Unrealized potential

Magnet #1165 - James Dean, Giant

Bought this magnet from my Union Square magnet guy - it's James Dean in Giant, where he plays arguably his best role, as a bitter ranch hand who turns into a wealthy oil wildcatter. I figured it was a fitting magnet for our first day at OTC, the Offshore Technology Conference (#OTCHouston), one of the largest oil & gas industry trade shows.

James Dean was only 24 when he died, and had only three movies to his name, and yet it feels like every girl goes through a James Dean phase at some point in their lives, no?

It's partly the "every girl wants to reform the bad boy" mentality, but for me, he was just awesome. And awesomely hot.

I'm sure my parents wondered if I'd done the math and knew that he'd died back in the 50s, but I was certainly the only one my age who totally had some iteration of his boulevard of broken dreams poster on my wall. I still own his movie set, even though it's been years since I've cracked them open. If I were totally honest, I'm sure if I look hard enough, that poster's somewhere, too.

I still get mad that he died so young - I mean, he had two Oscar noms in three movies. Amazing. He was amazing. Just like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger, so much unrealized potential. Argh.


"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."

- James Dean

Oops, we broke it!

Magnet #984 - NERD/GEEK

Yesterday, a hundred thousand folks broke the internet, losing two hours of our lives trying to buy tickets to next year's San Diego Comic-Con. Since I wasn't doing anything but watching TNT's 2-hour block of Las Vegas, while hitting the refresh button, it was no skin off my index finger.

But to the rest of humanity, it was surely a tragedy. Actually, more like a comedy, if you watched the #sdcc hashtagged Tweets fly by. Which I did. Superentertaining.

While 13% of the tickets were sold, according to the SDCC site, the rest of us couldn't get past Step 1, that's if the page loaded. We really had no one to blame but ourselves - it was like every cell phone in the world calling the Doctor - only instead of reaching him, we broke the site. Which doesn't make sense unless you've seen that episode. And, I won't lie, if you reread that sentence, it still may not make any sense.

Annnyway. I felt really sorry for whomever at SDCC that had to deal with the issue during those two hours (and beyond), because honestly, that kind of stuff happens all the time on launch days. No matter how much you prepare for the oncoming storm, the web teams just have to pray for server space, no hackers, no typos or wrong versions or wrong code or no QA, and a problem-free launch.

But, really, whoever heard of a problem-free launch? (This was slightly different cuz it wasn't a true launch - just a hundred thousand people waiting for 12:00pm to hit. Like that Rhodes Furniture commercial from the 80s where the guys are getting ready in the store to let all those people trample down the doors? Yeah. That. Only virtually.)

They finally got the situation under control, letting us know that the new reg date would be set next Monday, and even wrote a nice apology (PR Crisis Communications Rule #1, check!). So, when they finally get that new vendor and/or server space, or whatever it is they gotta do, I'm looking forward to all my fellow Nerds/Geeks (probably the same ones who ended up with this Cartoon Network button magnet from SDCC or NYCC) Tweeting and trampling down the virtual door with me.

To buy tickets we won't use until next July.

But whatever.

Reading IS cool!

Magnet #824 - Make Reading Cool

Woot! I'm off work today, so I can go to BEA (BookExpo America), and perhaps work on my back-up plan.

What's that plan you ask? I dunno, it depends on how much you like this blog. Heh.

Even though we all know I'm gonna end up on my blackberry on the exhibit floor (if I actually get off this sofa and stop answering emails, because apparently I enjoy playing the martyr), I'm totally gonna roam the BEA booths and see what they have to offer.

And? I'm gonna just wander the floor, rather than plan a course of action to see everything. Gasp! I know! I'm a rebel!

Seriously, I'm like a kid in a candy store at BEA, for a couple of reasons:

• First, because any trade show, is a good trade show.
• Second, fun swag.
• Third, free books. Though, this shouldn't count, since more often than not, I never end up reading them, I pass them along.
• Fourth, it's fun to see the Pomegranate stuff. Yes. You know I love them. One whole booth of well-designed heaven.
  
• Fifth, it's nice to visit the publishing world, and wonder if I should go back, and then determine that I'm too fulfilled by my marketing/advertising life to ever think seriously about going back. Insert sarcasm here, though, remember we learned last year that publishing and marketing/advertising are basically the same thing!
  

Anyway, I picked up this pin/magnet at last year's BEA - Ripple Reader is a kids eBook/eReader resource. Aside from the pretty colors and fun characters, I just love the simplicity of their mission statement.

Reading is cool!

And then there was barbeque

Magnet #802 - Cowboy on Ice

Ya'll, I want to see Cowboys on Ice. No, there's not a production going on anywhere, I just think it'd be awesome to see cowboys on ice.

Yesterday, to escape the crowds at Reliant Center, we went with a media rep and our clients out to the Reliant Arena for lunch.

