"Every other network has given all their shows to liberals," says Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes in a Newsweek interview published this week. "We are the balance."
As
in, "fair and balanced?" The slogan is both used as a pillar of truth
from the net's reporters (and fans) and ridiculed as nauseating irony
from critics (and everyone else).
It's no surprise, or covert
conspiracy, that the news coming from Fox is largely conservative. Just
as its cable news counterpart MSNBC is largely identified as a more leftist, progressive network.
But
as the country enters into yet another chokingly critical election
cycle, and presidential and congressional public approval at near
all-time lows, who would have thought that Fox would be backing off? At
Ailes' request, no less?
According to the article, that's exactly what's happening. The piece claims Ailes butted heads with Sarah Palin (can you blame him?) and told Glenn Beck
to ease off the more nonsensical Tea Party schlock. As a result, the
News head has put the runaway ratings freight train that is Fox News on
what he calls a "course correction."
The network, Ailes says, is moving more toward the mainstream…
Regardless of how you interpret his message, there's one person who ain't buying it: Keith Olbermann. The former MSNBC news host turned Current TV wildcard
says Newsweek's piece quoting Ailes that he's moving Fox to the middle
is "the essence of journalistic dishonesty that enabled Fox News to get
where it is." Check out Olbermann's full reaction below.
And as far as cable news irony is concerned, is it any wonder why Fox
has been dominating the ratings game for the past few years? Just how
badly has MSNBC been damaged by the loss of Olbermann? The NYTimes asked that very question this week, and the answer isn't pretty. The ratings from September show that CNN, "long relegated to third place," is slowly inching back up in popularity while MSNBC continues its ratings slide.
According
to the Times, CNN and MSNBC are just a few thousand viewers apart from
an average 260K nightly news viewers… neither even close to Fox News'
525K. However, MSNBC had 83K more viewers last year when Olbermann was a
fixture on the network.
MSNBC President Phil Griffin says the network isn't feeling the impact of Olbermann's departure, and Ailes says Fox News is moving to the middle.
Neither sound so fair and balanced to me...
WhatBOX? is a weekly column featured in The Morning BRIDGE newsletter for executives, programmers and business leaders across the multiplatform industries. WhatBOX? is an article about compelling content... and how today's programming is being delivered via the silver screen, the flat-screen, the computer screen and the mobile screen. -matthew colella is the creative director at blue13creative and a media consultant for The Morning BRIDGE parent company MediaBiz.
9.14.2011
WhatBOX?: Al Gore Invents Everything
It's been 12 years since Al Gore
invented the internet, and just look what his ingenuity has done
since... Newspaper circulations, magazines (and print advertising as a
whole), music sales and book consumption - all lethally infected by the
interweb's
convenience of on-demand anything.
And, from a broader perspective, we're still in the beginning stages of the web's own evolution. There are industries that have only been slightly affected the way print media has. (Cable folk know this all too well, as new OTT darlings Netflix and others have legitimately rattled the incumbents' collective cage.)
However, the Great Subscriber Exodus of Q211 may simply be the tip of the iceberg. The entire movie industry is positioned to be the next entertainment and/or communications business forced to adapt to the age of the internet.
The movie biz is facing unparalleled pressure as large, flat-screen TVs continue to drop in price making them increasingly more accessible to consumers on a budget. And with high-def, premium audio and the internet pumping instant access to virtually unlimited content into living rooms, more consumers are choosing their home theaters over local movie theaters.
Analysts say the movie industry has been through this before (e.g. VCRs, DVDs and DVRs). But the one thing that Hollywood has (and pay-TV can learn from) is the control over the distribution of its content.
Going to the theater is still "an experience," and besides just wanting to get out of the house, consumers must go to the theater to see the latest films. Sure they could wait for PPV, disc or premium nets... but they love sucking the internet teat. Who doesn't?
According to the Daily Finance, Hollywood is experimenting with the idea of selling movies directly to consumers at home (via internet stream) at the same time the films hit theaters. They'll charge a super-premium fee of course - likely upwards of $30... But if a family already pays $50 or so for a trip to the theater, and it would rather watch movies from the comfort of home anyway, is it really that expensive?
And while there's still kinks to be worked out between networks and operators, maybe the latest sign of the pay-TV chain adapting to the internet era is the authentication strategy implemented by Fox, Scripps, Hulu, AMC Networks and others for instant access to its content?
For this you can blame, or thank, Al Gore. •
WhatBOX? is a weekly column featured in The Morning BRIDGE newsletter for executives, programmers and business leaders across the multiplatform industries. WhatBOX? is an article about compelling content... and how today's programming is being delivered via the silver screen, the flat-screen, the computer screen and the mobile screen.
- matthew colella is the creative director at blue13creative and a media consultant for The Morning BRIDGE parent company MediaBiz.
And, from a broader perspective, we're still in the beginning stages of the web's own evolution. There are industries that have only been slightly affected the way print media has. (Cable folk know this all too well, as new OTT darlings Netflix and others have legitimately rattled the incumbents' collective cage.)
However, the Great Subscriber Exodus of Q211 may simply be the tip of the iceberg. The entire movie industry is positioned to be the next entertainment and/or communications business forced to adapt to the age of the internet.
The movie biz is facing unparalleled pressure as large, flat-screen TVs continue to drop in price making them increasingly more accessible to consumers on a budget. And with high-def, premium audio and the internet pumping instant access to virtually unlimited content into living rooms, more consumers are choosing their home theaters over local movie theaters.
Analysts say the movie industry has been through this before (e.g. VCRs, DVDs and DVRs). But the one thing that Hollywood has (and pay-TV can learn from) is the control over the distribution of its content.
Going to the theater is still "an experience," and besides just wanting to get out of the house, consumers must go to the theater to see the latest films. Sure they could wait for PPV, disc or premium nets... but they love sucking the internet teat. Who doesn't?
According to the Daily Finance, Hollywood is experimenting with the idea of selling movies directly to consumers at home (via internet stream) at the same time the films hit theaters. They'll charge a super-premium fee of course - likely upwards of $30... But if a family already pays $50 or so for a trip to the theater, and it would rather watch movies from the comfort of home anyway, is it really that expensive?
And while there's still kinks to be worked out between networks and operators, maybe the latest sign of the pay-TV chain adapting to the internet era is the authentication strategy implemented by Fox, Scripps, Hulu, AMC Networks and others for instant access to its content?
For this you can blame, or thank, Al Gore. •
WhatBOX? is a weekly column featured in The Morning BRIDGE newsletter for executives, programmers and business leaders across the multiplatform industries. WhatBOX? is an article about compelling content... and how today's programming is being delivered via the silver screen, the flat-screen, the computer screen and the mobile screen.
- matthew colella is the creative director at blue13creative and a media consultant for The Morning BRIDGE parent company MediaBiz.
9.07.2011
Fox's 'New Girl' - State of Colorado Film - Don't Hire Grad Students?
WhatBOX?: Fox's Multiscreen 'New Girl'
In truly WhatBOX? fashion, Fox is banking on a multi-screen strategy to promote one of its newest shows New Girl. Starring Zooey Deschanel, the new comedy series from executive producer/writer Liz Meriwether (No Strings Attached) is about a newly-single woman who takes up residence with three male roomies. Heyo!
In an attempt to generate some buzz for the upcoming program, Fox released the show's pilot online this week available via iTunes. (Here's a direct link to the episode.) And, the net says, the pilot will be up on its own site and Hulu starting Sept. 13.
Some of you probably remember that not too long ago, Fox implemented its authentication pay-wall for certain content online. It's only been a couple weeks since the net started requiring viewers to prove they're paying subs.
So what happens once the show airs?
Well, Fox says the pilot will be available for a limited time, as the show is set to launch the following week on the net's linear channel. At that point in time the pilot will come down off the interwebs...
NYMag says the giveaway marks only the second time a US broadcaster has ever given away an entire pilot episode prior to the network premier.
And, it shouldn't surprise many why Fox chose the iTunes platform as one of its vehicles to share the sneak peek as reports keep reminding us how much video is being watched on iPhones and iPads. (Says ABI Research, revenue from mobile video services is expected to top $2B worldwide by 2013.)
