The Art of Suspense

There’s a little art in all of you - and we need a piece of it.

The first annual Schaefer Southside by Southside public art project will take place at our building, corner of Magnolia and South Adams. This is your opportunity to be a part of something big, and win big.

What is it you ask? Well you have to come on over to find out. See you this Saturday at ArtsGoggle 4 -  10 pm.

Drum roll please!!  See the finished :30 TV spot for the Fort Worth Zoo promoting their stage show at the new Outdoor Learning Theater.  It’s free with your Zoo admission, and you will definitely want to check it out!  What a fun project to get to be a part of.

-Erin Naterman

This post will contain little wit, at least any that is intentional.  What it will contain is a blog full of thankfulness. Thankful, for people that stick by you for a life time, or at least a life time in the agency world…11 years.  

I recognize that people will come and people will in go.  But times like this remind me that this business is not about the accolade or the revenue, rather it’s all about the people. The relationships you make…with your team, with your clients, with your peers.  Spending the better part of the afternoon sending off one of your veterans to a new opportunity is humbling, tearful and joyful.  Spending the better part of the evening with your next-gen team is equally humbling and joy filled.  I am blessed to get to do what I do with the people that i get to work with.  They challenge me and hopefully make me better.  

Thanks to each of you.  

During my afternoon scroll through of PR Daily headlines, I came across this little gem: 25 annoying communication habits - of other people.

Communication is a hot button around here, we’re always working to become better, more effective and efficient communicators - it’s the business.

The principle of this article is asking people to finish the sentence, “I get annoyed with other people and their communication habits when they…”

Here are the top 25 answers:

1. Interrupt me.
2. Finish my sentences.
3. Fail to look at me.
4. Chew gum loudly.
5. Type on the computer while we’re on the phone.
6. Mumble on a voicemail message.
7. Lack clarity in project directions.
8. Write their “out of office” message with spelling errors.
9. Complain, criticize, complain, criticize…
10. Say their phone number so fast on a voice mail that I can’t get it after replaying it seven times.
11. Ask me how I am and their facial expression clearly reveals they aren’t listening and don’t truly care.
12. Keep repeating information and making conversations and correspondence painfully long.
13. Inject nervous giggles or laughter into conversations that simply aren’t funny.
14. Forget to say their name in a voice mail message.
15. Try to impress me by “topping” whatever I say.
16. Get distracted with their gadgets and technology in meetings, conversations, and networking events.
17. Talk too fast or too slow.
18. Give wimpy handshakes.
19. Send a three-page email when one paragraph would suffice.
20. Plan lengthy meetings with no agenda, and then order food.
21. Speak louder to people with accents.
22. Deliver presentations in a monotone voice.
23. Eat while on the phone.
24. Call people out (in social media) in public instead of sending a private message.
25. Forget to update their voice mail to let people know they are on vacation for two weeks.

Alright - who’s guilty? And, is there one you think should’ve made the list that didn’t?

~Kristin

Is this? 

A. Ken’s only hole in one for the season?

B. An early game of beer pong with golf balls?

C. Our new campaign concept for Titleist?

-Sara

We’re looking to add a couple of key members to our agency team. 

Not just anyone is right for Schaefer, and we’re big enough boys and girls to realize that we aren’t right for everyone either.  In the end, the right fit is everything.

To love it at Schaefer – you need to be passionate about adding to the culture of our team. We avoid drama like the plague. Wallflowers and people with thin skin need not apply. You better be funny – you’ll be tested on this. If you don’t think we’re funny, chances are we won’t think you are either.

We’re a group of life-long learners, so if you think you know everything you won’t make it here. Be an active learner and an active teacher of others. We absolutely love what we do, but there is a world outside of our walls. We’re looking for people that are highly engaged and realize the importance of being a part of something bigger.

PLEASE.  PLEASE. PLEASE. READ THE JOB REQUIREMENTS BELOW – if you don’t meet them, don’t like them or can’t do them, then save us all the heartache.  We’re sure you’re nice and willing to learn, but we know what we’re looking for.  (Yeah, we ended a sentence with a preposition, we live on the edge.)

