Daily
The Rant: How To Be A Great Client – Part One (Of Three)
Volume 28 In a Series By Felix
Creative Directors came under the gun from me recently (Part One and Part Two), and then I was given the idea to switch my focus to the other side of the coin; namely, the client.
Now if your experience in this game is anything like mine, you’ll have worked with both good clients and bad clients; but mostly, bad clients. There are many reasons for that, which will be touched upon later, but usually it’s down to a basic lack of understanding, communication and trust between agency and client.
Stop Emailing Creative Directors
By Creative Director Norm Shearer
As adjunct teacher at CU Boulder and Cactus CD, I’m often asked to do informational interviews. I’m happy to do them when I can. I like giving young creatives feedback and helping them out, even when we aren’t hiring. Plus, I like to meet new people and stay connected to what’s going on. I have reviewed portfolios in the classroom, online and in every imaginable plastic, metal or leather case known to man. I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. And, I have a few thoughts to pass along to young, passionate creatives looking to break into the industry during one of the most competitive times I’ve seen.
Play Ball, Please
Through comprehensive research, we’ve found the funniest thing a professional sports team mascot can do is dry-hump the visiting team’s mascot while families with small children watch in horror. That’s just good entertainment.
What’s not funny is when you take a mascot, put him in mundane, everyday situations and roll camera. Hilarity does not ensue. That’s the premise behind one of five (yes, five!) new spots from the Colorado Rockies. The spot opens with a young lad posing the question, “Daddy, what does Dinger do when he’s not at the Rockies games?” Daddy replies, “Gosh son, he does mounds of cocaine and any stripper with a fuzzy fetish.” Well, that’s our version anyway.
An Examination of the Delicate Relationship Between Art Director & Copywriter, Part 1
By Copywriter Ashley Billings
I wish you would stop repeating back exactly what I just said only slightly rephrased. When I share an idea with you that you like, just say, “Good idea,” and leave it at that. Because when you take exactly what I just said and slightly rephrase it, your insecurity threatens my insecurity causing me to experience several emotions that I’m not comfortable with.
Cheapotle Plea.
Come and join the email carpet-bombing campaign. We’re on a mission to get Chris Arnold and the Chipotle gang to dump the new menu and rotten ad campaign.
Chipotle's New Advertising Gives Us Indigestion, Part One
The big, fat, silver torpedo that is the Chipotle burrito is as iconic (in this city, anyway) as an Absolut bottle or a Converse shoe. So what better way to start off a brand new campaign than to ditch the thing you’re most famous for in favor of a bland, new Taco Bell-styled menu and some insipid value statements that are saturating the market in this shitty economy. Oh, and how about a new logo, too? Something that could sit nicely on the shelf at Target with the other Archer Farms produce?
Chipotle's New Menu Compounds the Ill Feeling, Part Two
I am sitting in my neighborhood Chipotle as I write this. Public Enemy’s “Don’t Believe The Hype” is blasting from the speaker directly above me. It’s loud and angry and rattles the windows.
I have not visited a Chipotle in a few months, maybe more. I came here to see, given the new campaign, if anything has really changed. Here is what I found.
The Egotist Interviews: Jim Glynn
In Stephen King’s book On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft, his first piece of advice is to write with conviction. “Come to [writing] any way but lightly. You must not come lightly to the blank page,” King says. Though he’s likely never read these exact words in this exact book, Jim Glynn has heeded Stephen King’s advice his entire life. Poetic. Comedic. Shocking. Thought-provoking. From concept through the final piece of punctuation on every page, Jim attacks advertising with conviction – a talent that’s made him a great writer a great many admire. We caught up with this ex-creative director turned freelance copywriter to talk to him about his past, present and future in the business.
The Rant: Is The Single-Minded Proposition Still Out There?
Volume 27 In a Series By Felix
Scamp, one of my favorite ad blogs, has been doing a bit of planner bashing lately. And something that violently hit a nerve with me was the tirade about single-minded propositions (or lack thereof).
The Psychedelic Experience, DAM!
A few weeks ago, our friends at the Denver Art Museum invited us to attend the VIP media preview of The Psychedelic Experience, their newest exhibit featuring rock posters from the San Francisco Bay area created from 1965-71. Instead of going ourselves, we thought it’d be much cooler to send a group of first generation Denver designers (all retired now) to the show in our place – to relive the era they began designing in more than four decades ago. Needless to say, they dug it. What follows are their thoughts from a show you’ve got to go see.
Freelancing In a Down Economy is Better than Being a Dog
By Copywriter Ashley Billings
Freelancing in a down economy is really no different than working full time. The majority of your day is spent surfing the Internet and looking for a new job. The only major difference I’ve noticed is that you find yourself spending a lot more time at home. And if you have a dog at home like I do, then chances are you’ll start talking to your dog. Don’t judge me. When you are no longer surrounded by people, you have to take what you can get. But what I have come to realize during these conversations with my dog is that freelancing in a down economy is still better than being a dog.
The Psychology of Your Small Agency Kicking Ass.
By Ben Kunz, Director, Strategic Planning, Mediassociates
The lovely photo of Janet Jackson below was once leveraged by Plaid to create Billboard Magazine’s top-ranked website for user-generated content. We’ll spare you the details of that sexy campaign – let’s just say fans got to play with Janet’s “clothes” – but will ask the question:
How did Plaid, a Danbury, Conn.-based brand shop, beat the big interactive boys in New York City?
Would You Be As Brave With Your Own Money?
Volume 26 In a Series By Felix
How many times have you heard creatives say “this would be a great industry if it weren’t for the damned clients?” Well, I’m guilty of saying it too, so I’m raising my hand. And if you haven’t said it yet, you’re either very new to the business, working in a utopia, or a complete liar.
Fed Up with the Pikes Peak Ad Fed
By a Group of Colorado Springs Creatives
So, after the latest post on TDE regarding the Pikes Peak Ad Fed, it became quite clear that this WAS the time to finally voice a well-overdue opinion.
There’s been debate for some time now on how to best approach this subject; and how to do so with integrity and professionalism. This little post is fueled by justified and well-placed frustration. But hey, let’s face it: everything in this industry is subjective, right? We’ve all been the face of the creator AND the critic.
Our very problem is: what exactly defines good work?
The People Interview The Egotist
Two months ago we asked you to submit interview questions for us. We took our time getting to it, but here are out answers to the 10 questions we liked best.
1). How many people contribute to The Egotist, what are your job titles and industries, and how many of you have penises v. vaginas?
Looking for Some Interns to Abuse this Summer? Read on.
By Ashley Billings
I teach creative advertising at CU, so I have access to some of the most malleable creative minds in the area. This is both good and bad. It’s bad because I’ve seen more terrible puns than the 80s. But it’s good because I’m surrounded by people who continually take big risks. They don’t know the rules. They’ve never worked a day in advertising. They aren’t jaded or bitter or angry. Not yet anyway. So they are some of the most fearless creatives I’ve ever worked with. After a long day of discussing whether the logo should be blue, green, or blue-green it’s refreshing to be presented with an idea where cows go into a slaughterhouse and come out as leather chairs.
Why Creatives Make the Best Progammers
Now before you blast us for the title of this piece, let us quickly qualify that statement by saying that if you have a knack for creative expression, were born with an eye for layout, color, and design… AND go through the diligence of learning the proper techniques to effectively build a functional and scalable piece of software, then you will be a better programmer than someone who doesn’t make the most of the right hemisphere of their brain.
Logomash - Yes or No?
It’s time to vote on the future of this thing.
The Rant: What Makes a Good Creative Director? Part 2 of 2.
Volume 25 In a Series By Felix
Last week, I started to point out some of the many qualities of a good creative director. Not every CD will possess every quality, even greats like Bernbach, Burnett, Abbott and Ogilvy had a few chinks in their substantial armor. But this is a good ingredients list of traits. Leave one or two of the minor ones out, no biggie. However, miss out on most of the key ingredients and you have a steaming pile of McDonald’s.
The Denver Egotist Logomash: Game Three
It’s back again. The third steaming pile of Logomash has arrived, along with the answers to last week’s nasty concoction.
The Rant: What Makes a Good Creative Director? Part 1 of 2.
Volume 24 In a Series By Felix
Not sure. Well, here’s another question for you. What exactly is the job of a creative director? Do you know? If you’re a CD, do you know? You should. But it seems that some do and some don’t, whether they’re taking direction from one, or they actually are the head honcho. And that, my friends, is just not good enough.
Egotist For The Day: Helping Portland Suck Less
By AdPulp’s David Burn
First of all, Portland doesn’t suck. Far from it. It’s a fertile place where ideas grow wild like flowers in a meadow.
Of course, one could say the same about Denver. Denver doesn’t suck either. It’s a magnet for creative people who love the outdoors. There are decent clients and a growing agency scene on the verge of establishing a national reputation. And it’s a relatively affordable, distinctly pleasant place to live.
The Denver Egotist Logomash: Game Two
The next edition of Logomash is hot off the electronic press, along with answers to last week’s mash. Bet the excitement is just killing you.
The Rant? What Do You Do When Your Job Is Uninspiring?
Volume 23 In a Series By Felix
Notice the question mark this week. I’m not sure this is a rant in the traditional sense of the word, more like a rambling train of thought on a subject that many of you may be all too familiar with. I’m hoping to start a conversation that taps into the vast, collective knowledge of Denver and maybe something good will come of it. If not, I’ll just bitch about it next week, as usual.
So first of all, how does a creative person like you end up in a dull, suck-the-life-out-of-you, worthless, crappy job? Well, it can be for a number of reasons.
Helping Denver Suck Less by Getting You Hired
Instead of trading careers and following in your old man’s godforsaken footsteps, we’d like to do a favor for all those people who really need one right now. If you’re an unemployed advertising, design, interactive, marketing or PR person in Colorado right now, email us your name, specialty, a three-sentence description of why you deserve to be employed by someone at this moment, along with three samples of your best work (assuming you have a book).
How To Make Denver Suck Less, Karmically
By Dan Barnhart
OK. The economy seems worse every day. Our industry is pretty much Swiss cheese. Everywhere you go people are grumpy as hell. Most feel like everything they’ve worked for their entire lives (their money) has turned to fetid vapor. It’s creating self-worth issues. Substance abuse is at an all-time high. And it all seems to be a really handy excuse for being a total douchewaffle.*
The Denver Egotist Logomash: Game One
We’ve turned a client’s most obvious and awful suggestion into a game; combine two ideas into one much more horrendous result. Come play along.
Humpday Poll #26
Which off-the-beaten-path agency, studio or individual in Colorado is most inspiring to you right now?
Gordy Hirsch Seriously Salutes Christophe Eagleton
Gordon Hirsch (Local Creative/Art Director) seriously salutes Christophe Eagleton (Local Composer, Producer, Sound Designer and Motion/Interactive Extraordinaire) for his talent, his band and his badass car with a few questions.
Q: Why, Chris, why do you choose to live here?
A: Pretty cool museum? Honestly, I have to travel a lot to stay balanced, but let’s just say I like the wide open sky.
Movie Review: Friday The 13th
Ahhhh…summer camp…hanging out…making friends…long talks…long walks…swimming by the lake…drinking…fooling around…hockey masks…arrows through the head…tons of killing…what were we saying?
Humpday Poll #25
What was the dumbest thing you did when you were a kid that your parents never knew about?
The Best Project Management Programs for Creative Agencies
When the day comes to graduate past QuickBooks and paper timesheets, what’s the best project management software for an agency? We’ve worked at a handful of shops, using a handful of project management programs, and we’ve definitely got some recommendations after the experience.
The Rant: Does Denver Suck the Creativity Out of You?
Volume 22 In a Series By Felix
I’m going to start this one with an unnecessarily long trip back in time to my childhood. Sorry, but hey, it’s my column. Anyway, when I was 14 years old I was something of a fast runner. 100m, 200m, 4×100m relay, all that good stuff. I was relatively fast, but I wasn’t the fastest in my school though. That accolade went to a guy who was by all accounts a freak of nature; a superhuman 14-year-old with the body of an Olympic athlete.
When we were doing time trials, no one would ever run against him. To be honest, it was demoralizing. He always finished a good two seconds faster than anyone and he never even broke a sweat. When he threw the javelin, he launched it like a rocket. When he did the high jump, they had to raise the bar way higher for him just to keep him interested.
Humpday Poll #24
TV executives have secretly perfected time travel, but you can only travel back into old TV shows and would be stuck there for a full season. What show would you choose and why?
Spectro Closing: Another Sad Denver Day
Not less than five years ago, Spectrographics commanded the king of the hill position for Denver printers. The best design shops wouldn’t gamble their best jobs on any two-bit shop. It had to be Spectro. Even when some clients demanded a less pricey solution against advice, the top design shops demanded the best for themselves—printing their own business papers at Spectro. They were, quite simply, the best.
Pondering a Hole In The Market: Developers
Where the hell are all the good developers in Denver? We know Factory, Xylem, FL2, CP+B and The1stMovement have a handful of the best locked up, but where is everyone else? No one’s moving to town. No one’s graduating from the schools. In fact, the schools are completely clueless—directing very few into this career—a career that, by the way, pays a shit-ton the minute you graduate and instantly gives you a career. There’s so much need and so little talent to go around. Where do you find quality developers? How do we bring more of them here to Denver? Do you have to pay to school people to mold them to your needs? That sucks, but it may be the answer. We gotta solve this as a city in order for us to compete at the next level. Your thoughts.
The Rant: Direct Is Not a Dirty Word
Volume 21 In a Series By Felix
Put your egos to one side and brush that chip off your shoulder. If you think the only legitimate forms of advertising come with stellar budgets, TV producers, world-class photographers and minimal copy, you need to rethink the reason you go into this business. Selling is the game, and DR is one of the sharpest tools in our arsenal.
I’m always taken aback when I see the disdain that most creatives have for DR. I once worked for a below-the-line arm of a major ad agency. Imagine the morale boost we got when we found out that the big boys called us their “coupon cunts.” I wish I were kidding.
The Egotist Wants Your Opinion
We get a fair amount of less-than-stellar work in our inbox. As of yet, our policy has been to put it out there and let people comment. We figure if someone is local, and they’re taking the time to send us their work, then they at least deserve to be mentioned.
