tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43108219733986744252024-03-18T20:07:18.505-07:00unclumsy3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-52788140561190197032024-02-24T22:32:00.000-08:002024-02-24T22:47:48.566-08:00The Somnambulists Association of Greater America<p><b>Three Songs about Falling Asleep on your Feet</b></p>
<p>On hearing that his sons intended to pursue careers as rock stars, Anthony Farina reportedly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_%26_Johnny">warned</a>: "the only stars are in the sky," which may have been truer in 1957 than it is today. Nowadays, if you really hit it big as a celebrity your star doesn't end up in the sky at all but, instead, embedded in cement to be walked upon or gawked upon in loving tribute when the ceremony is over.</p><p>A few years after his seemingly-sage admonition, Anthony's two kids, Santo and Johnny Farina, did, in fact, achieve a #1 hit – though none after – with the first and foremost "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rwfqsjimRM">Sleep Walk</a>", an instrumental which, despite having no lyrics, still managed to say quite a bit about a better and dreamier version of America at that moment and since. According to their wistful and melancholy melody, it's entirely possible to be both broken-hearted <i>and</i> hopeful <i>all at once</i> when you're walking home late on hot summer night reconsidering the day and reflecting on your station in life. The song is so good at creating that particular sensory experience, in fact, that it set an early high-water mark for so many of the reverby rock instrumentals that thereafter glued great albums together. Honestly, I'm surprised to see it left off Dylan's "<a href="https://variety.com/2022/music/news/bob-dylan-book-songs-revealed-philosophy-of-modern-song-essays-1235352559/">The Philosophy of Modern Song</a>," though I suppose it may have been a clerical oversight owing primarily to its wordlessness.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtUItaUV-Db8WP_cgKqUOxtSj0Ld973WxYKetxAOTohycAS-GozG4mjrRxOQ91TpM5Ltvx-1vJD_46hXEJEky2Af1NJo7VdVSbmNNfMszDwqnM_h34llBShFz-1YmZZyv8nfAGXSsjSdmin9trEIAZxiZMh2UwJ63maklGMzQ9bN07PfJNvmmxmNeBjSa/s224/3VB_Blog-Sleepwalk-Cover-v2.1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right:1.5em"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtUItaUV-Db8WP_cgKqUOxtSj0Ld973WxYKetxAOTohycAS-GozG4mjrRxOQ91TpM5Ltvx-1vJD_46hXEJEky2Af1NJo7VdVSbmNNfMszDwqnM_h34llBShFz-1YmZZyv8nfAGXSsjSdmin9trEIAZxiZMh2UwJ63maklGMzQ9bN07PfJNvmmxmNeBjSa/s1600/3VB_Blog-Sleepwalk-Cover-v2.1.png" width="224" /></a></div>The sentiment, though, was certainly not lost on Joe Strummer who in 1989 – thirty years after the original tune hit the charts and on an album filled with post-Clash ruminations about America – included his own (and our second) "Sleepwalk" on his solo effort <i>Earthquake Weather.</i> Strummer's "Sleepwalk" (condensed to one word, rather than two) is tucked at the back of the LP, a postscript to a raucous roadtrip, and alludes to Santo and Johnny's original with its own hesitating melody from the outset. Standing against a California sunset, levitating just above a swimming pool and a row of palm trees on the album cover*, it's easy to imagine the early-onset mid-life reflection Strummer had encountered in Los Angeles.<p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; line-height: 140%; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>He sings:</i><br />I went to find, some piece of mind<br />What good would it be?<br />What good would it be<br />If you could change every heartache<br />that ran through your life and mine?</p></blockquote>
<p>That idea – that there'd be a chance to somehow undo past heartbreak or that's it's <i>simply not worth it</i> given the opportunity to move on – is, for me, at least part of the magic that sits underneath the original "Sleep Walk" melody. Leave it to Strummer to pull off that trick.</p>
<p>By 1994, you'd expect that a then 40-year-old "avant-garage" songwriter from Cleveland would've given up for good on a 35-year-old instrumental one hit wonder, but you'd be wrong. A keen observer of bygone Americana – not the kind you hear on XM Radio but the sketchy roadside entrapment and deferred dreams kind – David Thomas (and <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/music/2008/02/longtime_cleveland_musician_ji.html">Jim Jones</a>) of Pere Ubu give us our third 'Sleepwalk,' though this time – purposefully, I'm sure – the title is again divided into two verbs, "Sleep" and "Walk" as a matter of directive. In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zUIiU9NGNs">video</a>, we get to watch <i>just that</i> as the band trudges through the downtown snow before they really buffed out the rough edges of the city. Thomas starts by cautioning against the magnetic attraction and dangers of reflection to the point of distraction (or, the pull to "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dog_and_Its_Reflection" target="_blank">relinquish substance for shadow</a>") as per Aesop:</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; line-height: 140%; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Somewhere, I see a face in a stream<br />I watch the dust in a beam<br />I work harder and harder to break away<br />From the grip of a dream</blockquote>
<p>Then – right before <i>their own</i> obvious instrumental coda to the original "Sleep Walk" – Thomas and 'Ubu shake us all awake, returning us to earth and to Anthony Farina's observation about the stars above:</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; line-height: 140%; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">It ain't me<br />Don't watch the sky, brother<br />It ain't me<br />Or the ground far below</blockquote>
<p>– Jon Roket</p>
<p>Jon writes on music, creativity, art, and eCommerce at Unclumsy.com</p>
<p><i>Addendum:</i> The original Santo & Johnny "Sleep Walk" is often listed online and in various <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO53RJhKvMY">cover</a> versions as "Sleepwalk," the single verb – and that would seem to make sense given the lilt of the tune – however, per ASCAP/BMI look-up, it's quite officially two words. Interestingly, Santo and Johnny's mother – she was, presumably, more encouraging of their career than her husband – wrote a set of lyrics for the 1959 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78MQ9gEEDUk">Betsy Brye version</a> that, while labled on the 45 itself as 'Sleep Walk,' is filed under "Sleepwalk" (one word) in ASCAP/BMI's Songview catalog.
</p>
<p>Photo credit for the <i>Earthquake Weather</i> album cover: Josh Cheuse. He's produced what looks to be an incredible book – <a href="https://joestrummerbook.com/" target="_blank">Print the Myth, Joe Strummer Portraits 1981-2002</a> – about his 20 year work span with Strummer. Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQrhfJVbCGk&t=45s">here</a> for a short video about that project.
</p>
<br />
3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-52429218673707921622024-01-10T13:51:00.000-08:002024-01-10T14:02:47.843-08:00Before & After, Part II <p><b>Wider, Lighter, AI, and Blue Skies</b></p><p>Another "Before & After" feature, this time for our pals at Mitsubishi Chemical Golf from the super-beautiful course photography provided by HypeClub. We used AI to expand the image – "moving mountains" might be an apt description – from portrait to landscape orientation, then worked the overcast haziness through a blast of sunlight into the almost unreal soft, cotton-blue sky.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHN07OMBs1Z1QMzMdnFK5a4sQXwCqV2mVDAT-kNUkYI4tqdY6JVvNeKSMb8EP29oAbeCzfcdqd5QzGm297sDfdj__bYfsTq7XrjTK1tQHdhriO7j9eLWgfpqFvSqggftali_IRMBEzFP1aD4qIA85hWdWBo61jWNQeDMOBxcAQD3pyU8F6cD3fRVBzpgP/s920/3VB_Before-After-MCA-Golf-v1.1.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHN07OMBs1Z1QMzMdnFK5a4sQXwCqV2mVDAT-kNUkYI4tqdY6JVvNeKSMb8EP29oAbeCzfcdqd5QzGm297sDfdj__bYfsTq7XrjTK1tQHdhriO7j9eLWgfpqFvSqggftali_IRMBEzFP1aD4qIA85hWdWBo61jWNQeDMOBxcAQD3pyU8F6cD3fRVBzpgP/s16000/3VB_Before-After-MCA-Golf-v1.1.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>This image – in various versions – was featured prominently in campaigns for Mitsubishi Golf's new, lightweight VANQUISH driver shaft throughout 2023 and 2024. There's a lot to be learned from the available AI post-production tools, but nothing makes an image sing quite like an underlying quality composition that captures a moment.</p>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-36726137107568469182023-09-23T11:16:00.005-07:002023-09-26T08:38:37.648-07:00Let the Future In<p><b>3VERB Dives into the
Next Decade</b></p><p>The author Graham Greene once said: "There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in." That sentiment is certainly true for me. Sometime around 1982 a generous neighbor noticed my intrigue with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX81">Sinclair ZX81</a> he had somehow managed to acquire and gave it to me. It still was the age of room-sized mainframe computers — their reels of magnetic media struggling to allocate and retrieve data — but the small computer sitting in front of me represented a tectonic shift in both the nature of computer technology <i>and </i>culture: It was now a "personal" computing experience in every regard. Indeed, my involvement with computers at that moment in time would become the single thread that has persisted through every creative, educational, professional, and interdisciplinary endeavor since. That small computer had, as Greene noted, "let the future in." I was a young kid at the time, but it was the only invitation I needed to dig in with real aplomb. I learned to program: first BASIC, then COBOL, and since — in now 20 years running 3VERB — HTML, ASP, PHP, Javascript, SQL, Liquid, and currently Python, among less-notable others.</p><p>I reflect on this now because this very moment — TODAY — feels so similar to the challenges and wide-open opportunities presented first in the early '80s, then again in the late '90s with the advent of the internet. In 1982, of course, consumers embraced "personal computing" as we collectively ditched the humming IBM Selectric typewriters and replaced them with Apple desktops, then Dell laptops. By 1999, we had entered the age of "connected computing," wherein Berners-Lee's World Wide Web allowed us to bypass stamps with a fancy "e-mail" system, trade equities in an instant, and shop from boutique stores around the world. Going forward from 2023, though, we're sure to encounter another, artificial-intelligence-fueled, fundamental technology shift in what I've started calling "extrapolated" computing: The inline-computer interaction that will finish your sentence, suggest distinct healthcare or wellness direction, and take the mystery out of how micro-interactions with consumers this week might affect your inventory projections in six months (given the additional complications of the macro-economic conditions, of course!). </p><p>This next "extrapolated computing" phase will arm knowledge-workers with the tools — I use this word purposefully — of the same revelatory efficiency provided by, for example, the lithium-battery-powered cordless drill in the building and construction industries a few decades ago. Plainly, AI-based "power tools" for critical thinking will provide huge advantages to those who understand and embrace the technology while, undoubtedly, leaving behind those who insist on the tradition of running an extension cord.