It started out as research for a website design on Google, which led me to this site, which led me to just read a sampling of his blog, which led me to become a fan of his blog. You rock, Dave Mance.
A sample entry for your reading delight...
Creative cleansing
Is it just me or is anyone else finding it increasingly difficult to get work through?
Presumably this is a result of the recession and clients being more cautious with their budget. Whatever it is, I’m finding I have to do increasingly demeaning and sordid things to sell stuff in.
It’s got so bad now that Mrs RMWLC always knows when I’m presenting work because I’ll leave the house in tight shorts and a low-cut top.
Which is fine except I’m beginning to wonder how much further I can go. Even as I type this I’m sat at my desk in nothing but a negligee and it’s well draughty I can tell you.
But those I present to are constantly baying for more, licking their lips then dropping pens on the floor and demanding I slowly pick them up going “oooh ahhh”.
So what’s the answer?
The more I think about it, the more I believe that this is a time when our industry needs a new breed of creative. One that is less focussed on the work and more focussed on pointing at it seductively and pouting.
You can see things are already going that way. Junior creatives today are at least 10% better looking than their counterparts from a couple of years ago. And students now are generally expected to include a few glamour shots in their books. Otherwise, how does the CD know what you’re capable of?
But is there an ugly side to the beautiful creative department?
Of course we're told there’s still a place for the old-fashioned ugly, talented creative in the modern agency. What they don't mention is that that place is generally dark and windowless.
Here at Partners, we use the bike storage facility. Briefs are simply slipped under the door and scamps are passed back a few hours later. Then, the more aesthetically-pleasing creatives can present the work and our creative Quasimodos can do their job without scaring clients or small children.
But I can't help worrying there's a price to all this. Once I lose my youthful good looks and my firm thighs have begun to sag, will I also be cast into the darkness? Anyone?
Posted by real men write long copy at 12:45 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Looking back briefly.
Going thru some older digital memory cards at work this morning and I found this picture. I'll always remember this moment - the look on Eleanor's face right after Isabella was born. Of course, we were both so happy and excited about Isa being born, but it was how beautiful and content El looked holding her first baby. I don't think I could ever catch another moment that will strike me as much.
Isa was awake for almost 2 hours looking around the room - not crying - but soaking in everything around her. I knew El wanted this moment so much. I was glad to have captured it.
Isa was awake for almost 2 hours looking around the room - not crying - but soaking in everything around her. I knew El wanted this moment so much. I was glad to have captured it.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
New Shoes for the G35
As a 10 Year Anniversary gift Eleanor bought me these brand new rims for my ride. I later bought Yokohamas to pimp them out. I felt after all my hard work the past 2 years I wanted to treat myself to some feel-good time. I dig em. Not too flashy, but just enough to make them not look stock. Sick.
Happy 1st Birthday Nicholas!
On the fly Eleanor and I were able to plan a nice weekend for my parents and Cher and her son, Gabriel's, visit to Orlando. Since they had to leave suddenly after Nico got sick over Father's Day weekend I had hoped to have a redo of the Silver Springs trip.
Let's start from the top shall we?
*the Reader's Digest Condensed Version no less...
So after 9 years of working for Golf Channel I had been playing with the idea of seeing what else what out there. I wasn't exactly looking for a job, but thru a series of lunch conversations and keeping in touch with people I was able to interview with a small boutique agency nearby that was in the market to create a design team for their Orlando office.
I quickly got my resume and portfolio together and met with said agency. We talked a few times over the course of a month and got along great! I was so used to the Comcast corporate monster mentality that a new environment was a much needed change of pace for me. Plus I was burned out of doing golf related design and animation.
Short story shorter I put in my resignation quietly to my boss Al Lagor. I pretty much kept it to myself for the remaining two weeks I was to be there. Eventually I told a couple of key people in my department my plan, but wanted to keep my exodus fairly lowkey. Of course, eventually somehow the news made its way around different departments all over the company - not saying it was these few key people. I seriously doubt they would do that. No it was some other unnamed source.
Plus I really didn't care to share great news like this with certain individuals in the group, whom I could give a crap about (tell us how you really feel Erick!). So slowly I told those who hadn't heard thru the grapevine yet. I really wanted to show my appreciation to the guys who supported me during my "learning-tv-animation-on-the -fly" period by taking them out to lunch individually.
