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Blog Events Stuff

Designing for Sports

Erin Collins
“Sports fans are the most passionate brand loyalists on earth.”

In his opening statement at Big Ditch Brewing on April 11, Todd Radom not only spoke to his audiences nationwide, but to his own identity – a loyal fan who grew up to design the logos of the teams he always loved.

Everyone’s heard that kitschy phrase – “love what you do; do what you love.” While that’s surely what we all aim to get to, let’s be honest – work is work, generally speaking. Todd Radom, on the other hand, might be part of the 1% who landed his ultimate dream job: designing logos for every team in Major League Baseball, along with numerous projects for the NBA, NFL, and other major league sports.

Radom’s presentation spanned all of his self-acclaimed roles: designer, writer, researcher, illustrator, and fan. Scrolling through pictures of the first decorated football helmets created for the rise of televised games, his own early sketches (work he drew by hand before Adobe changed the lives of designers everywhere), and various logos he’s created (including his lifetime accomplishment, Super Bowl XXXVIII), Radom spoke of the numerous design trends he’s seen come and go in a $14+ billion industry – including the Buffalo Sabres’ own blue and gold to red and black to blue and gold changeup throughout the years.

Referring to a sentiment local fans know all too well, Radom said he measures the creative variation and subsequent acceptance of a new logo based on the status of a sports team – if they’re doing well, don’t kill a good thing; if they’re down, take a leap and revamp while people are looking for something to hold on to. He went on summarize the fundamental inspirations behind his logos: locations, experiences, fan bases, communities, numbers, and traditions. In one word, the “celebration” that is watching your favorite sports team play.

Aside from showing a jaw-dropping portfolio, Todd Radom’s presentation stirred a familiar affection in many: the unique sense of accomplishment that comes with successfully capturing the very essence of something so beloved, in one design. He also discussed a variety of design elements – from the future of team logos at the center of longstanding controversy, to how designers must think differently about how the identities of a brand are perceived in their most distilled, purest form as the world around us continues to change with overwhelming amounts of content being consumed daily.

More than a great learning experience, ‘Design For Sports’ showcased the blending of art and business that is intrinsic to the advertising industry which we love so much.

The 2016-17 Spotlight Speaker Series wraps up May 9 with “Nightmare Marketing: How to Create Great Content for “Boring,” Complex and Undifferentiated Products.”

 

Blog Events Students

2017 Portfolio Review Recap

Erin Collins

Guest post by Noah Herman, Daemen College ’18

On Saturday, April 1, Daemen College hosted AAF Buffalo’s annual Portfolio Review. Even though the event fell on April Fool’s Day, students gained real, insightful advice from graphic designers, art directors, professors, freelancers, and other types of visual professionals working in Buffalo’s advertising community. Those communication students who attended this year created just as much variety as their professional counterparts, with participation coming from Villa Maria, Buffalo State, UB, and Daemen College.

 

Almost like design speed-dating, students at the review had a timed one-on-one slot with each professional to go over the student’s portfolio and provide critiques when necessary. Students who also attended the AAF’s Portfolio Seminar, hosted at Daemen College in the fall, would’ve found the Portfolio Review to be the perfect complement to the previous event. Further cementing the advice given at the seminar, students were able to put to practice much of what they learned without the added stress of a “real-world” job interview scenario.

Some advice that crossed over from the Portfolio Seminar to the Review included:

  • The importance of walking the reviewer through the process behind your work.
  • Using the correct method to display your work (physical or digital).
  • Including a truly concise and refined collection of work in your portfolio.
  • The importance of including mock-ups that best suit the product you’re displaying to give the reviewer a better concept of your work.

Students presented their work from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. with a brief break for lunch, which provided a unique opportunity to make connections with professionals or other students. At the end of the review, professionals were asked to vote on the most effective portfolios for scholarships available to students continuing their education next fall.

The students that professionals felt were successful in this regard included:

1st Place: Noah Herman, Daemen College

2nd Place: Brooke Murgia, Buffalo State

3rd Place: Travis Springer, Villa Maria College

Honorable Mention: Joseph Petromicca, Daemen College

Congratulations to the scholarship winners and all those who worked hard preparing and presenting. Entering the job market can be a scary process for any industry, let alone such a competitive field. So, a big thank you goes out to the professionals who donated a large portion of their free time to provide useful feedback and advice to make the process a whole lot smoother!

