For sale: Posters and postcards. Designed by Adam. Project managed by me. Overall success. Regardless if we break even or not.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Queen's Day #3
For sale: Posters and postcards. Designed by Adam. Project managed by me. Overall success. Regardless if we break even or not.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
My little love
It's my god son's first day of school today. Isn't he handsome?
One of many reasons home is so important to me. I love you Arlo, have a great first day of school.
You're going to break some hearts and thrill some teachers. xxx
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Caine's Arcade
When I was about 10, I tried to make my sister a birthday present out of an empty tissue box and a ball of purple wool.
Needless to say, I had obviously been watching too many episodes of MacGuyver.
Nothing eventuated out of that little venture.
This little guy not only did what I couldn't do, he's about to go to college on his creations.
From the generosity of a lot of people who were inspired by this little guy, to date, US$175K has been raised so he can definitely go to college and eventually swim in either as much cardboard and money as he likes.
I'd like to see a camera crew revisit him in about 15 years time.
Needless to say, I had obviously been watching too many episodes of MacGuyver.
Nothing eventuated out of that little venture.
This little guy not only did what I couldn't do, he's about to go to college on his creations.
From the generosity of a lot of people who were inspired by this little guy, to date, US$175K has been raised so he can definitely go to college and eventually swim in either as much cardboard and money as he likes.
I'd like to see a camera crew revisit him in about 15 years time.
The psychology of going without Milk
You know you've been in The Netherlands too long when you look in the office fridge for milk, find out there is none, and start going through the 5 stages of grief.
1. Shock and Denial - "What do you mean the interns forgot to buy milk? That can't be true!"
2. Pain and Guilt - "Maybe I should have said something earlier?"
3. Anger and Bargaining - "You mean, I'll have to go get Milk?! That's not MY job! If I give you 2 EU, will you go down to the store and get some milk?"
4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness - " *sob* But I don't want black coffee. I remember what milky coffee used to taste like. It's not the same without you, milk."
5. Acceptance - "I'll be ok. Maybe there'll be milk in the fridge tomorrow?"
1. Shock and Denial - "What do you mean the interns forgot to buy milk? That can't be true!"
2. Pain and Guilt - "Maybe I should have said something earlier?"
3. Anger and Bargaining - "You mean, I'll have to go get Milk?! That's not MY job! If I give you 2 EU, will you go down to the store and get some milk?"
4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness - " *sob* But I don't want black coffee. I remember what milky coffee used to taste like. It's not the same without you, milk."
5. Acceptance - "I'll be ok. Maybe there'll be milk in the fridge tomorrow?"
Freelance office
Two observations:
1. There's no milk in the fridge. Where are the interns, and why aren't they doing their job and filling the fridges with milk??? How can I write if I can't drink my standard coffee with milk?
Is it too much to ask to have some freaking milk around???
(Huff, hair flick, pout)
2. Two colleagues are talking about robots having feelings and how in this day and age it should be possible. Totally normal. Totally serious. Totally ok with me.
1. There's no milk in the fridge. Where are the interns, and why aren't they doing their job and filling the fridges with milk??? How can I write if I can't drink my standard coffee with milk?
Is it too much to ask to have some freaking milk around???
(Huff, hair flick, pout)
2. Two colleagues are talking about robots having feelings and how in this day and age it should be possible. Totally normal. Totally serious. Totally ok with me.
Freelance fun day
Finally, the only day in my life where I feel like my life might have any sort of purpose or meaning is here.
Freelance day. It only happens once every 2 weeks.
The ideal lifestyle.
I get up at 9 and get ready to cycle to the office. I start at 10 at the office which is in central Amsterdam.
I grab a coffee, get briefed by my editor and then get left alone to write about the arts all day.
Sublime.
Freelance day. It only happens once every 2 weeks.
The ideal lifestyle.
I get up at 9 and get ready to cycle to the office. I start at 10 at the office which is in central Amsterdam.