</p><p><b>So what does all this mean for 3VERB and our clients? </b></p><p>First, we'll work actively to scout and vet the latest technologies, AI or otherwise, that matter to your business and set the stage for greater brand visibility and eCommerce efficacy. As I've likely mentioned, I'm half-way through an 8-week MIT executive course on designing and building AI products. It's enlightening and exciting. It's my intention to follow that course in the new year with a similar, complementary course to better understand how those same product development ideas snap into and support operational business processes.</p><p>Second, and maybe more importantly, please know that — regardless of the technology landscape or tools du jour — the core ideals and constructs that differentiate 3VERB remain the same. I'm as committed as ever to engendering the collegial and cooperative creative process, building sustainable brand value and sales through integrated cross-platform campaigns, and insisting on clarity in each step from the line-level code I first learned as a kid to your big picture strategy for tomorrow.<br /></p><p>– Jon Roketenetz</p><p>Jon writes on music, business, and creativity at Unclumsy.com</p>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-46870419962893949182023-03-17T08:24:00.010-07:002023-03-17T08:34:42.896-07:00I Got You<p><b>The Power of Observation and Prediction in Customer Service</b></p><p>When colleagues visit Chicago, the first stop is usually downtown. I'm
proud of the city and a walk from North Clark or along Michigan Ave
reinforces that: tourists on their way to "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Gate" target="_blank">The Bean</a>," the start of Route
66 (America's Highway) across the street from the Art Institute, the
<a href="https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicago-symphony-orchestra-strike-enters-second-week/3857609e-7deb-4d05-99f3-3277595dc7ba" target="_blank">striking orchestra musicians</a> playing outside Symphony Hall just down the street from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiyZj_2Q7aQ" target="_blank">bucket drummers</a>, and <a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/jay-pritzker-pavilion-at-millennium-park/" target="_blank">Frank Gehry's band shell</a> falling apart in frozen
motion. But, as you've undoubtedly heard me say, "When it comes to
Chicago, the joy is in the neighborhoods." That's true of the music
venues, but also of the inland parks, and, of course, the restaurants.
<a href="http://www.avecrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">avec</a> may have a location downtown, but if you want the best risotto you've ever had,
you gotta find the little Italian place tucked so inconspicuously across the street from
a <a href="https://onthegrid.city/chicago/humboldt-park/tastee-freez" target="_blank">Tastee-Freez</a> ice-cream stand at the edge of Humboldt Park.</p>A
few weeks ago, Peggy met some friends for drinks at <a href="https://www.lulacafe.com/" target="_blank">Lula Cafe</a> – <i>one of
my all-time favorites in our neighborhood</i> – on a plain ol'
Thursday night. She hadn't expected it, but the place was packed. Lula is
such a unique, wonderful, community-centric spot, though, that in
retrospect, it shouldn't have been a surprise to see a crowd, especially
as pandemic restrictions and concerns have eased. On entering the
restaurant, she scanned the room for an open table – none were
obviously available – then nudged her way over toward the bar figuring
that she might be able to turn the two open seats into small space for three
friends to visit. A few minutes later, a staff member from Lula –
having spied Peggy's predicament – caught her eye and, <i>like
magic</i>, said: "You lookin' for a table for three?" Peggy nodded. The astute Lula
employee said: "I got you," then led her across the restaurant to an
open table. <i>I see you. I get you. I got you.</i> Problem solved.<br /><br />So, how did this perfect, little,
meaningful customer service moment happen to happen at Lula Cafe on a
cold Thursday night in February? The answer is easy: This <i>happens <u>every</u> night</i> at Lula Cafe; Peggy just <i>happened</i> to wander into it. Good
companies, good restaurants, and good people read the room, practice
prediction in these moments, trusting in the power of their intuition
and observation, and looking for the opportunity reach out when they can
know they can be helpful. The next time a client shows up with an
impossible design challenge, or a last minute change request, or seems hesitant and uncertain,
I'll remember the power and impression left by those three simple,
definitive words: "I got you."<br /><div><br /></div><div>– Jon Roketenetz<br /><br />Jon writes on music, business, and creativity at Unclumsy.com</div><div><br /></div>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-26230139542219283032022-12-02T19:28:00.017-08:002022-12-05T11:27:13.245-08:00Backwards<div><b>This is a Big Deal. Where Do We Begin?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Last week I walked into the kitchen and the television had switched over from the noon news to a soap opera where a well-appointed couple was standing in a well-appointed recording studio, presumably in Los Angeles, California. The pair shared a pretty serious look on their faces. The woman furrowed her brow, clearly deflated: "<i>There's a problem with the song</i>," she fumed before letting a big dramatic pause linger as long as network television will allow. "And <b>*I*</b> wrote it!" she continued, punctuating the "I" purposefully for her now somewhat bewildered companion who hadn't yet realized – leather jacket notwithstanding – that he was in the company of a songwriter in the first place.</div><div><br /></div><div>So it goes with songwriting. You can be in the near-field vicinity of a songwriter at the bank or on a bus – or even standing right next to one at a fancy LA studio – and unless you hear 'em humming, you'd hardly ever know. Rolly Salley, originally of Belvidere, Illinois, for example, wrote "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwg2sdRdahM" target="_blank">Killing the Blues</a>" which, forever, I simply assumed was a John Prine song and which the rest of the world now thinks was written by Alison Krauss and the lead singer from Led Zeppelin. At this very moment, though, the <i>actual songwriter</i> of that song – a song as impactful and important to me as Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" or Zevon's "Desperados Under the Eaves" – might <i>actually</i> be standing at an ATM machine or sitting on a bus, unlike, say, Robert Plant.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9NtF7Rz55HKs4B96EBeTKjfu7lfDrOMzJM043MUY-b-0FzZGKfc3woPQ-FWbUy_AtdMefNBxzs3qXQj2SZycnA5SHHOphvPTN_-Qq8XDq1ndIRzJttA3Qx1dnv41WdvAp5LdatC0biHW9Hj49KXDEU9e_GEihip8IRWHAOsg1h4f1qTjMmN9__-qBA/s316/3VB_UN-Cardboard-v1.1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="316" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9NtF7Rz55HKs4B96EBeTKjfu7lfDrOMzJM043MUY-b-0FzZGKfc3woPQ-FWbUy_AtdMefNBxzs3qXQj2SZycnA5SHHOphvPTN_-Qq8XDq1ndIRzJttA3Qx1dnv41WdvAp5LdatC0biHW9Hj49KXDEU9e_GEihip8IRWHAOsg1h4f1qTjMmN9__-qBA/s1600/3VB_UN-Cardboard-v1.1.png" width="316" /></a></div>My own experience is that I wrote about ten dozen songs in the span of ten years from 1990 to 2000, then about a half-dozen in the 23 years since. I committed a handful of these to tape, but the rest eventually flew out the window after a few plays or dropped out of my pockets on the way from Ohio to Chicago. That's the first part of the story. The second part is that these same songs still resurface occasionally – as time capsules do – sending me backwards to separate decades out of days and recalibrate my sense of time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most recently, my pals Chris Allen and Kevin Grasha of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069534678520&paipv=0&eav=AfY5RpnxdGjTLCV2wn5o-HulkkwnZKapZiBNv8KgBfv0M4HsOAUvsV-ee21uBNC3i3I" target="_blank">Rosavelt</a> released an astonishing version of a song I first recorded in Roger Klug's living room on Marburg Avenue in Cincinnati almost thirty years ago. Notably, their version of "Cardboard" – now available on <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/cardboard-single/1655771814">iTunes</a>/<a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/cardboard-single/1655771814">Apple Music</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2B60n7erpYgrSDMPvupvbR" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and <a href="https://tidal.com/browse/album/261943863" target="_blank">Tidal</a> – includes the high honor of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Dixon_(musician)" target="_blank">Don Dixon</a> production (with a real-life drum machine) amid the unbelievably humbling recognition of songwriters who long ago mastered their craft so they could easily outrun the cover tunes.</div><div><br /></div><div>– Jon Roketenetz<br /><br />Jon writes on music, business, and creativity at Unclumsy.com<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Postscript.</i> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowland_Salley" target="_blank">Rolly Salley</a> is a Grammy-winning songwriter and plays bass in Chris Isaak's band Silvertone. According to Google, people also ask: "Is Rowland Salley married?"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-71933306462507797372020-07-14T17:56:00.001-07:002020-07-16T11:22:26.565-07:00Unsung<b>Bring Back the Grand Finale</b>
<br><br>
When I was 16, I went on trip to London with my family: my mom, my dad, and my sister. The only real goal in my teenage brain at the time was to find the songwriter Billy Bragg once I got there. I had, by then, ingested quite a bit of "Talking with the Taxman about Poetry," and "Workers' Playtime" had just been released. I couldn't quite believe that someone had found a proven process to compress Woody Guthrie-style, social commentary into obvious Motown chord changes but, there it was, and I was on my way to meet him.