But is this the right policy?
What Really Happened with Texture-media?
We don’t know the answer. What we do know is that they were purchased by Boulder’s Crispin Porter + Bogusky in June of last year with much excitement, and today, six months later, very few of the original people who moved over in the deal still work at CP+B. What happened? If you still work at CP+B after the merge, you worked there and have moved on, or you know someone who has lived through it, shed some light for the rest of us.
The Collective Ego #2.3: Greater Good
Part Three, Advice By Leif Steiner
We received a new question for our advice column recently. And we got some intricate, heartfelt responses from the people we sent it to in town for their own thoughts on the matter. They were so good, in fact, we’re letting them take the lead on answering this deep question in a three part series. Here’s the inquiry we received:
“This is a question I have had for a long time and is directed at you, at me, at everybody. A lot of people seem to aspire to being like their big brother. In this case, I mean to say that we designers dream of being like the rockstars of our field. As a group, we want Denver to become more like the other design capitals of the world.
I don’t want that.
The Collective Ego #2.2: Greater Good
Part Two, Advice By cypher13
We received a new question for our advice column recently. And we got some intricate, heartfelt responses from the people we sent it to in town for their own thoughts on the matter. They were so good, in fact, we’re letting them take the lead on answering this deep question in a three part series. Here’s the inquiry we received:
“This is a question I have had for a long time and is directed at you, at me, at everybody. A lot of people seem to aspire to being like their big brother. In this case, I mean to say that we designers dream of being like the rockstars of our field. As a group, we want Denver to become more like the other design capitals of the world.
I don’t want that.
The Collective Ego #2.1: Greater Good
Part One, Advice By Jeff Martin
We received a new question for our advice column recently. And we got some intricate, heartfelt responses from the people we sent it to in town for their own thoughts on the matter. They were so good, in fact, we’re letting them take the lead on answering this deep question in a three part series. Here’s the inquiry we received:
“This is a question I have had for a long time and is directed at you, at me, at everybody. A lot of people seem to aspire to being like their big brother. In this case, I mean to say that we designers dream of being like the rockstars of our field. As a group, we want Denver to become more like the other design capitals of the world.
I don’t want that.
The Rant: Why Are We Anonymous? Why Do You Need to Ask?
I’ll admit, I have not been a life-long reader of The Denver Egotist. I was introduced to it about a year ago, and not unlike Victor “I was so impressed, I bought the company” Kiam, I wanted to be a part of it. Now, I am, under the writing name of Felix (after The Odd Couple’s Felix Unger…F.U.).
Yes, we’re anonymous here at The Denver Egotist. Some say the reason is that we’re a group of has-beens. Others say we’re just a bunch of arrogant pussies who wouldn’t dare say any of the things we say if our names were known. Ironically, the people who usually say these things are also anonymous. And there’s a reason for all of it.
Movie Review: The Wrestler
After a long holiday of cookies and rice pudding, we’ve gotten our lazy asses off our desks and into the movie theater. We spent the holiday watching Will Smith get all worked up over Seven Pounds…cringed as Tom Cruise tried to kill Hitler in Valkyrie…and pretty much bawled our eyes out at the end of Marley & Me. We know…it’s just a dog…but gosh darn it…that puppy was cute. All of those harsh celluloid memories faded away after we had the pleasure of seeing Mickey Rourke do the impossible…make a comeback in The Wrestler.
The People Interview The Egotist
Got a question you’ve been itching to ask us here at The Egotist? Something you’re dying to know about who, what, when, where or why things are the way they are around here? This is your opportunity to get some answers. In one week from today (Friday, January 16), we’ll choose the 10 questions under this post from our readers that we find most interesting and answer them for you. Wanna play? Give us your best shot.
The Rant: You Know, There Was Life Before CP&B
Volume 19 In a Series By Felix
Advertising has its iconic agencies. We praised the brave new world of Doyle Dane Bernbach; we marveled at the excesses of Saatchi & Saatchi; we wondered if anyone would come along to rival Deutsch. And now, it seems, everyone is worshiping at the Crispin Porter & Bogusky church.
Personally, I don’t put any of the latter agencies in the same league as the original DDB. Bernbach’s agency turned advertising on its head, making enormous leaps that revolutionized an industry. From the creation of art director/copywriter teams, to “selling a German car to Jews,” DDB’s work, and ethos, from the 50s, 60s and 70s is often copied to this day.
Wednesday Morning Poll #23
The Broncos failed to make the playoffs this year. Blog rumors say Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen asked coach Mike Shanahan to step down from the GM position to just be the coach of the team. Shanahan said no. Bowlen asked him to fire his defensive coordinator. Shanahan said no. Bowlen’s final choice was to fire Shanahan. So he did.
What do you think of this decision and what will it mean for the team moving forward?
Movie Review: The Day The Earth Stood Still
With all this cold weather, we’ve been stuck inside like a sad puppy from the Dumb Friends League…but somehow we managed to put our mittens on and venture outside for a viewing of The Day The Earth Stood Still. After sitting through this thing, we kind of think the puppy might have been one up on us.
Vote On Our 2008 Holiday Card
Thanks to everyone who submitted a holiday card in our reader design contest this year. We’ve made our five selections (we’re feeling generous). Please be selective in your voting for the winner. The final card will be sent to the entirety of our contacts list, multiples of thousands of people within the creative industry – and we’ll give the creator credit for it. Commence voting (it closes Friday night)!
The Story of the Year
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
So much has happened in 2008 that it’s difficult for this esteemed journalist to choose the 2008 Story of the Year. So let’s narrow it down to the 2008 Marketing SOTY. In 2008’s case, they might be the same thing: Barack Obama. Yes, even in a year with war, famine, natural disasters, the Whopper Freakout, terror attacks, what will be known as the beginning of a great worldwide depression, the election of an African American as President of the United States ranks not only as the biggest marketing story of the year but also as the biggest story of the year, period.
The Collective Ego #1: Interning
Out of the gate for our revitalized advice column we received this question:
“Are the rumors true about crazy, 80 hour weeks for interns at Crispin? If they are, is it worth it? Is it true that working for a big shop first is better than, say, getting an internship at a small shop? Is it true that it’s much harder to go from a small shop to a large one? Did I hear correctly that Crispin is paying their interns now?”
Thanks, CU Ad school student
2nd Annual Agency of the Year Poll
Considering the spirited response to last year’s Agency of the Year Poll, we’re doing it again. After all, what would the holidays be without one more opportunity to spew vitriol and belittle the work that people have poured their black-hearted souls into?
Maybe this year we can elevate the discussion a bit. We’re not suggesting that we tone down the debate, but perhaps we could not let our feelings get hurt (at least those of us who still have feelings) or attack people personally. Or maybe not. We’ll see.
The Rant: What’s Easier to Put Down Than It is to Lift Up?
Volume 18 In a Series By Felix
There are plenty of correct answers to that question. But when applied to this gritty world we call advertising, the first thing that comes to mind (for me anyway) is the work. It is way easier to put down ideas than to praise them.
There are several schools of thought on how to respond to creative work. I’m taken back to my first client presentation in my first agency. Big city, big client (the agency’s bread and butter, don’t fuck this one up), and a big campaign with big money behind it. Basically, everything was big…apart from my confidence.
Movie Review: JCVD
Jean Claude Van Damme. The name alone sparks all kinds of reactions. Bad acting. Bad scripts. Just plain bad all the way around. But, he still has a loyal fan base. Must be all the butt kickin’. We were lucky enough to catch a screening of the upcoming JCVD. The film has been traveling Film Festivals and creating all kinds of buzz from critics. Sometimes buzz doesn’t live up to all the hype…but in this case, it certainly does.
CP+B Break Cherries on Whopper Virgins, Nation is Grossed Out
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
Negative reaction across the web in response to Burger King’s latest campaign— Whopper Virgins — from Crispin Porter + Bogusky is rampant. The Daily Green calls it offensive. Adfreak calls it depressing and icky. The slightly more erudite Boston Globe accuses the campaign of colonialism and hegemony. Perhaps all valid reasons to hate this new (read: old) concept from BK and CP+B. But all wrong. So, what’s the real reason?
The Collective Ego
A few weeks ago we received an email from a young creative who was about to interview for her dream job at a local agency. She solicited advice from The Egotist, and of course being the over-intelligent fobs that we are, we barraged her back with more incoherent wisdom than she could ever process.
Which led us to think: how about an advice column in The Egotist? Not just your normal, everyday advice column (e.g., how do I get rid of herpes), but a very special advice column for all us special liars?
So, here it is: we call it The Collective Ego
The Rant: Where for Art Thou, Colorado Client?
Volume 17 In a Series By Felix
The Denver 50 is behind us. It was something of a curate’s egg to be honest, with some definite highlights and some very questionable winners. Now, looking at the book of winners as a whole, I’m asking myself the following question: “As a Colorado business, would I choose a Colorado agency to work with based solely on the work?”
To be honest…
The Denver 50: Postmortem
We’re going to talk honestly here for a minute about Tuesday night’s New Denver Ad Club show. If your skin is thin, you should probably stop reading and jump back to whatever it was you were just doing.
For the rest of you, let’s get into this. We were amped for the show all day yesterday. None of us here at The Egotist are ad club members, but we were energized and motivated to push our readers hard not to miss it. We honestly thought it would be one of those do-not-miss type deals.
GM and Ford: Different Roads to Washington
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
Big news this week in the ad industry is that GM plans to attempt to slash its $3.2 billion advertising budget to only $2.6 billion by 2012 if the government can come through with some $12 billion in bridge loans within the next year. Let me summarize this piece of news this way:
Wednesday Morning Poll #22
A year of hype lead up to last night’s Denver 50 Show, the New Denver Ad Club’s annual award event. We’ve got our own assessment of what went down – from the venue to the music to the food to the vibe to, most importantly, the work on display. But before we decide whether to blame it all on our bad mood last night, we wanted to get a sense of what you thought of the show from those who hit it. So, hit it.
Movie Review: Transporter 3
It’s always a toss up trying to decide the top sequels in the history of film. Is it Godfather II? Superman II? Porky’s II? Then of course, you have your abundance of sequel’s sequels….Mission Impossible III…Evil Dead III (Army of Darkness)…Back To The Future III. But, once in a lifetime there comes a film that just screams, please make three of me. That, friends, is Transporter 3.
The Egotist Interviews: Eric Karjaluoto
The problem with agency sites today, and this really goes for any static website today, is just that – it’s static. Which means there’s no reason for anyone to revisit. The thinking stays frozen in time and so does your portfolio – not a good thing for an agency that wants to appear as a mover and shaker.
In an attempt to encourage more Colorado agencies to get their own blogs cooking, we talked to the author of one of our favorite agency blogs up in Vancouver, Eric Karjaluoto of ideasonideas (the blog of interactive agency smashLAB).
Yes, We Are Thankful
We’re sure you’re familiar with the current state of the economy. It’s bad. In the words of one noted economist appearing on a recent news program, “Dang, it’s poopy out there. Real, real poopy.” Indeed it is. The stock market is in the tank. Unemployment is high. Major corporations are posting cataclysmic losses. Our kids are facing the very real possibility of receiving homemade sock puppets for Christmas this year. Times are tough.
Still, here we are on the eve of Thanksgiving and we feel compelled to count our blessings. And, of course, we feel compelled to share them with you.
I want Sarah Palin to be My Turkey Lurkey Girl
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
What you didn’t see in the now-famous Sarah Palin/turkey slaughter video was the cameraman pissing his pants. He actually blew a hole in his jeans about one minute into the interview. Equally entertaining was the look on the reporter’s face. If you saw her, you might think it was what is classically known as an “O-face.” But us grizzled journalists know it as the “are you getting this?!” face. Question is, what does this mean for the advertising community?
McFail
McDonald’s is officially the king of phony. From the chubby-chested, hormonally-infused chickens from which they manufacture McNuggets all the way through the shamefully fake new campaign they’ve launched to push this sorry excuse for sustenance, they are bulldozing new boundaries of artificiality. If you were watching football this past Sunday, you already know what we’re referring to – the fowl-smelling “Nuggnuts” campaign that came clucking into your comfy home sanctuary – and crapped on your lap.
Movie Review: Last Chance Harvey
We’re still recovering from the Starz Film Festival that happened this past week in Denver. It was a great show as usual. Amazing movies and too many late nights…but that didn’t stop us from catching the closing night film, Last Chance Harvey. This Dustin Hoffman vehicle is a rare find these days. A romantic movie for the much older crowd. No, we don’t mean thirty and older. We’re talking seventy and older. Big time older and if this movie proves anything…age ain’t nothing but a number.
The Rant: Don't Be Afraid to Shoot the Sick Dog
Volume 17 In a Series By Felix
So many chapters of Luke Sullivan’s classic book “Hey Whipple, Squeeze This” struck a chord with me, but none so much as the one entitled “Only The Good Die Young.” In it, he refers to a job that comes back to the copywriter/art director team weighed down with client comments. What follows is all too familiar:
Egotist Contest: The Holiday Card
It’s getting to be that time. In just a day or so, or perhaps already, the traffic person will come by with the assignment for the agency holiday card. And if you’re a freelancer, your imaginary friend BumbleDrogg will drop it on your desk.
Movie Review: Role Models
It’s hard to be funny. Ask any good comic and they will all tell you the same thing. Being funny is serious business. It seems like we’ve been hit from all sides with movie studios trying to bring the funny. It makes sense after all. In general, comedy films are cheap to produce and if you get a hit…well, the studios are rolling in some serious cash. That’s nothing to laugh at. There has been a big resurrection of comedies in the last few years. From Superbad to 40 Year Old Virgin…they make us laugh, but we kind of feel guilty about it. It’s low brow humor to be sure, but with a little more substance than the old “coming of age” comedies from the 80’s and 90’s.
Motrin Commercial Gives Me and Moms Headaches
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
New moms are a friendly bunch. They’re tired, their skin is stretched to fugly levels, and they just passed something the size of a watermelon through an orifice the size of a grape. Yum. Needless to say, don’t mess with them. What was Taxi, New York thinking when it characterized newborns as fashion accessories and new moms as self-involved, baby-making trendsetters for its latest work for Motrin?