I grab a coffee, get briefed by my editor and then get left alone to write about the arts all day.
Sublime.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Eggtrading 101
Me: But I want the goose that lays the golden egg NOW!!
Kurt: You can't have that. You need to start with one normal egg and then you can use that to get two eggs and then three eggs and then eventually you'll have a whole heap of eggs and THEN you can trade that for a goose that will lay a golden egg.
Me: How profound.
Kurt: You can't have that. You need to start with one normal egg and then you can use that to get two eggs and then three eggs and then eventually you'll have a whole heap of eggs and THEN you can trade that for a goose that will lay a golden egg.
Me: How profound.
David Ogilvy: A "Lousy copywriter"
David Ogilvy liked rum!
Just like me!
Read below pearls of wisdom from the original and legendary Ad man, from a favourite blog of mine called Letters of note
British-born David Ogilvy was one of the original, and greatest, "ad men." In 1948, he started what would eventually be known as Ogilvy & Mather, the Manhattan-based advertising agency that has since been responsible for some of the world's most iconic ad campaigns, and in 1963 he even wrote Confessions of an Advertising Man, the best-selling book that is still to this day considered essential reading for all who enter the industry. Time magazine called him "the most sought-after wizard in today's advertising industry" in the early-'60s; his name, and that of his agency, have been mentioned more than once in Mad Men for good reason.
With all that in mind, being able to learn of his routine when producing the very ads that made his name is an invaluable opportunity. The fascinating letter below, written by Ogilvy in 1955 to a Mr. Ray Calt, offers exactly that.
(Source: The Unpublished David Ogilvy: A Selection of His Writings from the Files of His Partners; Image: David Ogilvy, courtesy of Ads of the World.)
April 19, 1955
Dear Mr. Calt:
On March 22nd you wrote to me asking for some notes on my work habits as a copywriter. They are appalling, as you are about to see:
1. I have never written an advertisement in the office. Too many interruptions. I do all my writing at home.
2. I spend a long time studying the precedents. I look at every advertisement which has appeared for competing products during the past 20 years.
3. I am helpless without research material—and the more "motivational" the better.
4. I write out a definition of the problem and a statement of the purpose which I wish the campaign to achieve. Then I go no further until the statement and its principles have been accepted by the client.
5. Before actually writing the copy, I write down every concievable fact and selling idea. Then I get them organized and relate them to research and the copy platform.
6. Then I write the headline. As a matter of fact I try to write 20 alternative headlines for every advertisement. And I never select the final headline without asking the opinion of other people in the agency. In some cases I seek the help of the research department and get them to do a split-run on a battery of headlines.
7. At this point I can no longer postpone the actual copy. So I go home and sit down at my desk. I find myself entirely without ideas. I get bad-tempered. If my wife comes into the room I growl at her. (This has gotten worse since I gave up smoking.)
8. I am terrified of producing a lousy advertisement. This causes me to throw away the first 20 attempts.
9. If all else fails, I drink half a bottle of rum and play a Handel oratorio on the gramophone. This generally produces an uncontrollable gush of copy.
10. The next morning I get up early and edit the gush.
11. Then I take the train to New York and my secretary types a draft. (I cannot type, which is very inconvenient.)
12. I am a lousy copywriter, but I am a good editor. So I go to work editing my own draft. After four or five editings, it looks good enough to show to the client. If the client changes the copy, I get angry—because I took a lot of trouble writing it, and what I wrote I wrote on purpose.
Altogether it is a slow and laborious business. I understand that some copywriters have much greater facility.
Yours sincerely,
D.O.
Just like me!