<br><br>
I somehow convinced my parents that I should be allowed wander off across London using the Tube on this journey and I eventually (<i>the luck!</i>) found that Billy was playing a *quadruple bill* featuring his band — with, at the time, with Cary Tivey on piano — Michelle Shocked, comedian Barry Crimmins, and Michael Franti fronting one of his earlier bands. I bought a ticket and was floored. It was perfect in its wobbly imperfection, the kind of rock n' roll I had come to expect from rock heroes like the Del Fuegos, but presented here, before me, in a theater setting with red velvet-y seats and a crowd of people singing along. For the grand finale, the entire set of performers from the evening participated and a light clicked on for me. I saw the light, so to speak. I bought a t-shirt at the merch table on the way out and wondered: "What does an avowed socialist do with all the swag sales money?"
<br><br>
Later that night, within just yards of arriving back at the hotel, I encountered my dad. He been out looking for me at the direction of my mom, clearly having re-assessed the wisdom of having let a naive, suburban kid wander this big city beyond midnight. He was glad to have found me almost home. As a dad myself now, I can intuit the amalgam of relief, surrealism, and adrenaline he experienced at that moment. Standing there in the Underground, he and I paused a bit in the vacuum of the moment to take in a drunken reveler in a Burger King crown singing his heart out. He was relieved to have found me. I was elated at the experience of the previous four hours. In that regard, it was a win for both of us.
<br><br>
In any case, Bill's music became a guide-wire for me in so many regards from that point forward. While I occasionally returned to those early records, I followed his career forward, too. At each turn, there was a song there for the taking that somehow matched my world.
<br><br>
On "William Bloke," indeed, he captured, in a single song, the circumstances and moment I met my wife,
<blockquote><i>He was trapped in a haircut he no longer believed in,<br>she said 'I'm a teacher, I teach the children.'</i></blockquote>
the joy and complex circumstances of bringing our kiddo home 14 years later,
<blockquote><i>Their baby came home to them an unmarried mother,<br>they wished she would turn into a pillar of salt</i></blockquote>
and, today, the absolute most important rule in our home:
<blockquote><i>Compassion has to be the greatest family value.</i></blockquote>
Just last week, I was Googlin' to confirm Bill's favorite song — it <i>might just be</i> Lowell George's "Willin'" and that's a story for another blog post entirely — and I was reminded in the search results of his pre-pandemic project singing train songs and traveling by train with the songwriter Joe Henry. It took me right back to that moment in London so many years ago, <a href="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8cec7e3728eeb22bc8f67e4dcf6614850a884702/0_3_4766_2860/master/4766.jpg?width=1920&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5b82f4fc9a824931f308eaccaf6f8567" target="_blank">this image</a> of two musicians in their misbegotten hats — this time standing right in the middle of in <i>my hometown</i> of Chicago at Union Station — embarking on a literal shared journey.
<br><br>
I'm thinking about this, of course, because we're all still stuck in our homes, watching so much of this horribleness occupy our TV screens, awaiting and praying for the end of this craziness, but also acutely aware of the things we're grateful for, and missing that shared journey and experience of live music. That is, of course, the main thing we're all looking for as musicians alongside our cords and cables, the hum from the amps, a shock to the lips, and most importantly to me, the grand finale and the arc of community and solidarity it represents, which I first learned about from Bill's show way back in 1988.
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So, right now... bring me back to the Billy Bragg grand finale at Dominion Theatre in 1988. Let me stand on the side of summertime ski hill, overlooking Lake Superior, thirty years later, while Michael Franti hauls all the kids in the audience on stage to sing along. Don't play me a slow, mournful version of anything right now; instead, give me the ten minute grand finale jam of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFHVOuKS8-8" target="_blank">I Saw the Light</a>" with Billy Strings and his crew. Give me a nine minute version of Don Dixon and Autumn Defense doing "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYnP_o7iDn0" target="_blank">Praying Mantis</a>" to close out a house party. Give me Maria McKee, Van Dyke Parks, Hiram Bullock, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and David Sanborn closing out a Night Music episode doing "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkKideLU4ZU">Sailing Shoes</a>." Bring out Ringo and Ronnie Wood (in his tuxedo t-shirt) and give us all The Band, with the rest of the ensemble, singing "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjtPBjEz-BA" target="_blank">I Shall Be Released</a>."
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When this is all good and over, give me the grand finale in full, glorious harmony, over and over again, from the West down to the East. You and me, together, we can take the long way home.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon writes on music, business, and creativity at Unclumsy.com
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-91906277938716492492020-06-09T17:04:00.000-07:002020-06-27T20:30:14.471-07:00Sunken Ledger<b>On His First Solo Outing, Mike Tittel Owns His Own Demons</b>
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According to Mike Tittel, half of Ohio is sitting at the bottom of Lake Erie and we're probably better off for it. Tittel, a Southern Ohio native and Cincinnati-scene fixture for over 20 years puts it bluntly: "If every drum kit I own was stolen tomorrow," he says, "I'd make more progress just writing songs at my kitchen table than trying to talk my way into another gig in Columbus. Who needs it?" He should know. In the mid 90s, Tittel traveled the country while vacuum-packed in a Ford Econoline as the touring drummer for the iconic power-pop band, Loud Family. Along the way, he absorbed almost everything you need to know about the craft of hook-laden artful deception. He learned a fair bit about songwriting, too. The rest he picked up from a well-worn record collection of XTC, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, and every possible incarnation of Westerberg, all clearly just below the surface in his writing.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5Idt_NHHU48lC_DS2WOkjrfQZI6K8nR5YYlqtFz-OeObtdmT1DwGrqYm4HPiluawXmMEsL4DUOsaricTqrq-s7NCSPioVvV8A7RvLC6U3TgLG2ey2QXvP5nHhHc1EsrBezHQCB4uq8-U/s1600/IMG956071-320.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5Idt_NHHU48lC_DS2WOkjrfQZI6K8nR5YYlqtFz-OeObtdmT1DwGrqYm4HPiluawXmMEsL4DUOsaricTqrq-s7NCSPioVvV8A7RvLC6U3TgLG2ey2QXvP5nHhHc1EsrBezHQCB4uq8-U/s1600/IMG956071-320.png" data-original-width="320" data-original-height="477" /></a></div>Back in Cincinnati, Tittel made one more record — 1999s astounding "Let There Be Work" with his band Pidgin — then hit the pause button, set aside the drums, sold the old-school 16-track AMPEX 2" deck, and opted for career of photography and advertising. He waited a full 15 years, then returned in 2014 with the harrowing "44," a stop-motion chronicle of his admittedly complex life at the time. "Friends were concerned," he laughs, but it turned out to mark an awakening. His second act in music, dubbed New Sincerity Works, released the acclaimed "Nowadays" (2015) and "Wonder Lust" (2017) in quick succession, both featuring an all-star cast of the best of the best in Midwest power-pop: Bob Nyswonger of the Psychodots & Bears and Roger Klug among 'em.
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With 2020's "Sleeping In," his first true solo endeavor — he plays almost all of the instruments with support from his key comadre, Lauren Bray, of Pretty Birds — Tittel turns down the volume and breaks out the vintage acoustic guitars, but can't get away from the pop sensibilities, no matter which way he swims. From "3AM" to the closing track ("Birds of Murren"), "Sleeping In" lets you in on a little secret: you're gonna hear the paged turns of spiral notebooks, the inked padding of lined legal rule, and the ledgers of lyrics right up close as he skims across the personal and the profane. From the Neil Finn-tinged "Own Your Own Dealings" to "On a Good Day," the songs end up reading like a practical guide to realignment in a world so obviously overturned:
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The seekers of the dreams, those busting at the seams<br>
with losses from the past, it's time to do the math<br>
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For Tittel, it's clear that it's no longer enough to be the photographer, the drummer, or the songwriter alone. He's determined to be the observer-in-full and go, as the songwriter Greg Brown would say, "further in," the cinematic and the ineffable in single sentiment, every single time.
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"Both the shipwreck and the treasure are resting on the bottom," Tittel notes about the creative process, "waiting for anyone who can hold their breathe."
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Watch the album trailer for "Sleeping In" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqz4i9onrCc">here</a>.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of GimmeAnother and founder of 3VERB.