The Rant: What Do You Want to Do When You Grow Up?
Volume 16 In a Series By Felix
Everyone gets asked that as a child. I wanted to be a pilot, until I figured out that I was shit-scared of heights. As I grew older, around 16 years old, it changed into something even less realistic – an artist. Being paid a living wage to do something entirely self-serving is almost impossible. Then, I finally found my calling; I discovered advertising.
Starbucks Q4 Profits Down 97%—And It’s All Your Fault
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
News today in the so-called industry bible (Ad Age) is that Starbucks didn’t have a great fourth quarter. I’m sure this is a big surprise to babies, old people with dementia, people living in caves, and tens of other Americans. But for most of us, Q3 layoffs of thousands and over 600 store closings (incurring over $100 mill in restructuring costs) was sort of a clue. So, what happened?
Movie Review: Quantum of Solace
We’re a sucker for James Bond. From Dr. No to Casino Royale. The action…the women…the cocktails. We prefer our Bond shaken with an edge like Sean Connery and less like Rodger Moore. When Daniel Craig burst into the role a couple of years ago he was tailor made for it like a fine British suit. He had the physicality, the roughness, the unorthodox swagger and charm of how we always imagined our Bond on screen. Even in some ways, dare we say, better then Connery.
The Rant: Big, Smelly, Hairy Guerrilla
Volume 15 In a Series By Felix
In his 1984 book Guerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad Levinson describes this new method of advertising as “an unconventional system of promotions on a very low budget…relying on time, energy and imagination instead of big marketing budgets.” These days, according to most ad agencies, it’s just a simple term to describe unconventional marketing or advertising.
Why's The Industry So Down on CP+B for its Microsoft Campaign?
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
Is it really that bad? Or are we just jealous that Steve Ballmer and his brand marketing brain trust didn’t give us $300 million to play around with to “resurrect” a brand that enjoys over 90% market share? Or is it something else?
Creative Crackdown: FirstBank Campaign Via TDA
Four distinct ad campaigns – covering security, helpfulness, ease of online banking and availability of mobile banking – amount to a new, umbrella positioning for Lakewood, Colorado’s FirstBank: “Business As Usual.” As scrutiny over banks ranks at an all-time national high, we wondered what you thought of this new campaign from Boulder’s TDA Advertising & Design. What do you think of the strategy? What do you think of the work peeling off it? Will it move you to move your account to FirstBank?
Friends of The Egotist Interview: Jakob Trollbäck
As interviewed by Charles Carpenter and Mindy Nies.
Trollbäck + Company is a visual and conceptual creative studio producing expressive and purposeful graphics, design and live action for advertising, broadcast, and entertainment.
Led by creative directors Jakob Trollbäck and Joe Wright, the collaborative group of designers and writers launches and rebrands TV networks, creates motion graphics, live action, print, environmental design, and film titles. T+Co’s trademark approach relies on unorthodox thinking and immersive storytelling, and the belief that a compelling and focused message is essential for any communication to be successful.
Movie Review: Rock'N'Rolla
Guy Ritchie is back. No, we don’t mean back on the single scene…but back in action at what he does best…directing at the top of his form.
With Rock’N‘Rolla, he is back with a vengeance. A tour de force feature film in every way. A creamy cockney concoction of humor, rock, and violence…all centered around a group of relatively small time thugs. There are no great surprises here, which is really the most disappointing thing we could say about Rock’N’Rolla.
What Will Obama Do With His 30-Minute Spot?
From Guest Editor, Jeremy Greenfield
I’m not gonna lie, America: I’m scared. Barack Obama’s infomercial/World Series pre-game broadcast could be a game-changer in this election. Supporters of Obama have got to be afraid that he’s going to blow the election when he’s so far ahead with so little time left with a professorial snooze-fest. John McCain supporters have got to be worried that this will be the final (perhaps merciful?) nail in the coffin. Me, well, I’m not a Democrat or a Republican. I’m a hypochondriac. What I’m afraid of tonight is overexcitement; it’s bad for my as yet unidentified stomach condition. Very worrisome.
The Tuesday Rant: Read a Few Books that Aren’t Filled with Pretty Pictures
Volume 14 In a Series By Felix
Most decent agencies, including in-house, have a solid library filled with inspirational books. But most of them are what I call the “gimme an idea” kind. You know, the One Show and D&AD annuals, the compendiums of great work from around the world, and the books filled with examples of typographic genius. And that’s just not good enough.
The Other Ten Contributor Essays
If you’ve got a few minutes to kill, check out the rest of the essays we received from people looking to be a part of this thing. We miss anyone who should absolutely be considered in your mind?
Movie Review: Religulous
So, we were sitting around having some Indian food the other night and a friendly conversation came up about religion. Sure, it’s not one of the best topics to talk about over Saag Panneer, but what the heck. Before you knew it, people got offended and emotions ran hotter then a serving of Chicken Shawarma. People got mad..like “I’m going to throw this big hunk of rice pudding in your face” kind of mad. If there is one thing we learned from the whole experience it’s this: If you question a person’s religious faith…expect some anger…and a very large dinner tab.
Vote for The New Denver Egotist
After sifting through more than a dozen essays from people seeking to join The Egotist ranks, we’ve whittled the field down to the three pieces below. Thanks to everyone for busting on it. Now, for the fun part. In the comments below, please vote for your favorite two contributors – the ones you feel will bring the most to what we’ve got going here. (Submission criteria/rules here as a reminder.) We’ve decided to add two people at the end of all this. Voting ends Tuesday, October 28th at midnight. Good luck to all.
The Egotist Interviews: Jonathan Schoenberg
Ask a thousand people which agencies they admire most in Colorado, and TDA Advertising & Design will inevitably be on their list. The reasons are many. We caught up with Jonathan Schoenber, TDA’s Creative Director/Partner, to talk about those forces coming together in perfect synchronicity at his Boulder shop.
Q: TDA is widely acknowledged as one of the most powerful new business machines in the industry in our region. To what do you attribute your unparalleled success in new business account wins? Any secrets you want to let us in on?
Movie Review: W.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or Democrat at this point. Without a doubt, these last eight years have been a debacle in every sense of the word. Not since Britney Spears, has one person made so many bad decisions that has caused so much world embarrassment and universal harm. It is fitting that Oliver Stone created something that is the first of its kind; a major motion picture of the president of the United States…while he is still in office.
The Tuesday Rant: This Is Not a Rant
It really isn’t. Everyone’s favorite ranter, Felix, is taking a small breather and will return next week. So we thought we’d take this opportunity to find out what ideas you might have for future topics. What’s rubbing you wrong? What thorn’s in your side? What’s bugging the living hell out of you every, single waking moment you’re on this earth? You get the idea. Toss it below for us to ponder and react.
My Freelance Life: The First 109 Days
I left McClain Finlon at the end of June and entered the freelance market as a copywriter. I did this at roughly the same time 37 million other creatives chose (or were forced) to do the same.
If you have been in this industry for longer than a week, the thought of freelance has crossed your mind. “I’m worth more than this,” you think to yourself. “If I were in charge, I would do it differently,” you think. “Screw this, I can’t possibly be expected to do time sheets — I’m a delicate genius,” you think.
Movie Review: Quarantine
We love horror movies over here. The kind that make us scream like little boys and girls who didn’t get any ice cream. It’s not good unless we’re jumping out of our seats and grabbing the person next to us. Good times. Our hopes were high for Quarantine. This is an American remake of the Spanish film [REC]. We haven’t seen the Spanish version, but we hope to god that it’s better than this waste of celluloid.
The Denver Egotist: Second Annual Contributor Drive
Traffic is growing exponentially. Solicitations for coverage are raining down. But, damn it, we’re striving to be even more perfect around this joint – and we won’t be satisfied until we’re in the Top 10 on this list. So we’re doing what we did about a year ago and inviting you to write an essay that grabs our attention and gets us to add you as a contributor to this glamorous offering.
The Tuesday Rant: Merry Christmas (There, I Said It)
Volume 13 In a Series By Felix
Recently, the agency holiday card brief landed on my desk with a thunderous jolt. It’s a strange moment when that one hits any creative. On the one hand, it represents the chance to do something uber-creative. It’s blatant self-promotion, and a chance to show off and say “look, here’s how clever we really are!” But, the holiday card also comes with some serious baggage.
Monday Lunchtime Poll #21
As time marches on and we continue to try and improve what’s going on here to keep interest and relevance high, we’d like to know from you:
Why do you read The Denver Egotist?
Is The Ad Media Biased Too?
We ask because someone pointed us toward a new “social experiment” Fallon just developed for recruiting site The Ladders, and it’s almost an exact replica of the spot Denver’s Cactus Advertising created for the Colorado Lottery. The Fallon work is featured on Creativity Online, will likely get into their monthly magazine and will generate a ton of free press for the agency and their client. When Cactus did it, nobody really paid attention.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #20
You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t have a few skeletons in your closet. Heck, at The Egotist, we have an unhealthy obsession with any and everything Lindsay Lohan—we have ever since she stole our hearts in 1992 when she appeared on Letterman as a trick-or-treater dressed as garbage.
Now that you know ours, we want to know:
What is your dirty little secret or guilty pleasure?
The Tuesday Rant: Advertising Martyrdom
Volume 12 In a Series By Felix
When I first entered the ad industry, I did so as a naïve and wide-eyed college grad. I had a book full of great concepts for stupid crap (hole-proof socks was one of the genius fake products my tutor from Saatchi’s had suggested). I had tons of print, outdoor, TV and radio, with not one hint of direct mail or long copy. And I was ready to be taken in by the welcoming arms of the industry, a glamorous business of which so many movies and TV shows had painted a very rosy picture.
Throw In Your NDAC Dating Game Questions
The New Denver Ad Club is hosting a game show-style Dating Game this Thursday from 6-8 pm at the DNA Auditorium. They’re inviting you to submit questions to be asked of agency heads and CMO’s. Below, are some sample questions to give you the idea of what they’re looking for. The intention is to make it so there’s no right answer, and the respondents’ reasoning for answering the way they do says a lot about their thinking. What questions do you want answered?
The Egotist Interviews: Modern Dog Design Co.
Since co-founding Modern Dog Design Co. in 1987, Robynne Raye and Michael Strassburger have continued to do work for entertainment and retail companies – both local and national – and counts poster, packaging and identity projects as some of their favorite work. Their recent clients include Coca-Cola, Adobe Systems Inc., Blue Q, Olive Green Dog Products, Shout! Factory and Oakley. Robynne and Mike have received recognition from every major design organization in the U.S.
Wednesday Mid- Morning Poll #19
We’ve had a number of people in town contact us with this very interesting question. And since the annual award show for the Art Director’s Club of Denver is this Friday, we thought it was only fitting to ask:
What does it mean if your work gets into the New Denver Ad Club’s Denver 50, but doesn’t get a mention at the Art Director’s show?
Tuesday Rant: Are We More Concerned with Being Clever Than Being Effective?
Volume 11 In a Series By Felix
An admission – I am guilty of the former, and I’ve done it several times in my career. In the increasingly difficult quest to cut through the clutter and connect with consumers, we look for new and different ways to make our advertising rise up and stand out. But where do we draw the line between effective advertising and clever advertising? Do we even know the difference half the time?
Creative Crackdown: The New Park City Resort Ads
The second installment of 2008 resort ads brings us face to face with the new print campaign Thomas, Taber & Drazen created for Park City, a predominantly family-oriented resort.
Movie Review: Fix
We had the chance this past weekend to attend the much anticipated Toofy Film Fest in Boulder. It was quite a hoot. One of the films we had the chance to check out was Fix. Fix is one of those movies that you almost want to hate just from the premise alone. A faux documentary that the filmmakers want you to believe is the real thing. Of course it’s not real; it’s scripted… it’s acted… and it’s directed. When the lights dim and the title credits start to roll, you might think you’re in for Cloverfield or Blair Witch. But, you would be wrong. There is no monster or scary witch to run from, just a bunch of people in a car. In this case, the only monster is heroin.
Wednesday Late-Day Poll #18
BoingBoing’s posts on the Denver of yesteryear got us thinking about our youthful days spent here at the foot of the Rockies and made us wonder:
What’s your favorite memory of growing up in Colorado?
The Tuesday Rant: If All Ads Were Like Political Ads…
Volume 10 In a Series By Felix
Imagine, for a moment, that corporations decided to start advertising in the same way as the current political ads for Republicans and Democrats. What state would we be in as an industry? And what kind of mess would we leave the consumer in? These are the questions I posed to myself over the weekend.
I don’t know about you, but with around two months left in the 2008 Election I am up to my neck in complete crap. I’d like to make it clear that this is not a partisan issue (although I have no shame in saying that I’d rather commit Seppuku with a blunt spoon than vote Republican). No, this is about the lack of substance present in both campaigns. It has been going on since I can remember and it just seems to be getting worse.
Advertising We Hate: Yahoo's Purple People Eater
This is how a campaign like this sees the light of day: Ten execs sit around a big table while one exec stands in front of them holding a dry erase marker. He writes a sentence on the board behind him, circles it, underlines it twice, then turns around and reads the line out loud: Reaching Gen Y! Then, the execs make a mind map and come out with one big idea: Hipsters. This progresses into a discussion about how this demographic is really into recycling. It is during this debate that the 11 execs find their aha! moment: Let’s recycle every bad idea Gen-Y hunters ever had. This meeting helps the execs “guide “ their ad agency.
The ADCD Drags Denver Three Steps Back
From the Desk of a Concerned ADCD Member
Like many of you, I opened my email last week and found myself face to face with the email blast announcing the Art Director’s Club of Denver annual awards show. Simply put, I was appalled. It is one of the most questionable pieces of self-promotion I have seen come out of our city in years, and that is saying something.
I don’t know what’s more disturbing about it, that this was sent by an organization who claims to represent me and the other creatives here in town, or that they actually thought it was an acceptable way to publicize an event showcasing Denver’s best advertising and design work from the past year. I can see two reasons why the ADCD would be OK with this as the announcement for their show: they don’t get it or they don’t care.
