The Tenth Inning

I'm halfway "home"on Ken Burns' latest. I'll let the PBS write-up tell the story:

The Tenth Inning is a two-part, four-hour documentary film directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. A new chapter in Burns's landmark 1994 series, BASEBALL, The Tenth Inning tells the tumultuous story of the national pastime from the 1990s to the present day.
Introducing an unforgettable array of players, teams and fans, the film showcases the era's extraordinary accomplishments and heroics — as well as its devastating losses and disappointments.
Combining extraordinary highlights, stunning still photographs, and insightful commentary by players, managers, and fans, The Tenth Inning interweaves the story of the national pastime with the story of America.

Good stuff. How do I know? It got my daughter to close her laptop and watch just one screen. If you're looking to get primed for baseball's post-season ESCAPE find a repeat airing of The Tenth Inning on your favorite PBS station.

Door-to-door marketing goes under the door

I had the pleasure of running the ADT Security advertising account in the U.S. for many years. One of our effective tactical tools for the brand (and for the pizza guys) was the simple door hanger piece. I recall the instructions on these programs was explicit about NOT sliding the piece under doors. We took the blue 1's and zero's that form the ADT force-field of protection very seriously. ADT Chile and DDB went the more invasive route as demonstrated in the video. Hope the Chinese restaurants in New York don't see this. Pasar bien.

R.E.M. was right

Earlier this year we conducted a survey on Consumer Escapes. When asked "which of the following do you consider yourself passionate about," religion ranked 14th behind things like food, health, books, movies, and career. No wonder Americans didn't fare so well on this Pew Forum national survey. (To paraphrase R.E.M., that's us in the spotlight losing our religion.)

In our smaller-scale smz research study consumers were looking for "breathing space - a release from everyday activities or responsibilities." 77% strongly or somewhat agreed with that need. Clearly those same adults don't seek out religion to provide that breathing space. So Apple is happy, and the folks who teach about the first bite from the apple, maybe less so.

We could use a little Demolition Derby

It's a challenge on this blog to write about new and different consumer escapes. Last week we were editing a new television commercial for the Detroit Red Wings. In the edit there's a shot of a vicious body check by Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall. I commented that it reminded me of a demolition derby. One of the young creative team members gave me that "what you talking about old guy" look. I fondly recall watching the demolition derby as a kid. Now that was an escape. I fantasized that by the time I got my license I'd be able to give it a try. Unfortunately I never got my chance. Now with ESC, ABS, GPS, nine airbags and fiberglass bumpers I don't think it would be as much fun. Yet from time-to-time - when a driver on his phone does the jerk pass in the right hand lane at a stoplight - I wish I had a well-used V-nosed 1972 Pontiac Catalina to take him out demolition style.

Pseudo Experts in Social Media

When I go skiing with my family we don't go down the black diamond trails. Why? Because we barely ski once a year and don't qualify as "experts." So why is that so many people in my industry portray themselves as an expert in something they've barely begun to do. I'm talking about the writers who have had an iPad for one month versus the Detroit Symphony Orchestra musician with 10,000+ hours of practice. (Malcolm Gladwell "Outliers" reference.) I've grown tired of the social media expert who tweeted three times, the blog expert with a blog that's still a "green banana", the YouTube expert whose video has been viewed 42 times, and the social media repurposers without an original thought. Admit it people you belong on the groomed blue trails of social media. You're learning along with the rest of us and are at best an intermediate. So stop teaching (and preaching to me via email) and start catching more edges in the snow. I'll see you by the fire in the lodge when you've mastered your craft.

Buying a new pair of pants

Yesterday my wife and I ventured to Kohl's, the king of Dockers, to buy some clothes.  Had I seen this spot first we may have both considered shopping elsewhere.

Changes in the "Detroit ad scene"

Thanks to the Adcraft Club for including me in a discussion of the organization and the state of advertising in Detroit at a session held with Detroit Free Press columnist Tom Walsh this past Monday.

Here's a link to the article from Saturday's Free Press.

Enjoyed it, even if the big agency guys hogged all the quotes. More "good news" to come.