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<span style="font-size:80%"><b>PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Wilson</b></span>
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-61627162067698945672020-02-23T14:16:00.000-08:002020-04-16T11:12:53.160-07:00Black & White<b>On Location for Aldila Golf in California</b>
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Glad to spend a few days shooting for Aldila Golf outside of San Diego with the super-talented adventure photographer, <a href="http://www.urbancamper.com/">Mike Calabro</a>, this January. A <i>great way to start the year</i>: enthusiastic client, lucky weather, and a stack of quality photos to support social media outreach for a legendary brand. Shown here decked out in his black and white polka-dot DannyShane polo, Mike takes aim.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoNxG6TViLtjv3YmaP2qUOe7vd2xaSFMXNH-gvEfbbnLj0la2ROlkSe_C56bfuJ8upP7jIx8dEgwH3RAhNxCn9tUvQfl52t1qaT6Umpu4pXyRkGzBKqvthlAtIQyRyhV7_CLcqkvValgN/s1600/3VB_Calabro-California_DSCF3063-v1%2528s%2529.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoNxG6TViLtjv3YmaP2qUOe7vd2xaSFMXNH-gvEfbbnLj0la2ROlkSe_C56bfuJ8upP7jIx8dEgwH3RAhNxCn9tUvQfl52t1qaT6Umpu4pXyRkGzBKqvthlAtIQyRyhV7_CLcqkvValgN/s1600/3VB_Calabro-California_DSCF3063-v1%2528s%2529.png" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="657" /></a>
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These days, I pack three cameras for these types of trips: my old Canon with Sigma lens, the new Sony a7 mirrorless with 50mm prime, and the little, simple, perfect Fujifilm X70 which nabbed this photo of Mike.
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Check out Mike's <a href="https://www.instagram.com/urbancamperphoto/">work</a> on his Instagram account.
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– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-53951943150962106222019-11-27T08:00:00.000-08:002019-11-27T20:40:38.829-08:00Thankful<b>Sometimes the Flowers Arrange Themselves</b>
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On site with David Edwards Clothier — importer of fine Italian cashmere and couture menswear — here in Chicago. It's 8:30 on a cold, November Saturday morning. Two floors of windows, at left, are allowing the natural light to outdo even the giant softboxes at <a href="https://forgottenchicago.com/columns/postcards/alfreds-ice-king/">our studio</a> on North Ave. A group of good people, good food, coffee, sodas, a bag of Costco almonds, and laughter. You can <i>just tell</i> this crew is ready for the holidays.
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Below, the model's aunt reprises an earlier pose by her talented nephew; I get to capture the moment.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U8lS70cyNMAYx8F_D4ov25oAAsqRPkO5hVuoQj1EO7tO7CTXyTHZA3AIeGDuw5VHJNMNauVqeDpiPe2CfeywnJrGj-Dz1x039e6CCYqYwDmfnusmnNH_99uM6WZxx06MLIzP1aW6Q5KE/s1600/DEC-NOV19_5-DSC02474%2528s%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U8lS70cyNMAYx8F_D4ov25oAAsqRPkO5hVuoQj1EO7tO7CTXyTHZA3AIeGDuw5VHJNMNauVqeDpiPe2CfeywnJrGj-Dz1x039e6CCYqYwDmfnusmnNH_99uM6WZxx06MLIzP1aW6Q5KE/s1600/DEC-NOV19_5-DSC02474%2528s%2529.jpg" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="614" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K7m22kHbGClN844V8vGzMXK3kIidmr-jzTdMqNhmBsEjnBEESy6rSpXuFmy7aMXmzPXqIJVKyWw8ki4EbLBp1F7irD9LYGGPJrWiQ_fN38FKhIaALD0oXvTYuyuKHQlckhtLHchPcIhL/s1600/DEC-NOV19_3-DSC02587%2528s%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K7m22kHbGClN844V8vGzMXK3kIidmr-jzTdMqNhmBsEjnBEESy6rSpXuFmy7aMXmzPXqIJVKyWw8ki4EbLBp1F7irD9LYGGPJrWiQ_fN38FKhIaALD0oXvTYuyuKHQlckhtLHchPcIhL/s1600/DEC-NOV19_3-DSC02587%2528s%2529.jpg" data-original-width="450" data-original-height="300" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-YPYWdONUO9D6TPa7FnwqnkC2WERSJpQ4BK8oYVKZGt9l4EJsMCkdoXvtzx1czw8ipB380BqNSM1XF5dpDPZQi3Z85slliRjcOBUXBo3Nwmos4NM3HF7kje0fYwm5ItNwFgiMxaczcvG/s1600/DEC-NOV19_2-DSC02537%2528s%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-YPYWdONUO9D6TPa7FnwqnkC2WERSJpQ4BK8oYVKZGt9l4EJsMCkdoXvtzx1czw8ipB380BqNSM1XF5dpDPZQi3Z85slliRjcOBUXBo3Nwmos4NM3HF7kje0fYwm5ItNwFgiMxaczcvG/s1600/DEC-NOV19_2-DSC02537%2528s%2529.jpg" data-original-width="450" data-original-height="300" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq77baHyx2XLSPnfggB-dExsp-owyYtJtjw_T0BJlltydDQokD5-vARSaSYJUzqPLH5o9XZWk-1b57EYzPqlKoQUxvsyvwsGYJxhCvxMRfCJGaZev_dSTvphZxwaw8c_NMV_xVQaljXkX_/s1600/DEC-NOV19_16-DSC02271%2528s%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq77baHyx2XLSPnfggB-dExsp-owyYtJtjw_T0BJlltydDQokD5-vARSaSYJUzqPLH5o9XZWk-1b57EYzPqlKoQUxvsyvwsGYJxhCvxMRfCJGaZev_dSTvphZxwaw8c_NMV_xVQaljXkX_/s1600/DEC-NOV19_16-DSC02271%2528s%2529.jpg" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="614" /></a>
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Brands are, of course, so much more than a collection of moments, although those certainly help. At their best, they're full of the personality and vigor of those involved. This Fall, I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with so many unique brands and for the occasions where the pieces just fall into place.
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– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-74198165828798577082019-11-15T17:27:00.000-08:002019-11-18T08:20:42.449-08:00The Long Game
<b>Meeting Consumer Expectations Means Getting on the Same Timeline</b><br><br>
For manufacturers going consumer-direct, the benefits are obvious: better margins, the opportunity to interact with enthusiastic consumers and important trends at ground level, and the chance to unplug from an entire layer of distributor logistic hassle and slow payments. But, the journey can also be a harrowing experience with a steep learning curve, too. It's often replete with much of the good ol' awfulness that can accompany fickle consumers: outsized expectations of the product itself, insistence on fast and <i>free(!)</i> shipping, painfully liberal return policies, and the expense of a skillful customer service team.
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And that's the good news. This underlying shift in sales channels is also happening contemporaneously with a shift in consumer loyalty habits. Consumers are, in short — without the hard work and diligence by a brand to build a meaningful relationship with a new customer — less loyal to specific brands as a matter of cultural dynamics, as referenced in this <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenkusek/2016/07/25/the-death-of-brand-loyalty-cultural-shifts-mean-its-gone-forever/amp/">Forbes article</a>. Direct-to-consumer manufacturers — these "new-to-the-game" retailers with their perfect websites and fancy dynamic pricing — are still left with the distinct possibility of a substantial investment to attract a <u>one-time</u> customer. Here’s why:
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Many new retailers assume the <i>start</i> of the relationship with a consumer is the first paid click and the <i>end</i> of the relationship is the sale itself. <b>That's not how consumers perceive it.</b> Consumers, instead, see the start of the relationship as the moment the product arrives at their home. That's why 'unboxing' videos are so ubiquitous on YouTube. Everything before that delivery moment is research and anticipation.
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To cultivate the kind of long-term relationships that matter to legitimate, calculable, bottom-line, put-it-in-the-valuation, lifetime-consumer-value, brands in the direct-to-consumer space need to rethink assumptions about that timeline — so often perpetuated by monthly agency reporting and superficial KPI metrics that stop at the sale itself — and <i>build processes that extend into the consumer relationship</i> <u>after</u> the product delivery. To earn the <u>next</u> sale, direct-to-consumer manufacturers need to deliver on price and product, of course, but also in their <b>post-sale presence</b> to best align with the consumer expectation of the sales cycle timeline.
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What that post-sale presence should look like will vary, but consider, for example, email outreach designed <i>specifically</i> for consumers who have purchased a product in the last 12 months — emails that bring the product features, benefits, and brand identity to life while acting to guide the new-user experience over a 6 month window — rather than simply treating this new buyer group to the same email campaigns designed to elicit sales out of prospects.
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To be sure, the story is not entirely written on how eCommerce will affect retail at large, but this much is clear: even an exceptional experience at checkout on the first sale may no longer be enough to bring the consumer back the next time without an earnest effort at a deeper bond. Smart retailers will jump at the chance to build sturdy, worthwhile relationships even and especially after the box leaves the warehouse.