To see Noah’s winning portfolio, head over to noahherman.com. 

Advice Blog Board Social Media Stuff

Board Member Spotlight: Dan Nesselbush

Erin Collins

From crafting all those tongue-in-cheek emails and social media posts to shooting video and photos at our events, AAF Buffalo’s secretary is a true jack of all trades. Read on to learn about the man, the myth, the guy who bedazzled his own shirt for this year’s American Advertising Awards: Dan Nesselbush.

 

Let’s hear about your day job.

Where do you work, and what does your role entail?

I work in downtown Buffalo for CBRE|Buffalo, an affiliate of a global commercial real estate firm as the marketing manager. I support an office of a dozen brokers by executing all of their marketing needs – press releases, website management, writing copy, photographing properties, deploying email and direct mail campaigns, and more – it’s truly an all-encompassing position when you work in a small office.

What advice do you have to give to emerging talent in your field?

Take initiative and never stop learning. A lot of the day-to-day tasks I work on are things I never learned in college. Actively reading and trying new things is not only necessary to keep a fresh perspective but it’s also sometimes the only way to keep up. Upper management won’t always spoon-feed professional development opportunities to you.

Tell us about organizations/charities that you’re passionate about.

AAF Buffalo has occupied a lot of my time the past few years as a member of the executive board so that’s obviously something I’m passionate about. Having a long history with the area, I’ve put most of my effort into seeing that AAF Buffalo continues to strengthen its stance as a place where anyone interested in a career in marketing communications can go to further their career. I’m a firm believer that people with the tools and support that an organization like this can provide is the ultimate way to contribute to a growing economy that provides our neighbors with the best opportunity to realize success.

What was your first job?

My first job out of college was as sports producer at WKBW-TV. I had the pleasure of getting a paycheck covering some of my favorite teams while getting to work alongside some of the best in the broadcast business under the tutelage of John Murphy and Jeff Russo. My true first job was in high school, slinging popcorn behind the concession stand at a movie theater. A winning combination of minimum wage, free movie tickets, and a sweet maroon vest.

When you’re not working, how do you spend your time (hobbies, side projects, etc.)?

In my free time I’ve taken on photography as a hobby/side project. Combining my love for visual communication and my journalism experience I started freelancing as a photojournalist for some local publications the last few years, including regular assignments for the Bee Group Newspapers. Some of my work can be seen at my site www.theworkingdan.com

What’s the last thing you read?

“Yes, And.” It’s a book about managing business and creative teams using improv techniques from the guys who run The Second City, the world-famous comedy group out of Chicago.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

It’s unfair to pick one restaurant when there are so many great options in Buffalo. I’m going to take the easy way out and just give my “best wings in Buffalo” candidate of Mammoser’s Tavern in Hamburg.

What’s your favorite hidden gem in WNY?

I’m not divulging my hidden gem for fear that it will become trendy and ruined by everyone else.

Now, let’s talk a little about AAF Buffalo.

Why did you join AAF Buffalo?

It’s as simple as wanting more for my career. I was subject to layoff twice in my early career, working for companies that have gone through bankruptcy and acquisition. I also worked directly with a lot of people who didn’t always understand or value the role of marketing in the business model. I joined AAF Buffalo because it provided professional development and the opportunity to speak with peers passionate about the type of work we do that I just wasn’t able to get where I was working.

What has been your proudest moment in your role on the AAF board?

I’d have to say the AAF Club Achievement Awards we received this past spring are the proudest. We worked hard the last few years to evolve our programming and communications efforts and to have the folks at the national level determine that we were worthy of first place was a great validation for the effort put in by everyone.

How has AAF Buffalo impacted you professionally?

AAF Buffalo has given me the opportunity to take on a leadership role and work with creative people who have become friends over the years. These are people I probably would have never been able to meet if I never showed up to an event or run for the board. Meeting and speaking with our out-of-town guests who bring great insight from beyond our area has also made a huge impact – sometimes it’s the simple validation you are on the same page as someone from a larger or different market is all it takes to make a positive mark on your career.

