Who am I to say?

Gorilla vs Grizzly Bear

Another set of firsts for today. I decided to help my friends out over at Gorilla vs Bear with some video. I'm used to making documentaries for work, but a musical montage was a little more difficult that I first thought. I didn't shoot enough b-roll or have enough time for it to live up to my standards, but I think it turned out alright given the resources. The blogosphere needs quick turnaround, and I'm leaving town.

This is Grizzly Bear performing at Good Records in Dallas on 2.27.07. I just recently heard their music and I'm glad I was able to see them live. Enjoy.

[Update: here is another couple of songs for your viewing pleasure... this time without any editing]

n+u=i

I'm traveling a lot this week which has prevented me from posting, but reminded me of something I thought I'd share. Some of the best advice I took from Miami's planning conference was n+u=i. it means 'new stuff' + 'you' = inspiration. I love it. I can't remember the name of the guy who introduced this, but he was a TBWA planner in Japan (anyone know his name?)

I was reminded of this yesterday while in Austin. Though I have been there many times before, I met some new people and had a couple of new experiences, like spending time with a friend's band while they filmed a music video. Tomorrow I'm on to San Francisco then LA. So by the end of that tour I should be fully recharged and inspired. We'll see what happens.

RSS for the 20th century

Only five people turned out for today’s Plannera, our weekly coffee group. One of those in attendance was a political persuasion professor at SMU. It was his second week joining the group and a welcome addition. Its always great to have different perspectives and smart people.

He has done something quite extraordinary, he has set up multiple P.O. Boxes with different personalities. Being a political professor, he wanted to understand how the same candidates would try to influence different groups of people. It was fascinating.

He said that while messaging never really contradicted each other, it would have a very different focus. He was then able to use the materials in class to illustrate focused approaches for different segments. He has done the same thing online with different e-mail addresses.

I see this as a great next step for segmentation studies. Once we identify our groups, it’s a great way to keep them alive, check out the competition, and inspire creative teams. It takes a little work to set up, but once started it becomes a self generating flow of content. RSS for the 20th century.

What If?

Sorting through old notes is a great exercise. It reminds you of old forgotten wisdom, ideas, and projects. I just opened up my first notebook from being in the real world. The very first two words I wrote down: “What if.”

Before clients, before testing, before ‘the way we’ve always done it,’ there was what if? I can’t think of two better words to embrace.

‘What if’ opens you up to any possibility. It sets goals. It embraces change and chance. It can make you feel a little nervous. It can scare the hell out of you. The one thing what if will not do is allow a brand, an idea, a person, or anything else to remain stagnant. I’m glad I just found what if again. I encourage you to find and use it as well.

The perfect notebook

It is hard to define the perfect notebook. I have two that I like and would recommend for different reasons. The first is an obvious choice, the Moleskine journal. I especially like the smallest size, which will fit into your pocket. I keep 2 at any given time: one for day to day notes and a second for the good stuff– great ideas, perspective changing insights, advice, etc.

The second kind of notebook is a Bienfang note/sketch book. The top half is blank and the bottom is ruled, perfect for planning. My rule when using this notebook is to illustrate an idea on top and describe it on the bottom. It forces you to use both sides of the brain and think of common problems in new ways. Its great for having on your desk and taking to meetings.

Over Served

Last night we were having dinner at our favorite Lebanese restaurant G&G’s, they have the best falafel I’ve ever put in my mouth. Our conversation meandered over drinks, but one topic that remained fresh this morning was the 24- hour sushi bar next door. Today for lunch I decided to give it a try.

I headed over with Jeff, one of my friends from college. We were welcomed with a celebratory ringing of the restaurants gong and promptly seated outside. After the gong, things continued to get stranger. We were given a complimentary “special roll,” Jeff ordered a bento box, and I had a sashimi bowl.

Portions were huge and we both filled up by eating just half our plates. Then the Chef/Owner came out. We both had one ‘last’ bite to prove how much we enjoyed our meal. Apparently I was doing it all wrong and needed to start over. The chef ran back inside and returned with a plate of chopped salmon.

He then grabbed my chopsticks, some sauce, and my bowl and started mixing. He wrapped some lettuce around his new concoction and told me to open wide.