Al had been a great boss, but I felt my career was taking another turn and I knew my choices would be limited there. Hughes taught me alot about the production end and how to shoot from the hip. Nasso and Van Horn were great examples of 2d and 3d artists who had a real passion for what they did. Hawkman and Brad made learning fun again. Even Emily, the freelancer, would be missed. No more all night conversations about demon-possessed top chefs.
Those two weeks I could slowly feel the weight of almost 10 years of Golf Channel slowly coming off my shoulders. I was excited about my new Art Director position at Caldwell Group. Sheri had been very accommodating to me and those first couple of months were grueling, but also very satisfying in a way I hadn't felt at Golf Channel in a long, long time.
I was charged with concepting and developing the new marketing look and feel with their largest client including the campaign to launch their brand, spanking new state-of-art rehab center. Exciting times. At the end of my three month period I was tired, but very pleased with what I had accomplished.
Things have slowed down for me to a nice pace at the agency and I'm settling into my role. My doctor said my blood pressure was up during that three month period, but was now even lower than it ever was previously. I enjoy the new work atmosphere, I feel good about the work I crank out, my colleagues are great people and now that my office is almost completely set up I am easing into my routine. I haven't had my own office since my earlier agency days so it's become almost therapeutic to make my little part of the world cozy and cool.
It's been a busy season. Pictures of the new digs to come soon!
So after 9 years of working for Golf Channel I had been playing with the idea of seeing what else what out there. I wasn't exactly looking for a job, but thru a series of lunch conversations and keeping in touch with people I was able to interview with a small boutique agency nearby that was in the market to create a design team for their Orlando office.
I quickly got my resume and portfolio together and met with said agency. We talked a few times over the course of a month and got along great! I was so used to the Comcast corporate monster mentality that a new environment was a much needed change of pace for me. Plus I was burned out of doing golf related design and animation.
Short story shorter I put in my resignation quietly to my boss Al Lagor. I pretty much kept it to myself for the remaining two weeks I was to be there. Eventually I told a couple of key people in my department my plan, but wanted to keep my exodus fairly lowkey. Of course, eventually somehow the news made its way around different departments all over the company - not saying it was these few key people. I seriously doubt they would do that. No it was some other unnamed source.
Plus I really didn't care to share great news like this with certain individuals in the group, whom I could give a crap about (tell us how you really feel Erick!). So slowly I told those who hadn't heard thru the grapevine yet. I really wanted to show my appreciation to the guys who supported me during my "learning-tv-animation-on-the -fly" period by taking them out to lunch individually.
Al had been a great boss, but I felt my career was taking another turn and I knew my choices would be limited there. Hughes taught me alot about the production end and how to shoot from the hip. Nasso and Van Horn were great examples of 2d and 3d artists who had a real passion for what they did. Hawkman and Brad made learning fun again. Even Emily, the freelancer, would be missed. No more all night conversations about demon-possessed top chefs.
Those two weeks I could slowly feel the weight of almost 10 years of Golf Channel slowly coming off my shoulders. I was excited about my new Art Director position at Caldwell Group. Sheri had been very accommodating to me and those first couple of months were grueling, but also very satisfying in a way I hadn't felt at Golf Channel in a long, long time.
I was charged with concepting and developing the new marketing look and feel with their largest client including the campaign to launch their brand, spanking new state-of-art rehab center. Exciting times. At the end of my three month period I was tired, but very pleased with what I had accomplished.
Things have slowed down for me to a nice pace at the agency and I'm settling into my role. My doctor said my blood pressure was up during that three month period, but was now even lower than it ever was previously. I enjoy the new work atmosphere, I feel good about the work I crank out, my colleagues are great people and now that my office is almost completely set up I am easing into my routine. I haven't had my own office since my earlier agency days so it's become almost therapeutic to make my little part of the world cozy and cool.
It's been a busy season. Pictures of the new digs to come soon!
I'm in over my head...
So much to do, so much to say, so much to post. Holy crap talk about getting getting overloaded with so much that you are floundering. I know I know. I keep saying it over and over and over, but I WILL GET THOS BLOG updated. Maybe next year. Nooooo....
I'll get there, but there's been so many great things happening and so much news to share. Where do I start? Oh I know where...
I'll get there, but there's been so many great things happening and so much news to share. Where do I start? Oh I know where...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