What differentiates AAF Buffalo from other groups?

I think it’s how active the organization is. The mix of out-of-town voices, a juried competition with the ADDYs, a handful of student opportunities, and a fun mix of social events really makes it an easy group to become a part of.

Why would you encourage others to join AAF Buffalo?

It’s a great mix of industry professionals who perform a variety of tasks in their day to day. There is something about being around creative people who work on some amazing things and share the common struggles many of us face in our careers. AAF Buffalo can be whatever you want it to be. A place to build a network of friends. A place to be inspired. A place to collaborate. A place to complain about your current workplace. A place to find your next employee. A place to sneak around the HR person to meet the person at the agency you want to work for. A place to give back to the community. A place to just grab a beer and do some bowling (shameless plug – I love our holiday bowling tournament). The opportunities are endless.

Keep up with Dan on Twitter at @dnesselbush, or Instagram at theworkingdan.

 

ADDYS Blog Board Events Latest News Students Stuff

2017 ADDYs Recap: AD SMACK BATTLE RUMBLE MANIA

Erin Collins 1 Comment on 2017 ADDYs Recap: AD SMACK BATTLE RUMBLE MANIA

On Friday, March 10, the local ad community came together to recognize the true winners of our industry: the creative geniuses of Western New York.

More than 410 advertising masterminds entered the ring at Buffalo RiverWorks to attend the 2017 WNY American Advertising Awards. From snarky signs to exclusive entourages, the atmosphere was lively, competitive, and celebratory – reflecting the show’s theme, “AD SMACK BATTLE RUMBLE MANIA,” perfectly.

Developed by local agency Crowley Webb, this year’s awards show satirized the hyped-up competition between local ad agencies around award season. Over 500 professional and student entries were received and scored by judges from Atlanta, Chicago, New York City and Washington D.C.

Special thanks go to co-chairs Marcia Rich, UX Designer at Crowley Webb, and April Brown, Art Director at FARM Buffalo, who worked hard to ensure a raucous time was had by all.

And now, on to the winners.  Read on to view the great achievements of the night.


 

Professional Winners

Crowley Webb brought the final smack down, taking home the most ADDYs with 29 awards (5 Gold, 24 Silver). Gelia received a total of 26 awards (16 Gold, 10 Sliver), Block Club was honored with 16 awards (3 Gold, 13 Silver), The Martin Group took away 13 awards (13 Silver), White Bicycle secured 12 awards (7 Gold, 5 Silver), and dPost 11 awards (8 Gold, 3 Silver). A total of 26 companies took home at least one gold or silver award.

Other award winners include:

  • FARM Buffalo (2 Gold, 6 Silver)
  • Eric Mower + Associates (1 Gold, 4 Silver)
  • FIFTEEN (8 Silver)

Best of Show

The big winner of the night was Gelia, picking up the Best of Show Award for their Smiling Teds, “Science of Used Car Dealers” campaign.

Special Awards

Several very talented individuals were also honored with Special Awards.  The 2017 recipients were:

  • Andy Donovan, President, dPost – David I. Levy Communicator of the Year Award
    This award was created to recognize outstanding achievement and service in the communications industry.

    Andy Donovan, President of dPost accepts the David I. Levy Communicator of the Year Award.
  • Laurie Wolfe, Broadcast Producer, Laurie Wolfe Productions – Alex Osborn Award for Creativity
    Named in honor of Alex Osborn of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn fame, this award recognizes individuals who, through outstanding creative achievements, have left an indelible mark on the Western New York creative community.
  • Ted’s Hot Dogs – The Odysseus Best Client Award
    The Odysseus Award was established in 2011 by the Advertising Club of Buffalo to honor a client in the Western New York market (individual or group/department) who has used the discipline of strategic marketing and advertising in an extraordinary way.
  • Charlie Riley, Director of Marketing and Communications, Lawley – Joe Crowley Award for Service
    This award recognizes not only hard work, but also outstanding achievement in furthering the activities and interests of the club.
  • Sam Tato, 3D Artist, dPost – AAF Buffalo Future Star Award
    This award honors an outstanding young professional in the marketing and advertising field who has demonstrated great potential in his or her early years in the industry.