Fox is now committed to six new series for the 2011-12 season: Terra Nova, The X Factor, Allen Gregory, Napoleon Dynamite, Alcatraz and The New Girl. We'll see how the multi-screen strategy works in a couple weeks. •
WhatBOX? is a weekly column featured in The Morning BRIDGE newsletter for executives, programmers and business leaders across the multiplatform industries. WhatBOX? is an article about compelling content... and how today's programming is being delivered via the silver screen, the flat-screen, the computer screen and the mobile screen. - matthew colella is the creative director at blue13creative and a media consultant for The Morning BRIDGE parent company MediaBiz.
quickies:
film: the colorado film & video association is having its 'state of the state' discussion about film in colorado. moderated by our friend from the colorado office of film, tv and media laura grey, this free event will help facilitate ideas to bring film biz to our local creatives and economy. the forum is wednesday, sept. 21 at 7:30 at the film center. amazing panelists should make for a stimulating night. don't miss the post-event reception after. more details at arts & venues. --- and in the not-so entrepreneurial news category, the denver film society is running its 3rd annual architeture + design film series all through september. check the schedule here.
research: as america's unemployment rate hovers around 9% (ouch), our nation longs for entrepreneurs. a new aflac study says 77% of U.S. adults employed full or part time (and not self-employed) would leave their current position to become an independent entrepreneur. the ability to set your own hours, spend more time w/ family and friends, not have to deal w/ office politics and not having a daily commute were all cited as reasons why... (entrepreneurs everywhere were heard saying: no sh*t?) --- the state entrepreneurship index says these are the 5 best and worst states for entrepreneurs.
blogs: full-time blogger shaun connell shares his "5 things i wish i knew when i started blogging" here. good stuff. --- rejected by adsense? don't fret. here's 5 alternatives to the google monster.
online: people like to gamble. i like to gamble. now there's a service called gambling builder that allows you to run your own online casino for $10/year. your job is simply to drive traffic. might not be for everyone, but check it out if betting is your thing. --- musicians looking to sell their music should explore vibedeck, a free direct-to-fan music sales solution. did i mention it was FREE? details here.
contests: the 13th(!) annual great american song contest is accepting entries through oct. 28. the event awards 45 winners in 9 categories with $10K in prizes. details here.
education: red rocks community college is offering two new mobile device course that help creative folk develop their own mobile apps for iDevices. get details here. --- short notice, but metro denver SBDC is having a business brown bag (BBB) on how to successfully run a daily deals promo. class runs thursday, sept. 8 from 11.30am to 1pm. info and registration details here. --- and be sure to check out create denver's new saturday morning sessions tailored specifically for members of denver's creative business community. so much great content - get info here.
news: here's a compelling article on why you shouldn't hire grad students... •
"nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. it's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment." - thomas carlyle, writer and historian •
In truly WhatBOX? fashion, Fox is banking on a multi-screen strategy to promote one of its newest shows New Girl. Starring Zooey Deschanel, the new comedy series from executive producer/writer Liz Meriwether (No Strings Attached) is about a newly-single woman who takes up residence with three male roomies. Heyo!
In an attempt to generate some buzz for the upcoming program, Fox released the show's pilot online this week available via iTunes. (Here's a direct link to the episode.) And, the net says, the pilot will be up on its own site and Hulu starting Sept. 13.
Some of you probably remember that not too long ago, Fox implemented its authentication pay-wall for certain content online. It's only been a couple weeks since the net started requiring viewers to prove they're paying subs.
So what happens once the show airs?
Well, Fox says the pilot will be available for a limited time, as the show is set to launch the following week on the net's linear channel. At that point in time the pilot will come down off the interwebs...
NYMag says the giveaway marks only the second time a US broadcaster has ever given away an entire pilot episode prior to the network premier.
And, it shouldn't surprise many why Fox chose the iTunes platform as one of its vehicles to share the sneak peek as reports keep reminding us how much video is being watched on iPhones and iPads. (Says ABI Research, revenue from mobile video services is expected to top $2B worldwide by 2013.)
Fox is now committed to six new series for the 2011-12 season: Terra Nova, The X Factor, Allen Gregory, Napoleon Dynamite, Alcatraz and The New Girl. We'll see how the multi-screen strategy works in a couple weeks. •
WhatBOX? is a weekly column featured in The Morning BRIDGE newsletter for executives, programmers and business leaders across the multiplatform industries. WhatBOX? is an article about compelling content... and how today's programming is being delivered via the silver screen, the flat-screen, the computer screen and the mobile screen. - matthew colella is the creative director at blue13creative and a media consultant for The Morning BRIDGE parent company MediaBiz.
quickies:
film: the colorado film & video association is having its 'state of the state' discussion about film in colorado. moderated by our friend from the colorado office of film, tv and media laura grey, this free event will help facilitate ideas to bring film biz to our local creatives and economy. the forum is wednesday, sept. 21 at 7:30 at the film center. amazing panelists should make for a stimulating night. don't miss the post-event reception after. more details at arts & venues. --- and in the not-so entrepreneurial news category, the denver film society is running its 3rd annual architeture + design film series all through september. check the schedule here.
research: as america's unemployment rate hovers around 9% (ouch), our nation longs for entrepreneurs. a new aflac study says 77% of U.S. adults employed full or part time (and not self-employed) would leave their current position to become an independent entrepreneur. the ability to set your own hours, spend more time w/ family and friends, not have to deal w/ office politics and not having a daily commute were all cited as reasons why... (entrepreneurs everywhere were heard saying: no sh*t?) --- the state entrepreneurship index says these are the 5 best and worst states for entrepreneurs.
blogs: full-time blogger shaun connell shares his "5 things i wish i knew when i started blogging" here. good stuff. --- rejected by adsense? don't fret. here's 5 alternatives to the google monster.
online: people like to gamble. i like to gamble. now there's a service called gambling builder that allows you to run your own online casino for $10/year. your job is simply to drive traffic. might not be for everyone, but check it out if betting is your thing. --- musicians looking to sell their music should explore vibedeck, a free direct-to-fan music sales solution. did i mention it was FREE? details here.
contests: the 13th(!) annual great american song contest is accepting entries through oct. 28. the event awards 45 winners in 9 categories with $10K in prizes. details here.
education: red rocks community college is offering two new mobile device course that help creative folk develop their own mobile apps for iDevices. get details here. --- short notice, but metro denver SBDC is having a business brown bag (BBB) on how to successfully run a daily deals promo. class runs thursday, sept. 8 from 11.30am to 1pm. info and registration details here. --- and be sure to check out create denver's new saturday morning sessions tailored specifically for members of denver's creative business community. so much great content - get info here.
news: here's a compelling article on why you shouldn't hire grad students... •
"nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. it's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment." - thomas carlyle, writer and historian •
8.31.2011
WhatBOX? Our Idiot Censors
this past weekend, the comedy "our idiot brother" starring paul rudd and zooey deschanel opened in theaters across the country. the weinstein company cut a commercial trailer to promote the film not unlike it would do for any other movie the studio produced.
the commercial spot has been running nationwide on "other" broadcast and several cable nets for weeks. but for some reason, ABC rejected the trailer until the studio made specific edits to the spot. here's the original:
happy to oblige, the weinstein studio put together an updated trailer for the film. said company co-chair harvey weinstein, "we'd like to dedicate our new red band trailer for 'our idiot brother' to censorship everywhere. enjoy!"
something tells us ABC isn't going to air this one, either. •
WhatBOX? is a weekly column featured in The Morning BRIDGE newsletter for executives, programmers and business leaders across the multiplatform industries. WhatBOX? is an article about compelling content... and how today's programming is being delivered via the silver screen, the flat-screen, the computer screen and the mobile screen.
- matthew colella is the creative director at blue13creative and a media consultant for The Morning BRIDGE parent company MediaBiz.
the commercial spot has been running nationwide on "other" broadcast and several cable nets for weeks. but for some reason, ABC rejected the trailer until the studio made specific edits to the spot. here's the original:
happy to oblige, the weinstein studio put together an updated trailer for the film. said company co-chair harvey weinstein, "we'd like to dedicate our new red band trailer for 'our idiot brother' to censorship everywhere. enjoy!"
something tells us ABC isn't going to air this one, either. •
WhatBOX? is a weekly column featured in The Morning BRIDGE newsletter for executives, programmers and business leaders across the multiplatform industries. WhatBOX? is an article about compelling content... and how today's programming is being delivered via the silver screen, the flat-screen, the computer screen and the mobile screen.
- matthew colella is the creative director at blue13creative and a media consultant for The Morning BRIDGE parent company MediaBiz.
