Disqus - Latest Comments for Bob LeDrew

Re: Woopra!

Bob LeDrew — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:05:16 -0000

I read your post with many nods, as another new Woopraite. I hate to sound like a smug "I've got it and it's the best and you don't, ha ha," poster, but this is an incredibly cool application.

Re: Wikinomics » Blog Archive » DIY: Fonts

Bob LeDrew — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:21:11 -0000

Curmudgeon moment beginning:

Why FontStruct? Because ... there just weren't enough fonts yet. ;-)

I think the idea's interesting enough, but I'm having nightmare visions of a letter-by-letter version of early desktop publishing or web design efforts that would end up in the dictionary under either "clash" or "gaudy" (not Goudy).

Can't we just use one or two of the approximately 5 BILLION fonts that already exist?

Curmudgeon moment ended.

Re: Still more on Bloggers vs PR flacks

Bob LeDrew — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:45:23 -0000

We also need to get our CLIENTS smarter. Or maybe, if there's no other choice, to get smarter clients.

Re: Is Social Media More for PR than for Marketers

Bob LeDrew — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:27:55 -0000

PR is much better suited to exploiting the tools social media provides than marketing.

We flacks -- in an ideal world at least -- have been in the conversation business for a long time. Marketers have been much better at spray-and-pray blasting messages out. (A crude oversimplification, but I do think the point is valid).

PR can do things much more in line with the spoken or unspoken rules of social media -- what Joseph Jaffe calls EPIC (Experience, Permission, Involvement, Conversation) -- than marketers have (not to say they can't).

We have a natural advantage and I hope we don't let it slip away.

Re: 10 Ways To Make Your Next Conference Better

Bob LeDrew — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:56:35 -0000

Two things:

1. Ask a lot of questions of other people.

"What did you think when Joe Blow said X in his presentation?"

Listen to what other conference attendees are talking about and prompt them. Even if you're on top of the topic of the conference, other people will have new perspectives, and questions are the way to draw those out and expand your own views.

2. Schedule some down time. Don't go to EVERY SESSION AT THE CONFERENCE BECAUSE DAMMIT I'M GETTING MY MONEY'S WORTH. Find a hole in the schedule to just think about what you're hearing. Write some notes, blather into your audio recorder, whatever works for you. Reflect.

Re: Five Things You Could Learn From Bob LeDrew

Bob LeDrew — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:48:32 -0000

I have not had a heckler. Other than the one inside my head that won't shut up! ;-)

And I heartily endorse Sue's advice -- either for our shows or for others.

House concerts are PURE music. Most presenters (like us) give ALL proceeds to the performer. House concerts give audiences the most intimate musical experience of their lives, and give performers attentive and appreciative audiences. Whereever you are, there are likely house concerts going on. Check out sites like www.concertsinyourhome, www.houseconcerts.us, www.acousticroof.ca, or homeroutes.ca for information and listings.

Thanks, Chris.

Re: Obsolete skills

Bob LeDrew — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:09:37 -0000

When I left university in the late 80s, I fell axx-backwards into doing freelance radio work for the CBC (Canada's NPR).

I started out using a Sony cassette recorder to do field work, then the big move -- the Walkman PRO! Wooow. But still, what we did back then was have our tape dubbed onto 1/4" tape, then we edited our clips with a razorblade and a yellow grease pencil, using splicing tape to hold stuff together.

I still do some work for CBC and some podcasting, but it isn't like that any more.