Ha! Stumbled across this video and loved it. A must for anyone who’s done much freelance work. We should all make our clients watch this before beginning any work.
And if you like this, here’s a similar comic I drew last year. I think it’s kinda funny we both went with the restaurant analogy.
Man, sometimes Previous Bryan is an idiot.
He constantly forgets to take down important information, doesn’t save multiple versions of files, he procrastinates, and he’s completely incapable of laying off the cheeseburgers.
Sometimes he’s taken care of me, though. He leaves me notes occasionally, and he has left money in my pockets a few times…
My goal is to become a better Previous Bryan for Future Bryan. Hopefully he’ll thank me for it.
This is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time, and maybe it’s just because I know him, but I don’t think so.
Brennin Hunt, a good friend and amazing singer/songwriter who now lives in Nashville, entered a video into Ellen’s “Bathroom concert series.”
She picked him, and her response is hilarious.
As you can see, he’s an incredible vocalist. You should check out his stuff. Even better, send a note to Ellen voting for him so she can fly him out to the show to sing a duet for some great exposure.
It’s a question that I comes up from time to time, from people who don’t get it and sometimes even from myself. We designers can get a bit self-righteous, but sometimes I really step back and ask: is our job, as designers and media producers in the church, really all that necessary? In the grand scheme of things?
Here are some reasons why I think it is.
1. It speaks to those who aren’t listening. Whether it’s right or not, many people will judge your (our) church without ever setting foot in it. A lot of those judgments, sadly, will be something along the lines of “there’s nothing for me there,” “those people are completely out of touch,” or “they can’t possibly have anything interesting to say.” A well-executed (notice I didn’t say “edgy” or “relevant”) design, though, can speak volumes to someone who won’t give you a chance to say anything else.
2. It’s way more than marketing. Yes, our job is to get people in the doors to hear the teaching, but it’s also more than that. Art can enhance the teaching by penetrating areas of consciousness and emotion that spoken word cannot, giving the message an even greater impact (and can even make that teaching resonate longer by providing a visual reminder of the feelings/thoughts experienced during the message).
3. It’s damage control. What we represent is important. Way more important than some product or company, and if those things warrant hours of energy devoted to protecting their image, why doesn’t the church? Frankly, there are plenty of people out there giving us bad PR. I consider it a personal goal to tear down misconceptions, and deliver an accurate representation of what it’s like to follow Christ. I can do that through design.
Those are just a few “off the top of my head” reasons. Do you have others?
“The irony of the Information Age is that it has given new respectability to uninformed opinion.” -reporter John Lawton, 1995 (found in “Airframe” by Michael Crichton)
You know those quotes that you stumble across and think “that is EXACTLY what I’ve been trying to find a way to say?” This is one of those. Of course it’s much more eloquent than whatever I would have come up with.
Way too many people today suffer from what I call an “information deficit.” In other words, they’ve got more “information” going out than they do coming in. The web, especially, is littered with uninformed, half-baked, second-hand, and downright lazy opinions. Even worse, they’re usually broadcast with such fervor that they seem somewhat thought-out.
Please, PLEASE, do a little research if you’re going to make your voice heard. I don’t really care if you want to have an uninformed opinion, but don’t lead other people into your ignorance.
Sorry for the rant. I’m better now.
Dear blog,
I’m so sorry.
I finally jumped on the Twitter bus a while ago, after refusing for so long (because, really, who wants to know what little ol’ me is up to every hour?) and, of course, I love it. I feel more connected to friends I don’t see every day, and it’s bailed me out of a couple of jams (like needing to find speaker stands a couple of hours before a gig – thanks @katycarris).
But the one serious side effect has been that I have neglected you, my dear blog. Found something great that I want to share with everyone? I’ll just toss the link up on Twitter. Same with stuff I’m working on, interesting things that happen throughout the day, etc.
But I’m realizing the void that’s been left. Twitter can never replace you. First, you listen – much longer than Twitter’s 140-character attention span. Second, you remember – I can’t count on my thoughts lasting more than a couple of hours with Twitter before they’re completely forgotten.
So, consider this my apology. I’m coming back to you, baby.
You can still follow me on twitter (@bryansclark) for those quick thoughts, though.
What more is there to say?
An inspiring little diddy from a great Oklahoma band, Colourmusic. You’ve GOT to check out their website. Trust me.
We shared studio time with these guys a few years back and they were some of the coolest guys you’ll meet – making the music that they love for all the right reasons. It just so happens that other people really love it, too.
With all of the bands I’ve seen disappear, I’m so glad to see that they’re still going strong.
Thanks to Kevin for posting this.
I’ve recently discovered the practice of venting my frustration by drawing comics. It’s much better than blurting out whatever pops into my head. This way I have to think it through first…
This is one I worked up after a couple of freelance projects – and after talking to some colleagues about our history with corporate clients.
It’s amazing how things that would be completely absurd in other situations are somehow perfectly acceptable to ask of a creative – especially since it’s always assumed that it won’t cost extra.
I was hesitant to post this for fear that anyone would think that this reflects situations at LifeChurch.tv, but it doesn’t. At all. I promise.
Why, oh why, do we come up with these things?
Following the success of last year’s “No-Shave November” event, the guys on the LifeChurch.tv “Bling” (Media Design) team have decided to up the ante this year with “Stache-tember.” Yeah, the name doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, but it’s the best we’ve got (though I wanted to use “monthstache” somehow).
Anyway, the short story is: we’re all growing moustaches.
This year, we’re inviting all to participate. Let us join together in this blessed celebration of life and hair growth.
Beginning today, Sept 2 (since we were all gone for Labor Day) there is but one rule: “thine hair on thine upper lip shall remain untouched by thine razor.” It shall be one moustache, multiple faces – a beautiful display of camaraderie and unity. Our collective moustache will be revealed at the staff October Event in all its glory, and then here for all to see.
The only downside: we’ll all have moustaches.
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