It's the fare sex - Econdoms guide
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It's the fare sex |
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THE organiser of a festival of erotica in Edinburgh is to lay on free transport to the event after falling out with the city’s biggest bus company over a risque advert.
Vincent Delicato has hired a double-decker bus to take people from the city centre to the Festival Erotique which is due to begin at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange tomorrow.
He decided on the move after Lothian Buses refused to carry an advert for the event.
Today, Mr Delicato also called on visitors to boycott Lothian Buses in the wake of the action and instead use the free bus, rivals First or the city’s taxis to attend the event.
Mr Delicato said: "There is a real hypocrisy here that needs to be highlighted. Lothian Buses can’t have it both ways.
"They will not take our advertising but will take the public’s money to carry them [visitors to the festival] to Slateford Road or Gorgie Road for the Corn Exchange.
"It’s okay for the Lady Boys of Bangkok to advertise on their buses but not us, what is the problem with Lothian Buses?
"Not one media organisation across the UK that we approached has refused our advertising.
"Surely the management of Lothian Buses are not intimidated by a pair of juicy lips?"
Mr Delicato also denied a claim from Viacom, the company in charge of advertising for Lothian Buses, that the adverts could have gone ahead on the buses provided there were changes.
He said: "That is farcical. There was never anything like that and this is just an excuse."
The free bus will pick up and drop off every half hour from the Corn Exchange and outside the Usher Hall. Mr Delicato said the silver bus would not have the advertisement on it, but a sign in the front would indicate it was travelling to the Corn Exchange for the festival.
A spokeswoman for Viacom said:
"Lothian Buses said it [the advert] was able to run provided there were certain alterations. Mr Delicato refused.
"We have to run the advertisement past Lothian Buses to check whether it is suitable because it is public transport. Bus companies have guidelines on what is suitable. Each has its likes and dislikes."
Neil Renilson, chief executive of Lothian Buses, added:
"We do not do the advertising on our buses. It is done by Viacom in London. They take into account the Advertising Standards Authority requirements and what is likely to be acceptable."
Meanwhile, a row has erupted over a "sex idol" competition at the festival.
Contestants will have three minutes to impress a panel of judges and the audience with a raunchy routine.
Scottish Women Against Pornography condemned the sex idol contest as being "tantamount to live pornography".
Spokeswoman Catherine Harper said: "It was a sad day for Edinburgh when the city council licensed this festival. It’s about hardcore pornography."
But Mr Delicato defended the contest saying: "It will be a comical attitude towards sex. It is meant to be fun. It won’t be explicit. Absolutely anything goes in this event. It should be fun."
The "sex idol" competition is one of a number of risque events to be staged at the three-day adults-only festival due to be held from tomorrow to Sunday.
There will also be erotic dancers, fetish fashion shows, live adult entertainment, lap dancing, an adult shoppers’ paradise and dominatrix workshops.
SAM HALSTEAD
Edinburgh Evening News
News.Scotsman.com
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