The Canadian Marketing Awards were handed out on Friday and yours truly was on hand as a CMA volunteer at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre when It All Went Down.
Read on for the REAL-LIFE STORY of a volunteer who got the TRUE BEHIND-THE-SENES SCOOP…
4:30 pm – I meet in the lobby with all the other volunteers and CMA staff. We congratulate ourselves on how good we all look in our formal wear. I’m wearing a black pleated dress with teal trim I bought for Doug’s brother’s wedding. I have a matching teal rose in my hair. I’m also wearing a sweater because a) you never know if they’re going to pump up the A/C to arctic levels at these things and b) I got a flu shot in one arm and a tetanus shot in the other a few days ago and it looks like I’m diseased.
5 pm – My first duty as a CMA Award Show Volunteer is to guard the doors to the upstairs venue (where dinner will be served later on). Cathy from the CMA tells me that whatever happens we’re not to let anyone go into the dining room yet. I’m on the job! I ask her how far we’re allowed to go to enforce this - a mild beating with a sock full of quarters or can we go the full 007? She laughs uncertainly but doesn’t answer the question. I’m going to assume we should use our best judgement. I’m paired up with Mary, a marketing student and we chat about Other Industry Events We Have Attended. Mary agrees that if someone does try to slip past us, she will hold them down and I will work them over. I’m uneasy about this plan as Mary is about 100 pounds soaking wet. I’m not sure she can hold up her end.
5:30 pm – People are really starting to arrive. We watch them go down the elevator to the reception. A few stragglers have tried to get past us, but they’re mostly looking for the bathroom. After we point them in the right direction, they turn around quite affably and leave. Our mad crowd-control-ninja-skillz are proving to be unnecessary. Pity. We check out what people (women) are wearing. There’s a lot of black and charcoal grey. We see sparkles, spangles and many, many sequins. My dress is so last season! I know this because I bought it at a “Last Season Sale”, so it’s not like it’s a shock. Still, I long for sequins of my own. Sigh…
6 pm – Guarding the upstairs doors. My feet are starting to hurt. Mary is graduated to guarding the downstairs doors. Lucky! No one tries to get past me so my assassination attempts remain at zero.
6:30 pm – Still guarding the upstairs doors. Feet are hurting abominably now. I try smiling and nodding at people, but I stop because they’re giving me queer looks because they can’t figure out if the know me or not and it’s freaking them out.
7 pm – I’ve been relieved by another volunteer! I go down to the actual awards ceremony and sit in the back row. Everyone is having a good time watching the show and plonking away on their Smartphones. The show is very fast-paced and fun. We watch clips of the winning campaigns and people go up and accept their awards. There are no speeches, thank god, or we’d be here until next Tuesday.
7:15 pm – I’m back outside again, but this time I’m guarding the downstairs doors. Promotion! A guy comes up to me and asks if I can “hold this” for fifteen minutes until he gets back. “This” turns out to be a silver CMA award. I say, sure. He takes off. Fellow CMA volunteer Sarah C. was super jealous.
7:30 pm – FEET. ARE. KILLING. ME. Still guarding downstairs door. The euphoria of having upgraded doors is wearing off. Fifteen minutes are up and I’m still holding the silver CMA award that guy gave me.
8 pm – The show is almost over. It’s now my job to assist in handing out magazines. I grab a bunch and brace myself. Am still holding onto silver CMA award. Feet still hurt like I’m stepping on razors.
8:05 pm – The doors open and the crowd stampedes past us, eager to get up to the dining area (and the bar). I hand out magazines. People thank me. I preen like I actually made each and every one of them out of my own belly button lint.
8:10 pm – Everyone has been magazine-ed and there are no more doors to guard. I head upstairs with the unclaimed CMA award. I spot Geoffrey Roche from Lowe Roche chatting with a bunch of people. I freelanced at Lowe Roche a while back on the Audi account and sat next to Geoffrey’s office for four months. Unable to resist, I saunter slowly and casually past him, a confident and carefree smile on my face, with “my” award prominently displayed. My theme music swells in my head (You’re The Best, by Tina Turner). This would probably have been a far sweeter moment if Geoffrey Roche had actually noticed or had any idea who I am. Still, you take your halcyon moments any way you can get them. I reluctantly track down the true owners of the award (Bos) and drop it off at their table.
8:15 pm - I find my own table and sit down thankfully. AHHHH. It’s the best sitting down I’ve ever done. The screaming pain in my arches recedes to a dull roar. Dinner is served and it’s very tasty. Everyone at our table is from the CMA except for Mike Arlotto from Steam Whistle and “Jeff” (if that is his real name) who disappears mysteriously before dinner is served claiming babysitter issues.
9 pm – Start a lovely chat with Mike Arlotto, AKA The Steam Whistle Guy (HI MIKE!). He encourages me to have my first ever Steam Whistle beer, which I enjoy very much. We continue to chat and…
Midnight – Holy crap, look at the time! I tearfully hug Mike good-night, as he has pretty much had to listen to my entire life story, the poor fellow. He’s a good sport about it and does not call security. People are still boogie-ing down on the dance floor, but it’s past my bed time. Time to wrap it up and catch a cab.
