Extreme sports has changed at a technology rate. Last years big trick is obsolete the next year.
I guess all sports have evolved. NFL players have gotten stronger and faster, hitting hard enough to make a pancreas dislodge. Baseball pitchers are throwing faster and hitters are sending them farther into the upper decks.

It’s competition that pushes these athletes to keep improving. Although, multi-million dollar contracts don’t hurt either.
But none of the major sports have evolved at the rate extreme sports has.
Maybe because it’s relatively new. I’ve seen Mixed Martial Arts evolve …

Whether you are a copywriter or just a person who works in an advertising agency, you come across a lot of interesting characters (to put it mildly).  The thing about the field of copywriting is that there are so many different stories of how people got into it.  I for one have encountered many people out in the world who actually don’t know that such a position even exists.  Here’s a quick guide for how to identify the type of copywriter you’re working with.  Feel free to reference it when …

Wading through my millions of unopened emails the other day, I noticed a “Change of Services” email from Netflix. I usually just delete those emails or let them fall to the second page and forget about them, but for some reason I opened it this time. I was startled and surprised to read the message it contained –prices were increasing by 60% starting in September. Lame.

The next day, I read an article about it on Reuters.com (“Netflix Price Raise Draws User Ire, Investor Glee”) and the Netflix spokesperson basically said …

Cannes week is on and there’s a lot of different ways to follow what would be happening during this week. From the award ceremonies to interesting seminaries, this week is not only important because of the awards, but because of what the winners represent and why they win. So far the first award ceremony was for PR, Direct and Promo. The big winner of the night was BV McCann Romania, taking home the First Two Grand Prixes for USA-Themed Campaign.
Two interesting things after the first day on AdAge:
What the jury …

In my short time in advertising this is what I’ve learned:

Always be positive
Offer up ideas on stuff you’re not assigned to, you never know what might happen
Don’t drink too much at the office party and get into an argument with a
co-worker especially if you’re an intern
If you don’t know someone’s name, just smile, don’t just look down in passing
Participate in office activities, even if you …

I wrote a limerick to start this post. It’s kinda amazing. Check it out:
There once was a writer from the city,
who was talented but acted quite shitty
he was so very cocky, no one wanted his copy.
What an ass. What a waste. What a pity.
Lesson: Don’t be a jerk to people unless you’re sure you’ll never need those bridges you’re burning. And even if you are sure, you never know what the future holds… some lowly hack right now may end up being an ECD at your dream agency and they …

It used to be that a copywriter and an art director would partner up together and work on one or two brands at a time, trying to make cool stuff for them. Although we’re still trying to make cool stuff, it seems like an evolution is happening. In the few places I’ve worked as well as in many of the agencies I’ve spoken with in the past few years, the permanent CW/AD team seems to have dissolved. Now, instead of one life-long partner, it is very common that you are …

While concepting for a project I wondered if some cool infographics would enhance my idea. Before deciding, I wanted to study some good executions vs poor executions and see what makes one work over another. I needed a good reason to get into this labor extensive execution.
I discovered the answer is much the same as any new technology advertising has explored. QR codes. Augmented Reality. Four Square Badges. iPhone Apps. All cool tools. But it all comes down to the simple question: Is the juice worth the squeeze?
We’ve all have …

For the past couple of years, Arby’s has had a tough run. I can’t even remember one of their commercials that I’ve liked. But they’ve sunk to a whole new low. Their new campaign about “Good Mood Food” has put me in quite the opposite of moods. Their newest commercial makes me want to rinse my eyes with horsey sauce or slice my ears off with the roast beef slicer. I’m serious people. And most of it has to do with their new spokesperson. I don’t know his name, nor …

Music is an essential component of my job as a copywriter.  But there’s a lot of debate among copywriters on the subject of listening to music while working.  Some claim it’s too distracting.  Some claim they can only listen to instrumental-only songs.  But my problem is that I can’t seem to get any work done if I’m not listening to music.  I end up zoning out and listening to everything else around me, which usually includes: office chatter, ambulance sirens, lots of honking, fire alarm testing (happens a lot), drilling …