[John Davidson]

I’m afraid you’re right. Thanks Jeremy!

John
Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

“Don’t mean to be rude but what exactly is an 8 Core Mac Pro tower not able to offer you? ”

…the knowledge that it’s not almost a year old.

Uh oh. Have I started one of those inflammatory post wars where people gang up on me for saying it sucks there hasn’t been an update on their premiere hardware line in a year? I hope nobody mentions how long the 30″ Cinema Display has gone unupdated…uh oh…I did it again!

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

Think that’s bad? What about Mac Pros? They haven’t been even marginally updated since January. In computer terms, isn’t 10 months the equivalent of about 10 years? I really can’t see purchasing a 10 month old computer for a brand new state-of-the-art price.

Hopefully there’s something awesome around the corner because this wait has sucked. Just gotta keep my duct tape and wd-40 near the G5 for just a little longer….

[John Davidson]

…and those that learn to manipulate internet search results about themselves will get a leg up over those that don’t! Googling yourself is no longer the domain of narcissists. Now it’s just smart personal pr.
:-).

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

So many interesting posts, just since yesterday!

I think we all agree that straight talk to clients is important. My rule is to stick up for my spot an justify my creative decisions – once. After that I do what my client wants, which I think is how most of us do it.

I also believe that your job, even if salaried, is very much like having a client. You negotiate the terms of your employment (although sometimes especially when you’re earlier in your career there’s less negotiation and more ‘this is what the job pays’). After 3 years, Aaron should go to his client/boss and calmly and casually renegotiate the details of his employment. Since he’s within a hairsbreadth of quitting over this issue anyways, the experience of standing up for himself will be extremely educational, even if it results in the end of his employment. I bet he wouldn’t lose his job though.

So the real point…
Posting on the web is basically the same as taking an ad out in the local paper, but for free. The medium is bigger, but the concept is the same. This particular forum is kinda like the “Dear Abby” of our industry. It’s the only place on the whole internet I’ve found where those of ‘us’ can collaborate and discuss ‘them’. That said, you wouldn’t take an ad out in the local paper to discuss problems with your client and leave your real name. That could embarrass your clients and leave you broke.

So what do we do? My completely hypothetical theory is that there be a link at the top of this forum called “Dear Bessie” (or perhaps something more clever) so that the disgruntled, grinded, and jaded can create a post that generates an email to the forum leaders. If the ‘beef’ is legitimate, they can post it for the world to see. We’ll all flock to Dear Bessie posts like moths to flame because we’ll know they’re anonymous and therefore juicy. Heck, you’d even be able to respond to your own anonymous question. Perhaps this would be a good feature for the next major upgrade to Creative Cow Site.

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

I think your problem is not with responses to this original post as much as you aren’t happy with the fact that the world is developing a long memory. I’m warning Aaron for his own good, primarily because I’ve been there myself. It’s a fact of life – our mouths can get us into trouble. I’m not saying it’s a good thing, but it is a real thing.

Now, if you’d like to back up your argument by making a list of all your best paying clients and detail the stupid notes, decisions, and demands they make, be my guest. At this point, I don’t think anyone here will stop you :-).

Oh, and one thing that I simply have to add with a wink and a nod….
“People come to The Cow for help, advice and direction. Not to be admonished and warned and scolded.”

Somebody tell Bob Zelin that! God bless ya Bob! I love all your posts!

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

If the worst thing Fuld had done was ask a salary employee to come in on a Sunday to record a meeting and some interviews, the world (and Lehman bros) would be a much better financial standing. Aaron wasn’t exposing corporate fraud or busting grinders, he was demonstrating unhappiness with his current employer. Grinders should always be publicly exposed and flagellated and this forum is EXCELLENT for that.

I’m fortunate that I have a very common name. I can’t order coffee at starbucks without having 5 other John Davidsons trying to grab my Venti Brownie Frappucino with extra whipped cream. When I hired a junior editor a while back, we googled the final 10 candidates. The young man that we hired had less experience, was still in school, and based on resume alone was not the strongest candidate. It was a youtube video we stumbled across that he had made that closed the deal. The video showed he had a fearlessness with graphics, the ability to self-teach, and a love of television. If I had discovered this post instead, I would not have hired him.

Hundreds of articles have been written about how companies are googling employees now (google it!). Your e-reputation is now almost as important as your real one.
https://www.career-launch.com/blog/job_search_tips/many_employers_google_potential_employees_to_gather_info_-_what_will_your_search_say_about_you.html
Googling potential employees will become a mandatory part of almost all major corporations HR processes – it’s just a part of protecting themselves from gun-toting maniacs that interview well. Many of the next generations workforce are learning the hard way that those slutty drunken pictures that look so funny on myspace are a big turnoff to Timewarner, or Discovery Networks, or Disney, etc.

It’s not even applicants that can be affected. People are losing their jobs based on what they write, pictures they post, and how they behave online. The world is getting smaller by the minute. Just ask this guy:
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/NEWS/80828006

If that’s not enough for you, I think it was Confucius, or perhaps Dick Van Patten, who once said: “Don’t s%#t where you eat”. It’s the reason why I never post frustrations I have with current clients (or most past ones), and neither do most of the other folks on these boards. Have I written up some doozies that I almost posted? Heck yeah! Did I actually post them? Heck NO!

Perhaps a better and safer solution would be for this particular forum to have an option for frustrated posters to email questions to an address on the cow without exposing themselves or jeopardizing their jobs or clients. It would still prevent the anonymous flame wars that brought on the ‘you must use your real name’ rule, but allow those of us with legitimate concerns and questions to post them without fear of reprisal. I know Ron and the guys are usually super busy, but I bet it would increase the number of extremely interesting and valuable posts on this particular forum.

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

You’re jaded. Get out regardless of it you have a job lined up because once you lose that spark that got you into this business in the first place, you’ll find it’s hard to get it back.

Also, do yourself a huge favor and never, ever, ever, ever (ever?) ever play the “that’s not my job” card using your real name on a public forum that will show up for all eternity anytime someone googles your name. Try it. Your post comes up 4th in google now. Not good. The context of your contention will likely be lost on an HR assistant hired to pre-screen applicants for future jobs you might want. All they’ll likely think is ‘this guy is a complainer’.

I suggest you send Ron and our friends at the cow a big gift basket and beg them to nuke this thread. Seriously. I would hate for you to Don Quixote (sorry, had to drop that in there after the windmill video) your career because you had a bad weekend and posted an angry thread about it.

My 2 cents.

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

I use a Behringer Eurorack 2440 from guitar center with two M-Audio BX5’s (with a small pc subwoofer for a little extra kick so that everything doesn’t sound like the new metallica album). Before I bought the Behrenger I had been looking at more expensive Mackie mixers, but a few of the rooms we’d rented out over the years had problems with their Mackies that made me decide it wasn’t worth it (static when adjusting VU, bizarre balancing issues, etc). Granted, not all Mackies do that as I’m sure everyone will attest. My point is I got the same thing with my Eurorack that I would have gotten with a Mackie and I didn’t spend as much. I don’t regret not getting a Mackie. It’s never been missed.

I should mention I have a kona 2 that provides SDI audio to my digibeta, so my board is purely for monitoring. Were I to be laying back via analogue obviously it would be more important to go top of the line.
jd

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.

[John Davidson]

Yeah, I have a digi deck so I’m aware of the costs. Maybe i should just buy a dvcproHD decka and retire off making dubs with it instead of all this annoying creative work I have to do.

Until then, I guess I get the walk-in-off-the-street-and-pull-down-your-pants price.

John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.