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News/Announcements: Shoutouts to Patreon Patrons, Creatives Rebuild New York and Asian Art Initiative Philly 2023 was one of more embittering, infuriating and maddening years in recent memory for me. And it doesn’t help that with this line of work, it’s all too easy to battle and endure feelings of loneliness, despair and failure; to feel and believe that you’re an imposter. I’ve personally found it to be a brutal, unforgiving and wildly interesting life and career path that can’t — and will never — compare to most other jobs I’ve ever previously had. And I’ve had quite a few of them in my life!  The Joy of Violent Movement turns 14 in June. 14 years of doing anything is a very long time. It’s close to a quarter of my life. And for the blogosphere, that’s roughly somewhere between 10-139 lifetimes. Now, it hasn’t always been easy. There have been moments, where it felt impossible to manage this thing and to keep it going. To be frank, as the kids say “the math ain’t matching.” But for the most part, I can say this: I’ve felt and believed with every fiber of my being that I needed to be brave and bold, and go out on my own, because I didn’t believe that I’d really get a fair shot to do this work for anyone else.  I’ve said this for many years: I’ve long felt strong desire — and need — to create something similar to the wildly eclectic, dynamic and global sort of environment I grew up immersed in as a young Black boy in Corona, Queens. Unsurprisingly, whenever I remember I read my favorite music magazines and sites, I never saw the world I grew up in being covered or represented in any significant or meaningful way.  From my own experiences working in book publishing and as a music journalist, I’ve learn that as much as you can demand fairness, diversity and inclusion, it’s still ultimately up to the powers in control to see it, hear it, understand it, take it to heart and actually do something about it. So what do you do when those in power don’t get it — or don’t want to get it? Well, then it might be time to grit your teeth and try to do it your own damn self.  When I started this site back in 2020, I din’t — and just couldn’t have — imagine the majority of the things I’ve experienced, seen and covered throughout its history to have ever happened.  I’ve covered roughly 1,500 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia.  I’ve covered a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal twice — in 2019 and 2022.  I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival, New Colossus Festival, and for a Music Managers Forum Canada Webinar speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger and journalist.  I made a c... https://lnkd.in/eHqGn9xx

Living and working in New York City can take you to some interesting places. I once interviewed advertising great George Lois in his Greenwich Village home, a memory that came back to me this week when I saw that his former apartment is now for sale. Lois was a big, imposing guy, so I was a tad intimated when I knocked on his front door. He opened it and stood in black Nike warm up pants, a black long sleeve shirt, and dark socks. I offered to take off my shoes, and the two of us ambled across his hardwood floor to the circular dining table where Lois had neatly arranged two glasses of ice water set atop folded paper napkins. Doing an interview in socks, I quickly realized, made the whole experience a lot less intimidating. And with Lois, it was a one-man performance. He didn’t just talk — he did impressions. Over the course of the next hour, he spoke in the smoky tone of Muhammad Ali, the British lilt of Mick Jagger, and the sharp accent of an Austrian woman (but that’s for another story). Lois had a big mouth, so it was best to take everything he said with a grain of salt. But he was bright, lively, and an original. Here are three takeaways from that conversation that hold up just as well today as when he shared them years ago. Every time I read number two, I laugh. 1. You Can’t Give in to Groupthink “When you work with other people, in order to get out of the room with some kind of decision, everybody is compromising. If you have a great idea, you’re not going to walk out of that room winning the argument. You have to get one person who knows what they want and can confidently make the decision…Teamwork is needed in production. But there is not one frame of a project that an art director should allow to be compromised.” 2. You Have to Make Your Presence Felt “When I started my first job at the design firm Beacon Studio working for Reba Sochis, I walked in in the morning carrying a sleeping bag under my arm. Reba asked what it was for. I said I might have a job where I have to work all night and maybe I’ll lay down for an hour. You know she went, What do I have here? You have to make your presence felt.” 3. You Can Be Creative and You Can Be Cautious, but You Can’t Be a Cautious Creator “If I ever showed a client an ad campaign and the client said it was just what they expected, I knew I had done a terrible job. I had to be edgy, so that when a client looked at it their head went back a foot. Then I had to sell the hell out of it.” For more ideas to supercharge your creative career, subscribe to The Creative Factor newsletter. https://lnkd.in/dPZf57S

Every Harry Potter fan knows exactly what this is! It's been 20 years to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Warner Bros did the coolest thing. They brought to life an iconic moment from the story: Harry blowing up Aunt Marge! If you hear closely, very closely, you can hear Uncle Vernon screaming: MMMAAAAARRRRGGGEEEE 😅 #madovermarketing #advertisingandmarketing #harrypotter #outdoormarketing #socialmedia #advertising #marketing #creative #design #warnerbros

Welcome to our new week! And to our very first blank canvas of the new year! How about we approach this like an artist? Let’s start by considering our subject - our week - and beginning to imagine and discern how we want it to look, feel, and turn out, choosing the media, defining its contours, mixing color, adding contrast, building layers, creating our beautiful vision for this week. Before the big rush of busy-ness begins, what would you like to be able to say you did (or didn’t do) by the end of this week? I’ll check in on Sunday to see how our week went. #lawyercoach #lawyercareercoach #legalprofession #personaldevelopment #socialentrepreneurship

