lettered signs advertising them discreetly to passing customers. In America, however, we always do things bigger and better. Here, the neon sign rules. Neon bar signs have become collectors items for many people, and classic American billboards are symbols of an age of prosperity which has left, but may come again. There's nothing that excites so many people as the golden age of advertising, and Times Square has become a worldwide icon largely because of the neon sign.
I myself have been fascinated by neon signs since I was little. I think most kids love things that glow or flash. I would look at anything that sparkled or shined. I would give equal attention to someone's diamond ring and their child's flashlight. It did not matter to me. As long as it was bright and flashy, I couldn't keep my eyes away from it. When we went to New York, I was in heaven. New York City is neon sign paradise. There is Times Square, of course, but that isn't the only place. The whole city towers and flashes. It takes a lot to get people's attention in the Big Apple, so people put a lot into their advertising.
neon signs have a lot of practical uses. Even for a small business, it can really give you a professional feel and that air of importance that you can't get without it. When I used to run a restaurant, my neon sign brought more customers within the first week than we had had all month! Just adding a simple sign can make a huge difference.
Nonetheless, neon signs aren't great for everything. The biggest problem with the neon sign is, of course, that it can't be changed. Once you have it made, you're stuck with whatever it says. It is great for most businesses, but for some things it might be better to have a more flexible way of advertising. This is where those LED signs come in handy. You know what I'm talking about ? the ones they use at sports games with a display made out of hundreds of flashing lights. You can write any message you want, and can even do nifty graphics on them. That means that, any time you have a new slogan or a new campaign, you can display a completely new message in flashing lights.
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