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– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-1922013688907298022019-09-24T20:41:00.000-07:002019-10-19T11:14:04.036-07:00Engaged<b>Are Your Consumers Offered the Excuse to 'Learn More?'</b>
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A large part of our work involves finding the perfect moment in a photograph; sometimes that's the obvious and authentic laugh of a subject, other times it's a still life that finds a perfect reflection. But that's often <i>just the beginning</i>. Given the flood of content flowing across social channels these days, the big trick usually involves finding the right opportunity to <i>engage </i>a consumer, a way to get your foot in the door.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdOTzPGXWMavxtwuQxhqMHzoayTVMpSWbHOyx-ovdNXVC0Hm7GV5fftxaPtQzKllMOGhR9zL3rYVpH6VTHWSBJi98p_ny-NIK4V3HN3oGInfspipXfs5UW8cDNKTdaJGGpCaRh9QiQqIN/s1600/3VB_Unclumsy_MCA-MCA_GGP_MMT-1024x768-v1.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdOTzPGXWMavxtwuQxhqMHzoayTVMpSWbHOyx-ovdNXVC0Hm7GV5fftxaPtQzKllMOGhR9zL3rYVpH6VTHWSBJi98p_ny-NIK4V3HN3oGInfspipXfs5UW8cDNKTdaJGGpCaRh9QiQqIN/s1600/3VB_Unclumsy_MCA-MCA_GGP_MMT-1024x768-v1.png" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="690" /></a>
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Consumers are now highly skilled curators, scanning and quickly rejecting content that is of the least interest and, many times, only offering a basic bookmark action for the most interesting. So, how do we successfully break through for our clients? We use the standard toolbox, of course: contests and invitations, sale pricing and limited time offers, too, but our most effective one-two punch has always been, first, a beautiful photograph and, second, a clearly visible button with a plain call to action. It's amazing to me how often that's missing in expensive placements. Leaving out the simple, courteous "ask" to engage in the equation drops the click rate significantly and, without a doubt, loses an opportunity for a prospect to <i>envision participation</i> for the brand.
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These things are simple: put out your hand to welcome a prospect, invite engagement, ask the question: "Want to Learn More?"
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– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-79322897576810856652019-06-05T06:46:00.002-07:002019-06-05T13:30:30.800-07:00People. Product. Profit. People.<b>Screen Share Can't Capture the Essence of a Business</b><br><br>
With many new clients, I take the time to visit the business from the outset. In fact, I generally bake the idea directly into the initial proposal. I'm eager to meet the crew and start to understand not only the business workflow we aim to support with marketing and technology projects, but also the people and passion they bring to their work. To be really present and fully engaged in so many of our projects at <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>, it takes an understanding of the tools of the trade and the people behind them. Almost without exception these visits renew my belief in some of our best shared ideals: the entrepreneurial spirit, a commitment to creating useful, quality products, and a ground-level confirmation that people still work best in a collegial and cooperative environment.<br><br>
Seen here, a few snapshots from my visit with the incredibly hard-working and ingenious crew at <a href="https://escapeclimbing.com/">Escape Climbing</a> outside St. Paul, Minnesota. They're a case in point: Great products, an enterprise geared to profit in an emerging category, but quite clearly book-ended by people-power.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bNfS7N-LfGN_Ptml47PcoE7s0x4k6yEIEvwwP7wtD7W5xoE0yUB1N11OzjCUF_x7xbj9LqR4hf4mUQDMtR3G0icQADccreyWCiQrOHZmFJrZlOH6QRoeL09x1FxOPLL6f9qtMjRk5FX5/s1600/3VB_ESC_People-Product-Profit-v1.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bNfS7N-LfGN_Ptml47PcoE7s0x4k6yEIEvwwP7wtD7W5xoE0yUB1N11OzjCUF_x7xbj9LqR4hf4mUQDMtR3G0icQADccreyWCiQrOHZmFJrZlOH6QRoeL09x1FxOPLL6f9qtMjRk5FX5/s1600/3VB_ESC_People-Product-Profit-v1.png" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="451" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-btRfIR1F37mwoRuCB932A40ancdLFX1gPW-QoELsBjT8kSeT5kB1afIo_3xUpKSppgJ51sYldJ9iTDOgzpR4ira-QmgxRETajPBQEE1-LPyFuPrqJkiDE_Qbn5FCP_bCBfdFjLZASwJ7/s1600/3VB_ESC_People-Product-Profit-v2.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-btRfIR1F37mwoRuCB932A40ancdLFX1gPW-QoELsBjT8kSeT5kB1afIo_3xUpKSppgJ51sYldJ9iTDOgzpR4ira-QmgxRETajPBQEE1-LPyFuPrqJkiDE_Qbn5FCP_bCBfdFjLZASwJ7/s1600/3VB_ESC_People-Product-Profit-v2.png" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="451" /></a>
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Nowadays, in so many regards, I'm convinced it serves us well to not allow rapid-exchange email and social media chatter and screen-share-conference-calling to act as our proxy or define key relationships. We can do better than that. We can dare to show up in person.<br><br>
– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-89294435758485123012019-03-03T12:27:00.000-08:002019-03-03T12:35:36.153-08:00As Seen on TV<b>The ATMOS Performance Golf Shaft Takes Off</b><br><br>
In early 2017 our friends at Fujikura Golf found themselves in a pickle. They needed to bring a new shaft to market in a hurry. They had the technology and research to support the release <i>and </i>real confidence in its performance but they lacked a name and graphic treatment that would mark the latest release as distinct and important. At 3VERB, we put the creative machine into high gear and returned a variety of graphic ideas and naming directions, but Fujikura gravitated towards a name we had unpacked from a hybrid idea: ATMOS, an earnest reference to the determination of space-race era and performance at a core, ‘atomic’ level as shown in the interlocking ‘atoms’ featured in the design.
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The shaft was eventually featured in the Golf Channel reality series, ‘Driver vs. Driver,’ as shown below.
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<iframe width="920" height="520" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_CrForvko7I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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After the initial launch of the product, we supported continued visibility for <a href="https://issuu.com/fujikuragolf/docs/3verb-0276-fjk-catalog-v17-pages/10?ff=true">ATMOS</a> with design for advertising, social media campaigns, and marketing promotions.<br><br>
– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-90158982089891983582019-02-23T14:17:00.001-08:002019-02-23T14:20:54.987-08:00Book<b>Neil Shapiro Rolls Out the Long-Awaited "Jazz Alphabet"</b><br><br>
In the past 18 years, we've had the chance to work across a whole array of industries. We've built websites, of course, but also the technology base for a sports drink company, branding for (<i>it seems</i>) every kind of sporting good you can imagine, and managed lots and lots of online marketing. Nothing, though, is quite like the chance to work with the occasional <i>super-talented</i> artist, those with legitimate, old-school skills to put paint and paper to work. Featured here, Neil Shapiro, a Chicago illustrator with an <i>obsession</i>, of sorts, with jazz.<br><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDRinnJNyxWsmziP09wdavEhL_K7oK-TWM3uiFLNWMystWy0X9mnDJ6EwpmQMUUpgbTX_NLaZXYqv-yyb9Jl4OAYRvdqXVRCs5jice6-eBy-ONljSnF0BGMFYaRpqSwxCv1y5-ldCoqnI/s1600/3VB-NS_Book-NeilShapiroJazz.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDRinnJNyxWsmziP09wdavEhL_K7oK-TWM3uiFLNWMystWy0X9mnDJ6EwpmQMUUpgbTX_NLaZXYqv-yyb9Jl4OAYRvdqXVRCs5jice6-eBy-ONljSnF0BGMFYaRpqSwxCv1y5-ldCoqnI/s1600/3VB-NS_Book-NeilShapiroJazz.png" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="519" /></a><br><br>
Neil rolled around this idea for a book of jazz greats organized by alphabet for 20 years and mentioned it to me a few years ago. It seemed like such a fun, funny, and cool pursuit. I'd seen other artists take on the alphabet as a structural form onto which they could improvise in the past – think John Lennon's perfectly oddball alphabet poem – but Neil's final product takes it to the next level: indulging, as Neil says, his love of both the music and letterform.<br><br>
For more information on Neil's incredible book, click <a href="https://www.jazzalphabet.com/">here</a>. For a PBS video interview with Neil, click <a href="https://news.wttw.com/2019/02/07/jazz-enthusiast-brings-passion-new-book-jazz-alphabet">here</a>.<br><br>
– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-72284397248836950332019-01-20T11:19:00.000-08:002019-06-05T13:30:37.348-07:00Fifteen<b>A Reflection on 15 Years of Sobriety</b><br><br>
This month will mark 15 years since my last drink. It's hard to believe and even harder to talk about out loud. After all this time, I now have distinct groups of friends who have never known me as anything but sober and whole batch of friends who, for some reason, have stuck around despite the sobriety. Newer friends occasionally ask why I don't drink out of curiosity. Older friends lovingly recall the times I boiled vodka at a Christmas party, got tossed in a bush, or sang "Happy Birthday" one-by-one to the first 100 attendees at a party. Most times I defer on the details as the story isn't nearly as interesting as it should be. I never missed work – <i>I was born with that curse</i> – but I certainly operated at 80% of my capacity many days and regret the times alcohol facilitated acerbic or mean-spirited conversation, especially among people I love or respect.
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Here's the story: Just about 16 years ago now, Peggy's mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer; it still feels like yesterday in many regards. As a family, we decided to collectively dull the impending loss with a river of booze. Each weekend during the last three months of what turned into a life-altering experience for me, Peggy and I drove to and from Cleveland, back to our home in Chicago. I could still drive that route with my eyes closed all the way to the Tim Horton's just outside Toledo. As long as we were stationary, though, I found a reason to drink and tucked the justification behind the fog and sorrow with the rest of the crew.