Get Your Gossip Here
A little mole just dropped a basketful of rumors on our windowsill. We opened it up and found this inside. Full service ad agency Morey Evans has fired the “Evans” part of the shop. Tom Evans the creative strategy mind behind brands such as Qdoba and Good-Times Burger is no more. Hence, the [real] reason why Qdoba took their business to NewYork.
Creative Crackdown: The New Keystone Resort Ads
Most people mark the onset of winter by the first measurable snowfall. Being the sick, ad-centric puppies we are, we gauge it by the appearance of the first resort campaigns. This year, that title goes to the new Keystone Resort branding campaign created by Cultivator. This means they are also the first to be placed under the microscope.
A few of our friends from Chiat, LA and from McCann Erickson, NY are lined up to give us a little outside perspective. Before you add your impressions, here’s a little background behind the thinking that we’ve taken straight from the press release:
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #17
We had this really nosy ex who would make it a point to root through people’s medicine cabinets and then judge them based on the contents. Now that we think about it, this is probably why she kept all her various meds in a kitchen cabinet. Regardless, over the years we’ve developed a less intrusive and more amusing way to get a feel for who someone is. We’ve decided to share it this week, so we can all judge one another on something besides our work. It’s easy to play, simply tell us:
What you have affixed to your refrigerator door?
The Tuesday Rant Turned Praise: Nice Going Denver
Volume 9 In a Series By Felix
Gosh darn it, I think I’ve been too harsh, depressing and negative recently. I’ve been reading your feedback, ladies and gentlemen, and it appears some of you are more than a little upset. You think the rants aren’t happy enough; they’re not positive; they just aren’t a big slice of warm apple pie. And you know, as most of you are almost always right, I would be a fool not to take that advice.
Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous
Sure Nick Cage has got it all. The looks…the women…the hair…oh, that hair. Not since William Shatner, has an actor gotten more recognition from such bad hair pieces. But, with all of the follicle speculation, one thing is certain: The man for all of his talent, can make some of the crappiest movies you’ve ever seen. Unbelievable, ridiculous, illogical…these aren’t just meaningless words for Nicholas Cage…these observations are like his own acting mantra. We loved his earlier work; From Valley Girl to Raising Arizona all the way to Wild At Heart and Leaving Las Vegas. But, along the way, something changed. Mr. Cage became a caricature of himself. It’s hard to sit through some of his latest efforts because they are just simply awful. Ghost Rider or Next for example. Righteously bad. In every way.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #16
We’re sure there’s some lame VH1 reality show in this week’s question. If they develop one, we’ll include all our readers in the class-action intellectual property lawsuit. Until then, we simply want to know:
If you could only listen to one band/artist for the next 12 months, who would you choose?
Tuesday Rant: Too Many Cooks Spoil My Advertising
Volume 8 In a Series By Felix
I’ve been in this game long enough to have developed a pretty thick skin. As a junior, I had creative directors laugh at the work I pinned to the wall. Years later, I heard them shout my name with disdain. And once, a CD looked at the work, dropped his head and just walked away (that was a tough day…and a long night). But one aspect of this job I’ll never get used to is the idea that everyone’s opinion is valid, from the lowly account executive all the way up to the mighty CEO.
The Egotist Interviews: Felix Sockwell
A native of Texas, Felix Sockwell began his career in advertising with stints at DDB and the Richards Group (Dallas), before moving on to San Francisco and a chance meeting with advertising potentate Brian Collins. “I guess the meeting went well,” laughs Sockwell. “Next thing, Collins and I had jetted to New York and were starting up this new design component at Ogilvy & Mather called The Brand Integration Group. 14-hour days, it was a meat grinder but it paid off.”
After a year Sockwell opened his own office (in 1998) and has since been working in NY and Maplewood, NJ, where he lives with his wife, two kids and dog named Kitty.
Friday Beer Review: Rock The Mike: The Freeman Brainefit
As you hopefully read here over the last few weeks, we held a benefit for Flying Dog employee Mike Freeman, who has GBM (Glioblastoma multiforme) – an advanced and particularly nasty form of Brain Cancer. Mike is a staple of the local Denver punk scene, as the frontman of Gina Go Faster. Called Rock The Mike: The Freeman Brainefit, we organized a huge party with a single goal: to raise as much money possible for Mike. And we were pretty damn successful, raising over $19,000 to support Mike in his fight.
Thursday Night Poll
The DNC has officially ended with Obama’s speech tonight. What were your impressions of the last few days in Denver? Any good stories?
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #15
A neighborhood meeting will be held Wednesday, September 10 to determine whether or not to rezone the Le Deauville Apartments property to include a medical Overlay (MD-O) district to the existing Residential High Density (R3) Zoning district:
Will you vote for or against the proposal?
The New Longmont Ad Club
A start-up meeting for the NEW Longmont Ad Club has been scheduled for later this month. The Club intends to initiate a level of rivalry among Longmont creatives that has previously been nonexistent. It’s organizations like NLAC that have the potential to boost the level of local work. Plus, a little competition never hurt anyone. Check this out for more details.
The Tuesday Rant: All I Want Is A Decent Creative Brief
Volume 7 In a Series By Felix
Well, some say I could use a personality transplant, too, but that’s for their benefit. No, I’m a selfish bastard and I look forward to the day when I can sit down, read a creative brief and not want to cause grievous bodily harm to the person, or thing, that wrote it. Because in all honesty, I can’t remember the last time I saw a truly inspiring creative brief. Or a good brief. Or even a mildly OK brief that could use some work.
Feedback's Must-See Denver Concerts: Week of August 25
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2008
Willie Nelson & Family
Red Rocks Amphitheater – 7:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2008
Tent State Music Festival to End the War
w/ Rage Against the Machine, Flobots, The Coup, State Radio and Wayne Kramer
Denver Coliseum – 11:00 AM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2008
Unconventional ’08
w/ Silversun Pickups, Cold War Kids, Nada Surf, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!, DJ Z-Trip
Andenken Gallery – 7:00 PM
Movie Review: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Woody Allen is back with a vengeance in his latest film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a charming look at modern relationships. The film takes place in Barcelona, but like many Woody Allen films, the city is used as another secondary character. Gone are the days of Woody Allen’s earlier comedic romps with Bananas, Sleepers, and Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex, But Were Afraid To Ask. In the last decade, Allen has seemed to find himself and isn’t looking for the quick joke or funny one liner to get him through a difficult scene. Woody delivers one of his finest efforts to date.
Manifest Hope Gallery: An Early Review
Local designer and true FODE (Friend Of Denver Egotist) Amanda Cordsen spent Sunday afternoon as our pseudo-official representative for the Manifest Hope media event. Even after an afternoon of rubbing elbows and chatting with the artists, she took the time to share her impressions of the show. The show only runs 10 am to 5 pm through this Thursday, August 28th at 2990 Larimer St., so don’t slack. Until you get to see it for yourself, enjoy Amanda’s take on the show and these pictures she took while there. Click on the images to see them in greater detail.
Monday's Advertising We Hate: Sanjaya, PleaseGoDieYa
It took a year-and-a-half for this ad for Nationwide Insurance to break featuring American Idol super douche Sanjaya. Wow, do we hate it. It’s so front-heavy setting up the concept, then it blows through the end without giving you time to process it. (We know that’s kind of the idea, but the pacing is really shotty.) And the line “Life comes at you fast” – does that really pay off the set-up? Thumbs down from The Egotist.
See the spot after the jump.
Friday Beer Review: Dogtoberfest Marzen
OK, our resident beer reviewer gave us a heads up that he’s overwhelmed with stuff this week, so we’re picking up the slack for him. Unfortunately, we aren’t nearly as amusing in our ruminations as he. The result is this review of Flying Dog’s seasonal offering Dogtoberfest Marzen with content lifted entirely from their site.
R.I.P. McClain Finlon
When you enter the doors at 2340 Blake Street, you are met by a large wall of exposed brick and a vaulted, glass-capped ceiling where the morning sun, at certain times of the year, hits you squarely in the eye. On that large wall of exposed brick is a massive framed photograph shot by the German filmmaker Wim Wenders. The photograph is of a desolate mountain graveyard. Stark and foreboding in size, the message, it seems, is this: Death is large and unavoidable.
McClain Finlon died yesterday. And we are mourning the loss.
Get Your Gossip Here
While we’re waiting on one shop to get a release together that they’ve promised us, let’s talk about some other ones. We’ll start. We’ve seen people searching the term “McClain Finlon closing doors” all day and hitting on our site. Anybody know anything about that? How about anything else you’d like to share with the group? Don’t be shy. We’re all friends here.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #14
You win a one-time-only trip in a time machine that’ll let you go any place in the past or the future for one hour. Where do you go?
The Tuesday Rant: Why Does Everyone Think They Can Write Copy?
Volume 6 In a Series By Felix
I’ve been a designer. I’ve been an art director on occasion. But most of my career has been spent writing copy. I studied it in college; I’ve spent more years than I care to count doing it professionally; yet the older and more experienced I get, I am constantly being told how to do my job. And I’m not alone.
Sure, if you’re a designer, art director, photographer or anything else creative in this field, you get told what to do, too. But for some reason, copy seems to be the one creative area that everyone out there feels fully qualified to comment on, be they an account director, production manager
Feedback's Must-See Concerts: Week of August 18
Thursday, August 21, 2008
My Morning Jacket
w/ The Black Keys
Red Rocks Amphitheater – 7:30 PM
Friday, August 22, 2008
Punk Rocks 2008
w/ NOFX, Mighty MIghty Bosstones, Bouncing Souls, Circle Jerks, Street Dogs, Frontside Five
Red Rocks Amphitheater – 4:30 PM
Friday, August 22, 2008
Mike Park (Asian Man Records)
w/ Sundowner, The Quiet Ones, Scooter James
Marquis Theater – 7:30 PM
More shows after the jump.
Beer Review: Avery's Salvation
By Bill Hepp from New Belgium Brewery
There are many lengths that I will go to for beer. Not only will I sacrifice sleep, as I did during nine years of shift work as a brewer, but I will bicycle through severe thunderstorms for one bomber of beautiful beer. No, quarter-size hail will not faze me; blowing sheets of wind will only sweeten the reward. With a bomber of Avery’s “Salvation” in my pannier, I have all the incentive I need to ignore the branches falling from over head trees, the cold sting of hail melting on my bare arms, and the rain running into my eyes.
How In God's Name Do You Write An Estimate?
By Grinder
Typically this is something that I would ask my friends and peers about. However, this time I thought I’d open up this discussion to a few more people. So at the risk of sounding like a totally green designer, how do you write an estimate?
On the surface this seems like a stupid question. It is most certainly a complicated question, one which may be too complicated to address in a single post. So let me try to narrow down the question a little. I’m not looking for how much do I charge for this or that. I’m looking for what the content should be. What do you say in an estimate? What do you need to say and how do you say it?
Wednesday Mid- Afternoon Poll #13
Considering that summer is nearing its end and another football season is upon us, we were wondering:
What’s your favorite Denver/Boulder dive bar to get a Sunday afternoon buzz?
The Tuesday Rant: Advertising Awards; Self-serving or What?
Volume 5 In a Series By Felix
Anyone out there know who Martin Scorcese is? Up until The Departed, he had never won the Best Director Oscar. Rewind a few years and the same was true of Steven Spielberg. Al Pacino never won Best Actor Oscar until Scent Of A Woman (hoo-aah… what a bunch of BS). And yet would their careers have been any less amazing without these awards? Is the work they did on other films, movies that never won Oscars, any less important? Easy answer, right?
Feedback's Must-See Concerts: Week of August 11
Monday, August 11, 2008
A Free Suburban Home Party
w/ Adam Marsland / Pawn Ticket Trio / Ooh Lala Presents “Panties At The Bar”
3 Kings Tavern – 8:00 PM
Wednesday, August 12, 2008
Langhorne Slim
w/ the Legendary River Drifters, Young Coyotes
Hi-Dive – 9:00 PM
Wednesday, August 12, 2008
Twist & Shout, Hillgrass Bluebilly & Radio 1190’s Under the Mattress present…
Bob Log III, 11:00pm
Scott H. Biram, 10:00pm
Left Lane Cruiser, 9:00pm
Larimer Lounge
More shows after the jump.
Movie Review: American Teen
We love documentaries. Big ones. Small ones. From Michael Moore to Werner Herzog. American Teen is not up to par with the best of them, but it tries hard to get us there and gets an “A” for extra credit. Director Nanette Burstein makes a valiant effort to give us an in-depth look at high school in the middle of Americana.
Setting Up Your RSS Feed Reader: 101
Despite The Egotist being one of the world’s finest online reads, there are a handful of other sites out of the billions of blogs on the planet that are worth your time to check out. We’d like to open your eyes to those sites now, along with a simple way to digest a lot of content quickly online.
Instead of bookmarking sites in the old-fashioned way in your browser, set up an RSS feed reader. We have ours set up through Netvibes. What we like about it is that it’s free, easy to fire up and it’s online – so you can access it from any computer, anywhere you are.
Beer Review: Old Scratch Amber Lager
Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Massive slabs of 250 million year-old sandstone towering over your head on both sides. Amazing acoustics, especially for a 9,000 seat music venue. If you’ve never been there, you’re missing out. Big time. Because Red Rocks is one of the best places to see music in the world. And you Denverites live really fucking close to it. What makes it even more cool to me is that you can get Flying Dog beer there (you can also find other great Colorado beer at Red Rocks, like Fat Tire).
Ten Reasons Spec Hurts Everyone
While looking for a good definition of “spec”, we found one on no spec dot com in an article by Tamar Wallace. This definition is:
Spec work is defined as producing a piece for a potential client with no guarantee that your work will be chosen and/or paid for.
The site is a wealth of thought provoking info on the topic, including this article that does a great job of framing the argument against spec work, both from a creative’s standpoint and from what the client gets for their money.We couldn’t say it better, so We’re simply passing it along and asking you to chime in with your own thoughts.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #12
After seeing the latest Dell ad with it’s perfectly chosen soundtrack, it got us wondering:
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
The Egotist Interviews: Sean Adams
Sean Adams is a partner at AdamsMorioka. He has been recognized by every major competition and publication, and has been cited as one of the forty most important people shaping design internationally in the ID40. Sean is a frequent lecturer and competition judge internationally. Adams is the co-author of Logo Design Workbook, Color Design Workbook, and the upcoming Masters of Design. AdamsMorioka’s clients include ABC, Adobe, Gap, Frank Gehry Partners, Nickelodeon, Sundance, Target, USC, and The Walt Disney Company.