First, let's talk about how OTC is *so* big that they're basically in two giant buildings, and an outside display area, and there's still a waiting list of tons of exhibitors out there who want to.

Second, let's talk about how it was literally a 15-minute ride to circle the lots to actually get to the giant Reliant Arena.

Third, let's talk about how, OMG, for whatever reason? They had the best beef BBQ known. to. man. Like, OMG, I think I might be going back today, just to have it one last time. I mean, I come from the land of pork BBQ. And let's face it, NY may think it knows it's brisket, but geewillikers that was seriously the best meal ever.

Or, I was just hungry.

But, I'll go with the former.

Ride 'em, cowboy

Magnet #801 - Texas

Whoa. Offshore Technology Conference at the Reliant Center in Houston. That sucker's huge!

In the end, it's much like any other trade show, except you know, this one's a little overshadowed by the catastrophic events in the Gulf of Mexico - which I would totally blog on, if I actually had an oil magnet, and oh, if this were something like HuffPost or Daily Beast. But, I don't, and it's not, so I won't.

Anyway, we spent much of the day wandering the supercool booths and equipment around the floor, taking a look at what the industry as a whole was spotlighting, grabbing their collateral materials and scarfing their cute pens. They say the show's the largest in the entire US - doubtful, given that there's CES and shoot, even Comic-Con SD. But, still, it's a lot of walking over at the Reliant Center. So much.

But ya'll know how I travel and somehow miss the biggest things around? Here's one Yesterday, I realized that the last time I was here, I totally missed the sad, big old decrepit building right beside the shiny other ones at the Reliant. The last time I was there was with a client - for the hot boys at the Houston Rodeo, and an Enrique Iglesias concert. Fun stuff.

Yet, somehow I missed seeing the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Astrodome. I mean, sure, there was a whole carnival in front of the building and it was nighttime, and well, there were cute boys in chaps.

Hmmm. On second thought...I guess I could see that.

Magnets, wherefore art thou?

Magnet #736 - New Smyrna Beach, FL

Ya'll, I've said it before. Unabashedly.

I love trade shows. I admit it. It's kinda silly.

And, it's for a zillion reasons. On the exhibitor side, it's just fascinating to see how each organization lays out their booth, their installation, the furniture, even the shirts the booth reps are forced to wear. I love seeing the activities they come up with to get visitors to drop by and stay awhile, and perhaps give up their personal information to boost an operators' database.

Overall, I love seeing branding carried out in all their materials. Nothing pleases me more at these things than to see a booth operator who knows what they're doing - well designed collateral and booth graphics, reps who are engaging but not imposing. Shoot. Sometimes, even nice carpet in their booth makes me happy.

On the attendee side, I won't lie. I love the tchotkes. I love seeing what various operators are giving away. Who has the best bag - general the one that everyone want and are carrying around the floor. Who has the best pens. Who has the most unique giveaways. Who has the giveaway that doesn't even make sense.

All of which means that I end up leaving any trade show with tons of crap. Mind you, I'm not walking around with the rollies, but sometimes, even as I'm tripping over them in the aisles, I envy those folks...as my own shoulder's dying from carrying my booth booty and my heavy coat.

This weekend's New York Times Travel Show was no exception. I freakin' love the travel show, and vow to go back every year. I feel like I traveled the world today! And my baby photo album, almost proves it.

It's so much fun wandering from region to region and country to country to figure out my next travel destination. I never really have anything in mind, but I love learning about the different countries in their demonstrations - each region has a stage, so it's great to check out activities of interest.

This year, you can learn to dive, you can rock climb, you can learn to salsa, you can learn a quick Filipino dish. And that's just off the top of my head. I had a couple of target countries for other folks - Argentina for a friend (supercute bag), Iceland for my sister (nada), and cruises for a friend who mistakenly thinks I can be convinced to ever go on one (materials so heavy!).

But, I haven't really settled on a new destination for me. Yet. I have a thousand bits of collateral here, so maybe there will be something.

I've gotten to this point where I really pick up from booths that I really am interested in, or that catches my eye with good collateral. I hate wasting the unnecessary paper, or taking their tape measures or other random stuff.

I have only a handful of pens (not anywhere near my record of 40 pens)...so booth exhibitors, please know that the pens are fabulous - because wherever I go, I love having cute pens - the cuter the better. Half the time, I'm using random branded pens, if for no other reason than it's cute. Keep that in mind. Oh! And the bags...stop with the little plastic bags. The recyclable fabric bags, over the shoulder, with a good gusset and supercute branding. Those are what I end up walking down the street with, on my shoulders.