Read below pearls of wisdom from the original and legendary Ad man, from a favourite blog of mine called Letters of note
British-born David Ogilvy was one of the original, and greatest, "ad men." In 1948, he started what would eventually be known as Ogilvy & Mather, the Manhattan-based advertising agency that has since been responsible for some of the world's most iconic ad campaigns, and in 1963 he even wrote Confessions of an Advertising Man, the best-selling book that is still to this day considered essential reading for all who enter the industry. Time magazine called him "the most sought-after wizard in today's advertising industry" in the early-'60s; his name, and that of his agency, have been mentioned more than once in Mad Men for good reason.
With all that in mind, being able to learn of his routine when producing the very ads that made his name is an invaluable opportunity. The fascinating letter below, written by Ogilvy in 1955 to a Mr. Ray Calt, offers exactly that.
(Source: The Unpublished David Ogilvy: A Selection of His Writings from the Files of His Partners; Image: David Ogilvy, courtesy of Ads of the World.)
April 19, 1955
Dear Mr. Calt:
On March 22nd you wrote to me asking for some notes on my work habits as a copywriter. They are appalling, as you are about to see:
1. I have never written an advertisement in the office. Too many interruptions. I do all my writing at home.
2. I spend a long time studying the precedents. I look at every advertisement which has appeared for competing products during the past 20 years.
3. I am helpless without research material—and the more "motivational" the better.
4. I write out a definition of the problem and a statement of the purpose which I wish the campaign to achieve. Then I go no further until the statement and its principles have been accepted by the client.
5. Before actually writing the copy, I write down every concievable fact and selling idea. Then I get them organized and relate them to research and the copy platform.
6. Then I write the headline. As a matter of fact I try to write 20 alternative headlines for every advertisement. And I never select the final headline without asking the opinion of other people in the agency. In some cases I seek the help of the research department and get them to do a split-run on a battery of headlines.
7. At this point I can no longer postpone the actual copy. So I go home and sit down at my desk. I find myself entirely without ideas. I get bad-tempered. If my wife comes into the room I growl at her. (This has gotten worse since I gave up smoking.)
8. I am terrified of producing a lousy advertisement. This causes me to throw away the first 20 attempts.
9. If all else fails, I drink half a bottle of rum and play a Handel oratorio on the gramophone. This generally produces an uncontrollable gush of copy.
10. The next morning I get up early and edit the gush.
11. Then I take the train to New York and my secretary types a draft. (I cannot type, which is very inconvenient.)
12. I am a lousy copywriter, but I am a good editor. So I go to work editing my own draft. After four or five editings, it looks good enough to show to the client. If the client changes the copy, I get angry—because I took a lot of trouble writing it, and what I wrote I wrote on purpose.
Altogether it is a slow and laborious business. I understand that some copywriters have much greater facility.
Yours sincerely,
D.O.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The inspiring nightmare
I heard that Steve was a total prick. He never settled for less than what he wanted, was stubborn, demanding and at times completely disrespectful of those around him.Having said that, I think he had a tough life in the beginning and to have that level of confidence to ensure your visions are manifested, sometimes these things might have to come into play.
I heard he was the kind of guy that would always say to his designers, "I don't like this start again" and they would say "What don't you like about it?" and he would say " I'm not sure, but I'll know what I like when I see it."
Nightmare.
But you have to give him credit, he's probably just the kind of guy that had the guts to live life by his heart.
Blue or Red?
If you could take a daily pill that would profoundly speed-up the manifestation of all your dreams, would you take it without fail?
Yes, I thought so.
What if it was a big, ugly pill that took 5 minutes to dissolve on your tongue, and it tasted like medicine. Would you still do it?
Yes, all of your dreams…
Thought so too…
But what if during those 5 minutes each day you couldn’t watch TV, or talk with friends, or distract yourself in any way from your chore?
OK, what if you could skip the pill bit entirely, but instead you had to set aside 5 minutes a day to visualize, in a dark and quiet room, seeing your life unfold as if all your dreams were coming true, and for good measure you had to say or do something, each day, that implied the same?
No, you can’t go back to the pill idea.
Yours,
The Universe
From http://thisinspired.me
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