The Tuesday Rant: Come On, Stop Saying Denver's An Ad Town
Volume 4 In a Series By Felix
Time for a reality check. Denver is not an ad town; well, not yet anyway. You may think this is a hotbed of creative activity. You may believe that the rest of the ad world looks to Denver for the next big idea. But until Crispin Porter + Bogusky arrived on the scene recently, Denver has struggled to even be a blip on the advertising radar. This is not, by any stretch of the imagination, an ad town. At the moment, it’s not even close.
LiV's First Friday Review: Ben Eine @ Andenken
This is the era of stencil art, or so I’ve observed for a number of years, & UK artist Ben Eine is right in the middle of it. Yeah, when it comes to stenciling we’ve seen it all, right? But sometimes the magic is in the delivery itself. Let’s face it, his work looked really damn cool on the wall. Row after row of square typographical splendidness. And if you read into the messages, something interesting is happening there, too.
Feedback's Must-See Concerts: Week of August 4
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Apocalyptica
w/ Special Guest DJ The Jack Mehoff Experience
The Black Sheep – 8:00PM
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Witchcraft
w/ Dead Child, Kingdom of Magic
Marquis Theater – 7:30PM
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Hello Kavita
w/ Or the Whale, Hawks of Paradise (local band), Snow Piano
The Hi-Dive – 8:00PM
More shows after the jump.
Aquent Snubs Every Decent Designer On The Planet
In one swift keystroke, Aquent has lifted a huge middle finger to the entire design community and shown that their sole focus is on their own bottom line by turning to an online design contest site for a redesign of their homepage. Then they made sure we knew just how much they didn’t give a crap about what we do by putting a $500 prize award on the competition. This from a company who touts themselves on their own homepage as:
“The talent agency for design and marketing experts
Aquent is the world’s leading marketing and design staffing agency. We match professionals with freelance, contract, try-before-you-hire, and full-time job opportunities at top organizations.”
Beer Review: Avery Anniversary Ale - Fifteen
By Bill Hepp from New Belgium Brewing Company
I don’t like this weather. This is my least favorite time of year in Colorado. Luckily, I recently had the good fortune to try a new beer that has lifted my spirits: Avery’s Anniversary Ale, called “Fifteen.”
This ale is fermented entirely with Brettanomyces yeast, which is unusual. It is a wild yeast strain that is cultured, of course, in a laboratory. But trying to ferment beer with it is like trying to keep a raccoon as a pet. Sure, it looks cool, but you know it is doomed to failure. Not so with “Fifteen.” This is a keeper.
The Egotist Interviews: Jason Fried
Jason Fried is the co-founder and President of 37signals, a privately-held Chicago-based company committed to building the best web-based tools possible with the least number of features necessary. 37signals’ unconventional approach to business brings a fresh new perspective on how to be an entrepreneur and build a successful business today. 37signals’ products include Basecamp, Highrise, Backpack, Campfire, Ta-da List, and Writeboard. 37signals also developed and open-sourced the Ruby on Rails programming framework. 37signals’ products do less than the competition – intentionally.
Q: Despite your background in design, you’re mainly a software guy now. Why do you think you’re being invited to speak to an ad club? How does your philosophy overlap both industries?
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #11
That time is upon us once again; when borders are replaced by lane lines; when politics take a back seat to the stopwatch; and when even the toughest of the tough aren’t afraid to weep openly at the sound of their national anthem.
This week we’re wondering, as the world unites in the spirit of competition:
Are you looking forward to watching the Olympics?
The Tuesday Rant: Why Do Most Radio Ads Suck a Big Bag of Dicks?
Volume 3 In a Series By Felix
As a student, I would soak up good advertising like a dry sponge. From the One Show annuals, to the D&AD and Communication Arts books, I loved it all. That’s right, ALL. I even loved that ugly, red-headed, limping, alien of a step-child with bad halitosis that we call radio. Being a hopeful copywriter, this was one of those areas that I truly loved because it couldn’t be solved with design. It couldn’t get a wallpaper treatment or a snazzy photo. Nope, this one required good salesmanship and persuasive language. And of course, a decent idea to carry that message.
The X Files: I Want To Believe Movie Review
The X Files has had a loyal following. The show had a unique point of view and created a devoted fan base with nine seasons on the air. The early episodes were arguably the best, but even towards the end of its run, faithful viewers kept watching. The cinematic translation of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully chasing down the unknown hasn’t been quite as successful. The latest incarnation, The X Files: I Want To Believe is no exception.
Feedback's Must-See Concerts: Week of July 28
TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008
The Faint
w/ Shy Child and Astra Moveo (Local band)
The Ogden Theatre – 8:00 PM
THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008
Lucero
w/ Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Glossary
The Fox Theatre – 9:00 PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2008
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase
Evergroove Stage
w/ Ghost Buffalo, Only Thunder, The Omens and many more
3 Kings Tavern – 6:30 PM
MORE SHOWS AFTER THE JUMP.
Thursday Morning Poll #10
Since we know there are loads of interactive people reading The Egotist, today we’d like to know from you and everyone else:
What is the best interactive shop in Colorado and why?
The Tuesday Rant: You're Not Artists, You're Not Poets
Volume 2 In a Series By Felix
Before anyone starts throwing darts my way, I’d like to point out that I’m including myself in that statement. It’s not that the point of this rant is to put anyone down. I’m not saying that the ad industry is not full of talented people (ouch, double negative there… but I’m leaving it in). Far from it. We’re a bunch of creative folks when we’re allowed to be. But at the end of the day, we are not the artists, poets and writers that some of us claim to be. And there’s a reason for that.
The Dark Knight: Full Review
There have been many Batman stories told in different types of media in the past 50 years. From the old radio shows to the 1943 serials, 1966 TV series comedy and the late 90s ultimate betrayal of the character ice skating around… coming full circle to the better then you would expect reboot with Christian Bale in 2005. None have come closer to envisioning The Batman as told from the story lines of “The Dark Victory” or “The Killing Joke”, than this one.
Feedback's Must-See Concerts: Week of July 21
MONDAY, JULY 21, 2008
At the Gates
w/ Darkest Hour, Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust
Venue: Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom – 7:00 PM
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008
Russian Circles
w/ Eyes Caught Fire, Only Thunder
Venue: The Black Sheep – 8:00 PM
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008
Ghost Buffalo
w/ Only Thunder, The Singularity and Hunter Dragon
Venue: 3 Kings Tavern – 8:00 PM
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008
Pinhead Circus (Reunion Show)
w/ Sleeper Horse, Eyes & Ears, Whiskey Kiss
Venue: The Marquis Theater – 7:30 PM
Beer Review: Gonzo Imperial Porter
By Josh Mishell from Flying Dog Brewery
GONZO VS. GONZO
“We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. I remember saying something like, “I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive . . .“And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats, all swooping and screeching and diving around the car, which was going about 100 miles an hour with the top down to Las Vegas.”
LiV's Feist Show Review
Anyone else see Feist at the Fillmore on Tuesday night? Holy wow. Extraordinary. Honestly, I didn’t expect such a powerful show from her, but what a voice & what a performance.
“This is the song that plays in the background when [such-and-such] is happening in the movie of your life,” she’d say. Talk about romancing the crowd. She was plain in appearance, though her vocals filled the room with soul.
Wednesday Lunch Poll #9
Design Competitions, Good Or Bad?
This isn’t a new conversation on The Denver Egotist, but we feel it’s an important one, so we want you to chime in. If you think they’re OK, we want to know why. Likewise on why not – pipe in on why you’re opposed to them. When is it an acceptable approach for getting a logo and when isn’t it? Is it acceptable to solicit posters or TV spots through a competition? Do we need to draw a line to protect our profession? If so where and how?
We have our own opinions here at The Egotist. We want to hear yours.
The Tuesday Rant: Where are the Words?
Volume 1 In a Series By Felix
Back in 1998 I remember seeing a screensaver running across the Mac displays at BBH, London. It was a simple phrase – “Words are a barrier to communication.” Nice, punchy, very BBH, but there was one slight, ironic problem – if words are such a barrier to communication, why was the message written as a sentence? Is it because trying to say that with pictures or symbols would take some serious effort? And the skills of a cunning Art Director?
Gone in 30 Seconds
By Jim Elkin
I remember being on this film set a few years ago and watching the 2nd assistant’s assistant drink a non fat 1/2 caf latte. Yeah, I know, everyone has an assistant. I remember watching him and thinking to myself, is this all really necessary. Do we really need all these people? What am I doing here and what’s the purpose of it all and also, I can’t believe they made my non fat sugar free chai without my extra super foamy topping. Darn it! But, I digress. The truth is I know that you don’t need 50 people to make a TV commercial. Surprised? Amazed? Want another latte? How about a cookie?
Beer Review: Boulder Beer Hazed and Infused
By Bill Hepp from New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer filters typically use diatomaceous earth (D.E.) for “filter aids.” These are the shells of single-celled organisms called diatoms. They are hollow and come in many exciting shapes and sizes. D.E. is great at capturing errant yeast cells and tiny particles of protein. The theory is “depth filtration”: Think of pouring muddy water through a screen that is first covered in a course layer of gravel, small rocks, then pebbles, and then course sand.
Calling All In-House Folks: What Are You Up To?
Let us be the ones to admit we’re an industry which can be a bit myopic at times, focusing almost solely on the output of the agencies and design shops. Meanwhile there are plenty of extremely talented folks plugging away, out of the limelight, as in-house creatives.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #8
All work and no play makes Jack a complete wacko. We know there are plenty of you out there who have embraced this to the point of establishing a side career. What we want to know is:
What is your side career, and how has it influenced the way you look at advertising and design?
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #7
Since our focus on this site is about helping us all become better at what we do, this week, we’re wondering:
What industry-related book is on your must read list?
Google AdWords: Hits the Target, Misses the Bullseye
By Randall Erkelens
At first, Google AdWords sounded too good to be true. The pay service claims to reach people actively surfing online for info about your products and services. Here’s how it works: you only pay Google when people click on your ad. You will also know exactly what you’re going to pay, too, as a cap is placed on spending. For pennies a day, you can target the consumers you want with accuracy.
Beer Review: SKA Pinstripe Red
Skankin’ Telluride Bluegrass by Josh Mishell from Flying Dog Ales
Ok, so I had previously mentioned that I’d be writing about Denver watering holes and restaurants, but this week will break my promise. But if you know me, that’s not really much of a stretch. This past weekend I had the opportunity to cruise down to Telluride to take in some bluegrass and some Southwest Colorado beer.
The Egotist Interviews: Mike Sukle
In any market across the world, Sukle Advertising + Design would be considered a serious force to be reckoned with. The very term itself, “force,” probably brings to mind a shop filled with hundreds of people, owned by a massive holding company with a client roster of household brand names. Sukle Advertising + Design, and its creative director who incidentally shares the same name, is a different type of force entirely.
Birthday Thank You & Snaps
Thanks for coming to our party last night if you did. And if the offer of free beer wasn’t enough to get you there, well, you’re more than likely beyond our help. Here are some select snaps from the big show. Let’s do it again sometime.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #6
This week, it’s simple. We want to know:
Who is the one person you really hope to see at The Denver Egotist’s First Birthday Party tomorrow?
Coming To The Party?
We made it an entire year without a single tire being slashed, without a single bag of dog crap being tossed on our front door and without a single knee cap being broken in half. And, by God, those things need to be celebrated, people. With beer. Free beer. Brought to you by the same jack-offs who tore into the bad and praised the great work in Denver over the last 365 days. So, come drink a pint or five on us. Meet the other 800 people who read The Egotist every day. And don’t forget that bag of dog crap. ‘Cause we might actually be there too. If you can find us…
Beer Review: Left Hand Brewing Sawtooth Ale
From our friends at New Belgium, comes this review of Sawtooth Ale from Left Hand Brewing in Longmont, Colorado.
“Well, it’s pretty much a guessing game from here on out.” This was spoken by a co-worker to our fearless founder one evening while we were filtering Fat Tire. Our CO2 measuring device was malfunctioning and the filter run was proceeding poorly. Needless to say, Jeff was not amused by Jack’s cavalier attitude towards a highly engineered and expensive process. Why do I mention this story? I really have no idea. Maybe it’s because it is Midsummer’s Eve and the veil separating our world from the spirit world is at its thinnest.
What Do The World's Best Think of The Denver 50?
A good test of the worth of any new idea in any category across the world is whether thought-leaders embrace it upon it’s introduction. The test for the New Denver Ad Club’s idea – a reinvention of the staid ad industry award show, called The Denver 50 – is whether the best people in the world agree to judge the annual show’s entries. The best people in the world have agreed to judge the upcoming 2008 show.
Gareth Kay of Modernista!, Adam Owett of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Rob Schwartz of TBWA, Ty Montague of JWT and Scott Goodson of StrawberryFrog are lined up.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #5
Yesterday we caught one of our interns playing Second Life while he was supposed to be tracking down the best price on a midnight green Vespa LX for the head honcho’s daughter. While the fact this intern chose, as his alter ego, to be a 63-year-old crack whore with daddy issues was more than a bit disturbing to us, it did get us wondering about the rest of you.
So we ask:
If you weren’t in advertising or design, what would you be doing?
Gauging The Quality Of Your Work
We came across this comment in the Exhibition Section of the Ads of the World Forum.
It was posted by a member named “krautland” in response to an ad someone posted to be commented on. The ad is irrelevant, which is why we didn’t post it. However, the comment is something we should all apply more often to looking at our own work.
Beer Review: Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel
Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel and Turkey Sandwiches: America’s Melting Pot Meal
In the Flying Dog Brewery marketing department, we sort of have a thing for turkey sandwiches. Our Prime Minister of Marketing Neal has a blog about Turkey Sandwiches, even. And I’m not talking about some douchebag’s version of a turkey sandwich blog – Neal writes and major sandwich companies listen. He even met with the Cheba Hut brass in Fort Collins to talk about developing new sandwiches for their company. I’m that sort of guy who can eat a turkey sandwich for lunch most days and be excited about every one.