HE STARTED FEEDING ME! While his concoction was better than when it was first served, I had already filled up. But he hovered, making sure I finished every last bite. He kept saying I was, “high-class” for eating his sashimi… “High-class, high-class.”

We chatted back and forth while we kept nibbling on our food. It turns out that this guy has been around.

He brought out a cookbook he authored about 10 years ago. When I returned home I checked it out online. Amazon has one copy selling for $125.00. It must be a collector’s item?

Did I mention they also have karaoke every night starting at 10:00... How else would you start a 24-hour sushi party?

Jumping on...

A new service is launching with a clever little campaign.
Any blogger who writes about their new service before they launch on Feb 22 will get a year of free service. What is this service you ask... If you are a Mac user they will back up ALL of your iTunes... pretty cool. If you aren't a Mac user then you're SOL. So start a blog, click here, and jump on the bandwagon.

Pushing my buttons

This past Friday I attended the Dallas likemind coffee morning conversation. It was somehow sponsored by Anomaly (thanks); they sent along a gift card for our beverages and some buttons– A nice little token to show we were part of the group.

Today I decided I should capitalize on this idea and make some buttons of my own: a new kind of calling card. I figured I'd make some for my regular coffee group, Plannera as well; I even considered punching out buttons for everything in my regular reading list. My messenger bag could be the geeks version of the denim jacket.

Then I reached a stumbling block... noone sells button makers any more. NO ONE. I tend to get a bit obsessive when I'm looking for something. I was determined to find a button press, in Dallas, today. Sure I could get online and have one shipped tomorrow morning, but I was in my car and on a mission. I figured that between all the stores that use their employees as in-store billboards and people who must want to express their interests, someone would be selling a button press. I was wrong. Each store had a new suggestion of where I should look- each lead unsuccessful. Incase you are looking, here are some places that don't sell button making machines:

• Micheals
• Office Depot
• Hobby Town USA
• Toys R' Us
• Tuesday Morning
• Linens N' Things
• Office Max
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Learning Express
• Mullican Art Supply Co
• Re Collections Scrap-booking
• Wolf Camera
• Target
• Urban Outfitters

Now that buttons makers are officially impossible to stumble upon, it is time to bring them back. I think I'll be ordering a kit tomorrow unless someone has a suggestion of where I might find a machine. Any thoughts?

Fashion ads don't have copy

We have reached a time where information is accessible. No matter the problem, an answer is only a few clicks away: feeling sick? hungry? lost? nervous?

In advertising, too much information not only confuses, it gives the opportunity to make a decision: YES or NO. Might the better response be, "I'd like to know more." The ultimate goal should be to get people activated and curious about your brand. If they spend just a moment questioning your brand, then they will have invested more thought and energy than had you simply given them details and attributes they may or may not care about.

Normal people aren't out looking for ads– looking for information in the 30 seconds between their TV shows OR on the pages interrupting their periodicals. This is their time of PASSIVE entertainment. When they get into search mode (and they will) they get on the internet... This is their opportunity to engage and engorge on details. Here is what people are talking about this week.

I am by no means suggesting that ads should become elaborate teasers or publicity stunts, but products that seem interesting naturally get people asking questions. Its also safe to say that the more expensive a purchase (cars, vacations), the more questions a buyer will have.

Maybe in the next couple of days I'll take a look at the literal vs. emotional balance in a few categories. I'm curious to see how this should play out on an entertainment brand vs. a product or retail brand. For an experiential brand, what is the best way to engage a viewer without ruining the experience of the movie/show/event/etc...? How should this play out on a low-involvement, low-risk product? All thoughts for the future.

Don't fear the white paper

I guess now is as good a time as ever to start a blog. There have been many instances when I have come close, but today I purchased a domain, signed up on typepad, and now I'm writing the first post. I've got several years of notes, thoughts, and ideas scattered throughout multiple pads, books, and sheets of paper that should get me started. They range from advertising and trends to politics to simple random thoughts that occupy my head. The goal is to start new conversations, keep old ones alive, and encourage some good old fashioned debate. Feel free to read, comment, and share.