1 pm – Home! Doug refuses to give me a foot rub, which is grossly inconsiderate of him. I de-spackle my make-up and go to bed.
Thanks VERY, VERY much to the CMA for a great event! It was a smash! However, I will be sending you my podiatrist’s bill.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
3 boxes of Kleenex with Aloe and counting...
Sorry I haven't posted anything new recently folks. I'm battling an epic cold at the moment as well as dealing with a tetanus shot in my left arm and the H1N1 flu shot in my right. Owwwww...To paraphrase my favourite Kids in the Hall character, Buddy, I'm like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, mincing around the dance floor.
Stay tuned for a new post, coming soon!
Stay tuned for a new post, coming soon!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Online thread pretty much sums up bloggers’ entire personal history! Thanks Internet!
It all started with a short article in Marketing Magazine about “Kids choosing experience over big homes”, relaying the predictions of economist and social scientist Richard Florida at the conclusion of the 2nd annual Marketing Week.
Florida’s theory of the “Creative Class” identifies a growing section of society that favours “an economic shift towards technology, research and development, and the internet (and related fields) building within the overall postwar economies of many countries.” Source: Wikipedia. He further claims that members of this class are the most significant economic factor in the current economic climate.
Basically, instead of the pursuit of a wealth-based economy that idealizes the acquisition of money and possessions, the Creative Class is a meritocracy that values rich experiences and diverse culture and having access to “the three 'T's of Talent (have a highly talented/educated/skilled population), Tolerance (have a diverse community, which has a 'live and let live' ethos), and Technology (have the technological infrastructure necessary to fuel an entrepreneurial culture).” Source: Wikipedia
Okay, interesting theory but is it revelatory? From where I’m sitting, it is. According to Florida, the types of people most likely to be among the creative class are: scientists, engineers, new media artists, designers and educators. As in, teachers. My parents are retired teachers. Eureka! I was raised by the creative class and I never knew it. Call National Geographic!
For years I’ve struggled to understand my own family and upbringing. We weren’t rich or poor, falling somewhere in the “middle”. We didn’t have the biggest house on the block, the most expensive cars or the most elaborate vacations, but neither did we have the smallest, the least or the simplest. My parents wouldn’t buy us designer duds, but disdained bargain stores. Skiing was an acceptable vacation option; camping or going to a beach resort was not. Wine drinking and microbrews were encouraged (after 19); mixed drinks and coolers: so low-brow. The standard to which I was held was inviolate but ambiguous.
It was a confusing time for me – I tried and failed to understand the value system in which I was raised. I was a teenager in the 80’s – the decade of excess. We were taught that the Russians were bad, the bigger your hair and shoulder pads and hair were the better and that if you weren’t a millionaire by the time you were thirty, you had failed yourself and your parents.
But in terms of familial approval, it wasn’t that they wanted me to be tremendously rich (although I suspect that they wouldn’t have objected), it was something more elusive, something that I have failed to identify until I read about Richard Florida and his theory of Creative Class. It’s always been about being an active participant in “worthy” pursuits. It’s behaving and engaging in activities that adhere to a checklist of appropriateness and deserving-ness. If you deviate from this checklist, you are outré and a misfit. Same old game, really, just a little more PC.
Because, make no mistake: the creative class, although a meritocracy, is still a class system. I am no more thrilled about being dissed for my plebeian love of trashy novels and Texas hold-em than I would be for being disdained for being an SUV-driving shopoholic. I also can’t imagine it makes a difference in the world to the family who uses the food bank that they are considered unworthy they don’t spend a lot of time at the art gallery rather than because they don’t live in a McMansion. They’re still eating Kraft Dinner every other meal and trying to make ends meet. It’s still elitism, disguised as “good intentions” and “good taste”. It’s a form of cultural discrimination if you can’t or choose not to fit in.
What really sucks is that it’s even harder to quantify and justify your exclusion, involuntary or not, than it was during the wealth-worshipping days. I can muster a good excuse for not being a dirty, dirty capitalist: I’m not a dirtbag. But for this new creative class…I should WANT to be part of it, shouldn’t I? I should WANT to be sophisticated, culturally-conscious and tolerant. Who can argue with that?
So what if I think yoga is a stupid waste of time? So what if I can’t afford to vacation in Tuscany? So what if I live in an apartment complex that doesn’t recycle? Does that make me a monster?
According to the Creative Class theory: Yes! Yes, it does.
Are you a member of the Creative Class? Take my quiz!
Yes: university educated, working for not-for-profit or in new technology
No: self-made businessperson, working for him/herself
Oh-hells-no: high-school education/community college, working in a trade
Yes: your idea of a great vacation is a wine-tasting tour of Italy
No: Las Vegas. Unless it’s done ironically or as part of a stag
Oh-hells-no: A shopping blitz at the Mall of Americas
Yes: A restored Victorian home in gentrified “downscale” neighbourhood
No: A monster home in the suburbs
Oh-hells-no: A high-rise rental apartment or Anywhere In Scarborough
Yes: A hybrid or an LSM Scooter
No: A sports car or an SUV
Oh-hells-no: 1994 Chevy Lumina with a superfluous spoiler! (this is probably just me)
Yes: a thoughtful documentary about environmental issues and then an dinner at a local restaurant (featuring either ethnic or organic food)
No: a sci-fi blockbuster movie and then dinner at the Keg
Oh-hells-no: a street dog and a Coke Slurpee!