Finally. And pertinent to joy magnetism. Magnets. Wherefore art thou, magnets? It's a travel show! People pick up magnets of places they've been. How about the places they want to go to? Why weren't there any magnets? *stamps foot in askance*

Seriously. How sad is it that I go to a travel show with more than 500 destinations, and only ONE magnet could I find.

Of Florida. Where I'll be spending half my life next month.

Oiy.

Where dreams come true...

Magnet #709 - ACRL Seattle

A librarian friend of mine brought this magnet back for me from a trade show/conference in CA, a couple of years ago. Funnily enough, it's one of the same friends who was down here in Orlando with us for SuperSoap Weekend a few years ago.

Now I'm back in town for a 3-day long client event, and am not participating any down time or character seeing while we're here at the Disney Yacht Club & Resort. It's actually kind of funny how I'm now back here for work.

Even funnier that in my head DisneyWorld has become more associated with ABC's soapstars than Disney's characters, but there you have it.

I'm kind of sad, because I'm fairly sure that this client thing will host no panel with hot boys from any of my previous soaps. All day long, I've been catching myself giggling whenever I pass anything that has to do with that last trip - from the bathroom where I got stuck waiting beside Trevor St. John for his family, to the hotel where they housed all the VIPs, and even seeing the fun ferries around the boardwalk.

Honestly, it's just so weird to be here and not see any people wearing soap star paraphernalia.

Oh, well. Time to get ready for the big kickoff party...that I'm fairly sure won't involve a parade of convertibles with pretty people waving, and women of all ages screaming their lungs off and stepping on my toes. Literally.

Though, I really need to speak to a weatherman about the weather. I haven't seen the sun once, and dang, it's freakin' cold down here. I'm really glad I didn't pack at all appropriately. Once again, it's because I missed Dave Price's weather. Sigh.

Kitchen secrets

Magnet #678 - National Kitchen & Bath Association

You know how sometimes I have like the coolest magnets and the fun write-ups? This is not that day.

Every so often, I like to use a real fridge magnet just to spice things up. A former client of mine gave me this NKBA fridge magnet - mainly because we were working on a line of kitchen and laundry appliances together back in the day.

You'd be surprised how much effort goes into the selling of product lines to you guys, the consumer, but also the amount of work that an appliance manufacturer has to do just to get their products sold in to like a Sears or Best Buy or Lowe's. It's hard, man. They have to have all their product specs down pat, all their collateral pristine, and know their sales pitches cold.

But, to get all that together, sometimes, you have to do a little recon in the stores - that's running around a P.C. Richards or a Lowe's or Home Depot, seeing who has the most appliances on the floor, the positioning within the store, and even the point of sale materials they have for the consumers.

It was totally fun, getting to visit as many of these stores as I could, pretending I was in the market for some new refrigerators or washer/dryers, and quizzing the sales folks on the differences between the manufacturers, picking up competitive sales materials...and when I could, taking pictures of the store.

Well, that is until I got run out of a New Jersey Sears for taking pictures. Whoops.

"Basically the same thing"

Magnet #465 - Myla Jackson

I mentioned this weekend I was at BookExpo America, which brought together publishers and other exhibitors with a passion for books.

I picked up this Myla Jackson author magnet at the Ellora booth, which I've since learned is an romantica/erotica publishing group. (Which I'm not linking to, due to possible NSFW content, but thanks for the swag, folks!)

While at BEA, I ran into an old mentor of mine whom I'd lost contact with and she asked what I was doing now. When I told her that I've completely left publishing [save for occasional editing on the side] and now work in advertising/marketing, she responded with, "Well, it's basically the same thing, isn't it?"

Snap!

There's a business side of me that says yep, publishing is basically just the packaging, marketing and distribution of books.  And the more you support the book/author - or the brand, in some cases - the more successful you'll be. Or rather, the more books you'll sell.  And that's key.  I get that.

But, on the flip side, hello, knife in my heart.  Mind you, I was in romance, so admittedly, it's not like we were producing the next War & Peace over at Loveswept.  But, still, one would like to believe (no matter how naive), that publishers in whatever genre out there, are putting good, quality books out there that touch people and perhaps make a difference somewhere, rather than just packaging and marketing products for people who hopefully see beyond the cover art, the quippy title, or the crafted sales copy.

Eh, one can debate for hours about it, but I will share one drastic difference for me being in romance versus being in advertising/marketing:

Back in those days, I could put this magnet up at work, along with all my hot shirtless boy cover models, without any shame. They were research, they were the actual models from our covers, and dammit, they were just pretty.  Such a different work environment. (Such a different life, actually.)

Anyway, now, the only pretty boys I try to have hanging in my cube area (in obvious places, and aside from the George Clooney area) are work-related, like the cover of our corporate newsletter with the incredibly hot David Beckham biting a Sharpie, and a giant full-page newspaper ad with George hawking Nespresso coffee machines.

Anything more would probably be considered actionable.

I'll say.