Just a reminder to take two minutes today to contact your U.S. Senator regarding inclusion of a $50 million package to the NEA in the stimulus plan.
Americans for the Arts make it easy, just click here.
The arts are still a long ways away from the auto industry and others in terms of lobby power and that continues to create issues for us. For instance, Backstage's blog pulled a quote from an NPR interview with Brian Riedl of the Heritage Foundation: "Government policies that make people and workers more productive will increase productivity. But simply borrowing money out of the economy in order to transfer it to some artists doesn't increase the economy's productivity rate. It doesn't help workers create more goods and services, and it won't create economic growth."
So for one, the NEA is incredibly hard to get funding from. Organizations go through a very impressive vetting process to obtain funding. Out of all of the 'stimulus' spending that is going on, the NEA may be one of the more fiscally cautious organizations out there. My other issue is the 'some artists' comment. I'm appalled and am going to send the Foundation an e-mail. And I fiscally believe in many of the same principles that the Foundation supports on their website.
January 30, 2009
January 29, 2009
NBC ad rejection
This is hilarious. It seems NBC rejected an ad for the superbowl that PETA made, because of sexual content. With broccoli.
Watch the ad here.
Now PETA doesn't have to pay for air time and they're getting a done of free marketing from the internet.
Watch the ad here.
Now PETA doesn't have to pay for air time and they're getting a done of free marketing from the internet.
January 28, 2009
Lessons in IM through bacon
This article just popped up on a friend's Gmail Chat, I saw bacon in the title and figured I'd check it out. Read the article here.
Warning - if you keep kosher you will be totally grossed out. In fact, if you don't keep kosher you will probably also be grossed out.
So aside from the combination of that many calories and lots of bacon, I find the viral campaign they created exemplary of the possibilities for marketing now. The groundwork was already in place for this recipe to go viral, it is not dumb luck and not something you can just decide to replicate.
1. They already had a website with active traffic.
2. 1,200 active Twitter followers is a pretty large audience to communicate with.
3. It was an outrageous post. Of course, we all see and do outrageous things. Might as well use them to build our brand.
4. They used the tools that are out there to increase traffic and expand to new audiences: StumbleUpon, Digg, Del.icio.us, etc.
This is a great read for all you marketing buffs. It also makes you think about how you could create even more hits for an internet marketing campaign. HARO's advertisers regularly get 1,000's of hits after advertising. Facebook is an avenue. Are there groups that are bbq enthusiasts already set up? Google Reader isn't just for blogs, you can set up a feed so people can subscribe to your website and get updates when you post new content (increasing the number of people who regularly visit your website and know what you're up to).
Anyone else have any ideas?
Warning - if you keep kosher you will be totally grossed out. In fact, if you don't keep kosher you will probably also be grossed out.
So aside from the combination of that many calories and lots of bacon, I find the viral campaign they created exemplary of the possibilities for marketing now. The groundwork was already in place for this recipe to go viral, it is not dumb luck and not something you can just decide to replicate.
1. They already had a website with active traffic.
2. 1,200 active Twitter followers is a pretty large audience to communicate with.
3. It was an outrageous post. Of course, we all see and do outrageous things. Might as well use them to build our brand.
4. They used the tools that are out there to increase traffic and expand to new audiences: StumbleUpon, Digg, Del.icio.us, etc.
This is a great read for all you marketing buffs. It also makes you think about how you could create even more hits for an internet marketing campaign. HARO's advertisers regularly get 1,000's of hits after advertising. Facebook is an avenue. Are there groups that are bbq enthusiasts already set up? Google Reader isn't just for blogs, you can set up a feed so people can subscribe to your website and get updates when you post new content (increasing the number of people who regularly visit your website and know what you're up to).
Anyone else have any ideas?
January 26, 2009
See it through
I went to see Macbeth at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Friday night. Often this play is referred to as "The Scottish play," as tales of accidents and death have become a theatrical urban legend (Wikipedia)
In the theater world I had heard more than a few people say that this version was not very good. Chris Jones of the Tribune gave the show 3 out of 4 stars and created quite the discussion in the comments section of his review, with most refuting the 3 star review. Christopher Piatt gave the show 3 of 6 stars in Time Out and is generally more in line with my own opinions of the show.
In short, there was a lot of shock value but no consistent development of story. If you have a great projection designer (in this case Mike Tutaj) then use them throughout. Don't haphazardly use his skills to underscore items that don't need to be underscored and fail to use projections in points where it makes sense to have them. For instance, the famous dagger scene did not have a dagger projected though we did have a ring of haze incorporated for some weird reason. When Lady M goes crazy and starts sleepwalking, instead of projecting MacDuff's dead family some gruesome prop dead family was flown in from the ceiling.