8.29.2011
the new-look blue13satellite
last week we posted about what we've been up to during the past month or so. we also made mention of our efforts to re-launch the satellite as a newsletter... the idea being we're trying to be more of a service to our creative community than simply posting blog posts that don't serve much purpose.
the format is going to look something like this: a 'quick hits' round-up of relevant news for creative entrepreneurs, a cool (and relevant) video and an inspirational quote of the day to help you stay, well... inspired. ha.
the satellite will be published every monday - and we could really use your help in getting the word out. if you like what you see, and feel the new-look news can be of benefit, please forward the info to any and all interested creatives. the satellite will improve going forward - but we all feel the new format is SO much better. hopefully you'll agree. • -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
media: aol/huffington post media group launched the huffpost small business, a new site covering issues facing small business owners and entrepreneurs. --- the guys who founded twitter (kinda) unveiled their latest project called lift, a new app "designed to unlock human potential through positive reinforcement." we don't know what it is... neither does anyone else... but it sounds cool. sign up for official updates here. --- location-based mobile social media platform buzzmob's new smartphone app connecting peeps w/n the same vicinity is now available at iTunes. •
film: submissions for the first annual iPhone film festival are due by sept. 30. check out the details here. •
writing: script magazine's 10 cool things on the interwebs for screenwriters (and other literary types). •
design: the joint DIA/create denver/CCI venture 'design by colorado' opens today out at the airport. the show features the works of 28 local creatives in design, furniture, fashion and other mediums. (blue13 submitted our quantum t-shirts for consideration... but we weren't selected.) head out to DIA to see what made the cut and support our local talent. so much of it. •
tech: are you selling goods on location? intuit teamed up with verizon for a mobile app called gopayment that enables an entrepreneur to swipe credit cards with their smartphones or tablets. the tech comes with a pocket-sized credit card reader that you can plug into your mobile device. definitely check this out for potential customers. --- here's a list of 9 iPad apps that are changing the way entrepreneurs do business. the wall st. journal chimed in with its own list of must-have mobile tech tools for entrepreneurs. •
contests: denver's capital grille is accepting submissions for its artist series wine event next spring. the restaurant is seeking local talent to design the label for its house cab sauv produced by napa's freemark abbey. contest deadline is oct. 7 - click here for info. --- coinstar, the company that owns and operates the redbox movie-rental kiosks, is accepting entries for its third annual 'the next big idea' contest for entrepreneurs with a viable business idea for the next-big kiosk biz. check out the details here. •
jobs: apartment therapy is looking for new house/apartment design bloggers. they don't have a denver branch, but the pub says it doesn't matter where you're located. plus, there's so much style in denver, how could they not explore the mile-high ci-tay? (details here. deadline: sept. 5) •
video: we here at blue13 are pals with boba fett. not boba fett the bounty hunter, boba fett the booty hunter. yes, the boba fett of denver's own guerrilla marching band boba fett and the americans.
mr. fett contacted us the other day to help spread the word about his plans for the band. in case you're unaware, boba and the crew roll around the mile-high city crashing parties, art shows, news casts, whatever... with their ridiculously cool marching band covers of popular hits from the past 20 years of music. haven't heard of 'em? where you been?
apparently mr. fett wants to take his yo! MTV raps/new orleans/sci-fi geek troupe to crash the CMJ (college music journal) festival in NYC. want to help? they've got a kickstarter page set up to make it happen. check the video below (and the clip of them crashing Fox News last year) and donate some funds if you can. •
the format is going to look something like this: a 'quick hits' round-up of relevant news for creative entrepreneurs, a cool (and relevant) video and an inspirational quote of the day to help you stay, well... inspired. ha.
the satellite will be published every monday - and we could really use your help in getting the word out. if you like what you see, and feel the new-look news can be of benefit, please forward the info to any and all interested creatives. the satellite will improve going forward - but we all feel the new format is SO much better. hopefully you'll agree. • -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
media: aol/huffington post media group launched the huffpost small business, a new site covering issues facing small business owners and entrepreneurs. --- the guys who founded twitter (kinda) unveiled their latest project called lift, a new app "designed to unlock human potential through positive reinforcement." we don't know what it is... neither does anyone else... but it sounds cool. sign up for official updates here. --- location-based mobile social media platform buzzmob's new smartphone app connecting peeps w/n the same vicinity is now available at iTunes. •
film: submissions for the first annual iPhone film festival are due by sept. 30. check out the details here. •
writing: script magazine's 10 cool things on the interwebs for screenwriters (and other literary types). •
design: the joint DIA/create denver/CCI venture 'design by colorado' opens today out at the airport. the show features the works of 28 local creatives in design, furniture, fashion and other mediums. (blue13 submitted our quantum t-shirts for consideration... but we weren't selected.) head out to DIA to see what made the cut and support our local talent. so much of it. •
tech: are you selling goods on location? intuit teamed up with verizon for a mobile app called gopayment that enables an entrepreneur to swipe credit cards with their smartphones or tablets. the tech comes with a pocket-sized credit card reader that you can plug into your mobile device. definitely check this out for potential customers. --- here's a list of 9 iPad apps that are changing the way entrepreneurs do business. the wall st. journal chimed in with its own list of must-have mobile tech tools for entrepreneurs. •
contests: denver's capital grille is accepting submissions for its artist series wine event next spring. the restaurant is seeking local talent to design the label for its house cab sauv produced by napa's freemark abbey. contest deadline is oct. 7 - click here for info. --- coinstar, the company that owns and operates the redbox movie-rental kiosks, is accepting entries for its third annual 'the next big idea' contest for entrepreneurs with a viable business idea for the next-big kiosk biz. check out the details here. •
jobs: apartment therapy is looking for new house/apartment design bloggers. they don't have a denver branch, but the pub says it doesn't matter where you're located. plus, there's so much style in denver, how could they not explore the mile-high ci-tay? (details here. deadline: sept. 5) •
mr. fett contacted us the other day to help spread the word about his plans for the band. in case you're unaware, boba and the crew roll around the mile-high city crashing parties, art shows, news casts, whatever... with their ridiculously cool marching band covers of popular hits from the past 20 years of music. haven't heard of 'em? where you been?
apparently mr. fett wants to take his yo! MTV raps/new orleans/sci-fi geek troupe to crash the CMJ (college music journal) festival in NYC. want to help? they've got a kickstarter page set up to make it happen. check the video below (and the clip of them crashing Fox News last year) and donate some funds if you can. •
8.19.2011
blue13's past, present and (near) future
we've been rather busy during the past several weeks here at blue13. we've taken the quantum t-shirts around to a few arts festivals here in town... had a couple work/leisure-related weekend trips to steamboat and vail... and a couple weeks ago (attempted) to make a splash with our booth at the inaugural denver county fair. (check out some photos from the event.)
oh yeah, and i'm going to be writing a weekly column for a national data/publication firm based here in denver that reaches thousands of communications business leaders and video production executives across the country... which is pretty cool for someone who aspires to sell scripts for film and television, i think. (i'll re-post the column here once it gets up and going.)
so... because our schedule had been rather full during the past handful of weeks, the satellite was sadly being neglected. besides being a little busy, another reason we (temporarily) shelved the blog is due to its low ROI (return on investment). the blue13satellite was at first an experiment, then a nifty tool to build community -- which it still is. however, another friend of ours is doing really great things with his not quite hippie blog and it got us thinking... the satellite should be more of a service to our creative community. plus, we'd like to see some real returns from the effort. (this is about entrepreneurialism, after all...)
moving forward we're going to try and provide more helpful information and news for our community. we're going to spotlight local creative entrepreneurs and what's going on around town. and we're (i'm) doing a lot of news aggregation for those new clients i mentioned above - which enables me to find some truly valuable gems for budding creative businesses. i'll be posting a lot of what i find here at the satellite with the idea of creating a newsletter where creatives can find true value.
so "follow us" (in the upper right column). or like us on bookface. or something. we're going to be valuable some day... at least that's what i keep telling myself when i wake up in the morning. ha.
and before i forget, our pal david who maintains the 'not quite hippie' blog is up for a local best-blog award from CBS. check it out and cast your votes here.
as always, thanks for reading -- and we'll see you back here real soon.
-mc
7.09.2011
focusing creative energy
motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals. we find motivation in random, personal places... i would like to own a home soon. something like this would be sufficient, i suppose. ha.