My score: 2 x yes-es, 1 x half-yes/half-oh-hells-no (I junked the Lumina and now drive a scooter), 2 x oh-hells-no’s.
Florida’s theory of the “Creative Class” identifies a growing section of society that favours “an economic shift towards technology, research and development, and the internet (and related fields) building within the overall postwar economies of many countries.” Source: Wikipedia. He further claims that members of this class are the most significant economic factor in the current economic climate.
Basically, instead of the pursuit of a wealth-based economy that idealizes the acquisition of money and possessions, the Creative Class is a meritocracy that values rich experiences and diverse culture and having access to “the three 'T's of Talent (have a highly talented/educated/skilled population), Tolerance (have a diverse community, which has a 'live and let live' ethos), and Technology (have the technological infrastructure necessary to fuel an entrepreneurial culture).” Source: Wikipedia
Okay, interesting theory but is it revelatory? From where I’m sitting, it is. According to Florida, the types of people most likely to be among the creative class are: scientists, engineers, new media artists, designers and educators. As in, teachers. My parents are retired teachers. Eureka! I was raised by the creative class and I never knew it. Call National Geographic!
For years I’ve struggled to understand my own family and upbringing. We weren’t rich or poor, falling somewhere in the “middle”. We didn’t have the biggest house on the block, the most expensive cars or the most elaborate vacations, but neither did we have the smallest, the least or the simplest. My parents wouldn’t buy us designer duds, but disdained bargain stores. Skiing was an acceptable vacation option; camping or going to a beach resort was not. Wine drinking and microbrews were encouraged (after 19); mixed drinks and coolers: so low-brow. The standard to which I was held was inviolate but ambiguous.
It was a confusing time for me – I tried and failed to understand the value system in which I was raised. I was a teenager in the 80’s – the decade of excess. We were taught that the Russians were bad, the bigger your hair and shoulder pads and hair were the better and that if you weren’t a millionaire by the time you were thirty, you had failed yourself and your parents.
But in terms of familial approval, it wasn’t that they wanted me to be tremendously rich (although I suspect that they wouldn’t have objected), it was something more elusive, something that I have failed to identify until I read about Richard Florida and his theory of Creative Class. It’s always been about being an active participant in “worthy” pursuits. It’s behaving and engaging in activities that adhere to a checklist of appropriateness and deserving-ness. If you deviate from this checklist, you are outré and a misfit. Same old game, really, just a little more PC.
Because, make no mistake: the creative class, although a meritocracy, is still a class system. I am no more thrilled about being dissed for my plebeian love of trashy novels and Texas hold-em than I would be for being disdained for being an SUV-driving shopoholic. I also can’t imagine it makes a difference in the world to the family who uses the food bank that they are considered unworthy they don’t spend a lot of time at the art gallery rather than because they don’t live in a McMansion. They’re still eating Kraft Dinner every other meal and trying to make ends meet. It’s still elitism, disguised as “good intentions” and “good taste”. It’s a form of cultural discrimination if you can’t or choose not to fit in.
What really sucks is that it’s even harder to quantify and justify your exclusion, involuntary or not, than it was during the wealth-worshipping days. I can muster a good excuse for not being a dirty, dirty capitalist: I’m not a dirtbag. But for this new creative class…I should WANT to be part of it, shouldn’t I? I should WANT to be sophisticated, culturally-conscious and tolerant. Who can argue with that?
So what if I think yoga is a stupid waste of time? So what if I can’t afford to vacation in Tuscany? So what if I live in an apartment complex that doesn’t recycle? Does that make me a monster?
According to the Creative Class theory: Yes! Yes, it does.
Are you a member of the Creative Class? Take my quiz!
Yes: university educated, working for not-for-profit or in new technology
No: self-made businessperson, working for him/herself
Oh-hells-no: high-school education/community college, working in a trade
Yes: your idea of a great vacation is a wine-tasting tour of Italy
No: Las Vegas. Unless it’s done ironically or as part of a stag
Oh-hells-no: A shopping blitz at the Mall of Americas
Yes: A restored Victorian home in gentrified “downscale” neighbourhood
No: A monster home in the suburbs
Oh-hells-no: A high-rise rental apartment or Anywhere In Scarborough
Yes: A hybrid or an LSM Scooter
No: A sports car or an SUV
Oh-hells-no: 1994 Chevy Lumina with a superfluous spoiler! (this is probably just me)
Yes: a thoughtful documentary about environmental issues and then an dinner at a local restaurant (featuring either ethnic or organic food)
No: a sci-fi blockbuster movie and then dinner at the Keg
Oh-hells-no: a street dog and a Coke Slurpee!
My score: 2 x yes-es, 1 x half-yes/half-oh-hells-no (I junked the Lumina and now drive a scooter), 2 x oh-hells-no’s.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Working from home: a slow descent into madness
As a freelance project manager, I’ve called many an office home for three months, for four months, for six months at a time. A project, by definition has a beginning and an end and so it’s part of the biz to plonk myself down in a new office, desk or cubbie with a much greater frequency than a traditional employee. But ever since the economy experienced an unfortunate downturn (tanked royally), budgets are lean and it’s been a scramble to find consistent, long-term work.