I generally appreciate my Shakespeare on the minimalist side, preferring to focus on the language and story. When Bob Falls directed a recent, revisionist King Lear I hated it. It was very high concept to say the least, but he saw his ideas through to completion. I'm not sure what ideas Barbara Gaines actually had with this show.
Although I didn't like the show, I had 2 1/2 hours to think through a better way of staging it.
In the theater world I had heard more than a few people say that this version was not very good. Chris Jones of the Tribune gave the show 3 out of 4 stars and created quite the discussion in the comments section of his review, with most refuting the 3 star review. Christopher Piatt gave the show 3 of 6 stars in Time Out and is generally more in line with my own opinions of the show.
In short, there was a lot of shock value but no consistent development of story. If you have a great projection designer (in this case Mike Tutaj) then use them throughout. Don't haphazardly use his skills to underscore items that don't need to be underscored and fail to use projections in points where it makes sense to have them. For instance, the famous dagger scene did not have a dagger projected though we did have a ring of haze incorporated for some weird reason. When Lady M goes crazy and starts sleepwalking, instead of projecting MacDuff's dead family some gruesome prop dead family was flown in from the ceiling.
I generally appreciate my Shakespeare on the minimalist side, preferring to focus on the language and story. When Bob Falls directed a recent, revisionist King Lear I hated it. It was very high concept to say the least, but he saw his ideas through to completion. I'm not sure what ideas Barbara Gaines actually had with this show.
Although I didn't like the show, I had 2 1/2 hours to think through a better way of staging it.
A guide for being happy...
I just happened across Andy Sernovitz's blog and found this post incredibly apt. Read it here.
He quoted from an NPR interview and boiled it down to 4 points for happiness:
1. Satisfying work
2. The experience of being good at something
3. Time spent with people we like
4. The chance to be a part of something bigger
I have never seen this written simpler. Four items that are the formula for living a fulfilling and happy life. What happens when you aren't achieving those things?
For me, I wasn't happy (kind of a no brainer). So you take steps to correct the things that are not working and bring things back into line.
Seth Godin many months ago blogged about making money doing what you love. Sometimes it doesn't quite work out that way. But often you can find satisfying work that gives you the time to follow your passions outside of the office.
He quoted from an NPR interview and boiled it down to 4 points for happiness:
1. Satisfying work
2. The experience of being good at something
3. Time spent with people we like
4. The chance to be a part of something bigger
I have never seen this written simpler. Four items that are the formula for living a fulfilling and happy life. What happens when you aren't achieving those things?
For me, I wasn't happy (kind of a no brainer). So you take steps to correct the things that are not working and bring things back into line.
Seth Godin many months ago blogged about making money doing what you love. Sometimes it doesn't quite work out that way. But often you can find satisfying work that gives you the time to follow your passions outside of the office.
January 23, 2009
20%
Last night I brought the latest edition of Advancing Philanthropy (published by AFP) with me to the bar. Obviously I've got some issues to work out. The very first item I read has seriously stuck in my head.
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation recently issued a report called Intentional Innovation: How Getting More Systematic About Innovation Could Improve Philanthropy and Increase Social Impact. Within the synopsis of the report AFP highlighted a figure that astounded me, apparently Google sets 20% of employees time for exploring pet projects.
20%
In my working past I have never had that much time to think creatively, let alone on a pet project. The study is not referencing the odd hour of time you take to think about the focus of your next direct mail piece, it's talking about time out to think up new ways of doing things.
The article cites further methods for instilling a culture of innovation - collaborate, create a support system, create change agents, and use new technology.
You can download the executive summary here.
Andrew Taylor's weekly summary came out today and he had a post that was relevant to this same discussion. Taking a clue from the medical industry he focuses on the analysis that occurs after events or the lack there of. Yet another practice from alternate industries that we should really put in place in the theater world. Read the post here.
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation recently issued a report called Intentional Innovation: How Getting More Systematic About Innovation Could Improve Philanthropy and Increase Social Impact. Within the synopsis of the report AFP highlighted a figure that astounded me, apparently Google sets 20% of employees time for exploring pet projects.
20%
In my working past I have never had that much time to think creatively, let alone on a pet project. The study is not referencing the odd hour of time you take to think about the focus of your next direct mail piece, it's talking about time out to think up new ways of doing things.
