Posts filed under 'news'
TAX BREAK Houston’s Creative Bailout!
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Comedy – Music – Live Art – Networking
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| After bobbing and weaving together last year, this year’s creative mixer is all about getting a little relief from work and taxes. Join Houston’s leading professional creative organizations as we socialize and enjoy another tax season passing us by … |
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Event Name: Tax Break! Houston’s Creative Bailout |
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Sponsoring organizations: American Advertising Federation Houston (AAFH) American Institute of Graphic Arts Houston (AIGA) Art Director’s Club of Houston (ADCH) Only in Houston (OiH) University of Houston Graphics Alumni Partnership (UHGAP) |
![OiH_650-m[1]](http://mediaslap.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/oih_650m11.jpg "OiH_650-m[1]")
![facebook[1]](http://mediaslap.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/facebook11.png?w=36&h=36 "facebook[1]"){kind=small}
Add comment March 26, 2010
Your Image in 2010
Perhaps we need to refer to the new year as twenty ten, it is more concise and simple. I ran across an article that inspired me and thought I would write about this on January first, twenty ten.
Many of us have learned that good looks add to success in the workplace but too many fail to realize that cultivating the perception of youth and a hip attitude is also very important. It’s no secret that we live in an age-obsessed society. Don’t follow these rules to impress a young person. Your goal is to create a more youthful perception about yourself. So how do you do it? Here are some of the concepts form the new book, “Bulletproof Your Job”:
Rule #1: Crest Whitestrips. This is a surface and shallow cosmetic-based tip. But people just don’t understand that having coffee-stained teeth doesn’t do you any favors. Then smile. Smiling makes you look and feel younger.
Rule #2: You need to be on Facebook. No friends? You already have one: just facebook me (dwightcook.) I will be your first friend.
Rule #3: Know how to use Google and Wikipedia and use them. Bookmark these sites on your computer, and set one as your homepage.
Rule #4: Watch an episode of “Big Bang Theory.” Discuss and Repeat.
Rule #5: Peruse your local Apple store. Learn the difference between an iPod Classic, iPod Touch and iPod Nano. You also need to what itunes and podcasts are all about and then you are on your way.
Rule #6: Do not disclose your past. Keep it to yourself. These are the “good old days!”
Rule #7: Don’t talk about how you’re addicted to Starbucks. Nobody cares and it won’t make you seem younger.
Rule #8: Keep up to date with Entertainment news and Sports. Set them as a favorite or add it to your custom home page on Google, Yahoo or Bing. This can help you with current relevant conversation.
Rule #9: Learn how to text message and do it.
Rule #10: Lose the newspaper. Young people get their news online.
Rule #12: Make eye contact. Eye contact is so critical to being perceived as young; don’t be afraid to use it.
Rule #13: Never refer to your grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Rarely mention your children – these topics make you sound old.
Rule #14: Go to the gym.
Rule #15: Never use ancient words like “groovy, dy-no-mite, or tubular.” Use current vocabulary.
Rule #16: Get a TiVo or DVR. Know how they work.
Rule #17: Record yourself to see how how old you sound. You will probably be your own worst critic. Note that youthful people talk much snappier.
Rule #18: Dress is very important: always dress age-appropriate with no frump factor.
Rule #19: Give your hairstyle a hard look. Get a young stylist to help with your look or ask a young family member that will be honest with you to help.
Rule #20: Skip cologne and wear deodorant. Young people don’t wear scented oils or strong cologne. You don’t want BO, so don’t skip that deodorant.
Rule #21: Make younger friends and hang out with them.
1 comment January 1, 2010
Black Friday Now?
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Black Friday is a popular label attached to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the US. This day marks the beginning of the busy shopping season during which most consumers typically start their Christmas/holiday shopping. While the word "black" often has a negative connotation, the use of black in this case alludes to profitability, which is traditionally noted in black ink (losses are noted in red). Traditionally, brick-and-mortar retailers see a surge in retail sales on this day as a result of the holiday shopping, putting their books "in the black". |
Every year it seem like the Christmas decorations go up earlier. I remember what mom taught me – don’t put up your Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. Wasn’t mom always right? I think that works in a normal economy. Retailers are pushing Black Friday because they need sales.
I understand the yin and yang of the issue. Conservatives want Christmas to be less commercial, see this page on the Advent Conspiracy. The Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption.Sounds great! Our society is one of excess consumerism.
If I put on my marketing hat, early retail sales info like Black Friday deals may help me as a consumer. The retailer gets the word out during a very competitive flat economy. Check out this web site on Black Friday deals and coupons. I love the countdown timer and blog.
