“Just Sayin’…” By Doug deGrood

by / December 8, 2023 /

Observations from a mostly retired but still fully functioning advertising mind

As an aspiring trumpeter growing up in the early 1980s, I learned firsthand the value of hero worship. Back then, every trumpeter I know, myself included, wanted to play like Maynard Ferguson. Maynard was renowned for his nosebleed-inducing high notes. Hitting a ‘double-G’ became every teenage trumpeter’s goal. I would attempt to play along w[Read More]

“Just Sayin’…” By Doug deGrood

by / November 7, 2023 /

Observations from a mostly retired but still fully functioning advertising mind

My original headline for this latest missive was going to be: Body (Copy) Discovered in Edina Family’s Bedroom Closet. After all, who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? Spoiler alert: there’s no murder involved here, but there is an element of death. More to come.

How it all started: Last week, some wire shelving in one of our basement bedroom clo[Read More]

“The Crossroads of Art & Commerce” by Jim Cousins

by / October 30, 2023 /

“James,” John Cevette said to me, “the timing is off. Let's take a moment and examine why this latest edit isn't working.”

He chose a compact disc from the rack and placed it in the player (yes, this was the mid-nineties). He played a classical piece. It had a build and a reprieve, another build and reprieve, and, finally, the crescendo and resolution. This example was to convey that the same principles applied in the timing of the edit for the TV ad the agency was producing.<[Read More]

“Just Sayin’…” By Doug deGrood

by / August 31, 2023 /

Observations from a mostly retired but still fully functioning advertising mind

In the Washington Irving story, Rip Van Winkle, ol’ Rip goes to sleep after imbibing a powerful alcoholic beverage, only to awaken 20 years later to find the world changed beyond recognition.

I just had an eerily similar experience. I was asleep, so to speak, not for 20 years, but for three years. My slumber was also liquor-induced. You see, I left the ad [Read More]

“A Fortnight for Example” By Aidan O’Driscoll, Writer at Shinebox

by / September 28, 2022 /

FREE BEER. NO ASSHOLES.
It’s a phrase Shineboxers know well and use often.

Partly because it’s punchy and memorable. Sprinkled with logos, pathos, and ethos. (The Greeks would’ve loved it.) Mostly, however, because it’s one of our core values.

And it’s taken seriously.

FBNA is more than rotating beer taps and zero tolerance for micro aggression. “It’s literal, but also figurative,” Shinebox Founder & Visionary Randy Larson ex[Read More]

“The Great Resignation | Resigning Clients” By Miles Marmo, Co-Founder of Agency Squid

by / September 28, 2022 /

Company culture spans well beyond snacks and beer on tap. For us, in the creative field, the culture can really be defined by the work we do, and who we work with. To us, it takes a lot of courage to remove a client who causes strife. This scratches the surface on it's all tied together.

A note from a co-founder
Last year, I wrote about managing my mental health and the toll the pandemic had taken on me. The outpouring of support was[Read More]

“Observations from Gen Z’s Big Sister” by Madi Rinaldi, CBX

by / May 27, 2021 /

I’m a 23-year-old, born and raised in the later 1990s and into the 2000s. I’m the youngest of four, with three older brothers, and as such, the culture of the ’90s permeated and shaped my existence. I grew up on Harry Potter, was dragged along to Backstreet Boys concerts, and lived inside the world of my Polly Pockets’ mansion. You could argue I’ve been a cultural critic since my early days of stockpiling YA novels and Teen Vogue issues, so it’s no wonder I find myself [Read More]

“A Fond Farewell to the Free(lance) Life” By Zaar Taha

by / March 30, 2021 /

By Zaar Taha | Partner at We Creative | wecreativepartners.com

A lot has gone down since I last wrote one of these. (How’s that for the understatement of the century?) But no need for me to dive into politics or pandemics here — I like to think of this as a safe space or perhaps even an escape for anyone who actually reads it. Instead I’ll just say that I hope everyone is staying saf[Read More]