Thus, I’ve spent a relatively long period working on smaller projects with quick turnaround times from home. Technology of today no longer dictates that I go in to the office every day for roll call. Au contraire, it is sometimes far more productive and cost effective for an employer to acquire my services remotely than to use up expensive square footage at the office or to shell out $99 at Ikea to buy another desk chair. Their attitude of “as long as you produce results, I don’t care if you’re sitting at home wearing your giant fuzzy socks” is liberating, but a little scary.
I’ve traditionally been a go-to-the-office kind of girl. Having the option to roll out of bed and flop in front a computer (skipping all that tedious showering, dressing and primping business) should be a little slice of heaven. So what happens when an ingrained work-ethic imperative collides with an unexpected cavalcade of freedom of movement?
Let’s review:
First week:
• Hey, I’m really enjoying not having to brave the elements or put on my knock-off Uggs every day. I can do my grocery shopping whenever I want – no crowds! Sweet.
• Setting my own schedule is awesome: meet 9-5-er friends for lunch, wave good-bye to them as they rush back to work as I slowly linger over my breadsticks (unfortunate side-effect of insufferable complacency?) Note to self: must work on disguising smugness.
Second week:
• Billing by the hour, I’m getting some cool opportunities that I wouldn’t have had ordinarily, like freelance writing.
• But, after First Week’s orgy of excess (rolling out of bed at the crack of noon and working until 3 am instead usual hours), it’s time to reign it in a bit. Keeping more regular hours, but am a bit bored after initial flurry of commitments has been met. Daytime TV is still as bad as it was when I had my wisdom teeth out fifteen years ago and stayed home for three days.
Third week:
• Am too firmly entrenched in my rut: I realize I’ve worn the same yoga-pants-ratty-sweater ensemble for three days running. I’ve also kind of lost track of what day it is. Thursday or Friday? Things like crowds and rush-hour traffic are really starting to bug me for the first time. It’s like being my retired parents!
• This morning I tried to impress the cat on how I can successfully and seamlessly use words like “brouhaha” and “peremptory” in a sentence. I’m genuinely disappointed when the cat doesn’t care and is showing signs he would really prefer it if I would just shut up and let him gnaw on his own tail in peace.
Oh, real human contact, how I miss you… This must be the same feeling working moms get when on maternity leave. I want to talk to an adult! And I don’t have even a needy dependant hanging on my every action as Doug is currently on a freelance gig that requires him to be on the road.
Conclusion:
Running your own business is tough. I’ve always known that because people have been saying it over and over. Everybody knows that. But to experience it for myself has been an eye-opener. It’s challenging and lonely and it’s really easy to get stuck in your own brain and not see what else is going on around you. There are about a billion self-help books and articles written about this, but these are my top takeaways from this experience:
- I’ve actively engaged a council of advisors. I have a couple of mentors as well as family and friends who are more than happy to act as my sounding board.
- I’m going to get out of the damn house every once in a while for fun! Fun is going to the movies and hanging with friends who don’t care about my job. This does NOT include: networking, researching, studying or WRITING IN MY BLOG.
Talk to you next week.
Thus, I’ve spent a relatively long period working on smaller projects with quick turnaround times from home. Technology of today no longer dictates that I go in to the office every day for roll call. Au contraire, it is sometimes far more productive and cost effective for an employer to acquire my services remotely than to use up expensive square footage at the office or to shell out $99 at Ikea to buy another desk chair. Their attitude of “as long as you produce results, I don’t care if you’re sitting at home wearing your giant fuzzy socks” is liberating, but a little scary.
I’ve traditionally been a go-to-the-office kind of girl. Having the option to roll out of bed and flop in front a computer (skipping all that tedious showering, dressing and primping business) should be a little slice of heaven. So what happens when an ingrained work-ethic imperative collides with an unexpected cavalcade of freedom of movement?
Let’s review:
First week:
• Hey, I’m really enjoying not having to brave the elements or put on my knock-off Uggs every day. I can do my grocery shopping whenever I want – no crowds! Sweet.
• Setting my own schedule is awesome: meet 9-5-er friends for lunch, wave good-bye to them as they rush back to work as I slowly linger over my breadsticks (unfortunate side-effect of insufferable complacency?) Note to self: must work on disguising smugness.
Second week:
• Billing by the hour, I’m getting some cool opportunities that I wouldn’t have had ordinarily, like freelance writing.
• But, after First Week’s orgy of excess (rolling out of bed at the crack of noon and working until 3 am instead usual hours), it’s time to reign it in a bit. Keeping more regular hours, but am a bit bored after initial flurry of commitments has been met. Daytime TV is still as bad as it was when I had my wisdom teeth out fifteen years ago and stayed home for three days.
Third week:
• Am too firmly entrenched in my rut: I realize I’ve worn the same yoga-pants-ratty-sweater ensemble for three days running. I’ve also kind of lost track of what day it is. Thursday or Friday? Things like crowds and rush-hour traffic are really starting to bug me for the first time. It’s like being my retired parents!