The article cites further methods for instilling a culture of innovation - collaborate, create a support system, create change agents, and use new technology.
You can download the executive summary here.
Andrew Taylor's weekly summary came out today and he had a post that was relevant to this same discussion. Taking a clue from the medical industry he focuses on the analysis that occurs after events or the lack there of. Yet another practice from alternate industries that we should really put in place in the theater world. Read the post here.
January 21, 2009
Lil Green patch, social networking, and the Nature Conservancy
Interesting post on using Facebook to raise $109,000.
Check it out on the Diva Marketing Blog.
I don't actively read this blog, but was directed to it through Drew McClellan's blog.
Recently I have been pondering Web 2.0 developments and their implementation for the non-profit world. More on that later.
Check it out on the Diva Marketing Blog.
I don't actively read this blog, but was directed to it through Drew McClellan's blog.
Recently I have been pondering Web 2.0 developments and their implementation for the non-profit world. More on that later.
The Cheese Cupid
This morning HARO (Help a Reporter Out) had a fascinating advertiser. The Wisconsin cheese board got together and created an amazing website, that fits what they're trying to sell (cheese) in a way that helps their audience. Brilliant!
Called the Cheese Cupid, this site lets you put in what you are drinking and it tells you what cheeses to pair with it. Say you're drinking a pilsner, apparently havarti is a good pairing. The site even goes a step further and suggests what food items could be paired with the cheese.
I adore cheese. This website just makes it even easier to consume.
Critics might say that the consumer has to take the additional step of going out and buying the cheese in a supermarket. And that there's no way to compel the consumer to purchase Wisconsin cheese. So what? The Cheese Cupid is building a larger group of educated cheese consumers. If they're successful, more people will buy cheese at the grocery store and more shelf space will be found.
We have gone through the wine trend and that has become an integral part of Chicago's foodie scene. We're definitely in the midst of a beer trend, with bars expanding their beer list and people seeking out those bars that have always curated their draft and bottle lists with extra care (Edgewater Lounge, Jakes Pub, Long Room are just a few).
Could the cheese revolution be next? Are we already in the midst of it? There are already a few stores dedicated to cheese (Pastoral is a favorite) and many have opened and closed in recent years. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods certainly dedicate a lot of shelf space to quality cheeses. One of my favorite places to get regionally produced cheese is Paulina Meat Market. If there are even more quality places for cheese purchasing, I may end up with a serious imbalance in my diet.
Are there ways that we can market theater in the same way? Could a collective group like the League of Chicago Theater's make a website that is highly interactive and takes an audience's preference into account when recommending shows? Maybe even take it a step further and give direct links to reviews and the box office website for purchasing tickets. Add in maps and restaurant recommendations (I smell sponsorship opportunities) and you have a one stop place for planning on evening out on the town enjoying theater.
Of course, a website this robust is a massive undertaking of time, research, and money. Can we afford to not make an investment of this kind? Will we remain relevant if we fail to find ways of communicating and building our audience on the internet?
Called the Cheese Cupid, this site lets you put in what you are drinking and it tells you what cheeses to pair with it. Say you're drinking a pilsner, apparently havarti is a good pairing. The site even goes a step further and suggests what food items could be paired with the cheese.
I adore cheese. This website just makes it even easier to consume.
Critics might say that the consumer has to take the additional step of going out and buying the cheese in a supermarket. And that there's no way to compel the consumer to purchase Wisconsin cheese. So what? The Cheese Cupid is building a larger group of educated cheese consumers. If they're successful, more people will buy cheese at the grocery store and more shelf space will be found.
We have gone through the wine trend and that has become an integral part of Chicago's foodie scene. We're definitely in the midst of a beer trend, with bars expanding their beer list and people seeking out those bars that have always curated their draft and bottle lists with extra care (Edgewater Lounge, Jakes Pub, Long Room are just a few).
Could the cheese revolution be next? Are we already in the midst of it? There are already a few stores dedicated to cheese (Pastoral is a favorite) and many have opened and closed in recent years. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods certainly dedicate a lot of shelf space to quality cheeses. One of my favorite places to get regionally produced cheese is Paulina Meat Market. If there are even more quality places for cheese purchasing, I may end up with a serious imbalance in my diet.
Are there ways that we can market theater in the same way? Could a collective group like the League of Chicago Theater's make a website that is highly interactive and takes an audience's preference into account when recommending shows? Maybe even take it a step further and give direct links to reviews and the box office website for purchasing tickets. Add in maps and restaurant recommendations (I smell sponsorship opportunities) and you have a one stop place for planning on evening out on the town enjoying theater.