The Veritiv Creative Use of Paper Award

White Bicycle received this award once again for their Andrea Nardello “Fire” Packaging for Blue Elephant Records. A special thanks to Jean Clemens from Veritiv for her continued support of AAF Buffalo and this award.

 

Best Show Book Ad Award

FIFTEEN won this year’s award with their interactive thumb battle rumble mania-themed ad.

 

 

Student Winners

College students were also included in the action. Taking home the Student Best of Show were Alexandra Casarsa, Courtney Ewings, Gina Griffo, and Samantha Lonczak of Villa Maria College for Skald Book Design. Lonczak’s 4 student awards (1 Gold, 3 Silver) were the most overall. Angela Marini of Daemen College took home 2 Gold awards, while Holly Norris of Buffalo State College took home 1 Gold and 1 Silver. A total of 17 students took home at least one gold or silver award.

Courtney Ewings, Gina Griffo, Samantha Lonczak, and Alexandra Casarsa of Villa Maria College accept the Student Best of Show Award for Skald Book Design.

Students each taking home one Gold award include:

  • Grace Gruarin, VIlla Maria College
  • Noah Herman, Daemen College

Student Silver award winners include:

  • Alexandra Casarsa, Villa Maria College
  • Troy Deweever, St. Bonaventure University
  • Courtney Ewings, Villa Maria College
  • Jeffery Marotta, Villa Maria College
  • Jessica Puskar, Villa Maria College
  • Rachel Peck, Canisius College
  • Alicia Salerno, Villa Maria College

Thank You to Our Sponsors

The 2016 WNY American Advertising Award Show was sponsored by: Buffalo Limousine, Holiday Inn Express, WNED TV, Gateway Printing & Graphics, Inc., Big Ditch Brewing Company, IMG_INK, Veritiv, Cohber Press, Inc., Hodgins Engraving, Minute Print, PromoWorks, CJ Sound, Sound Video Solutions, and Speier Displays.

On to a Bigger Ring

The Gold and Silver winners in both professional and student categories will have the opportunity to compete in the AAF District 2 American Advertising Awards with the hope of moving on to the national show in New Orleans in June.

Congratulations to all the winners and another successful year of work in WNY!

 

Watch the judge’s Best of Show selection process below. Special thanks to Jason Yates for this superb contribution.

 

Relive the memories by flipping through the 2017 American Advertising Awards show book, or view pictures from the night on our Facebook page.

Blog Board Stuff

BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: TIM BOUCHARD

Erin Collins

You might recognize him by his bright yellow car, or know him as one of those crazy cyclists that wear spandex. Or, perhaps you know him for his killer work at the agency he co-founded, LUMINUS. But when he’s not biking 40+ miles or meeting with clients, Tim Bouchard serves as AAF Buffalo’s vice president. Read on to see what makes our second-in-command really tick.

Let’s hear about your day job.

Where do you work, and what does your role entail?

I’m a managing partner at LUMINUS, which means I wear many hats. I help with business development, client communication, project management, internal reviews, and all the boring business stuff. Being that my roots are in digital media, I still find time to keep up with web design trends and contribute to the programming processes here at the studio.

What trends or insights are you finding in your field/market?

LUMINUS’s origins are in the success and quality of our web and digital services. The traditional advertising community has been slowly integrating more focus on digital over the last 10 years, while we have been simultaneously growing into a full-service agency offering traditional services. It’s fun to see both sides playing in the same arenas.

What advice do you have to give to emerging talent in your field?

For those interested in the digital realm, stay forward thinking. Creative processes and digital advertising change rapidly as new technology and social markets emerge. Always be learning.

Tell us about organizations/charities that you’re passionate about.

I’m involved in and support local cycling, whether its races or organizations like GoBike Buffalo.

What are three things you use at work every day?

My Mac Pro, Slack, and Quick Wit

What was your first job?

My first professional gig was working for a little company called Student Voice when it was just 10 people. Some of you may know it now as Campus Labs.

Describe yourself in one word.

Determined.

What’s your favorite hidden gem in WNY?

“That Taco Place” in Batavia – or “Taco Joe’s,” as us regulars call it.

Now, let’s talk a little about AAF Buffalo.

Why did you join AAF Buffalo?

