A Chorus of Ones

Normally we're not a big fan of crowd sourcing.  But when everyone builds in concert to create something new out of the whole (Linux updaters be praised), we're big fans.

And so we love this spin on that concept: crowd making, one individual at a time.

This video explains how a conductor got a bunch of submissions for his internet-chorus to create one of 2010's biggest viral hits -- individuals, brought together via web and a smart editor to become a cyber-chorus.

The result is moving.  

Any time lone individuals, connecting in from anywhere, create something in which the sums is far greater than the parts, we stand in awe of what can be in the world we live in. 

So even amidst the chaos out there, we can pray for less antagonism, and more anthems.

http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2011-04-05&utm_campaign=newsletter_weekly&utm_medium=email

Just Kidding

Being in the creative marketing world, we've been called 'childish' often.  

Like when we put all those yoga balls in our reception area.  

Or when our voicemail greeting imitated French language lab:   'Ecouter, et repeter....   Beep!'

We take the 'childish' label as high praise.

To us, childishness can be about looking for the fun or the funny in almost anything.  

It's about being pleasantly surprised by something new.

A childish sense of wonder, optimism, and limitless freedom  is ESSENTIAL in creativity.  

It's the only real way to think big, new thoughts.

We'd argue that it's essential in ANY aspect of business, and if you disagreed, we'd never ever ever talk to you again.  Period.

Limitless freedom to 'adults' means risk. Untried.  Not validated.  

And that's frightening.

But new ideas are just that.   

And if we lived in fear of always skinning knees, we'd never run.

So, with all that in mind, listen to this erudite speaker's lessons on what adults can learn from kids.  

And the next time someone calls you childish, just flick 'em.



http://www.ted.com/talks/adora_svitak.html

Word Poem On Words

Taylor Mali is one to watch.  He's a poetry slam innovator as well as an experienced classroom teacher.

And after serving as adjunct college faculty ourselves, we KNOW teaching's tougher than poetry slamming.

Watch the attached video of Taylor reciting a poem, set simply to a fount of font animation that brilliantly brings his points to life.

After viewing, don't miss another example in this style, entitled 'What do teachers make?'

Both of these make us want to widely spread the word.  
And stand up and be heard.  Or read.

Here's to the outspoken word...especially when it's animated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEBZkWkkdZA

Critters Make the Brand?

Interesting POV in Advertising Age on the importance of support to establish a mascot for your marketing product or service.

http://adage.com/article/guest-columnists/marketing-makes-mascot/149381/

We'd argue that what's also critter-cal, is to make sure that the mascot is dimensionalized.

Does 'it' have a personality?  Catch phrase?  Certain voice?  

We still remember the first time we did a tie-in with a major, long-standing cartoon property.  

The studio's dossier on every aspect of the cartoon characters was longer than any personnel file HR could fill.

Critters we've worked with and created must be true, like a person.  For fictitious characters to be successful, they must live and breathe, animatically speaking.   A Tony the Tiger drawing on Frosted Flakes is far less captivating if one can't hear and see the growler on TV, radio, and print over time -- same as any celebrity in flesh and blood.

As the web keeps booming, there's even more chance to birth new branded mascots -- like we did for a client of ours who've bootstrapped a fun, fishy fanatic to leverage in eblasts, online and at trade shows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEJ4NlgfOGw&feature=player_embedded

Makes Charlie the Tuna look like sashimi, eh?

Super Bowl Winner Recall!

No, we didn't take away Green Bay's victory.  Just wanted to share how well our readers did in our first ever poll on ad recall in the Big Game.

Overall, our smart readers did pretty well.  

VW was ranked first in correct responses, with 80% connecting l'il Darth Vader with their car.

The rest of the right call percentages?

• 72% got Skechers

• 72% got Groupon

• 68% got Stella Artois

But the toughest question: only 32% guessed the correct cost of a 30 spot for the time alone.  Almost half guessed $2 million, when the actual cost this year was $3 million.  And that doesn't include the cost of Ozzy n Bieber.

Will next year's TV spot cost change? Our guess: as the quarterback says...'Hike!'

Thanks for playing.

Money is the Root of All Demotivation?!

Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose motivate.  It's been shown, time and again, yet is rarely used in today's corporate structure.

At our link below, Dan Pink's talk on this subject is captivatingly brought to life via pure-smelly-marker animation from RSA.  The talk, and illustration, are well worth witnessing.

Pink's presentation describes research that showed money was a motivator for mechanical tasks.  Bigger carrot, better performance.

But when the task required cognitive skills, more money did the opposite.  When rewards are increased, performance will decrease. 

Social scientists have uncovered three factors that lead to better performance: autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Fundamentally, we feel the need to direct our own lives, overcome obstacles and live and work for something bigger than ourselves.

What would your work place look like if those motivators ruled?  How might you manage in your work place?

Think about it.  Now, back to the grindstone!

Take Our Post Superbowl Ad Challenge

Click here to take our survey

So do you think the cost of advertising in the Superbowl is worth it?

Want to know what impact you could get for that kind of spending elsewhere? Or 1/100th of it?