Of course, a website this robust is a massive undertaking of time, research, and money. Can we afford to not make an investment of this kind? Will we remain relevant if we fail to find ways of communicating and building our audience on the internet?
January 15, 2009
Drip, drip, drip
It's cold in Chicago. I'm wearing long underwear and wool socks and my feet are still cold. The last thing I want to do is leave the house. Except there's a perpetual dripping sound because the pipes in my unheated basement might freeze - necessitating the running of water in my bathroom.
So I'm making plans!
This Friday I'm catching American Theater Company's True West, which is apparently running in repertory with topdog/underdog (for the non-theater people that means the same actors are doing both shows with performances of the scripts alternating). I have been slightly tuned out of all things theater, but have literally not heard a thing about this project that ATC and Congo Square Theater have put together. Tickets are a little pricey at $40/person, but it looks like you can get them on Goldstar.
Saturday will find me at Matilda's celebrating with a friend. Despite the economy, she took the brave step of quitting her job for greener pastures and I'm happy to join her at this Lincoln Park bar that isn't too Lincoln Park. Martinis are $11, but it appears the old standby of PBR is on tap for $3.50.
Sunday is a toss-up. Laying low, reading the paper, and making brunch might be the plan. Or, if I'm motivated I'll try to get down to see the Exquisite City in the Chicago Tourism Center. Exhibits there are free. The man-friend and I tried to see this city made of cardboard when it was at the Viaduct last year. Maybe we'll actually make it this time.
As for tonight, I have a date with my hair dresser (Virginia @ Strange Beauty Show). Stay warm!
So I'm making plans!
This Friday I'm catching American Theater Company's True West, which is apparently running in repertory with topdog/underdog (for the non-theater people that means the same actors are doing both shows with performances of the scripts alternating). I have been slightly tuned out of all things theater, but have literally not heard a thing about this project that ATC and Congo Square Theater have put together. Tickets are a little pricey at $40/person, but it looks like you can get them on Goldstar.
Saturday will find me at Matilda's celebrating with a friend. Despite the economy, she took the brave step of quitting her job for greener pastures and I'm happy to join her at this Lincoln Park bar that isn't too Lincoln Park. Martinis are $11, but it appears the old standby of PBR is on tap for $3.50.
Sunday is a toss-up. Laying low, reading the paper, and making brunch might be the plan. Or, if I'm motivated I'll try to get down to see the Exquisite City in the Chicago Tourism Center. Exhibits there are free. The man-friend and I tried to see this city made of cardboard when it was at the Viaduct last year. Maybe we'll actually make it this time.
As for tonight, I have a date with my hair dresser (Virginia @ Strange Beauty Show). Stay warm!
Gruel
One summer while I was in high school and one while in college I lived with my aunt and uncle. I have many stories from living with them, one of which is regarding the concocting of gruel.
My aunt and uncle are not proficient in the kitchen. At the same time, they are somewhat fanatical about calorie intake and balanced diets (with very little will power). The assortment of food in their pantry was always a mystery to me. If I ever bought ice cream it had to be eaten immediately or I would come home to find an empty container in the freezer.
One of my uncle's go-to meals was gruel. His recipe consisted of a box of cous cous, can of tomato paste, frozen vegetables, and often a can of tuna fish. I unfortunately ate a lot of this as well and don't remember it all that fondly.
Skip ahead to a couple years ago and an artist I know was talking about experimenting in the kitchen - combining lentils with an onion, garlic, tomatoes, curry powder, and plain yogurt. Yum. I tried out my own combination and have made it ever since.
The other day, pre-trip to Trader Joe's I took stock of the pantry and determined I should make lentils. It was the perfect warm lunch for today.
My recipe goes roughly like this:
Sautee an onion and a couple cloves of garlic until they soften. Add a can of diced tomatoes and roughly a cup of lentils (my recipes are all approximations). Add water and simmer until lentils are soft, continuing to add water to the pan when it runs low. Add curry powder until smell is consistent with your preference. Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt on top (for the un-initiated; plain yogurt is similar to sour cream and a great topping for soups and all sorts of other things).
I happened to have a bag of frozen green vegetables that I tossed in too, figuring that would up the healthy index of what happened to be in my pan.
It was at this point that I realized I had updated my uncle's gruel recipe.
My aunt and uncle are not proficient in the kitchen. At the same time, they are somewhat fanatical about calorie intake and balanced diets (with very little will power). The assortment of food in their pantry was always a mystery to me. If I ever bought ice cream it had to be eaten immediately or I would come home to find an empty container in the freezer.