• This morning I tried to impress the cat on how I can successfully and seamlessly use words like “brouhaha” and “peremptory” in a sentence. I’m genuinely disappointed when the cat doesn’t care and is showing signs he would really prefer it if I would just shut up and let him gnaw on his own tail in peace.
Oh, real human contact, how I miss you… This must be the same feeling working moms get when on maternity leave. I want to talk to an adult! And I don’t have even a needy dependant hanging on my every action as Doug is currently on a freelance gig that requires him to be on the road.
Conclusion:
Running your own business is tough. I’ve always known that because people have been saying it over and over. Everybody knows that. But to experience it for myself has been an eye-opener. It’s challenging and lonely and it’s really easy to get stuck in your own brain and not see what else is going on around you. There are about a billion self-help books and articles written about this, but these are my top takeaways from this experience:
- I’ve actively engaged a council of advisors. I have a couple of mentors as well as family and friends who are more than happy to act as my sounding board.
- I’m going to get out of the damn house every once in a while for fun! Fun is going to the movies and hanging with friends who don’t care about my job. This does NOT include: networking, researching, studying or WRITING IN MY BLOG.
Talk to you next week.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Media In Canada becomes a paid-access subscription service. In other news, the world sucks.
Today I received my usual newsletter from Strategy Magazine’s online publication, Media In Canada. I saw an interesting link and clicked it to read the full article and I was directed to a webpage that let me know that my free service was soon to become paid access. Media In Canada’s is offering me an early-bird chance to sign up for a $99.95 subscription, marked down from the full $149.95 price.
The newsletter will stay free “for those of you who simply want a quick snapshot of the news each day”. That snapshot will consist of a headline plus less than one paragraph on each story, I presume.
Hoo-whee, it was like a riled up hornet’s nest at the Donahue household for about ten minutes! I’m a freelancer, damn it! In these perilous times of slashed marketing, it’s a buyer’s market these days for aspirants in the marketing workforce. I’m sometimes hard-pressed to keep myself in ramen noodles.
Yessiree, I have a few questions for the good people at Media In Canada, such as:
What does this new paid access get me? Is the content going to change?
Will there be special networking opportunities available to subscribers?
What about access to job site? Will the job site change? Will job advertisers be scared away by the fact that only paid-content users will have access to it?
The newsletter is still free… what does that mean: a headline + a small (sometimes incomplete) paragraph? What is the value of that, other than a plug for their own paid services?
Will the access to the content on its parent company, Strategy Magazine, website change? (It currently provides access to some of the feature articles that Media In Canada publishes.)
Will subscriptions to Strategy Magazine’s sister publication “Stimulant” (for the creative types) still be free?
Does one subscription grant access to content to just one person or to an entire group or company? In other words, is there a way I can share my subscription to offset the cost?
I called MIC at the number they provided on the webpage and left a message.
I called their subscription service and was told that they had no information about the change at this time (maybe call back on Thursday). So, no answers yet.
Frustrated, I contacted their direct competition, Marketing Magazine. Marketing Mag, although they have paid content areas, also sends out a free newsletter that gives users free access to articles and their job postings. A gentleman at the subscription desk told me that for now, Marketing Magazine access is still free, but that they will be switching to paid content in the near future. “Enjoy it while you can”, I was told.
Faaaantastic.
Media In Canada and Marketing Magazine are great resources, but it’s really grinding my gears that I will have to pay for content that I’ve been getting for free. I’m also reminded that my favourite online publication One Degree stopped their presses recently due to fiscal considerations. Is there no one left? Is this the state of things to come and I should just shrug and suck it up? A hundred bucks is chump change for a company but for someone like me it’s one more bill and really, one more decision: a subscription to Media In Canada or attend the XYZ conference that will provide me with learning and networking opportunities? Eeny-meeny-miney-mo…
It seems to me that the ones most affected by this change will be, as always, the little business owners like me who don’t have big marketing budgets. Who cares about us anyway? We don’t affect anyone’s bottom line but our own. Tough tiddlywinks to us!
In an industry that is more and more touting the trust economy, the failure of mass media to connect with its audience and the success of niche marketing, this a sad state of affairs.
I am irked. Irked and coming down from my adrenaline rush. I need to go lie down.
The newsletter will stay free “for those of you who simply want a quick snapshot of the news each day”. That snapshot will consist of a headline plus less than one paragraph on each story, I presume.
Hoo-whee, it was like a riled up hornet’s nest at the Donahue household for about ten minutes! I’m a freelancer, damn it! In these perilous times of slashed marketing, it’s a buyer’s market these days for aspirants in the marketing workforce. I’m sometimes hard-pressed to keep myself in ramen noodles.
Yessiree, I have a few questions for the good people at Media In Canada, such as:
What does this new paid access get me? Is the content going to change?
Will there be special networking opportunities available to subscribers?
What about access to job site? Will the job site change? Will job advertisers be scared away by the fact that only paid-content users will have access to it?
The newsletter is still free… what does that mean: a headline + a small (sometimes incomplete) paragraph? What is the value of that, other than a plug for their own paid services?
Will the access to the content on its parent company, Strategy Magazine, website change? (It currently provides access to some of the feature articles that Media In Canada publishes.)