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6.23.2011
double your sales: business training for creative entrepreneurs
what do horse races and olympic swimmers have in common? apparently both make good analogies when educating students interested in learning techniques that will help boost sales figures. so says edward prichard, the national sales trainer brought in by the denver metro small business development center, to speak with participants in a business training seminar called "how to double your sales in 12 months."
the foundation of prichard's presentation was grounded in the notion that in order to succeed in today's complex business climate, one must only be slightly better than their competition to see results. hence, the idea of the champion race horse needing only to win by the length of its nose, or the well-known tale of american swimming hero michael phelps for winning his weight in medals via victories of mere milliseconds.
some of the lessons we learned in the seminar seem rather elementary, but prichard says that sometimes its the simple things that 1) are often overlooked and 2) are rarely done by whoever you define as your competition. ideals like maintaining a positive mental attitude toward whatever your current object of desire and the importance of goal-setting are simple ways to keep a clear perspective on what it is you want to achieve. he says the national average of people who actually write their goals down on paper is a paltry three percent.
"it doesn't matter where you are," prichard says, "it's where you're going that's important." word.
the concept of time management is also high up on prichard's totem of top sales characteristics, noting that our time is clearly the most valuable commodity we as creative entrepreneurs possess. the quote-happy presenter says our income (as a sales force, i presume) is directly proportionate to the amount of minutes we spend in front of qualified customers. ensure you know up front if your potential customers 1) have money; 2) actually want what you're selling; 3) have the authority to make a purchase, and 4) have any urgency to execute a buy. (and, if they don't, it's our duty to CREATE some - whether real or perceived.)
prichard is a pleasant speaker and does a commendable job in getting people to feel comfortable in his presence and identify with the lessons he's laying down. one of the more-valuable nugs i took from his seminar was this concept of turning your car into a university on wheels. many of us spend an inhumane amount of time in our vehicles during commutes, traffic jams and in between soccer practices. make sure you're stocking your audio choices full of quality, educational material during these periods stuck behind the wheel.
since class i learned prichard has a radio show at KDUR in durango, my old stomping grounds and the community media outlet that helped shape my view on media's influence on our culture more than any other institution. so it's no wonder why i thought he was alright. bottom line: kill the damn television, maintain a positive attitude and manifest what you want. good stuff, man. ha!
prichard talked about the super-practical clover technique to increase referrals: visit three neighboring businesses in each direction of your current meeting/client/customer. he discussed something dubbed the third base theory to help conceptualize how much business is actually out there for the taking: if 1/3 of the business is yours and 1/3 is your competitors', there's still a remaining 1/3 waiting for someone. and he emphasized the importance of building credibility through authenticity and positive first impressions.
one sure-fire way to help yourself increase contacts and referrals, prichard maintains, is by relentless networking and forcing ourselves into situations we wouldn't normally on our own. that being said, i'm off to my first colorado film and actors meet-up group tonight being held in conjunction with the launch party for the film festival of colorado. however, before i go i'll leave you with a couple final gems from our 'double your sales' seminar today.
remember people's names for cryin' out loud. you say you're bad at it - but that's really just a poor excuse for self-absorption (my words, not his). don't be afraid to ASK for a sale - this isn't about your fragile sensibilities, it's about the product and making a buck in the process (a mixture of both our words). and finally, overcome your obstacles: you may not be the low-cost solution, but you are the low-risk provider (his words). and good ones.
as always, thanks for reading and share freely.
-mc
some of the lessons we learned in the seminar seem rather elementary, but prichard says that sometimes its the simple things that 1) are often overlooked and 2) are rarely done by whoever you define as your competition. ideals like maintaining a positive mental attitude toward whatever your current object of desire and the importance of goal-setting are simple ways to keep a clear perspective on what it is you want to achieve. he says the national average of people who actually write their goals down on paper is a paltry three percent.
"it doesn't matter where you are," prichard says, "it's where you're going that's important." word.
the concept of time management is also high up on prichard's totem of top sales characteristics, noting that our time is clearly the most valuable commodity we as creative entrepreneurs possess. the quote-happy presenter says our income (as a sales force, i presume) is directly proportionate to the amount of minutes we spend in front of qualified customers. ensure you know up front if your potential customers 1) have money; 2) actually want what you're selling; 3) have the authority to make a purchase, and 4) have any urgency to execute a buy. (and, if they don't, it's our duty to CREATE some - whether real or perceived.)
prichard is a pleasant speaker and does a commendable job in getting people to feel comfortable in his presence and identify with the lessons he's laying down. one of the more-valuable nugs i took from his seminar was this concept of turning your car into a university on wheels. many of us spend an inhumane amount of time in our vehicles during commutes, traffic jams and in between soccer practices. make sure you're stocking your audio choices full of quality, educational material during these periods stuck behind the wheel.
since class i learned prichard has a radio show at KDUR in durango, my old stomping grounds and the community media outlet that helped shape my view on media's influence on our culture more than any other institution. so it's no wonder why i thought he was alright. bottom line: kill the damn television, maintain a positive attitude and manifest what you want. good stuff, man. ha!
prichard talked about the super-practical clover technique to increase referrals: visit three neighboring businesses in each direction of your current meeting/client/customer. he discussed something dubbed the third base theory to help conceptualize how much business is actually out there for the taking: if 1/3 of the business is yours and 1/3 is your competitors', there's still a remaining 1/3 waiting for someone. and he emphasized the importance of building credibility through authenticity and positive first impressions.
one sure-fire way to help yourself increase contacts and referrals, prichard maintains, is by relentless networking and forcing ourselves into situations we wouldn't normally on our own. that being said, i'm off to my first colorado film and actors meet-up group tonight being held in conjunction with the launch party for the film festival of colorado. however, before i go i'll leave you with a couple final gems from our 'double your sales' seminar today.
remember people's names for cryin' out loud. you say you're bad at it - but that's really just a poor excuse for self-absorption (my words, not his). don't be afraid to ASK for a sale - this isn't about your fragile sensibilities, it's about the product and making a buck in the process (a mixture of both our words). and finally, overcome your obstacles: you may not be the low-cost solution, but you are the low-risk provider (his words). and good ones.
as always, thanks for reading and share freely.
-mc
6.17.2011
Westword Showcase 2011 Breakdown
local music is my thing. period. i effing love seeing local bands do their thing - especially when they do the mile-hi creative community proud like they often do. so if you enjoy local acts even a fraction as much as i do - you're undoubtedly stoked for the annual westword music showcase.
it's arguably the coolest music event on denver's summer concert calender: 150 local bands, 17 venues and 1 outdoor main stage... all in walking distance within denver's golden triangle 'hood. it seriously doesn't get much cooler.
the only issue i've ever had with this massive event is... well, it's massiveness. it's not uncommon for concert-goers to get their show programs and immediately feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music that will spill onto our beloved streets.
BLKHRTS, people.
so i went through the ENTIRE line-up, yes - all 150+ bands, listened to a couple tracks from each act and made notes about their individual sounds. (i have nearly a decade's worth of experience working in community radio, much of which was spent categorizing and labeling CD's for my fellow DJs to sort, sample and play.) so this work wasn't that dissimilar from my contributions to the station's music department.
below is a crude, genre-driven list of each band's sound heard through my ears. what does that mean, you may be asking? for the record, i listen to everything. and when i say everything, i truly mean everything. my musical consumption looks (or sounds) something like this: i grew up on metal and (original) gangsta rap in the 80's. ha! as i matured and my tastes expanded, i listened to rock, ska, funk, jam-bands and hip hop. now, in addition to still enjoying all those genres, i consume a lot of jazz, blues and classical. getting old isn't all that bad...
and lastly, in the slim chance this list gets around to some of the performers on saturday: i'm an artist and (ex)musician myself. i dislike being labled as much as you. this list was not an attempt to pigeon-hole any of your (collective) sounds - it's just a tool to help the people who like your style of music find you on saturday in that sea of awesomeness known as the westword music showcase.
thanks and enjoy. and share, please. this was quite a bit of work and it would be great if someone besides myself benefits even the tiniest bit.
