I left my heart.

I left my city by the bay by force two years ago. I loved it there. Great friends, good food, lots of fun. I was running every day, losing weight, loving life. But I was missing something. A job. A career. Something to pay the bills.

I left for the other side of the world, Richmond Virginia. I worked my ass off for two years. And for two years I had no idea where the hell I was going after. I never had to worry about it for most of the time because I was too busy working, but slowly the thought creeped back up.

NYC? LAX? ORD? SEA? SFO?

I had no dreams of being able to choose where I could go. There were no bidding wars on the horizon. No moving expenses, or dream apartments. It was really just what the hell was my next move?

But deep down I wanted to go home. The thing about California, and San Fran more specifically is that once you live there, its damn hard to go anywhere else, and I wanted to go back with my head high and a job. The returning hero.

I can happily say now that is what is happening. I've accepted a internship at Goodby, Silverstein and Partners. I couldn't imagine a better place to land, surrounded by more talented people to start my career again.

I left my heart there, but will be back shortly to reclaim it. Welcome home.

Dorky morky lorky review.

So today was my first real concept review with a CD. We have quite a contingent of swedish CDs here at BBH. You feel right at home. Well you would if youre norwegian like me or from Minnesota. But truth be told I was a little worried.

We were one of two teams. The other being an old Adcenter alum and a Creative Circus alum. our client was for NYC tourism and these guys have worked on the client for the last 6 months. We know how to talk to Don Just without shitting at the same time. So we sat down and listened to our competition lay out their case. Silent we stood listening. The CD gave comments, suggestions, tweaks. And then it was our turn.

We presented. Some clearly, some not so much. Some short some deep with logic. And at the end he looked at us and said in a thick Swedish accent. "I luke yur ideaas vury much." (insert swedish chef accent). I walked out beaming.

I had realized the important thing. We are just as good as the pros. Well not all the way but in this industry a cool idea from a youngin is just as good as anyone else no matter the pay or title. We walked out beaming even though our ideas were well beyond the 275K budget and not usable. Our competition grabbed us and said:

"Good job guys, youre gonna do fine."

Can't go better than that.

Tomorrow. Our GLBT conecpt presentation. (Thats Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans for the unknown.)

View from the office...

The Final countdown.

No not the awesome Europe song made re famous by the man to the left, but the last two weeks here at the Brandcenter. And shame on you if you don't know this man.

Its busting ass time for the art directors and cruise time for copywriters. Not really. Everyone is busting their asses to finish work in the las few classes still running. It makes it hard to focus as the weather gets nice and the cold beers call.

On top of this most of us have been preparing for internships in far away cities. It's been a bad year for internships as only a few from the west coast have come through with spots. I dont know whether its the economy, laziness, or anything else. It pisses me off about the professionalism of some of these shops, and their lack of contact with the school one way or another.

I'm defnitely stressed out and will promise to put as much work up here for all to see when its all said and done.

A few of the things I'm looking forward to:

May 17th (all done)
First years
Summer in NYC
Heading back to CA for a while
Catching up on sleep, maybe not.

The east coast adventure continues: Summer

BBH New York has offered me a summer internship. I couldn't be more excited about this choice. I had applied to mostly SF offices because I wanted to go home but really wanted BBH because of the great stories I heard from last years interns. Also because honestly New York scares the shit out of me. It's the center of the world. Hell my dad even got freaked out and left and he grew up in New Jersey.

But I'm really excited about BBH. They do great work there. Including the current NYC tourism campaign, Miller light, British Airways, Levis, Axe, Vaseline, Johnny Walker and Dyson. My favorite client they have is Mentos and in honor of my new home I submit one of my favorite fan created mentos ad starring Jean Claude Van Damne from his movie "Bloodsport."



See you in the Big Apple!

Back on the trail again.

I've taken some time off to relax and get ready for the final push. All the internship books are out across the nation. Im excited and scared about what could be coming back.

School however continues without worry or care over the summer. You would think that it would lighten up or slow down, but I was wrong.

I am utterly convinced that this main purpose of this school is to beat the living shit out of you so hard, that when you get there on your first day at Agency XYZ you are the most eager, fire-tested, competent junior to enter the doors. And I've got the bruises to prove it.

The projects now come with a new deadline one week at a time, two clients for each, along with presentations, brand books, and a random art project or two. Not to mention that little thing called life. Back on the trail, let the old bruises heal and brace for the next.

This table is too important, but we all respect it.

These tables hold the books of most of the people here. Its alot of hard work in each one. All nighters. Screaming matches. Random guesses and print issues abound.

And I hate them all.

Everyone has their high hopes for great internships in great shops around the world. When I walked into school today to drop mine off I felt confident. I had a good book I thought. After walking up to the folder and pulling out some other people going after the same positions I realized I hated them all. It's not the best feeling but these people are your competition and it really hurts to open a book and you know its better than yours. The "Oh Shit" alarm goes off full blast.

I was shocked by the talent that the art directors but into their books. (Don't worry CW's your words were damn good too). Great layouts, perfect bound books, full bleeds, art pieces inserted in, quality paper. Damn.

I shouldn't worry too much, I have a good book and its mostly nerves. But there is a part of my brain that wishes they all would accidentally fall out of the truck on their way.

Its a dog eat dog world, but its not fair when the rest of the dogs are your friends and coworkers.

The book is complete. Now i need a job.

I finished my internship book. I hadn't done one since I graduated from UOP. I forgot how much fun and how much a pain they can be. Its a alot of fun to put something together that represents your work but also stressful to find a good simple balance that looks good.

Now comes the guessing game of where I would like to go:

SF, NYC, Chicago, other? I've only got 7 books so I have to choose carefully.

There's a lot of good spots around the country, I would be lucky to go to any of them, so I'm going to have to narrow it down quickly. Most of the spots are due on monday so the next couple days are going to be a mad-house here while everyone scrambles to get their ducks in a row.

Internship Time

A time to brush up on the following skills:

Coffee making abilities.
Memory (Coffee again).
Lip to flesh techniques (kissing ass)
Correct pronunciation of Sir/Mam



Well actually none of these should apply to Brandcenter students. We actually have people that come to us and see if they can get us to apply for their positions, big and small all come to get a chance to show their wares from RGA to Martin here in Richmond.

Its a different feeling to be at a school where people are not only interested in you but some are really interested in having you be there for more than your piss and vinegar. Most of the 2nd years have positive things to say about the experience, but the main idea is that you need to make it a good internship, its not their job.

I have two weeks to put together a book for the agencies I want to go to. The only problem is that I have nothing yet to put in my book. I havent put anything like this together since I graduated as a Graphic Design major years ago, hopefully it will be easier than the last time.

Well I guess spending my spring break in front of my computer will be have to do. I'll have a beer right there as a half reminder about my second to last spring break of my young life.