IT'S NOT A PRODUCT 🍰 One of the key differentiators for the arts is that the act of attendance is so much more than purchasing something to consume. It's a lot more complicated than that. It's not a product. 🍩 To be clear, the title, absolutely, is treated like a product by buyers. But beyond that decision point, the experiential element takes over. They are welcomed into the community. 🤗 Data shows this can happen in as little as two visits. So what happens? They meet ushers and box office folks and bartenders. They chat with other patrons, 🗣 or eavesdrop on them. They make friends. They experience the performance live. In an environment that is not time bound. Which means their memories often don't have a time stamp on them. It's been shown you can reactivate a former multi-buyer as much as 17 years after their last attendance. 17 years. 🤯 Powerful stuff those memories. So when you are thinking about pricing. Don't think about what you do like it's a donut or a piece of clothing. Think about a powerful memory you have. An experience. 🌈 Think about what that is worth to you.

You all know equity is important to me. It's been on my mind this week, and now that piece of my mind is published on Substack. Please give it a read or listen and let me know what you think!

The idea for this struck me as I was reading another post today. I'm going to admit to something publicly - I watch Hallmark movies at Christmas Time. Outside of the entirely cliche, predictable plot lines, I want to focus on the themes that typically play out in these movies: 1) There is character development. You're learning about the people in the story. 2) There is a place. A place that is bustling and full of people, that is aesthetically pleasing. 3) There is a goal, most often a shared goal of the people and the place. Yes, there's the love interest, the love conflict, and the resolution.. but You ever see a Hallmark movie filmed in a deserted downtown? A street filled with trash? You ever see a Hallmark movie where there was no character development? You ever see a Hallmark movie where there was no goal to be worked toward to achieve? Yes, these movies may be formulaic, but they are tapping into our nature, mirroring the things we like. Maybe we need to do the same in community development. #communitydevelopment #communityengagement #storytelling

We recently had Trash Arts visit us at our TYC HQ in Fort Widley to dicuss 2 opportunities to work together that will, in turn benefit and provide quality opportunities for the Young Creatives of Portsmouth. What I liked about Sam and Jackson was that - they came out to our HQ to dicuss this. They could have asked to meet for a coffee in a cafe (we get countless lovely requests for this each week). Trash Arts wanted to see where we worked from and what we do. This is great business and had me in a positive mindset about them as a company, before they even arrived to pitch their projects. Controversly, I don't like coffee and coming from a no income start in life and running a not-for- profit, I can't help but begrudge spending what equates to a lot of money a year on parking and drinks plus loosing 1 to 2 hours out of the day. Importantly, I got to show Sam and Jackon around the space where our young creatives make the magic happen. And they got a real feel for who we are and what we do. It turns out that I believe we may be coming from a similar place when you look at what we do and why within our home cities. I am happy to be working together. ** Please note - I would have happily met them at their own place of work for the same reasons. This is not a moan about me having to travel to network and connect, it's just an understanding of why, when you are working at grassroots level with community projects and not for profits, sometimes it may be better to consider going out to see where it happens or inviting them to you, over meeting in a Costa for a coffee 😉 https://lnkd.in/egMx4Rgf

Navigating Creativity with Michael Jackson Coloring Pages Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, continues to inspire millions worldwide with his legendary music and captivating performances. But did you know his legacy has also extended into the realm of creativity for children and adults alike? Enter Michael Jackson coloring pages—a perfect blend of entertainment and creativity. 🎨 These coloring pages capture iconic scenes and performances from MJ's illustrious career. Whether it’s the electrifying "Billie Jean" walk, the mesmerizing "Moonwalker" performance, or the enchanted "Thriller" dance, these pages are designed to bring out the artist in everyone. Each page offers a unique opportunity to reimagine and personalize Michael’s timeless moments. One of the many benefits of these coloring pages is their versatility. From younger fans coloring "Bad Dance" and "Street Dance" scenes to adults filling in the intricate details of "Smooth Criminal Pool Hall," there's something for everyone. 🌟 Coloring has long been recognized for its therapeutic benefits. It enhances focus, reduces anxiety, and promotes a sense of accomplishment. For children, it’s an exploration of creativity. For adults, it’s a nostalgic journey back to the magic of Michael Jackson's heyday. Not to mention, these pages can be a fantastic way to bond with family, sharing stories of MJ’s impact through generations. 🖍️ Moreover, themed coloring pages like "Environmental Song Scene" and "Heal the World Children" not only allow exploration of artistic skills but also instill important messages of love, unity, and environmental consciousness that Michael championed. For educators and parents, these pages can also serve as an engaging educational tool. Imagine a history lesson on ancient Egypt intertwined with coloring the "Pharaoh Dance Scene." Learning has never been this entertaining! In conclusion, Michael Jackson coloring pages offer an enriching experience, blending the joy of art with the magic of one of music’s greatest legends. So, grab your markers and pencils, and let your creativity moonwalk through these fantastic pages! 🚀 #MichaelJackson #ColoringPages #CreativeFun #ArtTherapy #KingOfPop #FamilyFun #EducationalActivities #LegendaryEntertainment