A recent beer commercial featuring the "most interesting man alive" showed a closeup of his business card, which displayed "I'll call you". I need to have a card printed like this, for real. For some time now, I've been of the opinion that the New Cool is that nobody knows where I am, and nobody knows how to contact me. It's the polar opposite of the uber-connected celebrity wannabee.
Of course, to back-track, I've never had, nor wanted, thousands of "friends". I put that in quotations because in truth, you will never in your life have more than a handful of people who truly care about you, and if you don't understand that right now, you eventually will. This re-invention of the term "friend" is one of the things I object to, when it comes to social media.
Now to avoid the inevitable "fuddy duddy" label, I will admit to having Twitter and Facebook accounts, and this blog, and a website - although I use them rarely (point of fact, I have posted exactly twelve blogs in more than a year at this location). The day I believe social media is a good way to market a meaningful project, I will become more active for that singular purpose - and one day it will probably come to that. For now, I just feel like my creative visions and hallucinations are valuable commodities, along with their concurrent printed words and images. I'm not giving it up for free. Now - were not talking about my sex life here - which actually IS free but non-existent and therefore irrelevant.
So as a method of vomiting up volumes of personal observations, social media possesses no appeal for me. Sometimes I test the waters, posting a photo or text or two, to see if anyone is actually listening. It's amazing to me how many people respond, in my purposely limited network. (I have exactly 100 friends on Facebook, and that's a fine number to satisfy my OCD.)
And it's not just a matter of money. I like money, but its only purpose in my life is to fund my next personal creative objective - not to buy objects, and certainly not to make people "like" me. Maybe that's the ultimate "cool" - that nobody likes me. I might unwittingly become the "Next Big Thing".
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Doubles tennis
Do you play tennis? On a league - or just a fun social game? Then you'll want to watch my new TV Series called "Seeing Doubles". Here's a synopsis:
“Seeing Doubles” is like nothing else on television today - an instructional series that focuses on doubles tennis. Doubles may get little air time during tournament coverage, but it’s the most popular form of tennis played by adult recreational players, and is a specialty all its own. Doubles vs singles tennis is often referred to as “chess vs checkers” because of the intricacy of strategy required. It’s more a mental and reflex game, than a purely physical encounter. If tennis is truly a “sport for a lifetime” then doubles provides that life in our later years.
I personally know a group of 80 to 85-year-old men that play six days a week at my local tennis park in Hollywood, Florida. They may not move as fast as the youngsters, but they have learned to compensate with excellent ball control, strategy and shot selection. They are true gentlemen, great sports, and are in incredible physical shape. Most of the ladies in my doubles league are over 50, and didn’t start playing tennis regularly until they were in their 40s. The adult population is an area of tennis growth that has been somewhat over-looked in the industry’s zeal to bring players in at age 5-10. Both are admirable pursuits – but one undeniable fact is that people age 35 – 55 are the most desirable demographic for advertisers (they’re also parents, and if they love tennis they are likely to transmit that enthusiasm to their children).
Teaching adults to enjoy tennis helps them live longer, healthier lives – and encourages them to have fun and be competitive in a sport that makes them feel like real athletes, as they approach middle age and beyond. As singles can be too physically demanding for some older people, doubles is clearly the key to involving them long-term in the thrilling sport of tennis.
--JC Summerford, Producer
I have conducted informal polls on several message boards, provoking these comments, and many more:
“I'd certainly watch. I'd like to know rules, personalities (including backgrounds of players), where the teams are from, standing in their league, how serious each of the players take it,.......oh jeez, there is so much I would like to see about it. I'd rather watch it over Top 5 of anything on TC anyday.”
“I would watch a good instructional show if I thought it could help improve my actual play.”
“I would watch such a show if I thought it would help my play. I think the challenge would be to have enough content in there that would apply across a broad range of levels (say 2.5 - 5.0, which covers most recreational tennis players).”
“What channel would it be on? I play doubles all the time and I suck at it and hate it with a passion. Maybe your show could help.”
*87% of those polled said they would “definitely watch a show like this”.
“Seeing Doubles” is like nothing else on television today - an instructional series that focuses on doubles tennis. Doubles may get little air time during tournament coverage, but it’s the most popular form of tennis played by adult recreational players, and is a specialty all its own. Doubles vs singles tennis is often referred to as “chess vs checkers” because of the intricacy of strategy required. It’s more a mental and reflex game, than a purely physical encounter. If tennis is truly a “sport for a lifetime” then doubles provides that life in our later years.