Will subscriptions to Strategy Magazine’s sister publication “Stimulant” (for the creative types) still be free?
Does one subscription grant access to content to just one person or to an entire group or company? In other words, is there a way I can share my subscription to offset the cost?
I called MIC at the number they provided on the webpage and left a message.
I called their subscription service and was told that they had no information about the change at this time (maybe call back on Thursday). So, no answers yet.
Frustrated, I contacted their direct competition, Marketing Magazine. Marketing Mag, although they have paid content areas, also sends out a free newsletter that gives users free access to articles and their job postings. A gentleman at the subscription desk told me that for now, Marketing Magazine access is still free, but that they will be switching to paid content in the near future. “Enjoy it while you can”, I was told.
Faaaantastic.
Media In Canada and Marketing Magazine are great resources, but it’s really grinding my gears that I will have to pay for content that I’ve been getting for free. I’m also reminded that my favourite online publication One Degree stopped their presses recently due to fiscal considerations. Is there no one left? Is this the state of things to come and I should just shrug and suck it up? A hundred bucks is chump change for a company but for someone like me it’s one more bill and really, one more decision: a subscription to Media In Canada or attend the XYZ conference that will provide me with learning and networking opportunities? Eeny-meeny-miney-mo…
It seems to me that the ones most affected by this change will be, as always, the little business owners like me who don’t have big marketing budgets. Who cares about us anyway? We don’t affect anyone’s bottom line but our own. Tough tiddlywinks to us!
In an industry that is more and more touting the trust economy, the failure of mass media to connect with its audience and the success of niche marketing, this a sad state of affairs.
I am irked. Irked and coming down from my adrenaline rush. I need to go lie down.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The state of my Email Nation...
...is a Bizarre Love Triangle. Ha! Funny, right? It's a New Order joke! Band from the 80's? Just me? Okay, moving on.
This week I took stock of the state of my inbox.
If you’d asked me a couple of days ago how many emails a day I get, I would have said between 30 and 40. I think it’s a source of pride with people now. Our sense of self-worth can be measured in how many emails we get, how many Facebook friends we have or (ahem) how many people are following our blogs.
But let’s talk quality over quantity for a second.
In some instances it does quantity does matter. I need followers for my blog because I want to grow my community, but does it really matter how many emails I get in my private Hotmail account? Only if you’re desperate, right? Right! Time for some subscription weeding. Opt-outers HO!
Let’s get started:
• I have no disposable income right now, so see you later Old Navy, The Shoe Company, Bouclair and Amazon;
• I’m practically a shut-in (see above) so Hot Docs, Ticketmaster and Fallsview Casino are gone!
• No way am I buying a property or a car anytime soon so BOOYAH to Toyota, Smart Car and Allard Realtors!
• I never have and never will have any interest in the products or services of Zip, Apple, Extreme Fitness or Rogers’ Magazine subscriptions, so buh-bye.
Who I’m going to keep:
• a publisher who ONLY sends a reminder when an author I’m like releases a new book;
• TripAdvisor and Travelzoo: totally useless to me at the moment, but I can’t help it. I like to pretend to myself that I have a shot of taking a vacation on the beach in the near future.
Whew! Results:
On Friday I received only 19 emails. If I ignore my lingering pang of inadequacy, I have to admit it was freeing not to feel guilty over having to delete 20 emails without even opening them first.
Now all I have left are:
A) Actual emails from real people,
B) Messages from all the social network groups I signed up for.
Hm. I really should start pruning those… aww…but I just signed up for most of them. They are so new, so innocent! The poor little things have not had a chance to prove themselves yet! I will wait a month and then reassess who will get the axe.
Wow, it’s like Sophie’s choice, but for social media.
Update on my previous post: Why My Mother Won’t Read My Blog
• My Mom: Still not reading my blog. Still no intention to ever do so.
• My Boyfriend, Doug: Pretends to read my blog over my should as I’m proofing it, but he’s totally skimming. I can tell.
• My Best Friend, Jan: Joined as a follower! Yay Jan!
This week I took stock of the state of my inbox.
If you’d asked me a couple of days ago how many emails a day I get, I would have said between 30 and 40. I think it’s a source of pride with people now. Our sense of self-worth can be measured in how many emails we get, how many Facebook friends we have or (ahem) how many people are following our blogs.
But let’s talk quality over quantity for a second.
In some instances it does quantity does matter. I need followers for my blog because I want to grow my community, but does it really matter how many emails I get in my private Hotmail account? Only if you’re desperate, right? Right! Time for some subscription weeding. Opt-outers HO!
Let’s get started:
• I have no disposable income right now, so see you later Old Navy, The Shoe Company, Bouclair and Amazon;
• I’m practically a shut-in (see above) so Hot Docs, Ticketmaster and Fallsview Casino are gone!
• No way am I buying a property or a car anytime soon so BOOYAH to Toyota, Smart Car and Allard Realtors!
• I never have and never will have any interest in the products or services of Zip, Apple, Extreme Fitness or Rogers’ Magazine subscriptions, so buh-bye.