-mc
it's arguably the coolest music event on denver's summer concert calender: 150 local bands, 17 venues and 1 outdoor main stage... all in walking distance within denver's golden triangle 'hood. it seriously doesn't get much cooler.
the only issue i've ever had with this massive event is... well, it's massiveness. it's not uncommon for concert-goers to get their show programs and immediately feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music that will spill onto our beloved streets.
so i went through the ENTIRE line-up, yes - all 150+ bands, listened to a couple tracks from each act and made notes about their individual sounds. (i have nearly a decade's worth of experience working in community radio, much of which was spent categorizing and labeling CD's for my fellow DJs to sort, sample and play.) so this work wasn't that dissimilar from my contributions to the station's music department.
below is a crude, genre-driven list of each band's sound heard through my ears. what does that mean, you may be asking? for the record, i listen to everything. and when i say everything, i truly mean everything. my musical consumption looks (or sounds) something like this: i grew up on metal and (original) gangsta rap in the 80's. ha! as i matured and my tastes expanded, i listened to rock, ska, funk, jam-bands and hip hop. now, in addition to still enjoying all those genres, i consume a lot of jazz, blues and classical. getting old isn't all that bad...
and lastly, in the slim chance this list gets around to some of the performers on saturday: i'm an artist and (ex)musician myself. i dislike being labled as much as you. this list was not an attempt to pigeon-hole any of your (collective) sounds - it's just a tool to help the people who like your style of music find you on saturday in that sea of awesomeness known as the westword music showcase.
thanks and enjoy. and share, please. this was quite a bit of work and it would be great if someone besides myself benefits even the tiniest bit.
-mc
6.01.2011
first friday art walk with blue13
the month of may unleashes some serious creative energy here in denver. just a short couple weeks ago blue13 attended the city's sixth annual create denver expo where our local leaders and industry peeps band together with the creative community and launch an amazing conference on what makes our fair city a cultural and creative destination for so many talented people.
it was an unexpected surprise for us to walk into our first workshop of the day -- 'tapping state resources for creative enterprise' -- and see our friend laura grey, colorado creative industry's film, television and media rock star, at the helm. laura was instrumental in helping blue13 receive a scholarship to the NxLevel Education for Creative Entrepreneurs last year, and she allowed us to speak a little bit to this year's attendees.
thankfully there's no video of me stumbling through an impromptu discussion on what create denver has meant to blue13. you can, however, check out this short video about the official create denver beer and the spirit of collaborative creativity the expo tries to nurture.
blue13 is excited about this weekend (friday, june 3) as it will be our first first friday art walk where we'll be showing the quantum t-shirts to a bunch of strange art lovers. and by strange i don't mean 'odd' (per se), i mean strange like an unknown group of people who aren't my family and friends. although they'll be there too, i think.
one of the reasons we moved our creative foundry to tennyson was for this very reason: to take advantage of the amazing energy that accompanies the first friday art walks in the mile high city. if you haven't experienced what i'm talking about, this friday would be the ideal time to come see what all the buzz is about.
here in denver we have at least five quality first friday art walks to satisfy our community's art enthusiasts. there's a really great write-up on the huff post about them here. first friday has long been one of my favorite nights in denver -- the only difference being this time i'll be on the other side of the fence, so to speak. i've always participated as a consumer, not an artist showing material.
regardless of the perfect weather that's predicted for friday, i would be tremendously grateful for any and all of you to come by the studio to check out what blue13 is all about. you'll get a chance to see our really great work space, see the quantum t-shirt project up close and enjoy some complimentary wine and/or beer, depending on your preference.
not to mention that there are more than 20-some galleries along the six-block stretch of tennyson, in addition to amazing restaurants, artisan shops, open spaces and parks and welcoming watering holes (i.e. craft beer at hops & pie or the wine bar dubbed tastes, to name a couple of my faves).
that is your mission should you choose to accept it. we'll be here all night (3933 tennyson st. ste. #B, denver 80212), but i can't think of a better way to start your weekend than with some art, wine and friends. cheers to that.
-mc
it was an unexpected surprise for us to walk into our first workshop of the day -- 'tapping state resources for creative enterprise' -- and see our friend laura grey, colorado creative industry's film, television and media rock star, at the helm. laura was instrumental in helping blue13 receive a scholarship to the NxLevel Education for Creative Entrepreneurs last year, and she allowed us to speak a little bit to this year's attendees.
thankfully there's no video of me stumbling through an impromptu discussion on what create denver has meant to blue13. you can, however, check out this short video about the official create denver beer and the spirit of collaborative creativity the expo tries to nurture.
-FROM BREW MASTERS TO CRAFTMAKERS- from S M I L E B O M B on Vimeo.
so as we move into the creative season ahead, we just wanted to take a quick second to thank laura and the rest of the crew who put this year's create denver week together and making it such a wonderfully successful event. westword posted a cool blog entry about create denver week as well -- stocked with photos and short vids. dig it.blue13 is excited about this weekend (friday, june 3) as it will be our first first friday art walk where we'll be showing the quantum t-shirts to a bunch of strange art lovers. and by strange i don't mean 'odd' (per se), i mean strange like an unknown group of people who aren't my family and friends. although they'll be there too, i think.
one of the reasons we moved our creative foundry to tennyson was for this very reason: to take advantage of the amazing energy that accompanies the first friday art walks in the mile high city. if you haven't experienced what i'm talking about, this friday would be the ideal time to come see what all the buzz is about.
here in denver we have at least five quality first friday art walks to satisfy our community's art enthusiasts. there's a really great write-up on the huff post about them here. first friday has long been one of my favorite nights in denver -- the only difference being this time i'll be on the other side of the fence, so to speak. i've always participated as a consumer, not an artist showing material.
regardless of the perfect weather that's predicted for friday, i would be tremendously grateful for any and all of you to come by the studio to check out what blue13 is all about. you'll get a chance to see our really great work space, see the quantum t-shirt project up close and enjoy some complimentary wine and/or beer, depending on your preference.
not to mention that there are more than 20-some galleries along the six-block stretch of tennyson, in addition to amazing restaurants, artisan shops, open spaces and parks and welcoming watering holes (i.e. craft beer at hops & pie or the wine bar dubbed tastes, to name a couple of my faves).
that is your mission should you choose to accept it. we'll be here all night (3933 tennyson st. ste. #B, denver 80212), but i can't think of a better way to start your weekend than with some art, wine and friends. cheers to that.
-mc
5.16.2011
greetings NxLevelers
welcome past, present and future NxLevelers. you've found your way to the blue13satellite - a blog created for a growing creative community in denver and beyond interested in creative enterprise.
my name is matthew colella, creative director at blue13creative and one of the fortunate creatives who received a scholarship from the denver small business development center and colorado creative industries to attend the inaugural 2010 NxLevel Business Education course for Creative Entrepreneurs. designed specifically for people like you and i, NxLevel is a 10-week crash course in business plan development and strategic planning for creative professionals looking to take their talents, for lack of a better term, to the next level.
are you considering enrolling in the class? not sure if it's for you? here's a few things i learned... NxLevel is perfect for the freelance writer/photographer/designer who's tired of working for someone else and wants to start their own company. it's for the budding/established/veteran artist who wants to develop their talents into a primary income source. and it's for any creative entrepreneur who wants to transform their creative skills and passions into a viable business model.
one of the conditions of my scholarship was an agreement to blog through the class. (i'm a professional writer and editor with years of experience in several creative industries including print media, radio, film, television and the arts.) so choosing me for the role of classcrier recorder was a natural fit, i suppose. each week i posted a little write-up detailing the topics, lessons and guest speakers (and goodies they often brought to class -- hello free cupcakes!) we heard in class.
so take a moment to click around the satellite's posts tagged 'NxLevel' if you're interested in getting a feel for what the course is like. i recommend starting with week #1 and working your way back, but whatever. you're creative; you'll figure it out. these blog entries don't nearly do the class and its vast amounts of information justice but you can definitely get a feel for what kind of education is offered.
and, if you care to stick around and read some of the other things our creative peers are doing in the mile high city, that would be great, too.
thanks for reading -- and good luck on your creative journey.
-mc
my name is matthew colella, creative director at blue13creative and one of the fortunate creatives who received a scholarship from the denver small business development center and colorado creative industries to attend the inaugural 2010 NxLevel Business Education course for Creative Entrepreneurs. designed specifically for people like you and i, NxLevel is a 10-week crash course in business plan development and strategic planning for creative professionals looking to take their talents, for lack of a better term, to the next level.
are you considering enrolling in the class? not sure if it's for you? here's a few things i learned... NxLevel is perfect for the freelance writer/photographer/designer who's tired of working for someone else and wants to start their own company. it's for the budding/established/veteran artist who wants to develop their talents into a primary income source. and it's for any creative entrepreneur who wants to transform their creative skills and passions into a viable business model.
one of the conditions of my scholarship was an agreement to blog through the class. (i'm a professional writer and editor with years of experience in several creative industries including print media, radio, film, television and the arts.) so choosing me for the role of class
so take a moment to click around the satellite's posts tagged 'NxLevel' if you're interested in getting a feel for what the course is like. i recommend starting with week #1 and working your way back, but whatever. you're creative; you'll figure it out. these blog entries don't nearly do the class and its vast amounts of information justice but you can definitely get a feel for what kind of education is offered.
and, if you care to stick around and read some of the other things our creative peers are doing in the mile high city, that would be great, too.
thanks for reading -- and good luck on your creative journey.
