The first stop for SafeAuto’s 2012 Do The Jingle contest is complete. The company’s media team visited Chicago, Illinois and returned to Columbus bearing some amazing footage. The wide assortment of entertainers in the Windy City offered a melting pot of new jingles; participants performed raps, ballads and even drum beats outlining the advantages of having automobile coverage by SafeAuto Insurance.

This talented drummer spotted SafeAuto on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue and amazed on-lookers with his version of the jingle.

The first of the seven-city search for the next SafeAuto advertising star proved nothing short of successful. Many people made appointments to sing their best rendition of the SafeAuto jingle, while some were able to come up with jingles on the spot like the young percussionist pictured at the ­­­­­left.

Multiple crooners were eager to show off their talents and paired their participation in the Do The Jingle contest with auditions for NBC’s second season of their singing competition “The Voice”. Hopefuls waiting at the Navy Pier offered their fantastic voices and produced some entertaining 30-to-60-second tunes.

This is the fourth annual Do The Jingle contest for the company, and voting for this year’s competition is expected to far exceed that of last year’s. Public votes will decide the grand prize winner, who will receive a $5000 advertising contract with SafeAuto.

This week the team visits Myrtle Beach, with Philadelphia close behind this weekend, in hopes of an even more successful casting and the continued participation of a vast array of artists and entertainers.

The SafeAuto team will visit the following cities for the remainder of the contest:

· Chicago: July 15-16, 2011
· Myrtle Beach: August 3-4, 2011
· Philadelphia: August 5-7, 2011
· Phoenix: September 8-10, 2011
· Houston: October 7-9, 2011
· Nashville: October 22-23, 2011
· Columbus: November 5-6, 2011

This past weekend I went on a road trip to Chicago. The ride ended up being about 6-7 hours long each way, which is a lot of time to fill… Of course many folks listen to music on their iPod’s, watch movies and some travelers even appreciate some good old fashion conversation. But, with all that time to fill, what else can travelers do to pass the time? Long car ride games, of course!

Edmunds.com provides a top ten list of the best road trip games to play while driving through The United States’ crossroads.

One of my favorites coming in at number seven on the list is “The Picnic Game,” in which one player begins with, “I went to a picnic and I brought…” The first player brings an item that starts with the letter A, such as apple. Then the next person repeats the same opening phrase and brings an item that starts with the letter B, such as banana. Then the next player brings something that starts with the letter C. Simple enough?

My favorite game that shockingly came in at number 10 is “Geography Lesson.” This is the game where a category is chosen by the players (I stink at geography so I usually play this game with celebrities) and the first player says the name of a state or whatever the chosen category is. The next player has to then name a state or celebrity that starts with the last letter of the previous players answer. If the first player starts the game with Ohio, the next player names a state that starts with O, like Oklahoma. The next player would then name a start starting with A, like Arizona and so on.

Next time you have some time to pass while on the road, turn down your iPod’s and try out one of these fun games!

[Source: Edmunds.com]