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After Peggy's mom passed away in mid-December of 2003, and after a decidedly dim and hazy set of holidays that followed, Peggy initiated a training routine to run a marathon in memory of her mom. She was quickly in great physical shape, I felt like a slug and a drag. Each morning as she trained along the cold lakefront path here in Chicago, I walked the empty, wide open park with our dog who scattered groups of seagulls back up into the overcast sky. It was, quite literally, cold reality.
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I was haunted on those days by my rock-n-roll mentor's, <a href="https://danzanes.com/about-dan-zanes/">Dan Zanes</a>', song, "Cruel Cold Feeling," about his own struggles with alcohol:
<blockquote>
<i>I knew what I told her, "Those days are gone. I'll stop for one then be right home."<br>
How do I stop these shaking hands, calm the nerves, mend the man?</i>
</blockquote>
To Dan's credit, and something I so admire about his writing, he managed to distill a whole 24-hour narrative into two lines, replete with the awful missing parts that fall on the cutting room floor in any good edit. Dan's a Grammy Award winner and, as I understand it, they don't hand those out unless you know what you're doin'.
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Beyond that, though, I was also pursued at a deep, personal level – as I am to this day – by the essayist Wendell Berry's profound direction*:
<blockquote>
<i>Ask yourself: Will this satisfy a woman satisfied to bear a child?<br>
Will this disturb the sleep of a woman near to giving birth?</i>
</blockquote>
More to the point, I wondered then: Was this how I was supposed to live in a manner meant to honor the people around me? And now, do I hold myself to this standard as a father as I try to help raise a young boy?
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In those moments, facing an icy Lake Michigan, I found a whole new perspective. And, importantly, I found a way to push that perspective directly into motivation. I managed a day, then a week, then a month without alcohol, then quit smoking. <i>Mend the man</i>, just like the song says.
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Like many creative types, I had long before convinced myself that alcohol was part of a successful operating system that produced good work – writing, music, coding, the same as now – and, to the extent that a hangover can produce an uneasy space for reflection and regret, I suppose that's somewhat true in the granular. But, overall, it's a falsehood. The truth is, on the other side, there's clarity and courtesy, and the chance to better support the journey of those around us.
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– Jon
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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<i>Postscript.</i> A number of books, records, and movies have been important to me along the way as context for the the drinking life and day-to-day sobriety. Here are my top three:
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(1) Now out of print, Dan's CD "<a href="https://www.discogs.com/Dan-Zanes-Cool-Down-Time/release/2082086">Cool Down Time</a>" (referenced above) from the early 1990s is a masterpiece: the first half will knock the wind out of you; the second will remind you of the power of redemption.
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(2) Mary Karr's excellent book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lit-Memoir-P-S-Mary-Karr/dp/0060596996">Lit</a>" follows in the fine tradtion of memoirs from writers like Caroline Knapp ("<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drinking-Love-Story-Caroline-Knapp/dp/0385315511/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TWY5KI8RPAHT&keywords=drinking+a+love+story+by+caroline+knapp&qid=1547922307&s=Books&sprefix=drinking+a+love%2Cstripbooks%2C142&sr=1-1">Drinking: a Love Story</a>", "Pack of Two") about navigating recovery.
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(3) 1988's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu_PiJcVtCk">Clean & Sober</a>" features a Michael Keaton performance so real, so raw, so honest that you almost forget Morgan Freeman co-stars in the movie. It's written and shot perfectly; gritty and desperate from scene to scene as it showcases the logic that empowers addiction. Keaton's final speech in the movie comes on the heals of a plot turn that tries its best to break him fully. The speech, delivered at an AA meeting, feels like a friend talking directly to you.
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<i>* from Wendell Berry's "The Mad Farmer Liberation Front," 1973.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-66246367368067674862019-01-18T13:43:00.000-08:002020-06-09T17:10:25.556-07:00Deeper Blue<b>"I think we're making a late 1970s Emmylou Harris record here."</b>
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<i>Here’s the story:</i> Laurie's husband, Joe, passed away in April of 2015 and not too long after I picked up the phone to call Laurie. There had been a fair amount of news coverage surrounding Joe's death and, in particular, the path he chose to die with dignity, Laurie at his side. One picture in the newspaper featured Joe in bed, near death; for me, still hard to process. But the picture also showed Laurie, too, right next to Joe, singing him a song and playing the ukulele with a smile on her face. The picture represented everything I love – we all love – about Laurie and her songs: heartwarming, heartbreaking, tough as nails despite it all, defiantly joyful, and with you to the bitter end, no matter what. I said: "I can't shake that image, Laurie. What song were you singing to Joe?" She said, "Rocky, I think I need to make an album."
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Y3qfHMKf1iYGwDJOVe762Bkhi3st1_k7qe-orDwlgYgh97iFtzYaDCpzU-hlV0g25EzzWH5wMMjhD6TW-6xCKZZ6EDkXfjkfnLWkf23GTfPYe5_cZjHr75sUbGC01C2pDvCVdEbrZJoE/s1600/LTN_BlogPost-v1.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Y3qfHMKf1iYGwDJOVe762Bkhi3st1_k7qe-orDwlgYgh97iFtzYaDCpzU-hlV0g25EzzWH5wMMjhD6TW-6xCKZZ6EDkXfjkfnLWkf23GTfPYe5_cZjHr75sUbGC01C2pDvCVdEbrZJoE/s1600/LTN_BlogPost-v1.png" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="451" /></a>
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That began our three-year quest, of sorts, to make a record that would serve as a cathartic outlet for Laurie in this incredible time of transition and pain and, quite purposefully, draw in some of the most creative folks we knew. I had recently reconnected with an old pal, Mike Tittel (of New Sincerity Works) – easily one of my favorite musicians – who had started a recording studio at Fruit Hill, outside of Cincinnati. Mike was trying to convince me at the time – he still is, actually – to record a new album but I told him about Laurie and her story and we all agreed: Laurie's record was the priority. We cut the first tracks – me on electric guitar, Mike on drums, and Laurie on uke and electric piano in the Fall of 2015. Right away, we knew we had half-a-dozen really great takes. It was early in the process, but they had soul and felt like the framework for a really special record. I told Laurie: "I think we're making a late 1970s Emmylou Harris record here." We knew, even then, we were going to walk away with a truly classic-sounding LP. Much later, Mike looked at the cover and said: "I can't tell if it's June Carter Cash or Juliana Hatfield," which, of course, is the nicest thing anyone could have said about the type of record Laurie and I had hoped to make.
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Those half dozen songs from the first session became the basis to bring in the second half of the band – Chris Allen on acoustic, Al Moss on pedal steel, and the legendary producer Don Dixon on bass. After juggling schedules, we eventually hauled the aforementioned dream team to Fruit Hill to get 'em on tape. To say it was an honor to have them work on this record is certainly an understatement. Chris and Laurie, of course, had years of experience playing as a duo across Ohio and have a sonic mind-meld that allowed Chris' acoustic guitar to drop right into the mix. Al Moss, one of a small group of Cleveland musicians who I consider my cosmic and musical brethren, not only added key melodies throughout, but also a few solos that left us all either applauding or stunned silent in the studio. And, what can I say about having Don play his Silvertone bass on this record? A dream come true. Above all, these guys played and sang on this record with such generosity and sense of purpose for Laurie that I still get a chill listening back now. A year and a half after Laurie had written: "It's gonna be alright," as a reminder to herself in a trying time, they sang it right back to her, in harmony, with such conviction that you just knew it had to be true. After the very last take, at midnight following a full day of recording, the skies opened up, and we dragged all of the gear back up the hill in the pouring rain, confirming the adage: "If you want a perfect storm, stand under the cloud."
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We recorded the rest of the album – minus vocals – back at Laurie's house in Oxford so we could cut live baby-grand piano and Hammond A-100 in the music room Joe had built for Laurie years ago. John Kogge – Laurie's long-time partner in crime – stopped by and sang harmony on one of the album's most affecting songs, "Pauline," still a treat for me to hear. Laurie re-recorded her vocals with our new pal, the super-talented Mike Landis – who also mixed the record – at Fruit Hill until she had 'em perfect. A few months later, Landis finished up the mixes and it was off to be mastered. I shot the cover photo at the 3VERB studio here in Chicago.
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It's still hard to believe we pulled it off. Along the way, we laughed, we cried, we made a pilgrimage to the now shuttered Hammond Organ factory in Chicago, discovered a jerk-chicken restaurant across the street from John Prine's childhood home, and celebrated each little rock 'n roll victory. I'm exceedingly proud of the final album and the way we did it. It's dedicated to Joe, of course; I know it honors his memory.