-mc
5.11.2011
the quantum t-shirt debut (part 2)
we're back from the four corners and our debut quantum t-shirt show in durango. here's a quick recap and update from all that went down during the weekend.
first, thank you so much to all the fine folks at the lost dog bar & lounge on main street in durango. i have some close pals that tend bar and keep an eye on things there, but the owner ann is an amazingly kind and generous host. she was extremely helpful in assisting blue13 with whatever we needed all weekend long. ann and many of her staff are now quantum t-shirt wearers and doing their part to contribute quantum positivity toward our collective consciousness. ha!
also, many thanks to ted holteen, the durango herald's arts & entertainment editor for getting a great little write-up about our show in friday's edition. if you're interested in reading some cool press about the quantum t-shirt project, check it out HERE and drop ted a note. he'll like that.
and, of course, thank you to all the amazing people who came to the show -- especially those who purchased shirts. this project has been such a long time coming that i hadn't even really imagined what it would be like to see someone actually wearing my designs (see photo above). it's simultaneously satisfying and humbling to know that there are people who enjoy your art and appreciate a project like this. i've said this before, but positivity is a good commodity - even if it's delivered via a goofy (sweatshop-free) t-shirt. so, in the interest of recycling gratitude, thanks.
here's a few photos from the show (you can check out a small album of pics on our facebook page, too). might as well "like" us while you're there. :) most of the shots are of the lost dog's gallery space after setting up the shirts. i stopped taking pics once the show was going and i had settled into a few tasty local beers from the durango brewing company.
so what's next? well, as great as this show was, i feel like it was the precursor to even bigger and better events in the near future. we are currently working on securing a gallery space across the street from blue13's work studio on the amazing tennyson street art district in denver. nothing is set in stone as of yet, but we REALLY want to knock a huge first friday event out of the park in june.
that date is right around the corner, so keep your eyes open for an email invite to the event in the very near future. if anyone is interested in getting involved (as volunteers are welcome and needed), it would be great to hear from you. and, if anyone wants to help spread the word, we think that would be really great. we'll let everyone know as soon as possible.
that is, IF you think spreading good vibes is a profitable venture.
thanks for reading.
-mc
first, thank you so much to all the fine folks at the lost dog bar & lounge on main street in durango. i have some close pals that tend bar and keep an eye on things there, but the owner ann is an amazingly kind and generous host. she was extremely helpful in assisting blue13 with whatever we needed all weekend long. ann and many of her staff are now quantum t-shirt wearers and doing their part to contribute quantum positivity toward our collective consciousness. ha!
also, many thanks to ted holteen, the durango herald's arts & entertainment editor for getting a great little write-up about our show in friday's edition. if you're interested in reading some cool press about the quantum t-shirt project, check it out HERE and drop ted a note. he'll like that.
and, of course, thank you to all the amazing people who came to the show -- especially those who purchased shirts. this project has been such a long time coming that i hadn't even really imagined what it would be like to see someone actually wearing my designs (see photo above). it's simultaneously satisfying and humbling to know that there are people who enjoy your art and appreciate a project like this. i've said this before, but positivity is a good commodity - even if it's delivered via a goofy (sweatshop-free) t-shirt. so, in the interest of recycling gratitude, thanks.
so what's next? well, as great as this show was, i feel like it was the precursor to even bigger and better events in the near future. we are currently working on securing a gallery space across the street from blue13's work studio on the amazing tennyson street art district in denver. nothing is set in stone as of yet, but we REALLY want to knock a huge first friday event out of the park in june.
that is, IF you think spreading good vibes is a profitable venture.
thanks for reading.
-mc
5.04.2011
the quantum t-shirts have landed
it's an exciting week for us here at blue13creative preparing to celebrate the launch of our very own quantum t-shirts! during the past several months we've been busy working on this clothing line and we're thankful that it's finally coming to life. and our debut show, scheduled for friday, may 6th at the lost dog lounge in durango, colorado, is just a few short days away.
we've been going back and forth on where and when to have this launch party. and while blue13 is undoubtedly super excited to have an official event here in denver in the very near future (first friday in june, likely), we decided to take the show on the road for a few reasons.
first and foremost, we LOVE durango. i graduated from fort lewis college in '99 (has it been that long?) and simply refused to leave after receiving my degree. i had an amazing group of friends and was working in the wine industry during the day and as an editor for the durango herald at night. life was (and is) good.
and, as many of you know, ski-town living in colorado is incomparable. the sense of community in our state's mountain towns is unlike anything i've experienced before or since.
back then, i was heavily involved in several community media outlets and organizations. these days, two really good friends of mine are 1) the station manager at KDUR, durango's community radio station and, 2) the arts & entertainment editor at the herald. good friends to have when you're in need of some local press, indeed. along with the handful of pals i have in the wholesale/retail/service beverage industries, it just made sense to make our shirt debut in the four corners.
this week has been consumed with show preparations by a guy (yours truly) who knows very little about assembling a successful art show. i always assumed there wasn't much beyond hanging art and offering free booze. ha! and while those concepts will be the pillars of our event friday night, i'm learning on the fly that there's more to pulling off a knockout event.
i've been able to recruit a couple friends to volunteer at the show to help with sales and stuff. other friends of mine are helping with the set up at the gallery and making sure everyone stays well greased (i.e. glasses stay full).
the quantum t-shirt project has been about a year in the making. the results to our event this weekend are relatively important for the success of blue13 moving forward. we hope the designs are received as well as their concept has been since we've been talking about them last summer.
considering many of the shirts have an eastern philosophical theme, i'm genuinely trying to put into practice some of the ideals that inspired the project to begin with. i've blogged about some cool contemporary takes on taoism in the past, but for the upcoming weekend i'm focusing on the taoist principal of detachment. it is important, according to taoist teachings, to detach ourselves from expectations of any kind.
taoist detachment, also expressed as non-attachment, is a state in which a person overcomes his attachment to desire for results and thus attains a heightened perspective. it is a vehicle to help release an individual from desire and ultimately from self-created suffering.
lao tzu, the ancient philosopher widely recognized as the founder of taoism, expressed the concept of detachment in the world-renowned tao te ching text as such:
"self or wealth: which is more precious? gain or loss: which is more painful? he who is attached to things will suffer much. he who saves will suffer heavy loss. a contented man is rarely disappointed."
so... in the end, the quantum t-shirt project is really just a bunch of shirts. would i like for the designs to be a grand success? sure. but if the trip ends up being nothing more than an opportunity to catch up with old friends and show them what i've been up to for the past year, that sounds pretty good, too.
besides, i hear they have a damn fine brewery in that little town i love so much.
here's to abundant prosperity for all of us. thanks for reading.
-mc
we've been going back and forth on where and when to have this launch party. and while blue13 is undoubtedly super excited to have an official event here in denver in the very near future (first friday in june, likely), we decided to take the show on the road for a few reasons.
first and foremost, we LOVE durango. i graduated from fort lewis college in '99 (has it been that long?) and simply refused to leave after receiving my degree. i had an amazing group of friends and was working in the wine industry during the day and as an editor for the durango herald at night. life was (and is) good.
and, as many of you know, ski-town living in colorado is incomparable. the sense of community in our state's mountain towns is unlike anything i've experienced before or since.
back then, i was heavily involved in several community media outlets and organizations. these days, two really good friends of mine are 1) the station manager at KDUR, durango's community radio station and, 2) the arts & entertainment editor at the herald. good friends to have when you're in need of some local press, indeed. along with the handful of pals i have in the wholesale/retail/service beverage industries, it just made sense to make our shirt debut in the four corners.
this week has been consumed with show preparations by a guy (yours truly) who knows very little about assembling a successful art show. i always assumed there wasn't much beyond hanging art and offering free booze. ha! and while those concepts will be the pillars of our event friday night, i'm learning on the fly that there's more to pulling off a knockout event.
i've been able to recruit a couple friends to volunteer at the show to help with sales and stuff. other friends of mine are helping with the set up at the gallery and making sure everyone stays well greased (i.e. glasses stay full).
the quantum t-shirt project has been about a year in the making. the results to our event this weekend are relatively important for the success of blue13 moving forward. we hope the designs are received as well as their concept has been since we've been talking about them last summer.
taoist detachment, also expressed as non-attachment, is a state in which a person overcomes his attachment to desire for results and thus attains a heightened perspective. it is a vehicle to help release an individual from desire and ultimately from self-created suffering.
lao tzu, the ancient philosopher widely recognized as the founder of taoism, expressed the concept of detachment in the world-renowned tao te ching text as such:
"self or wealth: which is more precious? gain or loss: which is more painful? he who is attached to things will suffer much. he who saves will suffer heavy loss. a contented man is rarely disappointed."
so... in the end, the quantum t-shirt project is really just a bunch of shirts. would i like for the designs to be a grand success? sure. but if the trip ends up being nothing more than an opportunity to catch up with old friends and show them what i've been up to for the past year, that sounds pretty good, too.
besides, i hear they have a damn fine brewery in that little town i love so much.
here's to abundant prosperity for all of us. thanks for reading.
