Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

Capstrat recently hosted Triangle Tweetup 2.0, a gathering of Triangle residents who use the popular social networking service, Twitter.  Twitter is a service that allows users to stay in contact with one another by sending short answers to the question, "What are you doing?"

Nearly seventy people attended the event and highlights included a demo of the video conversation network, Seesmic (http://www.seesmic.com ), a demo of Twitter Movie Reviews (http://jazzychad.com/twitter/movies ), and a happy hour at Capstrat's media bar.

Here's a photo of the assembly, but there's many more available on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/triangletweetup).

The 2008 Triangle Area Addy Awards were last Friday night and there was something for everyone. Video, interactive, print, branding, advertising and PR people all had opportunities to walk up and grab some crystal awards. And the food was good too.

But to me the best part about the Addys is that you simultaneously participate as an individual, as a company, and as part of the larger creative community. People cheer because they themselves, or their company, or their friends in the larger design community get props for doing good work.

All that love brings a richness to the community. Add to that an open beer and wine bar and you get a fun evening to remember.

PS. McKinney, the areas largest firm didn't participate. While they might feel like they are beyond local competition, they are missing out on an opportuniuty to have fun and connect with their peers. Too bad for them.

Read about the awards in the News and Observer.

I had lots of fun at the 2008 Triangle Area Addy Awards in Durham last Friday night. Thanks to all the people that worked to make it a success. But I'd like to offer up some comments to the Ad Club for the 2009 show.

Make it shorter. Three hours is just too long. By the end people were getting bored. And it's not fair to the award winners at the end to have a bored, tired audience.

Give fewer prizes. Limit the number of golds and silvers that you give out. It'll heighten the meaning of each award and make it shorter at the same time.

Limit the number of times that you can enter one project. It's not fun to see the same company win five awards for the same project.