Who I’m going to keep:
• a publisher who ONLY sends a reminder when an author I’m like releases a new book;
• TripAdvisor and Travelzoo: totally useless to me at the moment, but I can’t help it. I like to pretend to myself that I have a shot of taking a vacation on the beach in the near future.
Whew! Results:
On Friday I received only 19 emails. If I ignore my lingering pang of inadequacy, I have to admit it was freeing not to feel guilty over having to delete 20 emails without even opening them first.
Now all I have left are:
A) Actual emails from real people,
B) Messages from all the social network groups I signed up for.
Hm. I really should start pruning those… aww…but I just signed up for most of them. They are so new, so innocent! The poor little things have not had a chance to prove themselves yet! I will wait a month and then reassess who will get the axe.
Wow, it’s like Sophie’s choice, but for social media.
Update on my previous post: Why My Mother Won’t Read My Blog
• My Mom: Still not reading my blog. Still no intention to ever do so.
• My Boyfriend, Doug: Pretends to read my blog over my should as I’m proofing it, but he’s totally skimming. I can tell.
• My Best Friend, Jan: Joined as a follower! Yay Jan!
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Mr. Sub and Bos Fracas
Link to the Marketing Magazine article here.
I meant to blog about this last week when it was actually topical, but never got around to it. Then South Park aired an episode about the usage of the word “fag” (gay slur versus schoolyard taunt) and it got me to typing again.
For those of you too lazy to click on the link, Mr. Sub recently fired their ad agency Bos for creating an online ad that depicted a middle-aged man coming out to his wife and eight or so children. "I'm gay!" he tells them smarmily, at the dinner table. His daughter looks at him dubiously. "As in, gay-gay?" she asks. "As in Super Gay!" he assures her, ruffling her hair. For me, the funniest part about the ad was the fact that the guy had not one or two expected children, but EIGHT.
I have no idea how this is supposed to sell subs, but it's was, in tone, clearly intended to be a funny, light-hearted spot, with the tag line "Nobody likes surprises". It was one ad among many and none of the other ads brought up this issue.
Many members of the gay community freaked out, complained to Mr. Sub and this ended in the firing of Bos. Bos issued a statement saying they never intended to offend anyone - my interpretation of their reasoning is that being made fun of is something that is okay if you're a part of the mainstream. Being gay is now mainstream, thus the gay community must take their share of non-maliciously intended teasing.
Point for this argument: there are countless "funny" ads depicting women in a derogatory manner (I’m looking at you, Axe) and there ain't much I can do about that, other than not buy the product.
Point against this argument: you'd never dare try this sort of thing using minorities or a religious group, so what does that say?
I cruised around a bunch of forums to get a sense of what the gay community is thinking and it seems pretty evenly split between “who cares” and “those responsible should be put to death”.
So what do I think?
Obviously I’m a little biased because I’ve worked with a lot of ad agencies before. I don't know how I feel about this other than to say that the outright firing of Bos, if it was supposed to be a public relations gesture missed its mark. Someone at Mr. Sub had to sign off on that ad. Firing your agency just makes you look like a buck-passing hypocrite. I will henceforth eat at Subway. Or whatever sub shop is closest, because really, who cares. It’s just sandwiches.
The gay issue aside, I have to say I don’t really like what I call ‘non-sequitur advertising’:
SHOCKING/FUNNY SKIT + COMPLETELY UNRELATED PRODUCT PLUG
= MASS AD CAMPAIGN.
Boo! Boo, I say!
But I guess that’s why I’m writing this goofy little blog and not running a big whomping agency like Bos.
I meant to blog about this last week when it was actually topical, but never got around to it. Then South Park aired an episode about the usage of the word “fag” (gay slur versus schoolyard taunt) and it got me to typing again.
For those of you too lazy to click on the link, Mr. Sub recently fired their ad agency Bos for creating an online ad that depicted a middle-aged man coming out to his wife and eight or so children. "I'm gay!" he tells them smarmily, at the dinner table. His daughter looks at him dubiously. "As in, gay-gay?" she asks. "As in Super Gay!" he assures her, ruffling her hair. For me, the funniest part about the ad was the fact that the guy had not one or two expected children, but EIGHT.
I have no idea how this is supposed to sell subs, but it's was, in tone, clearly intended to be a funny, light-hearted spot, with the tag line "Nobody likes surprises". It was one ad among many and none of the other ads brought up this issue.
Many members of the gay community freaked out, complained to Mr. Sub and this ended in the firing of Bos. Bos issued a statement saying they never intended to offend anyone - my interpretation of their reasoning is that being made fun of is something that is okay if you're a part of the mainstream. Being gay is now mainstream, thus the gay community must take their share of non-maliciously intended teasing.
Point for this argument: there are countless "funny" ads depicting women in a derogatory manner (I’m looking at you, Axe) and there ain't much I can do about that, other than not buy the product.
Point against this argument: you'd never dare try this sort of thing using minorities or a religious group, so what does that say?
I cruised around a bunch of forums to get a sense of what the gay community is thinking and it seems pretty evenly split between “who cares” and “those responsible should be put to death”.
So what do I think?