-mc
4.18.2011
the art of chocolate, leather and design
one of the unexpected joys of not having a television has come in the exploration of new media outlets and content providers via the intrawebs. people are producing and sharing way rad video projects on vimeo and i absolutely love stumbling across micro, regional e-mags that are publishing content on everything from screen writing to home brewing.
a friend of ours forwarded us the following video about a pair of chocolate makers in new york city: the ridiculously cool mast brothers. after watching the short vid, i explored a little deeper into who produced the piece and for which pub. this led me to the scout, a "lifestyle and design-conscious" mag featuring unique events, retail and dining experiences in NYC.
while we don't spend much time in new york city, i found three really great videos on the scout that i'm sure can be of service to us creative bumpkins here in denver and beyond. and they're exquisitely appropriate for the blue13satellite as each piece features an amazingly inspiring tale of craftsmanship and authenticity. these videos expose some incredible people making their living(s) by doing what they love.
during a Q&A with johnny cupcakes a couple months ago at the denver art museum, i had a chance to speak with the man behind the cupcake and crossbones about his unique packaging and the importance of nurturing a brand's image. johnny says his bakery imagery and high-end packaging materials is of the utmost importance for his products.
the brothers mast use a uniquely similar approach in hand-wrapping all their bars in various old-skool paper wraps and designs. they talk about purposely seeking an inconsistent product, the history of chocolate (a food of the gods), sailing their beans across the planet and questioning every aspect of their work process. truly awesome.
mast brothers: hand-crafted old world chocolate
roman & williams: interior design and architecture
when steven and robin describe their creative process, we learn how the designers create a platform for clients to use, live in and be inspired by. they speak of creating a dreamlike atmosphere when entering a room, and their work becomes more than interior design: it's a connection with a client's subconscious. *note the discussion of real value vs. perceived value in the video below. "it's a shame to only have dreams at night," he says. indeed.
billykirk: hand-crafted leatherworks
another pair of brothers: chris and kirk bray. who knew working with family could be so rewarding? ha. these insightful gentlemen offer some valuable nuggets to fellow creative entrepreneurs in the video below. would you buy your own product? is it trend-driven? they talk about their product being an extension of someone's personality, focusing on timeless design and being uniquely different. "we've been blinded by so much junk," chris says of american consumerism. "we've been in a throw-away society for so long."
many thanks to the scout for such inspiring content. and, as always, thanks for reading.
-mc
a friend of ours forwarded us the following video about a pair of chocolate makers in new york city: the ridiculously cool mast brothers. after watching the short vid, i explored a little deeper into who produced the piece and for which pub. this led me to the scout, a "lifestyle and design-conscious" mag featuring unique events, retail and dining experiences in NYC.
while we don't spend much time in new york city, i found three really great videos on the scout that i'm sure can be of service to us creative bumpkins here in denver and beyond. and they're exquisitely appropriate for the blue13satellite as each piece features an amazingly inspiring tale of craftsmanship and authenticity. these videos expose some incredible people making their living(s) by doing what they love.
during a Q&A with johnny cupcakes a couple months ago at the denver art museum, i had a chance to speak with the man behind the cupcake and crossbones about his unique packaging and the importance of nurturing a brand's image. johnny says his bakery imagery and high-end packaging materials is of the utmost importance for his products.
the brothers mast use a uniquely similar approach in hand-wrapping all their bars in various old-skool paper wraps and designs. they talk about purposely seeking an inconsistent product, the history of chocolate (a food of the gods), sailing their beans across the planet and questioning every aspect of their work process. truly awesome.
mast brothers: hand-crafted old world chocolate
The Mast Brothers from The Scout on Vimeo.
roman & williams: interior design and architecture
when steven and robin describe their creative process, we learn how the designers create a platform for clients to use, live in and be inspired by. they speak of creating a dreamlike atmosphere when entering a room, and their work becomes more than interior design: it's a connection with a client's subconscious. *note the discussion of real value vs. perceived value in the video below. "it's a shame to only have dreams at night," he says. indeed.
Roman & Williams from The Scout on Vimeo.
billykirk: hand-crafted leatherworks
another pair of brothers: chris and kirk bray. who knew working with family could be so rewarding? ha. these insightful gentlemen offer some valuable nuggets to fellow creative entrepreneurs in the video below. would you buy your own product? is it trend-driven? they talk about their product being an extension of someone's personality, focusing on timeless design and being uniquely different. "we've been blinded by so much junk," chris says of american consumerism. "we've been in a throw-away society for so long."
Billykirk from The Scout on Vimeo.
many thanks to the scout for such inspiring content. and, as always, thanks for reading.
-mc
3.30.2011
upside-down creative communities
if you've ever taken a couple seconds to read the little blurb on the left-hand column of the blue13satellite, you know what we're trying to do: share creative solutions for a creative community. this blog is an attempt at shining a little light on how others are managing their respective talents while bringing new and exciting ideas to emerging (and previously non-existent) markets.
for example, we have a good friend suzy in loveland who started hip mountain mama, an amazing little mom and pop (literally) company specializing in natural, sustainable, fair-trade goods for cool, young mountain-lifestyle moms. and, our good buddy dave is launching grace skis, a small company featuring his own line of small batch, hand-crafted downhill skis.
we live among some truly amazing creative people.
so the line about how we "love those who use creativity to improve their lives, communities and planet" couldn't be more true. many of our institutions (social, political, financial, et al) seemingly have reached such a level of dysfunction that our ability to thrive as a species will greatly depend on said creative solutions.
being in the mile high city, most of our focus orbits the creative community of denver (first) and colorado (second). i believe a return to local economies and the importance of tight-knit communities are philosophies that will enable us to prosper in an increasingly complex society.
that being said, we fully embrace the notion of a global community as well. with technology providing accessibility to every corner of the planet, enlightened ideologies are (slowly) helping us realize that we're all in this (beautiful mess) together. so while today's blog entry may originate from the other side of the planet, the lesson we can take is one that can be applied to our daily lives right in our own back yard.
enter the (true story) about the boys of koh panyee -- a floating fishing community in thailand. below is a dramatized short film about a group of young men who, without an inch of dry land to their names, established one of the country's most successful soccer clubs and inspired a nation to believe that any obstacle can be overcome.
if you're starting up your own creative endeavor, or struggling with a particular aspect of a project, take a minute to adjust your perspective and realize that with a little focus and determination, you too can accomplish whatever it is you choose to achieve.
the ancient taoists have an amazing technique for adjusting perspective contemporarily-called the upside-down method. if interested, please continue reading...
for example, we have a good friend suzy in loveland who started hip mountain mama, an amazing little mom and pop (literally) company specializing in natural, sustainable, fair-trade goods for cool, young mountain-lifestyle moms. and, our good buddy dave is launching grace skis, a small company featuring his own line of small batch, hand-crafted downhill skis.
we live among some truly amazing creative people.
so the line about how we "love those who use creativity to improve their lives, communities and planet" couldn't be more true. many of our institutions (social, political, financial, et al) seemingly have reached such a level of dysfunction that our ability to thrive as a species will greatly depend on said creative solutions.
being in the mile high city, most of our focus orbits the creative community of denver (first) and colorado (second). i believe a return to local economies and the importance of tight-knit communities are philosophies that will enable us to prosper in an increasingly complex society.
that being said, we fully embrace the notion of a global community as well. with technology providing accessibility to every corner of the planet, enlightened ideologies are (slowly) helping us realize that we're all in this (beautiful mess) together. so while today's blog entry may originate from the other side of the planet, the lesson we can take is one that can be applied to our daily lives right in our own back yard.
enter the (true story) about the boys of koh panyee -- a floating fishing community in thailand. below is a dramatized short film about a group of young men who, without an inch of dry land to their names, established one of the country's most successful soccer clubs and inspired a nation to believe that any obstacle can be overcome.
if you're starting up your own creative endeavor, or struggling with a particular aspect of a project, take a minute to adjust your perspective and realize that with a little focus and determination, you too can accomplish whatever it is you choose to achieve.
the ancient taoists have an amazing technique for adjusting perspective contemporarily-called the upside-down method. if interested, please continue reading...