LiV's Artist Review: Brad Kahlhamer @ Denver MCA
Everyone has their own impression of what makes an artist an artist. For me, it’s people like Brad Kahlhamer, who has a visual intelligence that few will ever achieve. As a person, I would describe him as muy interesante, all around, especially the way he answers questions, thoroughly & complexly. In his work, he doesn’t follow any conventional rules of composition or color distribution.
Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #4
This week’s question: We’re developing a sister site called The Denver Logoist. We want to know, who among you can design a free logo the fastest? GO!
Oh, but seriously. That’s not really the poll. Settle down now. Easy. Jeez.
Let’s talk office decorum, agency behavior and levels of appropriateness.
LiV's First Friday Review: Merge @ Andenken
We’re happy to introduce this new monthly feature following first Friday, in which our friend LiV will review gallery openings. This month: the Merge group show at Andenken Gallery.
From a totally unbiased point of view (I’d never been to the gallery before, nor heard of the artists), everything, from the ultra-modern artwork to the live cello entertainment to the happy hipster crowd, was plain ol’ radical to the max. A fun, inspiring event that had me drooling all evening.
Walk On
We recently read the article “Burning Rubber” from the latest issue of 5280 detailing the turbulent times at Niwot-based Crocs. It’s a good read, with all the drama, intrigue and bombastic behavior of an Aaron Spelling hit TV show. Check it out.
We’ve never been huge fans of Crocs shoes—at least not the ubiquitous Beach model worn by every man, woman and child we come across at the mall. (Hey, you’re not at the beach. Put your loafers on already!) But there’s no denying what Crocs has pulled off in six short years, becoming close to a billion-dollar company and part of the cultural landscape every-friggin’-where.
Beer Review: Odell IPA
Thanks to Bill Hepp over at New Belgium Brewery for heading over to the neighbors and giving us this mouthwatering review of a great classic from Odell Brewing Company. Drink the love.
Humulus Lupulus the grand, beautiful, utilitarian, hop plant- where would civilization be without you?
Beer Review: The Unofficial Official Beer Of The Egotist
We were worried that our friends at New Belgium Brewery got a little wrapped up in brewing more of their kick as golden treasures. It lead your friendly neighborhood Egotist to don the Beer Review liver, so as not to leave you high and dry, so to speak. Just as we finished, the New Belgium crew shot us “their review of O’dell’s IPA”: We decided not to waste our buzz, so here’s our take on a true classic.
Are Industry Club Dues Justified?
Since this is on the minds of everyone right now, what’s your opinion about AIGA, Art Director’s Club of Denver and The New Denver Ad Club? Do they give you what you need? Do you expect more? If so, what is it that they could bring you that you’re not already getting? Sorry to lump them all together as a single entity, but it seems easier to track the conversation under one post.
The Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #3
It seems you’re not too receptive to industry-related questions. Wienies. So this week we’re taking the pool question straight outta the movie that inspired our little experiment here:
You inherit five million dollars the same day aliens land on the earth and say they’re gonna blow it up in two days. What do you do?
Get Your Gossip Here
We don’t have much news to reveal, other than that hilarious agency renaming in Colorado Springs yesterday – and the ensuing backlash on our site. Thought we’d toss a gossip post up anyway and see if you have any other nuggets to share. Takers?
Beer Review: Avery's Karma
Beer review #2 coming at you from our friends at Flying Dog Brewery. Thank you Lord, for this perfect complement to summer.
Hey everyone, I’m Josh Mishell and Flying Dog Brewery pays me to design beer labels. I think it’s pretty much the perfect job (double my salary and I’d pretty much get rid of the “pretty much” part of the previous statement). I’m a Denver native, and except for four years spent on the East Coast, Colorado has been my home. I vividly remember the Colorado craft beer revolution of the 90s – my brother Alan was a homebrewer (and all-around cool guy) who helped me recognize some great things happening in Colorado brewing.
The Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #2
This week’s question:
What account would you give your left one to work on and why?
The Wednesday Lunchtime Poll #1
In the tradition of one of the greatest movies ever to grace the silver screen, The Egotist is starting the weekly Lunchtime Poll. Every Wednesday around noon (ish), we will pose a different, mind bending question designed to inspire great thinking and open minds to the of…Who the hell are we kidding? There’s no grand design to this. We just thought it would be fun to peek into the lives and the gray matter of our fellow ad geeks. Just try not to drip horsey sauce on your keyboard, the IT guys hate that.
This Week’s Question:
What is your favorite place in town to concept? (Alcoholic and non)
Vote for The Most Beautiful Loser
A lot of people probably want to see the new film Beautiful Losers for free at the Mayan on Thursday followed by a Q&A with the film’s director and founder of NY’s Alleged Gallery, Aaron Rose. Only eight people are going to get the chance to go free courtesy of The Filmlot and us.
Beer Review: New Belgium's Jessica's Porter
We’ve come up with a new Friday feature here on The Egotist that has to be one of our best ideas to date. Our good friends at New Belgium and Flying Dog have both graciously volunteered to write beer reviews for us every Friday all summer long, alternating weeks. Without further ado, here’s the first piece from New Belgium filling you up with the ins and outs of Jessica’s Porter. We’re heading for the pub.
The Egotist Beautiful Losers Giveaway
The Denver premiere of the film Beautiful Losers is a week away and The Egotist has teamed up with online magazine, The Filmlot, for a special ticket giveaway. That’s right, you and that special someone can cozy up and enjoy an evening of creative inspiration along with the chance to meet a legend in the urban/street art movement.
Students, Let Your Voices Be Heard
Our Schools of Fools editorial has sparked a fantastic conversation. It’s gotten us thinking about ways to do more than just flap gums. As a start, we’d like to get a feel for how many future creatives are hanging on every twisted word The Egotist lovingly pens – so we understand whether this site is the right forum to feature some additional schooling of our own crafting.
Creative Crackdown, Honest Bros.
We have differing opinions of the Honest Bros. work within The Egotist fold. Some of us are thinking about adding them to the recommended list and some of us would like to see more work out of them before a decision’s made. We’ve been honest with them about our take, so they thought a creative crackdown on their portfolio might be in order. In their words, “throw us to the wolves and see if we can still hold our heads high in the aftermath.” You asked for it, fellas.
Schools of Fools
Let us ask you a question. Is it worse for a college to fail a student out of a major they aren’t equipped to succeed in, or to make them feel hopeful throughout their college years that they’ll get a career related to their degree – rewarding them with false grades simply for completing assigned projects – then send them out doomed to fail? The latter is happening at Colorado’s art schools.
The Egotist Inverviews: Stefan Sagmeister
After one postal mishap resulting in the loss of the original interview, a month-long trip to Asia promoting his new book (buy the damn thing, it’s brilliant), and heavy back and forth with his publicist, we finally have Stefan Sagmeister’s interview in our hands. We didn’t want to do the typical Q&A he’s been through a million times. So we got together with a group of the best creative talent in town and put this visual masterpiece together. Hope you like it.
The Egotist Interviews: Fwis
Fwis, a small graphic design boutique, was all but unknown as of a year ago. Now that they’ve moved out of Denver and on to greener pastures, they’re blowing up. The Egotist asks them about what they think of Denver, their recent feature in PRINT magazine, and arm-wrestling.
Advertising is Dumb
Editor’s Note: It’s Take Your Child to Work Day. We’re letting the little ones learn the ropes around here. Everyone is getting a lot out of it and the kids seem really interested in what mom and dad do for a living. Following is an editorial written by Jeffrey, Age 8.
Advertising is dumb. Jimmy’s dad drives a truck. That would be cool. How come you don’t drive a truck? Everyone here looks sad. There should be more candy. And you should have a big hamster cage. With tubes. I have to go to the bathroom. How come you stay here all the time? That guy is fat. Is he your boss? I could draw that. My trees are better. Do you want to watch me do a push up? Do you have any gum? That lady is pretty. I bet Mommy would like her. How come you don’t wear a tie? Cindy’s dad wears a tie. I don’t like it here. You drink a lot of medicine. Does Mommy know you are sick? Do you have a lunch room? Are we having meatballs? I still have to go to the bathroom. When do we take a nap? I want to go home. Advertising is stupid.
Question of the Day: Did You Earn It?
You took some money from a client today. The question we have for you is did you earn it? Did you trash a great headline or piece of design and push through the wall to get to something that one-upped it? Or did you settle so you could go home and sit on the couch? Did you push back when your brain (or gut) told you your client’s decision or revision was a bad one? Or did you go on autopilot and crap it out? Did you do something that would get a hot chick in bed with you after hearing your story? Or would you turn off even the most desperate cougar? Seriously, did you earn it today? Or did you create something any half-baked hack could?
We Feel Good
Here at the worldwide headquarters of The Denver Egotist in Brighton, we’re in a decidedly chipper mood. Maybe it’s the spring weather. Maybe it’s the return of baseball and the Avs’ playoff hopes. Maybe it’s the longer days and the sweet smell of charcoal and lighter fluid in the air. Or maybe it’s the Xanax and Bloody Mary we had for breakfast. Whatever it is, we feel good. And we feel like spreading some of it around.
So, instead of ripping the work and complaining about bad clients and all things crappy, we want to hear about the good. We want to hear about the clients who get it.
Rocky Mountain Low
Awful. Embarrassing. Hack. Ridiculous. Contrived. By now, we’re all familiar with the appallingly bad “Let’s Talk Colorado” campaign for Colorado Tourism created by MMG Worldwide, Kansas City. We would offer you a link as a refresher but really, why bother? However, what is worth checking out is the latest addition to the campaign — the online crap.
Andy Bosselman alerted us to some recent musings on the work by Westword big wig and straight-shooter Patricia Calhoun. She takes aim at an email newsletter inviting would-be visitors to learn how to talk like a Coloradan. She nails it, so please check out her comments. We spent some time exploring the glossary of Colorado lingo and the only phrase we’re left repeating over and over is “Are you fucking serious?”
The Egotist Interviews: Benjamin Ray
For those of you who remember years back (alright months) when we put out a request for questions to ask Xylem CCI’s Benjamin Ray, and even for those of you who don’t remember, the wait is finally over.
We apologize for the delay, as it was mostly our fault for taking so exhaustively long to finally put together a solid set of questions for the intriguing Growth Officer. Regardless, it appears Mr. Ray took the time to put some real thought into his answers, so we hope you find the interview worth the wait.
Swing and a Miss
Opening Day for the Rockies at Coors Field is just two days away and we’re pumped. We’ll be rooting for you, Rox. But this ain’t no sports blog, so let’s talk about advertising.
The Rockies have created six new commercials for this season. A few are already in rotation. Check out two of them here. Or, if you’re busy, let us give you the short version. Take some weak jokes, throw in some bad acting by professional athletes and POW! that’s a foul ball to our funny bone. Wait, that wasn’t our funny bone. That was our solar plexus. Oh jeez.
Are They Audi Their Minds?!
While poking through DesignCharts to see if their were any hot new sites that we could showcase, we stumbled across a new Audi site, targeted at the Japanese market.
In all honestly, the site is decent, but not something we would normally feature on the site, as its not really all that fantastic (but we invite you to check it out for yourself if you have the time to kill.)
In fact, the only reason you are hearing about this site from us is due to how appalled we were at how long the initial load time was. While we didn’t time it down to the second, but it was literally between 3-4 minutes, and this is on a Comcast high-speed connection mind you. We even cleared our cache, and made certain it was not a one time fluke.
Why Should Anyone Give a Shite About Denver?
We don’t have some deep, well-thought-out answer. But we thought you might. We just want to know what’s getting you excited about being here in Colorado at this moment. Hickenlooper pushing for a bigger, better creative class? A piece you just finished that you’re certain Scott Goodson from StrawberryFrog, Gareth Kay from Modernista! and The Denver 50’s newest judge, Ty Montague from JWT New York, will send through into the awards show this year? A new concepting watering hole where the beer flows like wine? What’s hot right now and why should anyone care?
Help Us Thank Sagmeister
Forget what you’ve heard about Stefan Sagmeister. He’s one of the coolest guys playing on the big stage. Here’s why. We sent him the interview you helped us craft to his hotel in Monterrey, CA. He filled out the piece at 5:00 AM in the morning and mailed it back to us in the envelope we included. The impossible machine that is the USPS lost the envelope. Shattered, we asked Stefan if he’d be up for doing it again. And he is.
'Tis The Season For Voting For Us
5280 magazine is conducting their Top of the Town voting right now on their site. In the “People” category, you’ll find you can vote on best blog/blogger. Considering that the mainstream Colorado media has all but abandoned reporting on our industry, we’d really appreciate your vote in that category to show we’re all still alive and kicking. You can quickly and easily place your vote here.
Ralphie's Ralphing
A very reliable source told our very reliable source that the University of Colorado is working hard on a rebrand of the school right now. It seems the ‘University’s image is not working for the University anymore.’ For those alums out there (especially those kicking their hard-earned cake up Boulder’s way), here’s where you’ll want to pay particular attention.
1. The CU logo and colors will change – the colors will be blue and something else.
2. The Buffalo will either change or go away.
3. This announcement will be around the end of the year.
My Client, My Enemy
Whether you’re a creative, a project manager, or a developer, we have all experienced the dis-heartening process of having the enthusiasm of working on a project go from exciting, to luke-warm, to let’s just get it done.
Be it a drawn out schedule, round and rounds of client feedback and minor “tweaks” here and there, or changes or additions to the original scope that ultimately begin unraveling a once solid architecture into a bunch of hacks and quick fixes… the chances are the client is ultimately to blame.
While the quick answer is, we are the professionals, and we need to manage the client, and make sure we don’t allow them to sabotage the very objectives we are helping them to achieve. Sadly, it may not always be that simple.
Creative Crackdown, Sheima Hassanlou
Sheima Hassanlou, freelance motion graphics designer who sometimes edits and sometimes does print (her words), sent us her new portfolio site to review. But we thought we’d toss it out to the rest of you Egotists to analyze and provide feedback.