I personally know a group of 80 to 85-year-old men that play six days a week at my local tennis park in Hollywood, Florida. They may not move as fast as the youngsters, but they have learned to compensate with excellent ball control, strategy and shot selection. They are true gentlemen, great sports, and are in incredible physical shape. Most of the ladies in my doubles league are over 50, and didn’t start playing tennis regularly until they were in their 40s. The adult population is an area of tennis growth that has been somewhat over-looked in the industry’s zeal to bring players in at age 5-10. Both are admirable pursuits – but one undeniable fact is that people age 35 – 55 are the most desirable demographic for advertisers (they’re also parents, and if they love tennis they are likely to transmit that enthusiasm to their children).
Teaching adults to enjoy tennis helps them live longer, healthier lives – and encourages them to have fun and be competitive in a sport that makes them feel like real athletes, as they approach middle age and beyond. As singles can be too physically demanding for some older people, doubles is clearly the key to involving them long-term in the thrilling sport of tennis.
--JC Summerford, Producer
I have conducted informal polls on several message boards, provoking these comments, and many more:
“I'd certainly watch. I'd like to know rules, personalities (including backgrounds of players), where the teams are from, standing in their league, how serious each of the players take it,.......oh jeez, there is so much I would like to see about it. I'd rather watch it over Top 5 of anything on TC anyday.”
“I would watch a good instructional show if I thought it could help improve my actual play.”
“I would watch such a show if I thought it would help my play. I think the challenge would be to have enough content in there that would apply across a broad range of levels (say 2.5 - 5.0, which covers most recreational tennis players).”
“What channel would it be on? I play doubles all the time and I suck at it and hate it with a passion. Maybe your show could help.”
*87% of those polled said they would “definitely watch a show like this”.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Colbert Report
Love Steven Colbert - last night he hit home for me with a comment about airline travel. I have traveled so much over the past few years, and am increasingly disgusted with the way airlines treat passengers, while charging us more and more. Here's what Steven "reported" yesterday:
"Airlines are thinking of charging passengers for 'reclining seats'. Also - your scrotum now counts as a carry-on bag."
Great stab at an industry that has lost its focus. They should be looking for ways to accommodate, not alienate travelers like me!
"Airlines are thinking of charging passengers for 'reclining seats'. Also - your scrotum now counts as a carry-on bag."
Great stab at an industry that has lost its focus. They should be looking for ways to accommodate, not alienate travelers like me!
Monday, January 24, 2011
First major upset of the Australian Open 2011 - a Ukranian wild card beat #4 Robin Soderling (earlier he kicked Tsonga). Never a big Soderling fan anyway - but this kid, Alexandr Dolgopolov, can play! He comes from great lineage, his dad coached Medvedev, and like Agassi he picked up a racquet at age 2. Has a weird service motion, but good variety of shots; he has no fear, and an impressive ability to out-think his opponent. He lost the first set 6-1, as Soderling unleashed a barrage of huge groundies - but then settled down and figured out Soderling's game. From then forward, he fed the big Swede unpalatable angles, slices, and produced an unrelenting defensive game.
Next up, Murray - so Alexandr's moment in the sun (for now) is about to set. Murray whipped him good at Davis Cup last year. Still think Rafa will win, but at least 3 others have a real shot this year: Federer, Murray, and Djokovic. In fact I predict the Fed doesn't make it to the final, it'll be one of the other guys.
Next up, Murray - so Alexandr's moment in the sun (for now) is about to set. Murray whipped him good at Davis Cup last year. Still think Rafa will win, but at least 3 others have a real shot this year: Federer, Murray, and Djokovic. In fact I predict the Fed doesn't make it to the final, it'll be one of the other guys.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
work is ruining my tennis!
Call us die-hards. My regular Saturday tennis buddies all showed up at my house today to play doubles. It was overcast, misty and foggy, which made the court a little slick in spots, but we started. Half an hour later, a light rain made the court too wet to play. Broke my heart, because with my new full-time job, I only have weekends to play in daylight, and prefer to play 5-6 days a week! But we decided to play at night a couple nights this week, so we'll see how my astigmatism affects me - I gotta do something, work is ruining my tennis game! I've also been invited to be on a USTA night league team, so guess I'll do that too. Off to the gym now...
Monday, January 17, 2011
Montreal in January
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
New Year, new job!
I started 2011 with a big change - if not a big bang - by joining the staff of VTA Florida as Creative Director, a full time job!
I've operated my own company, Time is NOW Productions, for eight years - but when this opportunity presented itself, I couldn't turn it down. I've known Art Nardin (manager of this facility) and everyone else here for years, and they do the kind of work I'm very familiar with. I feel I can bring in some new energy - and new clients - jump-starting the year for all of us. Watch this blog for much more about new projects and stuff - it's going to be a great ride!
I've operated my own company, Time is NOW Productions, for eight years - but when this opportunity presented itself, I couldn't turn it down. I've known Art Nardin (manager of this facility) and everyone else here for years, and they do the kind of work I'm very familiar with. I feel I can bring in some new energy - and new clients - jump-starting the year for all of us. Watch this blog for much more about new projects and stuff - it's going to be a great ride!
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