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— Jon
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Click <a href="https://www.laurietravelineneyer.com/">here</a> to buy the record. Click <a href="https://www.laurietravelineneyer.com/credits">here</a> for full liner notes/credits.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-25811688490120294062019-01-07T10:41:00.000-08:002019-01-14T14:29:02.952-08:00Sharp<b>Great Social Media Campaigns Require Diligence and Joy</b>
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It's true for <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a> that when one door closes, another opens wide. In 2018, we had the good fortune to meet and start working with the crew at MCA Golf in sunny Carlsbad, California. For MCA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi, there's a challenge to be present consistently across social media – that's part of what we're already working on for them – but also an advantage in the inherent quality of their products and respect they command from even the best players in the world.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IYUi7abKBofEyNl5PiJo4YpMTx7wPzS75KCk_fixMPipFd0t-cHQhLBBpvOsYLVvAEbfGMVx77qxKrbWCguNsd7o7UAf5l15gn2eoPVAZ2MVI2P2wi7aWThhUgw9bli0eEsjuGoud5MP/s1600/3VB_MCA-Sharp-v1.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IYUi7abKBofEyNl5PiJo4YpMTx7wPzS75KCk_fixMPipFd0t-cHQhLBBpvOsYLVvAEbfGMVx77qxKrbWCguNsd7o7UAf5l15gn2eoPVAZ2MVI2P2wi7aWThhUgw9bli0eEsjuGoud5MP/s1600/3VB_MCA-Sharp-v1.png" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="505" /></a>
Shown here, a beauty shot of their TENSEI™ line of performance golf shafts completed at our 3VERB studio here in Chicago's Humboldt Park. Headed into the PGA Show, then quickly into the new season – <i>can Spring get here soon enough?</i> – we'll look to build on the reputation they've already established and extend the brand to new eyeballs and advocates, as well. We'll be sharp, on our toes, and ready deliver on the joy and beauty their products and team deserve.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-23212883687769549792018-12-10T11:15:00.000-08:002019-01-20T11:23:15.150-08:00Rewind: California<b>Riding Across a Sea of Tall Grass in Solana Beach</b><br /><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7_weB1mnI5gF1rINjvNzDhOfdGASE7sCfae7gyvXjTj_umKR5VNEEoKuPkXOCWTSDVewpu4vikrsjePxR8QdvBNaWgThwLvdJQMsikBHS3I5uwKEEqLUGKREf-k4SSLngspb83BvIIRZ/s1600/3VB-Unclumsy_California.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7_weB1mnI5gF1rINjvNzDhOfdGASE7sCfae7gyvXjTj_umKR5VNEEoKuPkXOCWTSDVewpu4vikrsjePxR8QdvBNaWgThwLvdJQMsikBHS3I5uwKEEqLUGKREf-k4SSLngspb83BvIIRZ/s1600/3VB-Unclumsy_California.jpg" /></a></div>
In mid-April I had the chance to spend a few days in beautiful, sunny California with the good folks at <a href="http://www.walzcaps.com">Walz Caps</a> who make the <a href="http://www.walzcaps.com/collections/cycling/">best cycling caps</a> money can buy. Photo by the incomparable <a href="http://stonehousephoto.zenfolio.com/">Hannah Stonehouse Hudson</a>. We lopped off the aerobars in Photoshop because that's how we roll at <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>: Laurent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurent_Fignon">Fignon</a>-style.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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Taken from <a href="http://www.unclumsy.com/2016/05/california.html">original post</a> from May 16, 2016.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-70084299377264132482018-11-27T08:21:00.000-08:002019-01-20T11:18:27.782-08:00Shoot<b>One year ahead of launch, on location in Chicago with Stonewear Designs
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Originally a rock-climbing brand from Boulder, Stonewear is widely recognized for producing women's activewear – including their popular pants and skorts – of incredibly durable and unique fabrics. Now based in California, we decided to shoot the last two season collections (Fall 2018 and Spring 2019) here in Chicago to add a bit of variety to the Colorado-centric feel of the brand. <i>Next year?</i> Probably back out West.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69BOE39jgeurW_PInOEoe27V_qt5boGKgK5lnf_Ec97RdsVKw7iNAcvehYrIeNDw-XNAbIyx05cRRtNdfw8chJQ2H41Js-An72Woc5psQZfKQGOYi0CqJ8xRYbVBkk1UuiFlQ4gBhiISE/s1600/STO_IMG_7519.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69BOE39jgeurW_PInOEoe27V_qt5boGKgK5lnf_Ec97RdsVKw7iNAcvehYrIeNDw-XNAbIyx05cRRtNdfw8chJQ2H41Js-An72Woc5psQZfKQGOYi0CqJ8xRYbVBkk1UuiFlQ4gBhiISE/s1600/STO_IMG_7519.jpg" data-original-width="920" data-original-height="711" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAqR4rucPnmuFaNAjiEQCETcrhXb6Yu8ARQqaP3hyphenhyphenip4tMuESokLbGpWRhnah_aQheEtDtQF9F2hcdrPpF1sG-gyO_0SrxvRLm79qEvD5vnkGbkS23BHTN3zwH1nCSwjGQDzSs2SGmzBm/s1600/STO_IMG_7588-b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAqR4rucPnmuFaNAjiEQCETcrhXb6Yu8ARQqaP3hyphenhyphenip4tMuESokLbGpWRhnah_aQheEtDtQF9F2hcdrPpF1sG-gyO_0SrxvRLm79qEvD5vnkGbkS23BHTN3zwH1nCSwjGQDzSs2SGmzBm/s1600/STO_IMG_7588-b1.jpg" data-original-width="450" data-original-height="348" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieMyKywJ47msIlN2WhDNgOTwkhLfvr8Lm8Nh7wJWJqH-9pMPJRY6BbyrbHgrIvgiaKWRl5fNlmgi8kGjkm5xFBh8AN2xA8NsQMIp1v1kkMgUp8hZt8u_595j9mRmUJ90CkQ4rx-idnpwJ/s1600/STO_IMG_7588-b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieMyKywJ47msIlN2WhDNgOTwkhLfvr8Lm8Nh7wJWJqH-9pMPJRY6BbyrbHgrIvgiaKWRl5fNlmgi8kGjkm5xFBh8AN2xA8NsQMIp1v1kkMgUp8hZt8u_595j9mRmUJ90CkQ4rx-idnpwJ/s1600/STO_IMG_7588-b2.jpg" data-original-width="450" data-original-height="348" /></a>
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-82753308870310101312018-07-15T07:25:00.004-07:002018-07-15T14:52:07.204-07:00Blaming Post-Modernism & Eddy MerckxAs I close the array of browser tabs with articles I've recently read, I've decided to try document each, two or three at a time, with a quick two sentence impression of the article and link.
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<b>The Death of Truth</b> - Quartz.com Review of Michiko Kakutani's new book, The Death of Truth, which posits that Trump's fast/loose interplay with the media and facts -- including whatever counts for "Fake News" -- is an extension of the post-modern movement of the early 70s that challenged the idea of "central" and "knowable" truth. I find this premise hard to believe and, indeed, it seems to ignore entirely the traditionalist movements embedded in the American Right and their specific disdain for relativism in whole. Further, it doesn't seem to me that post-modernism was ever in direct opposition to empirical or demonstrable fact, only that the larger mysteries require more nuance, less "rational" hubris, and less definition at the edges to fully process.
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Link to full article, "Trump is What Happens When PostModernism Goes Too Far," <a href="https://quartzy.qz.com/1327759/trump-is-what-happens-when-postmodernism-goes-too-far-michiko-kakutani-argues/">here</a>.
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<b>The Greatest Cyclist of All Time, Eddy Merckx</b> - Guardian interview with the legendary 5-time Tour de France winner. Best quote from Eddy:
<blockquote>
"My parents taught me honesty and respect for other people. When I was at school I wanted to go to the Côte d’Azur for holidays, like my schoolfriends. We went to the North Sea. My father, who was a grocer and one of 11 children, said: 'Don’t look to those who go to the Côte D’Azur, but look to those who can’t go the North Sea – keep your feet on the ground.'"</blockquote>
There's a chance that this year, or next, the talented sprinter Mark Cavendish will overtake Eddy's single stage record of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Eddy_Merckx">34 wins</a> at the Tour de France though I'm uncertain if he'll bring along this same level of grace, class, and reflection.
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Full article/interview, "Eddy Merckx: This Much I Know," <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/29/eddy-merckx-this-much-i-know">here</a>.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-12816983525578464622018-07-12T15:00:00.000-07:002018-11-21T14:01:35.475-08:00Nomenclature<b>It's Your Brand, Start Acting Like It</b><br><br>
Over the last several years, crowdsourcing has shifted the paradigm for both agencies and brands: You can fund the launch of a new product with a Kickstarter campaign and order a dozen corporate logo concepts for $99. I guess that's good news in some regard, especially if you want three mediocre and nine awful logos.
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At the same time, many companies finally have their sea-legs about them with their social media accounts. They're feeling a bit more confident in engaging consumers and acknowledging brand devotees earnestly... and occasionally generating a bit of fun for all in the process. That's <i>really</i> and honestly a good thing.
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But, like too much of any good thing, some folks are bound to find an awkward nexus that collides the least appealing ingredients of social media and crowdsourcing at an abrupt right angle.
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To wit: Of all the social media outreach techniques that are floating around — and a lot of 'em are good — my current <i>least favorite</i> is the "Help us name our product" routine: half social media, half crowdsourcing, half-baked. It's so often the move of companies that seem lost for an immediate clever idea or, worse, desperate for interaction. Indeed, nothing says, "We have no direction or vision for this product" quite like foisting the responsibility for a product name on your customers. For the consumer, the messaging is unequivocal: we give up, you try.
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Is there a good idea for a product name in a sea of product name ideas generated by your customers? Maybe. Will you find it? Probably not. More likely, the least devoted sideline followers will have the loudest say and core consumers will be left wondering why their favorite company has lost the ability to figure it out for themselves.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-36616561159745024842018-06-17T20:12:00.000-07:002018-11-21T13:54:01.950-08:00Pneumatic Tubes, Seashells, Surfing
As I close the array of browser tabs with articles I've recently read, I've decided to try document each, two or three at a time, with a quick two sentence impression of the article and link.