Some of our friends from the outside will also be chiming in on the work – a team from Tequila, LA, TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive arm and a team from McCann Erickson, NY. We’ve also lined up two new teams from Creature, Seattle and an editorial team from Chrome, Santa Monica.
Is Denver prepared for the shift?
While the chances of print and outdoor advertising going away any time soon are slim to none, studies suggest that spending on alternative media, such as websites, micro-sites, content for mobile devices, email campaigns, and search marketing are poised to show the largest growth in terms of marketing dollars spent over the next five years. So the question is… How prepared is Denver?
This Is A Good Thing
Big ups to the Colorado Film Commission. They are backing proposed legislation that would give significant tax incentives to production companies choosing to film in Colorado. The 25% incentive, similar to what other states offer, could help sway studios during their decision process and land more big productions here. There have been a handful of good-sized productions here in the recent past – like Eddie Murphy’s Nowhereland last October – but somehow our feelings are still a little hurt by the unflattering light cast on Denver in About Schmidt. That was like seeing a candid party photo of yourself and realizing that yes, your ass really has gotten that big.
Water: Now with Sex Hormones
We enjoy waking up on a Monday morning, feeling full of hope and optimism with the promise of a new week, only to have those feelings dashed by the fear-mongers on TV. As if we don’t have enough things to worry about, the media feels obligated to constantly remind us what’s going to kill us this week. Last week it was cherry yogurt or skipping rope or something like that. Yesterday we learned that we should now fear our drinking water.
“Shall We Bend Over Now or Wait for a Signed Contract?”
A local agency head brought something to our attention recently. It’s not a new topic, but it’s worth discussing. It’s regarding the CollegeInvest RFP specifically, but it relates to all RFPs and how we, as agencies, respond. Are we actively screwing ourselves by giving away too much during the RFP process? Absolutely. Do we have a choice? We’d like to think so. Here are his comments in brief:
Take the first bullet under Scope of Proposal “Provide recommendations about overall brand strategy.” How can any reputable agency provide such a recommendation in an RFP without having done all the necessary background research, worked with the client, talked with customers, etc?
Andy Cruz: The Modern-Day Type Master
By James Pelz, President of the Art Directors Club of Denver.
Andy Cruz of House Industries is the modern-day type master. You would expect that. What you don’t expect is just how forward thinking he and his company really are.
His presentation to ADCD on Thursday started as a quick tour into what House Industries is into and has been doing lately, but then he began his real presentation, his real passions, his heroes, his influences. Big Daddy Roth, Coop, Alexander Girard, he keeps going. He talks about his entry into fashion, design, architecture, furniture, shoes, he keeps going. He talks about all the research they put into any effort they put out, and he shows a real understanding of what they do.
What Would You Ask Sagmeister?
By now, you’ve got to know one of the most influential designers alive today, Stefan Sagmeister, is coming to Denver to speak on March 7th. (The event is sold-out for all you slow pokes.) However, there are two very cool things you can still take part in if you missed the boat.
Agency Poll: Pros + Cons
Everybody knows who’s doing the best work in town. But where’s the best place to work? Depends on who you’re asking and how you’re judging, right? Well, what makes your shop a great place to be? And what makes it drive you to consider a career in janitorial engineering?
Love In The Air, Blood Red Cocktails In The Belly
If you and your lover spent Valentine’s Day at that quiet table for two in section six of the neighborhood Olive Garden, that’s cool. We’re not here to judge. But you missed a fine time at the Museum of Contemporary Art last night.
The Bloody Heart Party mixed art, beats, cocktails and heart-shaped sugar cookies. What do you know, those things go together quite well. Just after 7 PM (we pride ourselves on punctuality) the museum was already popping. And judging by the volume of champagne flowing, more than a few folks were going home for some V-Day loving.
The New Denver Egotist Essays – Parts & Pieces
Let us begin by saying we’re flattered, humbled and giddy that people would take the time to craft essays to get in on what we’ve got going here. Especially, considering everyone who wrote knew they wouldn’t be able to take credit for being a part of The Egotist.
We’ll never silence the naysayers, but the whole ordeal further reinforces the allure and importance of our continued anonymity – we are the voice of creativity in Denver, not the voice of any one individual. Without additional puffery, we present some sound bytes from the pieces we received. Needless to say, the decision of who to bring on was difficult, time consuming and entertaining. Enjoy.
Creative Crackdown, D.R. Horton
We’re going back to the days of ol’ with our Creative Crackdown and inviting some outsiders to chime in on the work – a team from Tequila, LA, TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive department, and a team from McCann Erickson, NY. Here’s the set-up for the first piece we’ve ever seen produced from HIM Creative.
D.R. Horton (the largest homebuilder in the country) came to HIM Creative in hopes of taking their online advertising to the next level, after seeing an interactive email Jeremy Irwin (part of our team) had concepted and directed for Chipotle. As the housing market is getting more and more competitive for homebuilders, the industry is looking for new and innovative ways to elevate themselves and get their message out in more cost effective ways.
The Egotist Interviews: Norm Shearer
A lot of agencies claim their culture is what makes them unique. Cactus doesn’t need to claim anything. It has quietly, humbly and quickly become one of those places where the top talent in Colorado just wants to be. They come for the clients. They come for the opportunities. And they come for Norm Shearer, Cactus’ Creative Director, who motivates them by simply staying out of their way. As 2008 begins, Norm Shearer tells us about the past, present and future of his company.
Q: In the four years since you’ve been Creative Director at Cactus, the shop has grown from a creative whisper to a resounding roar – landing your C-Tree TV spot on AdCritic’s 2007 Top 20 list just weeks ago. Can you explain how Cactus has achieved such an enviable transformation?
They Said What?
By Ryan Johnson.
Clients are like kids. No, not because they soil themselves at inopportune times. Clients are like kids because they say the darndest things.
Several years ago, I sat through a client meeting in which my creative director presented a radio script that referenced the Latin phrase “E Pluribus Unum” found on the back of the almighty penny. After listening to all of the concepts, one of the clients in the room (it was a committee – go figure) bravely stepped forward to voice his support.
“I like the one with the Latin in it,” he said. “I think that would really speak to the Latino community.” After an uncomfortable and awkward silence, my creative director offered the only reasonable response.
The New Denver Egotist Essay Contest
We’re overworked and understaffed here at The Denver Egotist, just like you. So in the hope of maintaining the quality and quantity of posts we’ve established here, we’re going to take a stand and do something about it.
The New Denver Egotist Essay Contest is our hair-brained answer to alleviating the load. Maybe you don’t want to write your essay and you’d rather tell us why you’d make a good Egotist in pictures. Forget it, we need writers. Maybe you’d rather try to get to know every great creative director in town by sending your book to them and scheduling an “informational interview.” Forget it, you’re not smart enough to realize you can painlessly connect with them right through our site and use that to your advantage if you choose. Maybe you’d rather report on what’s going on in other creative hot-bed cities. Well, maybe you should just move there, smartypants.
Creative Crackdown: Namgyal Monastery
This campaign features the identity and marketing collateral for the recent Bridging Worlds Event hosted by the Namgyal Monastery designed by Art & Anthropology. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, gave three public teachings including a public talk at Cornell University, an interfaith dialog at the State Theater, and taught a Dharma lesson at Ithaca College.
The Colorado Agency of the Year
For their craft. For their pride. For their humility. For their ingenuity. For their clients. For their client wins. For their intelligence. For their breadth. For their staff of 70-strong. For their sincerity. For their flava. For their attitude. And for giving this town a serious fuckin’ injection of all that magic they got going, Factory Design Labs is The Denver Egotist’s Agency of the Year. We bow our heads in awe.
Reader’s Choice: Cactus
Serious Contenders: TDA, Sukle
Creative Crackdown, Denver Art Museum
The first art exhibition from the world famous Louvre arrived at the Denver Art Museum. While these treasures speak for themselves, the stories based around them were even more compelling. Stories of tyranny, deception, adultery, and murder (among others) affected both French royals and their craftsmen. This campaign via Integer teased patrons with partial stories where the juicy stuff would only be revealed at the DAM.
Get Your Gossip Here
We tried this before and it seemed to fizzle a bit because there wasn’t much news floating around town at the time. Seems like a good time to try it again, because there are tons of things brewing right now.
We’ll start if off and you can throw your additional gossip in the comments below or continue right along with this topic. The word on the street is that Xylem CCI (re)landed the Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches million-dollar online biz for 2008. (They lost it a couple of years ago during the last year of the Irwin era). Your turn.
Agency of the Year Poll
Before beginning this site a handful of months ago, it would have been difficult for us to choose a Colorado agency of the year – simply because we weren’t privy to a lot of the work going on here. Through the NDAC’s Denver 50 show, the Art Director’s show and our own reporting, we’ve learned a lot about this city over the last year and now have a concrete opinion who the agency of the year should be.
What’s your opinion? Click the word “comment” at the bottom of this post and tell us your choice for Colorado agency of the year and for national agency of the year and give us the reasons why. Voting will be open through December 31, then we’ll report results on January 1st of next year, along with The Denver Egotist’s own selections.
The Price We Pay
In other cities that have it all figured out, the really good creative people consistently make the really okay people look bad because their work is so much better. But there’s a funny thing going on here in Denver. The tables are turned.
The really okay people in this town are making the really good people look like the dumb ones. And here’s why. The rates the half-baked shops and individuals are charging are so low that it makes the first rate people seem crazy for asking clients to pay what they truly deserve. And the whole thing is making us all look dumber in the end (and equating to all of us making less cake).
The Self- Proclaimed Bastard Child of Advertising
Just like most of you, we missed Josh Spear speak last night. If you wonder what you missed, our friend from Integer, James Pelz, who’s also the President of Art Directors Club of Denver sent us his thoughts on last night’s event.
To start off, trying to summarize all the knowledge Josh Spear and his partner Aaron Dignan, from Joshspear.com and Undercurrent dropped on the group gathered for the Art Directors Club of Denver is an impossible task. They know way more about the mind of a blogger to fit into a couple of hours, much less try to even relay it back to you here. Following them as they both relayed their no-holds-barred style of consulting and new world view to the crowd gathered was both entertaining and a bit disorienting.
The Egotist Interviews: Steve Whittier
In the December 2007 issue of Factory Design Labs newsletter, they announce nine new hires. That’s nine hires in a single month, likely totaling more than any other agency in the region. If you turn your head upward and peer toward the highest rung on the agency’s creative totem pole, you’ll find VP Creative Director Steve Whittier and much of reason for the shop’s visionary uniqueness and recent explosiveness. We caught up with Steve on the eve of the New Denver Ad Club’s annual award show, for which Factory Design Labs is poised for performance.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background? We know you’ve been at some of the world’s top shops, including McCann Erickson, Leo Burnett, Lowe and Partners, Chiat\Day and Euro RSCG, winning some impressive hardware along the way. How did those shops influence your perspective?
Advertising How To... Part 5
How to keep your job. By Sensitive Writer.
Being that advertising is one of like three professions where you can do completely ridonkulous things and still remain gainfully employed, you may think there’d be no need for a column on this topic. However, that pesky little doctrine of American law known as “at-will employment” does rear its ugly head from time to time. As a result, employers are free to “discharge individuals” for “good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.” So how can you protect yourself from any and all causes?
Creative Crackdown, McDonald's Outdoor
McDonald’s needed to let people know about its freshly prepared breakfasts and gourmet coffees. Karsh\Hagan shot high-style photography for these boards and put them in high-traffic areas.
Creative Crackdown, Jamba Juice Promo Site
This new site courtesy of Xylem CCI promotes a drink called 3G (Guarana, Ginseng, Green Tea) from Jamba Juice that you can only find out about by coming to this site after receiving an email – the drink is not on any store menus yet.
Advertising How To... Part 4
How to re-sell an idea to your Creative Director after he’s already killed it. By Sensitive Writer.
There is nothing more crushing than after a whole half-day of brain-numbing concepting, you emerge victorious with your next One Show Pencil idea, and your Creative Director kills it before it even sees the light of day.
What’s a hardworking creative to do? Stick it in the recycle file and resell it at your next internal presentation, of course. But, sadly, more often than not, you run into that phrase every creative is loathe to hear, “I think I’ve already seen that.”
Advertising How To... Part 3
How to shine in a meeting when you have no idea what’s going on. By Sensitive Writer.
There are only two reasons I get asked to go to meetings:
1) They need to even out the guy/gal ratio.
2) They need color commentary.
As a result, I end up in a lot of meetings where my sole purpose is to either “bond” with the marketing girls or to “bring up the energy level” because someone invited too many suits. So in nearly every meeting not only do I have absolutely no idea what the meeting’s about, I usually have no clue what the client does or what I could possibly contribute. So I’ve learned to fake my way through just about any meeting. You can, too.
Creative Crackdown, Cactus Own Your C TV #3
The eighth submission in our running series is up for your honest critique. Once again, our friends from Tequila TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive shop, will be joining us to give their take on the work. We also have a team from Merkley + Partners in NY peeking in. Here’s the set-up for the third Own Your C TV spot from Cactus.
In the spirit of Halloween, Denver-based Cactus, a full-service advertising agency, launches “Boomerang,” a 60-second horror flick, to remind teens to “be careful with your choices; they may come back to haunt you.”
Advertising How To... Part 2
How to make your partner do all the work and get (at least) half the credit. By Sensitive Writer.
Think what you want of me, but this is a skill I am proud to say I have perfected over the years. And frankly, I don’t think you’ll find an art director in Denver to disagree with me. Which brings me to the first requirement:
1) Be a writer.
The primary difference between good writers and good art directors is that writers are smart and lazy while art directors are talented and hard-working.
Advertising How To... Part 1
Behold! On yonder keyboard doth type thy fingers of Sensitive Writer, thy newest blessing fallen upon thoust Denver Egotist, brimming with thy most tender feelings and joyful observations of thine advertising profession. Cup thy mouth and open thine ears for thy frickin’ truth.
How to know if advertising’s the right job for you.