Obviously I’m a little biased because I’ve worked with a lot of ad agencies before. I don't know how I feel about this other than to say that the outright firing of Bos, if it was supposed to be a public relations gesture missed its mark. Someone at Mr. Sub had to sign off on that ad. Firing your agency just makes you look like a buck-passing hypocrite. I will henceforth eat at Subway. Or whatever sub shop is closest, because really, who cares. It’s just sandwiches.
The gay issue aside, I have to say I don’t really like what I call ‘non-sequitur advertising’:
SHOCKING/FUNNY SKIT + COMPLETELY UNRELATED PRODUCT PLUG
= MASS AD CAMPAIGN.
Boo! Boo, I say!
But I guess that’s why I’m writing this goofy little blog and not running a big whomping agency like Bos.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Parking lot hit and run resolution
Last week Doug and I were watching CP24 and we saw that poor guy whose car was crushed flat by another driver, who subsequently drove off.
The incident went viral on the internet and in response, Hyundai Canada (in partnership with its agency Mighty, Bensimon Byrne’s digital team) decided to give the owner, Todd Jamison a brand new Elantra in a "random act of kindness". They posted the original video, plus new footage of Todd receiving his new car on YouTube.
My favourite bit is when asked how his new car compares to his old 2004 model, Todd replies, "It's nicer...and not as flat." Okay, Todd Jamison is officially funnier than 90% of the mass-produced comedy out there. I also like his Transformers Decepticon t-shirt.
Sure, Hyundai did it as a publicity bid, what do the vast majority of publicity stunts accomplish beyond self-promotion? In fact, I retract the word "stunt" in this case. This wasn't a stunt: it was a genuinely thoughtful act and a really great example of how the news and community relations can be used thoughtfully and positively.
Kudos to Mighty and to Hyundai Canada.
Note if you were wondering: yes, they found the woman responsible and she is due in court on December 1st.
The incident went viral on the internet and in response, Hyundai Canada (in partnership with its agency Mighty, Bensimon Byrne’s digital team) decided to give the owner, Todd Jamison a brand new Elantra in a "random act of kindness". They posted the original video, plus new footage of Todd receiving his new car on YouTube.
My favourite bit is when asked how his new car compares to his old 2004 model, Todd replies, "It's nicer...and not as flat." Okay, Todd Jamison is officially funnier than 90% of the mass-produced comedy out there. I also like his Transformers Decepticon t-shirt.
Sure, Hyundai did it as a publicity bid, what do the vast majority of publicity stunts accomplish beyond self-promotion? In fact, I retract the word "stunt" in this case. This wasn't a stunt: it was a genuinely thoughtful act and a really great example of how the news and community relations can be used thoughtfully and positively.
Kudos to Mighty and to Hyundai Canada.
Note if you were wondering: yes, they found the woman responsible and she is due in court on December 1st.
The worst show on television
I was watching TV late last night, an occurrence so rare it had me bopping around channels trying to get a sense of what's on late at night on a Sunday. (If you were wondering - nothing, other than a few movies. Can you believe a 1914 Charlie Chaplin movie was playing? Actually, that was pretty cool).
I stumbled upon (as opposed to StumbleUpon-ed) a show that looked promising: Tosh.0 on Comedy Central. It's billed as "Daniel Tosh is a comedian who comments on internet blogs and new technologies." Oh hey, could be interesting, right?
What an unbelievably lame, offensive (and wildly racist) show. Essentially it features "comedian" Daniel Tosh standing around commenting on internet videos featuring people either injuring or humiliating themselves. He's like a cross between Dane Cook and that guy who hosts the World's Most Amazing Animals. So basically this guy has made a TV show about the most banal aspects of the internet.
Example: a little (presumably) Mexican boy accidentally rolls down a steep hill in his toy car and totally, and fairly brutally, wipes out. One of Tosh's gross remarks included, "That is the worst lawn I've ever seen. Obviously that boy's father doesn't take his work home with him".
Really, Comedy Central? This is the best you could do for yourselves and your 12:30 am on a Sunday slot? Were you saving test patterns for 1:30 am? If so, please move them up an hour - I'd rather watch them than this show. Thanks!
Note: I'm not going to tag or link to this post because if you want to see this travesty, please do so off my watch.
I stumbled upon (as opposed to StumbleUpon-ed) a show that looked promising: Tosh.0 on Comedy Central. It's billed as "Daniel Tosh is a comedian who comments on internet blogs and new technologies." Oh hey, could be interesting, right?
What an unbelievably lame, offensive (and wildly racist) show. Essentially it features "comedian" Daniel Tosh standing around commenting on internet videos featuring people either injuring or humiliating themselves. He's like a cross between Dane Cook and that guy who hosts the World's Most Amazing Animals. So basically this guy has made a TV show about the most banal aspects of the internet.
Example: a little (presumably) Mexican boy accidentally rolls down a steep hill in his toy car and totally, and fairly brutally, wipes out. One of Tosh's gross remarks included, "That is the worst lawn I've ever seen. Obviously that boy's father doesn't take his work home with him".
Really, Comedy Central? This is the best you could do for yourselves and your 12:30 am on a Sunday slot? Were you saving test patterns for 1:30 am? If so, please move them up an hour - I'd rather watch them than this show. Thanks!
Note: I'm not going to tag or link to this post because if you want to see this travesty, please do so off my watch.
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