My guess is that most Americans will spend less this Christmas but at what store? Choose wisely, and make your dollar work for you. The Black Friday site is a good start if you are thinking coupons and sale prices.
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4 comments October 26, 2009
Digital TV Tips ~ improve your reception
This web site helps you to get ready for digital TV, improve reception and get local help from contractors. The federal government is spending a ton of money. Not only was there a public information campaign, converter vouchers and incentives but now there are contractors on the payroll to help. This Digital TV site is very impressive – enter your zip code and see what local resources are available. Be sure to check out the DTV reception maps and get the direction and distance each of the TV stations with a very cool map! Great site, and you paid for it!
1 comment June 8, 2009
How much? My budget is … ~ doing business today
I found the video below on a friends Facebook page and it hit a raw nerve. While other cultures find it stimulating to negotiate back and forth, most Americans don’t expect it. In today’s economy many successful companies have learned to work with smaller budgets and some are actually producing great work. I think my pet peeve is bargaining after the service or goods are provided, like the couple in this video who ate the steaks before discussing price. It’s funny but so sad. =o(
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Add comment June 3, 2009
Viral Spot for Samsung LED TVs ~ Sheep wearing LED vests
Is this serious? It must be real, it’s a commercial conceived by The Viral Factory for Samsung. It had to take extreme shepherding and according to sources they kept it real. What no special effects guys? You watch the video and decide.
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Post your comments below
Add comment May 6, 2009
Texas Governor Signed Production Incentive Bill
When so many people are concerned about earmarks – why do we need production incentives? Did you know that moving picture industry brought 1.2 billion dollars to Texas in the past ten years? Texas has long recognized that making moving pictures in Texas has boosted state and local economies.
Governor Rick Perry Signs Production Incentive Bill
Texas is diverse with deserts, mountains, beaches, tropical and rolling hills scenery. If you are looking for a location to shoot a picture you can probably find it in Texas. This industry shows off Texas and boots the economy.
Why now? I googled and found that many states are now offering production incentives. In the last few years these incentives from other states have drawn the industry away from Texas.
I thank Governor and other Texas lawmakers for passing this bill. This makes Texas competitive, helps the economy and creates more jobs in Texas. So filmmakers take note, Texas wants your business!
*also see signing HB 873
Dwight Cook
Chairman, OiH
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Add comment April 24, 2009
Twitter based Ad Agency? Heck, yeah!
Felix Rhymes and I had an appetite stimulus conversation yesterday about Twitter. People who frequent Soundworks know that I am very excited about social networking. The first sign is the frequent use of the words 
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogging. I love being able to keep in touch and sometimes I hit max overload and have to take a break, but not for long.
Today, I noticed something quite stunning…a twitter-based ad agency. The owner, Carrie Bugby, won a Shorty award (yes, there are awards for Twitter advertising!) for her high profile promotion on twitter for the AMC show “Madmen.” She developed a persona on twitter as a character from the show and amassed a 12000 person following immediately. Her story is truly amazing and an inspiration to those of us who hate the “clipping my cats toenails” tweets (a message sent in twitter) and LOVE the concept of using Twitter for information, networking, and entertainment.
If you visit the Advertising Age website, http://tinyurl.com/d7rkqc , you can see the 9 minute interview with Carrie Bugbee. She shares some great ideas about promotion through Twitter. Add me as a friend on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, it’s the best way to catch me!
Karen Cook, Marketing@Soundworks
@KarenCook on twitter
Add comment April 9, 2009
Free Food Friday – October 8th @ SoundWorks
SoundWorks has fun ways of supporting the creative community with Free Food Friday* networking lunches. Menus for past events have included everything from good ole’ fashioned homemade hamburgers to Mexican, Spanish and Portuguese-inspired dishes prepared by local chefs. FFF is free lunch fun with Houston creative people. Dwight Cook of SoundWorks says, “It’s very cool to see graphic designers, writers and filmmakers make personal and business connections. It’s about making the Houston community smaller by getting to know each other.”
The next FFF event on October 8th will feature a Jamaican-themed menu and guests get to suggest their favorite Caribbean tune for download. Pirate punch for everyone!
* FFF translates: free lunch, invitation only, creative community enjoying creative cuisine. We believe in building this Houston network of professionals through the art of conversation, a shared perspective, a plate at a time. FFF is by invitation only, so if you want to attend you might have to twist an arm at SoundWorks.
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Add comment September 1, 2010