Recently, my 14-year-old nephew took a personality test at school to determine what careers would suit him well. And as fate would have it, he comes out with recommendations to become a) a comedian, b) an artist or, you guessed it, c) work in advertising. Which kind of got me thinking. If “You’re suited to a job in advertising!” is the answer, what the hell is the question? I mean, are they really asking 14-year-olds questions like:
Creative Crackdown, Boston Market Catering Effort
The seventh submission in our running series is up for your honest critique. Once again, our friends from Tequila TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive shop, will be joining us to give their take on the work. We also have a team from Merkley + Partners in NY peeking in. Here’s the set-up for this Boston Marketing catering effort from Cameron Christopher Thomas Advertising.
Sometimes in advertising your target audience really speaks to you. And in some cases, they keep speaking and speaking and just will not shut up until you’ve written spots about them. That’s when they become really annoying. But it’s also when you know you’ve created some universal truism your audience can relate to.
Get Your Gossip Here
Another idea floated in from the ether from one of our legendary readers, and we thought we’d give it a whirl. Instead of having to go out for drinks with everyone in town to get the dirt, you can just stop in here for the latest in Denver-metro agency gossip. Drop off a rumor or pick one up. Who wants to start us off?
Wearing Freelance Pants #3, By Eric Kiker
To me, this site, warts and all, is about the creation, critique and ultimately, celebration of local work. But ladies and gentlemen, amidst all the highbrow, feather ruffling, raising the bar zigging, I’m going to zag by presenting to you, quite possibly the finest, save your ass acronym ever. An abbreviation more determined than MADD, smarter than NASA, simpler than KISS. And 180 degrees from anything breakthrough, conceptual or award winning, FYI.
It’s JDIAGTM. Say “jid-ee-ag-tum.”
Just Do It And Get The Money.
Speedball's Letter To Customer Service
Recently, our cohort Speedball had trouble with his super expensive washer and dryer purchased from Best Buy. Here’s the letter he wrote to customer service – a warning to all corporate monsters not to get on his bad side.
Dear Best Buy,
I’m not going to invest any more time in explaining the circumstances surrounding my excruciating frustration with your company. If after reading this you are compelled to find out what I’m agitated about, I implore you to look up my account history.
What The Hell Were They Thinking, #2
In this new running series, called “What The Hell Were They Thinking,” we’ll randomly pull a piece of work from one of the agencies in town, post it and then allow you to attempt to dissect the thinking that went into its creation.
Creative Crackdown, Reed Hill Book Cover
The sixth submission in our running series is up for your honest critique. Once again, our friends from Tequila TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive shop, will be joining us to give their take on the work. We also welcome a team from Merkley + Partners in NY to get in on the actino. Here’s the set-up for this book cover from Reed Hill.
The book, “Searching For The New Normal,” was never supposed to be a book. It was the personal journal of a woman in pain, spawned by the suicide of her son. There is no thought, feeling or emotion that wasn’t penned during the three-year span covered in the book’s pages.
Creative Crackdown, Barnhart Campaign
The fifth submission in our running series is up for your honest critique. Once again, our friends from Tequila (moniker TQLA\LA) TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive shop, will be joining us to give their take on the work. We also welcome a team from Merkley + Partners in NY (moniker M+P) to get in on the critique. Here’s the set-up for this ad campaign from Barnhart.
Libraries across the nation have experienced significant declines in membership and usage over the past decade. With increased reliance on the Internet and greater use of bookstores, public libraries are losing relevance.
Increasing the Odds of Innovation
The last article we posted from our friend Peter Murane over at BrandJuice was featured in Ad Age. Here’s a new one that’s equally as smart. Can you believe you’re getting all this amazing thinking free of charge? Neither can we.
Put Your Consumer to Work, Increasing the Odds of Innovation By Peter Murane
The challenge we hear every day from our clients is simple – can you help me increase my chances of innovation success? Innovation today is slow and resource intensive – it takes many years and hundreds of thousands of dollars. And despite the intense investment, still 95% of new products fail every year.
Let there be no doubt – the current model is broken. And it is based on the false premise that the right market research plan can remove risk from the process. If you talk to enough consumers and get enough good data back, surely you will succeed, right?
What The Fuck Were They Thinking, #1
If you ever got Adweek’s email blasts in the past, you’ll know who we stole this idea from. (Actually, one of our brilliant readers suggested it, so we can’t take all the credit.)
In this new running series, called “What The Fuck Were They Thinking,” we’ll randomly pull a piece of work from one of the agencies in town, post it and then allow you to attempt to dissect the thinking that went into its creation.
Wearing Freelance Pants #2, By Eric Kiker
“What’s your hourly rate?”
It’s a question that, for me, has always caused curiously nauseous feelings. In the beginning, back in Boulder, where I rented a closet-sized office at the incredibly vibrant corner of Pearl and Broadway, I worried $30 an hour would seem like an awful lot for someone with little experience and a workspace just slightly larger than a twin bed.
These days, the queasy rumblings continue, not because my hourly rate is high, but because I’ve gotten rid of it pretty much all together. And I think; if you’re a freelancer – and maybe even if you run an agency – you should too.
Editorial From the Outside
When you invite the world to send in editorial, here’s what you get. We’re going to leave this gem untouched in its most pure form for you to enjoy. Please comment below on anything you recognize as slightly off kilter in The Denver Warbler’s plea to Mayor Hickenlooper. We’ll be sure to let them know you’ve spoken.
Hi,
I don’t know if this counts. We are not part of the creative community, but a small band of miscellany-ists. We do, however, feel a kinship with your motto and would like to bring an important issue to your attention. This “editorial” is in the form of a letter to Mayor Hickenlooper. We’ve attached an image for reference.
Creative Crackdown, Juice Print
The fourth individual submission in our running series is up for your honest critique. Once again, our friends from Tequila (moniker TQLA\LA) TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive shop, will be joining us to give their take on the work. We also welcome a new team from Merkley + Partners in NY (moniker M+P) to the growing list of heavy hitters peaking in on Denver’s creative. Here’s the set-up for this new print work from Juice Communications.
Why Next, Why Denver, Why now?
Jason Otero, principal at Art & Anthropology and comrade to The Denver Egotist, shares his thinking on the AIGA Design Conference coming very soon to a city near you.
When I was initially informed that the AIGA’s conference theme was to be framed around the concept of “Next” I immediately drew parallels to the pioneer legacy that makes up much of Denver’s history.
I imagined the context of the families who traversed the plains of middle America through the late 1800’s to seek new possibilities and the promises of brighter futures. That mythology is still a large part of the mystique of the west, and is the reason why many of my friends and peers speak so romantically of visiting this region.
You've Been Warned List
A really smart idea was sitting in our inbox this morning sent from one of our loyal readers. It made us happy to know there aren’t just brainless vagrants reading the filth we write.
Without further ado, we present the finest reader contribution thus far. Hosted right here in this very spot, we’re beginning Denver’s “You’ve Been Warned” list.
What’s that, you ask? It’s the place where all those living in past or present agency hell can anonymously (or publicly) wave a red flag to the rest of the city to steer their careers around Denver’s soul-sucking black holes of so-called creativity.
Consider the contribution of your pain-soaked insights below as part of your civic duty to the creatively-inclined who share this city with you.
Advice - On Office Romance
Dear Speedball,
I started seeing an intern in my office. Without going into too much detail, I will say that the relationship got very serious, very fast—then got very ugly even faster. I’ve overheard her telling my boss (V.P. of Account Services) that I was, well, “unsatisfying” in bed.
She’s young and treats the office like it’s a high school, over-dramatizing everything, spreading rumors, and basically gossiping all day long—mostly about me.
Please, get me out of this mess with my career intact,
Duane
Creative Crackdown, Cactus TV
The third individual submission in our new running series is up for your honest feedback. Once again, our friends from Tequila, TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive shop, will be joining us to give their take on the work (with more heavy hitters to come from other shops around the country soon). Here’s the set-up for this new spot from Cactus.
Cactus Marketing Communications has just launched its first television spot in a new wave of off-beat commercials for the youth tobacco prevention campaign, Own Your C (Own Your Choices).
Rather than focus solely on the topic of tobacco, the innovative campaign empowers Colorado youth to make educated choices and encourages them to own the consequences of those choices, good and bad.
Wearing Freelance Pants By Eric Kiker
A lot of people have been asking us what it takes to make it as a successful freelancer in this city. So we asked one of the top freelance writers in Denver to tell us what he’s done to carve out such an enviable position. Here’s what he sent back.
They say some advice isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, and this thing’s virtual, so be careful.
I started freelancing right out of college, quite by accident. A friend had a friend whose rich dad had set him up in business, he manufactured rifle safes, and his safes were so much burlier than the competition’s, yours truly wrote a brochure, in which yours truly also decided to include a big old comparison chart, right there where everybody could see all the damn…comparisons…were backwards. I hadn’t proofread it. So my client refused to pay me.
Creative Crackdown, Ian Nordeck
The second individual campaign in our new running series is up for your consideration and commentary. Once again, our friends from Tequila, TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive shop, will be joining us to inject flavor into the conversation. Here’s the set-up for the identity system from designer Ian Nordeck.
The FARM at Dancing Star is fifteen minutes from the coast of Oregon outside the town of Yachats. Their principal produce is berries, but they also have a small orchard and a vegetable garden. Their livestock now includes chickens, ducks, geese, pigs and goats, as well as three hives of honey bees.
Creative Crackdown, Part One
A lot of agencies send us their entire website of work to review. While we greatly appreciate it, we’d like to start encouraging shops and freelancers to send individual pieces of their best work as completed. (Anyone want to show off what they sent to The Denver 50 last week?)
With this in mind, we’re introducing the Creative Crackdown – a chance for your work to be put up and critiqued by the insightful readers of this site. As a bonus, we’ve roped in a group of friends from Tequila, TBWA\Chiat\Day’s in-house interactive agency, to weigh in on the work as well. The long-term idea is to grow this network of commentators from outside of Denver to give us a true gauge of the work being done here.
The Suckless Rant, Part Beta
For some, this blog must be all Greek.
The tag line and mantra here is “Attempting to help Denver suck less daily.” Yet, there are those who have gotten their backs as well as their ire up over recent critiques – some might call them bitch-slaps – of local firms.
“This won’t bring us together as a community,” limped one comment. Yet again, refer to the tag line. It isn’t “Attempting to help Denver feel better about its suckiness daily.” Or “Attempting to help Denver suck together as one big happy family.” It’s about sucking less. And while in my last column, I posited that, rather than suck, we simply lack scale, the recent paper-thin comments cause me to believe that while we may not suck, we sure as hell do a colonic-bag-full of whining.
And it smells funky brothers and sisters.
Advice - On Starting A Blog
I work with a small group that runs a local site intended to showcase design, advertising, and general creative happenings both in our market, and globally as well. Though our intentions are completely pure—to advance the quality of design in this area—this is the first time we’ve undertaken something of this nature, with such delicate egos on the line—occasionally we let our personal feeling about particular subjects cloud our judgment. For example…
Advice - On Being a Female
I’m a female Copywriter at a local advertising agency. Most of my ideas get shot down internally (by my male colleagues) before the client even has a chance to review them. As a woman, I am all too familiar with the so-called “glass ceiling” for salary and promotions, but I am beginning to think there is another, equally limiting, boundary for women trying to get work in front of a client. What can I do to break through this creative glass ceiling?
Female and frustrated,
– Melanie
Dear Melynie,
Women have been bedeviled by glass ceilings in the work place since they were first installed as a response to complaints that the glass floors allowed men to look up skirts.
The Suckless Rant, Part 1
Today, we welcome Moneypenny to The Egotist – a fresh, new voice and an interesting, new perspective for the growing community of game-changers here. Without further ado, his suckless rant…
These guys running this blog say they’re “Attempting to help Denver suck less daily.” That’s noble. That’s good. Nobody wants to suck. And we certainly do not, suck. After all, Denver’s such a great place to live and boy don’t we have a great laidback lifestyle here in Denver and who gives a shit only people from Aspen, Vail and Boulder sound cool when they announce where they’re from to cool people from cool markets and we don’t get our own section in Print’s annual and Crispin’s going to take all our accounts because they’re from Miami – and Boulder – and holy crap, it’s true, we suck. We really, really suck!!!!!
To Be A Big Success, Act Smaller
We received this article from our friends over at BrandJuice. Interesting insights on how to make a product successful in the beginning stages and good insider info on what exactly it is BrandJuice does for clients. Article written and submitted by Peter Murane, president of the company. Thanks, Peter!
In consumer packaged goods, the bigger, the better. The bigger you are, the more clout you have, the more creative you can be, and the more innovative products you can bring to consumers, right? Unfortunately, that’s not as true as it could be.
Advice - On Creative Directors
My CD is killing me. His creative direction is unintelligible, he can’t sell concepts and he’s out the door before the clock hits six every day – leaving us to fend for ourselves. Morale is shot. Got any advice for the weary?
– Steve
Steve,
You sound a little like the last guy who wrote in—only without the dream job.
I’m glad you wrote in, because I’m pretty sure I know exactly what’s going on here. However, before I tell you what I believe the situation to be, I have a few questions that I need you to ask yourself about your Creative Director:
Advice - On Marriage
I have landed the gig of my dreams working as an Art Director at [agency name removed]. Everyone here is pretty much expected to work serious overtime and my wife is starting to get seriously pissed off about it. I love my job, but I also love my wife. Part of me expects her to me more understanding and supportive of my situation, what should I do?
Yours in desperation,
Jacob Limpic
Dear Mr. Limpic,
I hear this problem a lot. Who among us in the creative industries hasn’t found themselves toiling away at work night after night and spending less and less time with their loved ones as their career takes off? The divorce rate at advertising agencies is one of the highest in the nation. I suspect the same holds true at design firms, but I couldn’t find any statistics for civil unions so I can’t be sure. [...]
Coming home to Denver
Spend the first twenty-four years of your life in Colorado. And it’s all you really know. Move back here after five years in L.A. And every, single thing you thought you knew looks the opposite. L.A. is 24/7/365. Denver is 8/5/261, with an hour set aside for lunch each day. L.A. is a creative circus. Denver is a one-armed clown juggling for street change. L.A. is pushing the envelope. Denver is looking for one of those wet sponges to seal up the envelope and mail it off to Grandma Tilly.
But L.A. is also filled with cutthroats who will run through you to get what they want…