A little cheese in your life never hurts

I adjusted my heart back into it’s normal position. I practiced the yoga breathing that now comes naturally when my face is hot and my eyes are about to tear. 

After a difficult day at my internship last week, as my boss left the room – I immediately wrote something down. It was full of cheese, but in that moment it was pure. Maybe it’s the 3 or so hours of sleep I got last night, but when I found that quote, it still resonated.  

“Appreciate your failures, remember your wins, and keep your head up for next time.”

Honest communication through social media

I’ve been having an internal struggle with how to communicate through social media on behalf of an organization this semester- whether it be in school, through my internship, or in general.

I started participating in the online community before I knew what “social media” was. Before everyone gave it this overused name – it was just something that existed- and honestly- people made fun of.  I was able to go on Youtube and soon after, Twitter- and talk to people who appreciated what I was saying. In this diverse online community, there were always friends and new things to learn. You were the first on a platform, the first to ditch it,  or the first to make it a success.

Fast forward a few years later as a Creative Advertising major at VCU. Social media is the big buzz. Viral videos are the choice content to make for your ad project. But people forget- social media and viral videos were not for advertising at their inception. They were for genuine communication. There was no selfish gain being sought out with each tweet- It was mere connection.

One can argue on behalf of businesses trying to communication over social media- that they also want to forge a connection, that even those a part of the online community have selfish gains they seek to fulfill- but I feel the need to defend this world I used to be a part of. I want to figure out a way to communicate for the brand without offending someone who was already there.

I got into advertising in order to change the business world. I want to make it a more honest, navigable place for consumers. I’m glad I still remember that goal. I have a unique perspective on the world of digital communication and when I have the opportunity- I’ll figure out what I can do with it.

Until then- I will keep on forging a connection with each and every organization I need to promote in order to make each post more true, more genuine. People are savvy. Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether your changing the world or not.

 This is my place in the world and I want to defend it.  

Jokes make things better: an original song for all my ladies

Jokes make things better: an original song for all my ladies

This is also an appropriate topic for this blog, because I often deal with stress, anger, and sadness… with humor. It doesn’t work all the time, but when it does I end up having a laugh. And sometimes I even pop out a funny song.

#shitcozsays

I need to record this feeling before I forget it. My Perspicuousness professor talks about “getting your creative rocks off” in class all the time. He’s one of the best teachers I’ve had to date- for a few reasons why you can just refer to this twitter account: https://twitter.com/#!/shit_coz_says

I’m fairly certain… I just got my creative rocks off for the first time. And not from coming up with copy or an extremely to the poignant visual. From songwriting. I have yet to even write the chords, but this feeling I have is unbearably amazing. I can’t concentrate on dinner, on the episode of Californication I had started to watch before I have to head to the library. I want to keep on crafting and perfecting my fucking baby. 

I’ve written songs I’m fairly happy with before, but this is the first time I felt this way. I was waiting for my leftovers to heat up in the microwave and I just started singing. I started singing about shit that has been bothering me and for once, it came out exactly how I wanted to say it. 

I can now relate to what author, Elizabeth Gilbert, was saying in her TedTalks about “nurturing creativity.”  She talked about the pressure of creation when everyone is waiting for you to fail. She researched back and figured out that in ancient times they saw creativity as another being outside of yourself. This was the explanation for divine inspiration, per se. When that light bulb above your head flashes on- it was him (or her).  

You’re probably wondering what the song is, aren’t you? Well, it still needs some working on. I was able to pull together some other lyrics I’ve been working on lately, but it still needs some more.

Wait in anticipation. I promise you It’ll be up in due time. Until then, why don’t you work on getting your own creative rocks off.  

OK GO/Chevrolet commercial

OK Go- Needing/Getting- Official Video

What a smart idea. What a smart execution. You take a band that is known for some of their innovative and different videos and combine it with a car brand that wants to be associated with it.

Go on and get it, Chevrolet.

The Vinyl Project

This morning I had a heap of clean laundry sitting on my dirty bedroom floor, the kitty litter smelled like something had died under the Belvedere bridge and was sitting there slowly rotting for a week, and there were dishes in the sink. There’s still a pile of laundry sitting on my floor, but that’s only because I decided to sit down and  tell you about this idea I’ve just had.

A- I’m going to use this blog 

The original purpose of this blog was to compile a book of inspiration. These days you can’t just have something in print. A lot of inspiration you find is electronic.  There’s no such thing as being able to create a physical archive of your life. You’re forced to have this weird amalgam of a book on your shelf and the memories you once posted on Tumblr.

B-I’m Going to start “The Vinyl Project”

Sitting besides the television I never use is a blue crate of vinyl I often use.

The record player my sister bought me

The blue crate I am soon to conquer

They are a collection of vinyl I’ve bought myself, received as presents from my sister, absconded with from my mother, and ones I’ve forgotten to give back to friends. As with any medium you could listen to music on, you always go back to your known favorites. My Supremes records, the Buddy Holly, the New York Dolls, and Otis Redding have been showered with love continually while my other records are lonely and craving attention.

I am going to spend the next, well — however long it takes — to listen through all of my records. I’ll post what I think of each here: the good, the bad, and the painful (I may or may not be referring to the Rod Stewart records I know are sitting in there).

The first gem is a comedy album. Steven Martin, “A Wild and Crazy Guy.”

Steve Martin, A Wild and Crazy Guy

And here’s a few you have to look forward to-

Sesame Street, Just Friends circa 1982

The History of The Righteous Brothers

Until next time.

Arcade Fire- We Used to Wait

Apparently “wow” is my go to reaction adjective because that’s all I want to say. This is a great portrait of the unique ways that the internet can be used as a medium!

http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

I can’t to see how this catches on in the future.

Team Coco

In one word, marketing. In two words, brilliant marketing.