As a young business owner, I saw an opportunity to involve my company from an exposure standpoint and a resource for my team to continue professional development. As a single company, we cannot pull together the classes, speakers, and networking events that a group like AAF Buffalo can.

What has been your proudest moment in your role on the AAF board?

Creating the BrandHack event, which brings students and professionals together to competitively create a media campaign for a local non-profit. I wanted to bring an idea from my tech background into the creative space. I also really wanted an event that tied students directly with professionals.

How has AAF Buffalo impacted you professionally?

Being on my first board has expanded my management and communication skills. It’s introduced me to contacts internally within AAF as well as local industry leaders that I can share conversations with now at a common level.

What differentiates AAF Buffalo from other groups?

We are fortunate to work in an imaginative and enjoyable field. We create every day. AAF Buffalo allows us to get together and share that feeling with each other and constantly push each other to be even better.

Why would you encourage others to join AAF Buffalo?

Buffalo is a small town that still has somewhat limited resources. This organization is in place to help us support each other. You’re never done learning. We offer accessible and approachable ways to support local students –  to open doors and help them become the best future professionals they can be. This is an all-inclusive organization.

Keep up with Tim on Twitter at @timbouchard, or Instagram at downincircles.

Blog Events Skillshop

Skillshop Recap: Public Relations 101

Dan Nesselbush
by Andrew Bevevino

“So what exactly do you do?” That’s a question that a lot of PR people get. PR is multifaceted to say the least, so it’s tough to put your finger on.

But, if you had to describe it, what would you say? Luckily, Martin Davison Public Relations employee Kelsey Hanks and I recently hosted Skillshop: Public Relations 101 at The Martin Group offices to discuss what PR encompasses.

What do PR people actually do?

There are many PR practices, so it’s difficult to come up with a one sentence definition. However, we spoke briefly about several areas that PR practitioners work within on a regular basis.

  • Advocacy: If an organization needs help gaining community and/or influencer support for a certain initiative, PR people can help craft the messaging around that cause or initiative by writing speeches and talking points, organizing forums or community meetings, placing stories with the media or administering media training.
  • Content marketing: When we talk about content marketing, we’re referencing blogs, podcasts, infographics or other content-based pieces of communications. This content has some sort of value for consumers (i.e. education or entertainment), and PR people help create that content and the strategies for promoting it.
  • Internal communications: Internal PR is useful for keeping employees satisfied and informed. A good example of internal PR is a company newsletter detailing notable employee news and company updates and accomplishments. PR people are often tasked with keeping tabs on company news and creating internal promotional materials.
  • Crisis management: When something happens that could damage a company’s reputation, its often the job of PR practitioners to minimize or eliminate that damage. Doing so requires careful crafting of a strategic message that is relayed through press conferences, media relations and various other PR tactics.
  • Social media: You can use social media to accomplish many of the same goals that accomplish with more traditional PR. You can use social to promote content you create internally or for clients (i.e. blogs, podcasts), or you can spread positive buzz through the various social media channels and tools.
  • Media relations: Media relations = getting your clients in the news. This is what a lot of people think about when they reference PR. If you’re pitching stories about your clients to reporters or bloggers, you’re practicing media relations.

These are just a few areas within PR that we discussed during the workshop. There are many more, and their applications vary depending on the situation.

What is newsworthy/pitching basics

We took a bit of a deeper dive into media relations and discussed what makes a story newsworthy as well as some basics for media pitching.

There are several aspects of a story that make it newsworthy. Human interest, awards, product launches, major accomplishments and original content are all good examples of characteristics that might catch a reporter’s eye.

But, when pitching a story to the media, you always have to make sure you have a good angle. The angle is the story’s point of relevance or uniqueness. Without a good angle, your story will be glanced over. During the workshop, we outlined strategies to finding a good hook, as well as some basic steps to reaching out to the news media.

10 ways to promote your brand or event

If you’re having a big event or launching a new product, you’ll definitely want some PR to spread the word. We talked about ways to promote your event or product using PR, and I’d lay those out for you now, but I’m sure you’d rather just look at this artsy infographic that details PR activations for those occasions.

We talked about a few other subjects during our presentation at The Martin Group, but these are some of the broader points we spent a little more time on. All in all, we had some solid conversation about PR basics that the attendees seemed to find interesting based on the feedback I received.