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

What we’re looking for:

• 4-5 years AGENCY experience
• A type A personality or pretty darn close to it
• Much of your time will be spent working on B to B clients, so you better like B to B, in fact, you should love it
• Primary client is a Berkshire Hathaway company, so this is big stuff
• Demonstrated success at measuring results of marketing initiatives
• The ability and desire to communicate well-thought out opinions and be ridiculously articulate when you present them
• Likes to lead, but knows when to follow
• A great team attitude
• The ability to juggle multiple projects

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

What we’re looking for:

• Someone that understands PR has changed dramatically.  Classical “textbook” PR is not a viable model.  You’ll need to be well versed in your philosophy of PR and demonstrate how your view translates into leading our clients and growing our business.
• At least 7 years experience.  Agency side mandatory, client side a huge plus
• Comfortable working in B to B and B to C
• A heart. You can’t be a soulless leader at Schaefer. Your ability to connect with people and make a positive contribution to our culture and our client relationships is one of the most important attributes to have.
• Takes full responsibility for managing the PR business unit
• The desire and the personality to independently grow the PR account base
• Develop well-thought out strategic plans for PR clients. Strategy is not something we take lightly; our thinking is what differentiates us and keeps our clients happy. You’ll work closely with the advertising Account Service to ensure our plans are well integrated. You’ll have to demonstrate that you are not only smart, but can articulate that thinking in a clear and persuasive manner. 
• A bigger retainer isn’t the only answer, but better thinking always is.
• Get the concept of Team.  It’s important to us, in fact it’s vital to who we are as an agency.

Get our attention at jobs@schaeferadvertising.com

Daily Inspiration Through Art

Star Wars Identities

Check out these awesome Star Wars Identities, if you look close enough you will see that each of the images is composed of a number of objects from the movies.

-Colt

(Source: behance.net)

Today was day two of a two-day video shoot at the Fort Worth Zoo.  I spent my day with a bunch of animals…literally!  The Fort Worth Zoo has a new outdoor learning theater that is pretty spectacular.  Starting on May 5, visitors will be able to take a load off and be entertained as a host of animals and keepers put a scripted show called The Lone Star Mystery.  In preparation for the new show, we are shooting video for a television spot to promote the new show.  What a fun 2 days!  Stay tuned for the full spot.

-Erin Naterman

It was internally announced that Schaefer Advertising scored a new client account and naturally the team was excited and eager to share thoughts on the subject. Check out  the email chain below and see if you can guess what the trash talk is all about!

Erin: Congratulations to all who had a hand in this.  Great news!  It’s so good to know all of that hard work, time and dedication was not a WASTED effort!

Kristin: That’s LITTER-ally the best news! Go team!

Ken: How could they refuse us??   

Monica: I don’t care what anybody says, we are not full of rubbish! Tremendous work, congrats everyone!!

Todd: I’ll recycle the sentiment – Great job everyone!

Nick:Yeah that really stinks, we only had 5 or 6 good puns. I don’t mean to dump in at the last moment, but I’m so glad we won the account and can’t wait to get those TV spots in the can!

We are very excited to welcome The Tarrant Regional Water District to the Schaefer family!!! We’ll be working with TRWD to clean up North Texas with a multifaceted anti-litter campaign.

And no need to worry, none of the junk (last pun) above will be used as campaign copy. 

-Erin Naterman

P.S. Who is your winner for the cheesy litter/trash puns?

Agency Surprised by Flash Mob

As a precursor to an internal agency presentation, we were surprised with a flash mob performance put on by our neighbors, The Young Women’s Leadership Academy. The stunt took place in our own side yard (literally). Thanks to the students, faculty and staff for showing us how to wobble!  

This stunt was meant to drive home the point of the presentation, of which we will be posting in the near future.  Can anyone guess the topic?

  -Erin Naterman