One of my uncle's go-to meals was gruel. His recipe consisted of a box of cous cous, can of tomato paste, frozen vegetables, and often a can of tuna fish. I unfortunately ate a lot of this as well and don't remember it all that fondly.
Skip ahead to a couple years ago and an artist I know was talking about experimenting in the kitchen - combining lentils with an onion, garlic, tomatoes, curry powder, and plain yogurt. Yum. I tried out my own combination and have made it ever since.
The other day, pre-trip to Trader Joe's I took stock of the pantry and determined I should make lentils. It was the perfect warm lunch for today.
My recipe goes roughly like this:
Sautee an onion and a couple cloves of garlic until they soften. Add a can of diced tomatoes and roughly a cup of lentils (my recipes are all approximations). Add water and simmer until lentils are soft, continuing to add water to the pan when it runs low. Add curry powder until smell is consistent with your preference. Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt on top (for the un-initiated; plain yogurt is similar to sour cream and a great topping for soups and all sorts of other things).
I happened to have a bag of frozen green vegetables that I tossed in too, figuring that would up the healthy index of what happened to be in my pan.
It was at this point that I realized I had updated my uncle's gruel recipe.
January 13, 2009
The title
This past Saturday I met up with a good friend for a coffee date. Every other month or so we get together and talk about life, work, and theater. I look forward to these immensely, despite the usually early hour they occur at to accommodate both of our busy schedules.
As I was hurrying to the Grind on this snowy day, I was as usual distracted and thinking about other things.
Those who know me well understand that I am a klutz. I regularly trip over sidewalks, spill coffee and other food items on myself, and in general do something embarrassing daily.
I hopped over a puddle of slush in preparation for crossing the street as an oncoming car speeded up to make it through a light. In my distracted state, I wasn't thinking about the amount of slush that happened to be on the roads per the usual Chicago combination of salt and bad drainage. Before I knew it, I was coated from shoulder to toe with slush - mittens, coat, jeans, and all.
As I made my way to the Grind I tried my best to brush off the drops of slush that had aimed higher and gotten on my face. Of course, things worked out. I had a wonderful 2+ hours conversation with one of my best friends while my coat and clothes dried out. And I found a title for my blog.
As I was hurrying to the Grind on this snowy day, I was as usual distracted and thinking about other things.
Those who know me well understand that I am a klutz. I regularly trip over sidewalks, spill coffee and other food items on myself, and in general do something embarrassing daily.
I hopped over a puddle of slush in preparation for crossing the street as an oncoming car speeded up to make it through a light. In my distracted state, I wasn't thinking about the amount of slush that happened to be on the roads per the usual Chicago combination of salt and bad drainage. Before I knew it, I was coated from shoulder to toe with slush - mittens, coat, jeans, and all.
As I made my way to the Grind I tried my best to brush off the drops of slush that had aimed higher and gotten on my face. Of course, things worked out. I had a wonderful 2+ hours conversation with one of my best friends while my coat and clothes dried out. And I found a title for my blog.
Thinking about a blog
Recently, I've been thinking about starting a blog.
I have ideas and know that a blog will be a good way to get me writing on a regular basis. Writing has always been one of those challenging aspects of my job - it's a key part of what I do and yet I rarely have the time to sit down and think creatively. When I do stare at a blank word document it can be difficult to start the process.
As I thought about this blog I couldn't determine what type of content to include. Would I feature cheap or frugal ways to enjoy Chicago? I googled "cheap chicago" and came up with a few different sites to choose from. Cheap Chicago is interesting content, but I didn't want to focus just on that.
And what about the arts? I've dedicated the last 10 years or so to the arts, through high school, college, and into my professional career. You should write about what you know, right?
Ok, so this had to be a forum where I could cover a wide-range of topics. Now to come up with a title.
I have ideas and know that a blog will be a good way to get me writing on a regular basis. Writing has always been one of those challenging aspects of my job - it's a key part of what I do and yet I rarely have the time to sit down and think creatively. When I do stare at a blank word document it can be difficult to start the process.
As I thought about this blog I couldn't determine what type of content to include. Would I feature cheap or frugal ways to enjoy Chicago? I googled "cheap chicago" and came up with a few different sites to choose from. Cheap Chicago is interesting content, but I didn't want to focus just on that.
And what about the arts? I've dedicated the last 10 years or so to the arts, through high school, college, and into my professional career. You should write about what you know, right?
Ok, so this had to be a forum where I could cover a wide-range of topics. Now to come up with a title.
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