The Creative Stickup

Meet Michael Weiss, VP Marketing of Creative Circle and lifelong story teller. From being a Musician, Script Reader, PA to Roseanne and Tom, Author, Digital Agency Owner, and then to Creative Circle, Michael brings a unique perspective and eclectic mix of experience to the creative talent agency game. Jen and Jeff talk to Michael about the new paradigm of the gig economy, the power of Eruption and the energy of ideas that move you.

Here's a link to his book on Presentation Skills: http://a.co/7SfOKo3

TED talk Moments of Note: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0NWPke3gsw&t=839s

Eddie Van Halen's Eruption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI7XiJgt0vY

music by Flaming Death Trap

This episode sponsored by Creative Circle!

Tom Townsend is a Creative Director's Creative Director. Constantly curious, he is interested in everything and has built a career based on the integrity of great work.

Yet, he has done arguably done most meaningful work since he left the agency he co-founded. Tom has brought to life his dream of giving Pianos to People who can't afford them. The idea: a passion for music can be a great equalizer. Get involved at http://pianosforpeople.org/

He has also led in the creation of the A-Town Get Down, his Savannah GA music and arts festival named for his son Alex, who died in a car accident at the age of 21, but who's life was one of creativity and encouragement to those around him. The festival is Tom's living creation and inspiration, a true lesson in making something beautiful out of something tragic. Enjoy our great talk with Tom.

Check it out - One of my favs, Cracker is headlining!

http://a-towngetdown.com/

Getting a truly meaningful insight to create from is often more valuable than the idea that comes from it. Bob Cuneo figured that out 15 some odd years ago as a Creative Director watching his work get murdered in the graveyard of a poorly run focus group.

So he decided to start his own insight driven strategic agency. And over time, they've become one of the best in the world at helping clients find that ever valuable insight into the human condition. Jen and Jeff talk to Bob about his journey both through the marketing world of St. Louis and his travels around Planet Earth. One insight we learned: Nashville might need more hot lesbians. Enjoy.

Sponsored by Creative Circle

https://www.creativecircle.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

"The people that got into the marijuana business are the same kinds of people that own bars. Risk takers, storied personalities and extremely fun to hang out with," notes this week's guest Jack Thorwegen in what could easily be a description of himself.

As the kick-off to our Legends series, our new co-host Jennifer Oertli and I sit down and talk to Jack about Proof, Pot, Beer, Spirits, Zip and the importance of your agency's first hire. Enjoy.

This Stickup is brought to you by Creative Circle!

https://www.creativecircle.com/

http://theproofagency.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

Everybody’s Angel Investor.

Laura Burkemper knows the start-up hustle.

In fact, she might be the busiest woman in the St. Louis Start up game. She’s a lead mentor in Stadia Ventures, a big part of the Billiken Angel Network, teaches entrepreneurship at SLU and has helped create an impressive portfolio of investments, strategic vision and bottom line results.

Over time, she’s learned how to pick ‘em.

She and Jeff talk about the St. Louis Start up community, why it’s better than other comparable cities and when to bet on the jockey and not the horse.

Check out these links.

http://www.stadiaventures.com/

http://www.billikenangels.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

How's your novel coming? If you are one of the half million or so crazy would be writers out there who are trying to finish your novel in 30 days as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) you've got one day left to finish off your 50,000 word masterpiece! Or in my case, a 50,000 car pile up. But it's done and I have Kelly Jones to thank for the experience. She got caught up in NaNo some 10 years ago and has participated in it ever since. She also did her thesis on it's power to bring creatives together to create something with no inherent reward attached to it. I told her we do that sort of thing everyday. Find out how NaNo brings out the writers in all of us.

Thanks Kelly, and we will see everyone again next November!

http://nanowrimo.org/

http://www.marissameyer.com/ (A NaNo Star)

Daniel Wiseman, Creative Director, is one of the founders of Pixel Press. With the recent Mattel Toy deal, this startup looks like it's really taking off. Daniel tells Jeff about the founding of the company, getting to design a game for Cartoon Network, and the ups and downs of doing a start up in St. Louis.

Check out Daniels amazing work here.

http://www.danieldraws.com/

http://www.projectpixelpress.com/

http://www.bloxelsbuilder.com/

https://vimeo.com/114086604 - Adventure Time Game

https://www.instagram.com/d_wiseman/

Jeremy Corray, Defender of the St. Lunaverse!

Jeremy talks! He and Jeff chat about his brave new world with Coolfire Studios, his being able to live a childhood dream and work on Voltron, the early funny stuff and how he sees the future of content studios. And a whole lot more!

Every Thirty Seconds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2PRsoyLnaU

Music by Flaming Death Trap

We say all politics is local and I believe it. As much as the always-on-eleven-reality show the current presidential campaign has become, it’s the decisions of the city and the neighborhoods we live in that will actually have far greater effects on our daily existence.

Kacey works for US Bancorp in the Community Development Corporation and co-chairs a coalition led by Urban Land Institute in partnership with Forward Through Ferguson, aimed at community development goals in the Ferguson Commission report.

Kacey and Jeff talk about how governments use tax credits get private money to develop affordable housing for the public good, the dynamics of Racial Equity and what is at stake in next years St. Louis Mayors Race.

http://forwardthroughferguson.org/

Here's the link to the anti racism training firm we talk about.

http://crossroadsantiracism.org/

The Real Mad Man.

Jon Hamm is figuring out exactly how to change your mind.

WPP decided the world needed another global activation shop. So it cobbled together three or four of its agency chains with offices and staffs and cultures from all over the world and named the new entity Geometry.

Then they went out and got somebody crazy enough to pull it all together.

Jon Hamm, mentor and friend, has made a career of being able to see and articulate where the business needs to move in order to add real value for clients. And he's got a big task ahead of him.

Jon tells Jeff about his first year at Geometry and how the agency is mixing the science of consumer behavior with the exact moments we are most likely to change our mind. Of course we also chat about how he came up in London as a PA at RSA, started producing films, then started the digital shop Green Room and wound his way to big time agency head. Enjoy.

PS - Thanks for the tea Philip.