Thanks to all who came! We really enjoyed giving the presentation, and we hope to see you at more AAF Buffalo events in the future.

Blog Events

Bowling for Soup

Erin Collins
By Erin Collins

No, this isn’t a story about that early-2000s, one-hit-wonder rock band. It’s better!

Charity, by means of bowling. Not something you hear about everyday. But then again, creatives are known to be out-of-the-lane thinkers.

That’s why AAF Buffalo continued to host its 3rd Annual Holiday Bowling Tournament to support the Food Bank of WNY. On Tuesday, December 6, 14 teams from Quinlan, Crowley Webb, Gelia, FARM, Parkway Digital, Luminus, The Martin Group, and other professional organizations took to the lanes to bowl for soup and strikes.

Our awesome organizers: Jillian Minderler, Brittany Klotzbach and Shannon Silva

Bowlers brought their best skills and non-perishable food donations to compete for prizes from our generous sponsor, Quinlan, as well as some Buffalo goodies provided by our pals at Store 716 (who also extended free shipping to all AAF Buffalo members with code shipAAF). With a total of 1136 for both games, Alex Bass and teammates Billy Drenko, Matt Lyford and Brian Straka  took home the top team prize. The prize for best overall male bowler went to Billy Drenko, while AAF Buffalo board member April Brown and Lauren Shapiro represented FARM as top female bowlers.

In addition to sponsoring the event, Quinlan also brought the largest food donation – and with other participants’ contributions, the event was able to provide a whopping 678 lbs. to the Food Bank. That translates to many cleaned out pantries, and the equivalent of 565 donated meals!

Thank you to all participants, sponsors and friends at Kenmore Lanes for another successful bowling tournament.

Visit the AAF Buffalo Facebook page for more pictures from the 3rd Annual Holiday Bowling Tournament.

Blog Students

Finding answers to portfolio problems

Dan Nesselbush

Guest post by Noah Herman, Daemen College ’18

Portfolios. They’re usually not an easy topic to talk about. Discussions often end up sparking more questions than answers, and end with comments like, “But, it’s really up to you as the designer.” However, for students stepping into the job market, the search for concrete answers that could lead to a job opportunity can be hard to come by. This year, the 2016 Portfolio Seminar shed light on the subject by featuring four different speakers in four different phases of their careers.

Offering different point of views, Angela Marini, a Daemen College student and winner of the AAF’s 2016 Student Portfolio Review; Greg Meadows, Creative Director at Telesco Creative Group; Jason Yates, Associate Creative Director at Gelia; and April Brown, Art Director at FARM, were able to provide unique information based on their own experiences to give more well-rounded portfolio advice.

The biggest takeaways at Portfolio Seminar:

  • Be yourself and be comfortable with it
  • Quality over quantity, always
  • An online portfolio is equally as necessary as a physical portfolio
  • There’s no right answer, but there are a lot of wrong ones

While these were the primary messages, they certainly weren’t the only ones. Other lessons learned included the importance of being able to talk about your work, the insight a process book can add to a project, the effectiveness of showing a wide range of projects, the value of tailoring your presentation for the job you’re applying to, and more.

This discussion didn’t just cover the do’s and don’ts of portfolios, but also branched out into career advice for finding a job that fits you, and insight into proper networking. In particular, April Brown stressed the importance of putting yourself out there, noting that you never know where a connection can lead. Jason Yates also voiced that as a designer, a job needs to fit you well for it to benefit you and the company in the long term. Greg Meadows continued on this subject as he briefly discussed his career path as a designer, and his broad amount of experience in the industry.

After the professionals finished their points, the conversation switched to Angela Marini’s presentation of her award-winning portfolio. Seeing a successful portfolio that touched on a range of subjects (from print design to motion graphics), along with her mature and concise choice of pieces, put the preaching of the seminar into practice.

The Portfolio Seminar touched on many tips that can be implemented by students searching for their first job or internship. Learning how to stand out in a competitive field can seem overwhelming at times, but starting with an outline created from the panelists’ main points is a good way to create a unique and successful approach to portfolio design.

