"A picture's worth a thousand words. But a great picture can say everything."

Right now I am working on getting my work ready for panel in three weeks time and what has been drilled into my head this whole quarter is "Simplify, stupid". Not in those terms, but that's the message. Advertising is not an art where only 5% of people understand it. Good advertising is where everyone understands it. And in order to get it to the point of where everyone understands it, you have to simplify it.

To quote Bob Morrison, "Go out and hang with drunks. They'll give you an indication of what's a simple message." If drunks understand what your getting at, you got a simplified message.

So relating this all back to my work, I'm working with my AD partner Sarah on Artex Emergency Locators. She pitched the idea of having a thumbs up appearing out of the aftermath of an avalanche. Me, being the CW thought about what I could say in the headline. The more I thought about it, the more I felt that my writing really wouldn't add to the message of the photo and might actually detract from it. Of course selling a product, the name has to be in the corner and I do have, in my humble opinion, a kick ass tag.

Am I being lazy or should I just let it go? It's simple, conveys the point and with the kicking tag, it's a complete package.

Okay, so I haven't post the tag for fear of it being stolen and used in a campaign and then when I take it to panel, they'll say that they've already seen it, but I might as well share.

"Live to tell the story"

There. If someone has seen it before, let me know. I might have to go back to the writing board, but that might force me to make an even more kicker assier tag. Yes, kicker assier.

A nod to the Chris

I would be faulted greatly for not giving a nod to the Chrises. The Chrisi. Okay, I don't know how to do the plural of Chris, but these guys have really made the Circus a totally kick ass experience.

First nod to Chris Hansen. This guy gives on all levels. Seriously, he basically fed me for a month. Then this guy is willing to look over anyone's work and give advice, but won't step on anyone's toes. And when it comes to panel, he floods the judges. On average, I take 20 pieces. This guy, he takes 80. Granted, he's got more on the line, but still he gives it his all.

Second nod to Chris Love. They say finding an AD you can work well with is like a good marriage and I've been fortunate enough to find a kick partner. We pull together, toss ideas, nothing's rejected and no one stakes a claim as being the true originator of an ad. And he can take my thoughts and actually make them tangible outside my head. That is what is truly kick. And for the extra work on my individual panel pieces when he was done with his panel, a definite kick ass partner.

A new quarter, a new cut, the same results

As I begin my 4th quarter at the Creative Circus as a copywriter, I coming to the realization that I may not be making the connections I need to. With my fellow classmates, I mean. I am not a partier and it seems like the only real bonding happens over a couple of drinks. It's the advertising version of business or medical golf outings. Alliances are formed and arrangements are made over a pint.

It was noticeable late last quarter, but even more so in my first class yesterday. I was "the fat kid". As soon as the professor gave the go ahead to form teams, it was an instant chemical boil around me and all the hidden alliances became visible. And it's often that I draw the short straw with an odd count of students.

I will say that I am glad to draw Andrew Harper however. His glowing reputation proceeds him and I am not afraid to say that I am a bit intimated. Word is that he is a quite capable writer and director.

I hope that I am building a stronger reputation for myself by being at the school almost all day, taking books out from Heddy and committing to cranking out the work, no matter the hours. I hope I'm making the right connections at least.

So who do I write for?

Something that's bothered me is who I should be writing for. My first couple of quarters at the Circus, I wrote for the classes. Currently, in the start of my third quarter, I'm writing for the consumers/creative directors.

In a sense, I feel like I am dumbing down my writing to make it more accessible to the masses. After all, advertising is a mass medium. But if I patronize people in my writing, aren't I disenfranchising my readers and not holding true my individuality?