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<b>Chicago’s Strange History With Pneumatic Tubes</b> - From one of my, maybe my top, favorite writers of Chicago interest, <a href="https://twitter.com/robertloerzel?lang=en">Robert Loerzel</a>, a <a href="http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/September-2013/Pneumatic-Tubes/">Chicago Magazine article</a> from 2013 describing the nine-mile network of pneumatic tubes that were originally installed in downtown Chicago. Like abandoned subway tunnels and stations, these tubes remind me of the aspirations behind infrastructure and our collective, inevitable pull toward faster and easier communication — like Moore's Law but not for processor speed or transistor density. As technology shortens the distance in lines of communication will we take the time to compile our thoughts before hitting 'send' or just let the conversation devolve into a series of knee-jerk impressions? Complete article <a href="http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/September-2013/Pneumatic-Tubes/">here</a>.
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<b>Google Search on 'Fahrenheit 451 Seashells'</b> - Like Apple Airpods, Ray Bradbury predicted a similar 'thimble radio' that would take us away from the written word, simply speaking ideas directly into your ear. At a stoplight last week, a younger gentleman, dressed for success, walked in front of my car, across the crosswalk, lost in a world of music made possible by his headphones while missing out on the sounds of the city in the summer.
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<b>Guardian Interview with Laird Hamilton, the Surfer</b> - The most important thing to me about Laird Hamilton, about whom I knew very little, was the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP-HTstB0X4">American Express commercial</a> that featured the Los Lobos song 'Mas y Mas' as the soundtrack. I read this article to learn more. While I've already forgotten about nine points of his ten-point plan to 'supercharge your body,' I did lock in on and appreciate his candid discussion of quitting alcohol. He also credits his top physical shape to, among other things, alternating ice baths and saunas and 'the ability to suffer consistently.' Full article <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/jun/10/why-laird-hamilton-is-still-making-waves-surfing-legend-lifestyle-guru">here</a>.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-55287843957067990752018-06-15T07:22:00.001-07:002018-06-15T07:27:59.756-07:00Sinkhole<b>Amazon Wants You to Build Another Store</b>
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I've read enough Medium and Vox articles recently to know I should get right to the point.
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<u>Prediction</u>: Regional grocers will lose the battle against Walmart, Amazon, Target, Peapod, and specialty meal providers (Blue Apron, etc.) as they try to stem losses with physical store expansion rather than developing technology conveniences to re-engage and cement consumer loyalty. They will stumble into resource-heavy projects — home delivery, in particular — and burn cash trying to match the logistics game of retailers who have mastered delivery years ago.
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<u>Bonus Prediction</u>: There are a million ways for regional grocers to defer this fate, but Amazon, in particular, <i>wants to draw them into this losing battle</i>. Just watch.
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Additional reporting on the from WSJ <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/grocery-chains-are-being-squeezed-from-all-sides-1528801204?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=8">here</a>.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-17433988495671100152018-03-19T10:17:00.003-07:002018-03-19T10:35:25.004-07:00Against the Tide<b>On WSJ's “Big Brands Risk Losing Their Voice”</b> - <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-consumer-brands-dont-have-an-answer-for-alexa-1519727401">Original Article</a>
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When we started <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> about 5 years ago, we posited that there was a large and kinda obvious efficiency that was being left on the table by online retailers. In a nutshell, online shopping was still defined by a standard checkout routine, a process that was the same for both new orders and orders that should be recurring. Or, to put it plainly: the checkout process was exactly the same for the purchase of an expensive durable good, like refrigerator, as it was for consumers who regularly returned for refills of vitamins, diapers, or contact lenses. To a great extent, many major retailers retain this complexity in their checkout and re-order processes to this day – even for recurring orders from their most loyal customers – as they try to beat (or simply compete with) Amazon at a game that the book-store turned everything-store monolith has largely perfected. The race to be present in voice re-order by Amazon's Alexa is the latest in their set of hurdles.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYAIpeWrSBA30V8TUFNy1rAAeuGH7pu6cYn4nFD9SxkP2e8VbMKJGPWMlRj9jQmzkcWIUfCuNBAyYjpOaNfy6ryEnhZiHI0bJap47PpvZlMndTITOAuFGTG_3o0RsVhlwWyRceJfTmp2l/s1600/GMA_AgainstTheTide-v2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYAIpeWrSBA30V8TUFNy1rAAeuGH7pu6cYn4nFD9SxkP2e8VbMKJGPWMlRj9jQmzkcWIUfCuNBAyYjpOaNfy6ryEnhZiHI0bJap47PpvZlMndTITOAuFGTG_3o0RsVhlwWyRceJfTmp2l/s1600/GMA_AgainstTheTide-v2.png" data-original-width="480" data-original-height="272" /></a></div>
It always struck me, though, that beyond the traditional brick and mortar retailers, regional grocers, and pharmacy chains that would inevitably be hit hard by Amazon – and indeed they were, are, and will be still – the largest long-term overall loss of core value might, in fact, be among by established household brands that can no longer found an easy home on the end-caps at Target and Walmart. Simply put, as Amazon drove prices down, and made home-delivery a snap, large box retailers like Target and Walmart would prioritize in-house brands (like 'Up and Up') over well-known staples like Tide or Cascade. The goodwill and name recognition that had taken decades to build would start to erode. Amazon's success with the Alexa voice assistant, of course, has made it all an even more difficult equation as Amazon is now set to control the distinction between <i>actual product type</i> and the priority of brand that ends up in your cart via Alexa. You can count on receiving Amazon-brand batteries before Duracell unless you specify.
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While it's hard to know exactly where CPGs (Consumer Packed Good) behind these “big brands” might choose start a relationship with the end consumer, it does boggle the mind a bit to think that in the first 20 years of the internet, they've not found a way to give it an earnest try. As per the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-consumer-brands-dont-have-an-answer-for-alexa-1519727401">attached WSJ article</a>, CPGs that continue to rely on retailers – and now retailers voice assistants like Alexa – as their sole channel for communication with the end consumer are sure to lose additional cachet with consumers and presence in the digital end-caps and aisles of the future.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
<br><br>3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4310821973398674425.post-54639261807203785282018-01-01T13:26:00.002-08:002018-01-01T18:29:57.269-08:00Majestic<b>Three Songs of Accidental Majesty, Depth, and Immediacy for the New Year.</b>
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<h3>“Last Night it Snowed,” The Ass Ponys</h3><br>
About this time of year, I anticipate the first legitimate snowfall here in Chicago and do so knowing I'll have the chance to play (loudly) the Ass Ponys' brilliant, compact, and majestic song, “Last Night it Snowed.” It's an annual tradition of sorts – my favorite of Chuck Cleaver's AP work – to sit back and marvel at the perfection of these “econo” lyrics:
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A blanket white<br>
At least it was when it came down last night<br>
The morning brings the rain<br>
The blanket's washed away<br>
Now everything turns back to grey
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It's hard to imagine that so much goodness could land in just over two minutes of song: all the mixed-up optimism and rainy, overcast second-guessing of a Southern Ohio winter with the added bonus of a delicate mandolin that falls apart into garage-band urgency as he sings: “So live and learn, The snow is melting never to return.”
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Here's Chuck singing this classic with a local School of Rock:
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The original studio version of the song is available <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8IDS49Dg0A">here</a>.
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<h3>“Wasted,” Pere Ubu</h3><br>
Like “Last Night it Snowed,” this song leads the album, 1993's “Story of My Life,” from Northern Ohio's most important post-punk combo, Pere Ubu. It's an album that finds lead singer David Thomas in a reflective mood, at one point recounting his pre-Cleveland childhood in Florida and stumbling upon“the secret of anti-gravity.” But “Wasted” finds him in real-time, trying to decipher his marriage and “breathlessly, throwing time away.” It makes me think the album runs in reverse, marching backward from today, with Thomas' melodeon (aka the button accordion) setting the scene and his enjoinder to “rock” at 1:33 as guidance to take care of business moving forward. It's as inspirational to me now as when I first heard it.
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<h3>“This is the Sea,” The Waterboys</h3><br>
I had forgotten about this song and album – the album “Fisherman's Blues” is important to several friends and I'd always marked their career by it – until a cold, rainy day in Northern Wisconsin. I was away from my family for a few days and had just hopped out of a hazy mid-30s mist into the car when the skies opened up. The rain started falling in buckets but, as I started to drive, advanced in waves quickly, so I pulled the car to the side of the road. The windshield wipers couldn't keep up. I turned on the radio to find "This is the Sea" at the beginning. I sat there, not a soul around, feeling a bit underwater while Mike Scott sang:
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You're trying to make sense<br>
Of something that you just can't see<br>
Trying to make sense now<br>
And you know you once held the key<br>
But that was the river<br>
And this is the sea
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I'm convinced now that “Fisherman's Blues” couldn't exist without this prelude. Get ready, the open ocean is in front of you. This is the sea. If you're ever unconvinced of the epic adventures ahead, try this song again... in the rain.
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– Jon Roketenetz
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Jon is the CEO of <a href="http://www.gimmeanother.com">GimmeAnother</a> and founder of <a href="http://www.3verb.com">3VERB</a>.
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3verbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06213005048972128227noreply@blogger.com0