The lessons covered here and more made the 2016 Portfolio Seminar incredibly influential; it provided those who attended with a comprehensive basis for a strong portfolio concept. Thank you to all attendees, and those who helped execute this valuable seminar.

Blog Skillshop Stuff

Skillshop Recap: Lights, Camera, Action, Edit

Dan Nesselbush
By Jaime Applegate

Last Thursday, Pegula Sports & Entertainment helped us bring in our new membership year with a video production Skillshop. Joe DeBenedictis and Travis Carlson took us on a crash-course in developing, producing, creating and even editing a short video. They started out the night telling us their stories and showcasing a few of their most recent works. We learned that in as little as 30 seconds, a story can unfold through sights, sounds and movement to convey certain emotions to the viewer. But 30 seconds of video takes much longer to create and Joe and Travis took us through each step. By the end of the night, they created a minute and a half video to demonstrate what we learned (with the help of a few lucky attendees!).

video-skillshop-photo_web

Travis, a videographer with PSE, took us through the fundamentals of story including the “Four P’s” – People, Places, Plot, and Purpose. Each point plays an important role in making “the story that you want to see” and should be considered when developing the narrative. He then took us through the secrets of the camera and demonstrated numerous lighting techniques to evoke certain sentiments about the characters. This is where the attendees really got to engage in this Skillshop – Travis and Joe chose “actors” from the crowd and described the plot for our new reality short – “The Breakfast Show.” Joe produced and Travis filmed the show keeping everyone entertained as we got a real look at what goes on behind the scenes. I will never look at a reality show the same way again!

Joe, a producer and editor at PSE, shared his tips and tricks in editing with Adobe Premiere Pro. He took us from starting a project in the program all the way to a near-finished piece, staying an extra hour for all the diehard editing fans. Joe finished up the video on his own time and uploaded to YouTube for all the attendees to enjoy: https://youtu.be/HNgltaB0oDw

Fav comment during our @AAF_Buffalo seminar: “you’ve ruined every reality show for me”. You’re welcome! #editing pic.twitter.com/FlCD9uRS2s

Attending events like this is always a confidence booster for me because it reminds me of my passion. The storyline, the filming, the lighting – it’s all fun to watch but what really got me excited was the editing portion of the night. As a designer, I’ve dabbled a bit in video editing programs but now I can’t wait to try some of the tips I learned. Attending workshops is a great way to learn about different areas of focus in our field. We have a few more planned for this year – make sure to take advantage of this great opportunity to add to your skillset!

 

Blog Events Stuff

Tipping Big, For the Kids

Dan Nesselbush
By Brittany Klotzbach

Last Thursday, we had one of our favorite events that we host annually: The Big Tip-Off. This has become a beloved tradition the past six years because it allows us to put the spotlight on some of our most notable “celebrity” marketing experts in the area. This event combines networking, friendly competition among local agencies, and easy-to-make drinks (… these are volunteer bartenders after all). Competitive bartending is entertaining and satisfying to watch in itself. Tack on the fact that we are doing it for a good cause, raising money for the AAF Buffalo student scholarship fund, and it makes the experience even more exciting.

Between the promotional videos leading up to the event and the methods the bartenders used to boost their tip money (i.e. glow-in-the-dark glasses, decorated tip jars, and fancy vests – to name a few), they did a fantastic job doing their part to raise money for the scholarship fund and student portfolio review events. This year’s Big Tip-Off brought in a total of $3,716 on tip money alone. Congratulations goes out to Matt Low, this year’s winning bartender who raked in an impressive $1,111. We also had a great turnout with 110 people in attendance, easily packing in the roof-top/upstairs bar of SoHo Burger Bar.

AAF Buffalo is proud to provide scholarship opportunities to local marketing students through the money we raised collectively at this event. A special thanks is owed especially to our celebrity bartenders who worked hard to earn those tips alongside Matt Low, representing Crowley Webb: Ben Siegel, Block Club; Tyler Stanley, EMA; Jason Yates, Gelia; Tim Bouchard & Mike LaDuca, Luminus Media; Jim Lynch & Kailey Kolozsvary, The Martin Group; Frank Conjerti & Josh Gumulak, Quinlan. We would also like to thank all of the generous attendees that tipped big.

We hope to see you all again next year to challenge the returning champions from Crowley Webb!