3.21.2011
food trucks and jack white: part 2
just a quick follow-up to last week's post about food trucks and mobile rock 'n roll.
our new friend not-named jenny saw our entry on denverfoodtrucks and shared another site that chronicles the comings and goings of denver's street food movement. check out denverstreetfood.com for updates, locations and news surrounding our burgeoning culinary community.
and, in case you didn't have the chance to get down to austin for SXSW, here's what jack's rolling record store had to offer those lucky enough to be in attendance.
as always, thanks for reading and sharing.
-mc
and, in case you didn't have the chance to get down to austin for SXSW, here's what jack's rolling record store had to offer those lucky enough to be in attendance.
as always, thanks for reading and sharing.
-mc
3.14.2011
denver food trucks and THE jack white
if you have any connection to/interest in denver's creative community, you've undoubtedly noticed the proliferation of our fair city's wonderfully diverse fleet of food trucks. from pizza to biscuits to cupcakes, there are several amazing culinary creations available on any given street corner in the mile high city.
and we've heard there are several new mobile units being constructed as we speak (or, type) that will hit the streets in the immediate future. soon denver's arsenal of mobile eateries will include vehicles delivering salads, sushi and ice cream (among others) to hungry pedestrians both night and day.
so, with all of these trucks hitting unknown streets during undefined times, how are we supposed to keep up and find the goods? enter: denver food trucks.com (thanks kerry), a central web destination for all things denver/food/truck related. bam.
it appears the site is pretty new - as the "about us" and other sections are still unpopulated with content. however, it does seem that this mobile culinary community is coming together in a refreshingly supportive way to make it easy for you and i to find them. denverfoodtrucks enables users to browse by location, by food style or by specific food truck name and lists each participating company's twitter feeds (often used to pinpoint truck locations) all in one comprehensive website.
of course, food trucks themselves are nothing new. blue-collar workers in the states have been getting their lunches delivered to the job site for decades. i can remember getting the hottest burritos known to man from a guy who used to drive by my father's warehouse along (denver's well-known industrial) smith road years ago. and, speaking of burritos, our friends from south of the border have been selling inexpensive mexican fare out of mobile kitchens since forever.
i remember reading an article in the westword about a hot young chef here in denver who came from new york city. he has this great quote about the difference between the two cities along the lines of how fellow chefs in NYC want to burn your kitchen to the ground, but in denver you can call up your competitors and they'll give you their recipes. i love it.
now, with the coming together of our food truck industry, it seems denver's creative culinary entrepreneurs have realized that working together is so much more fulfilling and productive than being at each others' throats. cheers to that.
so... if street sushi in denver is a possibility, what else could the mobile retail industry deliver? ask jack white. yes, THAT jack white, as in the coolest rock 'n roll mofo alive.
according to white's record label third man records, 97 percent of american teens have never been to a stand alone record store. if true (and i don't doubt that it is), that's incredibly sad. however, as the old adage goes, the darkest always comes before the dawn, and white has taken it upon himself to be a harbinger of light with his newly-built record store truck. double bam.
the label announced it will unveil the truck this week in austin, tx during SXSW. check out the video above. comment openly below. share freely, friends.
-mc
and we've heard there are several new mobile units being constructed as we speak (or, type) that will hit the streets in the immediate future. soon denver's arsenal of mobile eateries will include vehicles delivering salads, sushi and ice cream (among others) to hungry pedestrians both night and day.
so, with all of these trucks hitting unknown streets during undefined times, how are we supposed to keep up and find the goods? enter: denver food trucks.com (thanks kerry), a central web destination for all things denver/food/truck related. bam.
it appears the site is pretty new - as the "about us" and other sections are still unpopulated with content. however, it does seem that this mobile culinary community is coming together in a refreshingly supportive way to make it easy for you and i to find them. denverfoodtrucks enables users to browse by location, by food style or by specific food truck name and lists each participating company's twitter feeds (often used to pinpoint truck locations) all in one comprehensive website.
of course, food trucks themselves are nothing new. blue-collar workers in the states have been getting their lunches delivered to the job site for decades. i can remember getting the hottest burritos known to man from a guy who used to drive by my father's warehouse along (denver's well-known industrial) smith road years ago. and, speaking of burritos, our friends from south of the border have been selling inexpensive mexican fare out of mobile kitchens since forever.
i remember reading an article in the westword about a hot young chef here in denver who came from new york city. he has this great quote about the difference between the two cities along the lines of how fellow chefs in NYC want to burn your kitchen to the ground, but in denver you can call up your competitors and they'll give you their recipes. i love it.
now, with the coming together of our food truck industry, it seems denver's creative culinary entrepreneurs have realized that working together is so much more fulfilling and productive than being at each others' throats. cheers to that.
so... if street sushi in denver is a possibility, what else could the mobile retail industry deliver? ask jack white. yes, THAT jack white, as in the coolest rock 'n roll mofo alive.
according to white's record label third man records, 97 percent of american teens have never been to a stand alone record store. if true (and i don't doubt that it is), that's incredibly sad. however, as the old adage goes, the darkest always comes before the dawn, and white has taken it upon himself to be a harbinger of light with his newly-built record store truck. double bam.
the label announced it will unveil the truck this week in austin, tx during SXSW. check out the video above. comment openly below. share freely, friends.
-mc
3.06.2011
brewing creativity at its finest...
my pals at ska brewing in durango, colorado. check your local retailer for their amazing beers. watch the vid below to see how cool these chaps are. keep up the great work bill, matt and dave.
Brew Minions, A Parody from David Thibodeau on Vimeo.
3.02.2011
artopia 2011
in case you thought there was something better to do that weekend, here's what you missed at westword's artopia this year:
it truly was an incredible evening. the night started out with an always-welcome guerilla performance by my pal boba fett and the americans. and in the basement at vinyl i was pleasantly surprised by the rock n' roll presence of denver's own the knew. (the entire event is stocked with all local talent, in case you weren't aware.) great song structure, impressive performance, near-perfect levels and mix (at least from the side of the stage). i'm definitely checking out their next show when they have more than 35-40 minutes to perform.
next up for me was a stop at the living room, a new favorite jazz lounge/wine bar across the street to see elizabeth rose, again. it's rare when i'm NOT in the mood to enjoy a sexy young songstress spill original piano jazz all over the room. the rest of the night quickly became less defined, as i stumbled into the dance performance piece you see in the video above and the refreshingly hip distant vagabond fashion show toward the end of the night at city hall. the pictures don't do the event justice... the vibe was amazing and this venue is off the wall crazy.
westword photogs found me hangin' out all dressed up for the occasion. now if only i would've found someone to go with... ha.
Westword Artopia 2011 from Focus 4 Design on Vimeo.
it truly was an incredible evening. the night started out with an always-welcome guerilla performance by my pal boba fett and the americans. and in the basement at vinyl i was pleasantly surprised by the rock n' roll presence of denver's own the knew. (the entire event is stocked with all local talent, in case you weren't aware.) great song structure, impressive performance, near-perfect levels and mix (at least from the side of the stage). i'm definitely checking out their next show when they have more than 35-40 minutes to perform.
next up for me was a stop at the living room, a new favorite jazz lounge/wine bar across the street to see elizabeth rose, again. it's rare when i'm NOT in the mood to enjoy a sexy young songstress spill original piano jazz all over the room. the rest of the night quickly became less defined, as i stumbled into the dance performance piece you see in the video above and the refreshingly hip distant vagabond fashion show toward the end of the night at city hall. the pictures don't do the event justice... the vibe was amazing and this venue is off the wall crazy.
westword photogs found me hangin' out all dressed up for the occasion. now if only i would've found someone to go with... ha.
2.22.2011
monsters and budgets: part 2
so much for the robert rodriguez-as-minimalist thing. ha! check this out:
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