Digexart Creative Blog

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

2012-02-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

Founder Alvin Ailey and Company performed this weekend at the Sony Center for the Performing Arts. Alvin Ailey’s 60's joint dedicated to black southern roots "Revalations", closed the Program on Saturday. Artistic Director Robert Battle found the right balance with principal dancer Rachael McLaren. Rachael, you're Awesome!

I attended the show on Saturday at 2pm and it was brilliant. The best parts of the show were "Home", "The Hunt", and "Revelations". Perhaps Battle’s most interesting commission is Home, by hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris. It’s inspired by the "Fight HIV your way" initiative.
The Hunt, a thrilling dance for six men propelled by the powerful drums of Les Tambours du Bronx. I don't have a clue what it meant, but I was captivated by the entire experience.

Well Rachael, you and the crew are inspiring a new generation, some of which may be in New York under scholarship in the Alvin Ailey Program as you were. It was very special, but ike I said, I don't know what the meaning is for most of the show excluding the Revelations, I know exactly what that's all about, but the beauty of the first four sets overshadow the interpretations that I drew upon. Anyway, I was very happy to see you afterwards, unfortunately we could not spend a lot of time together. All the best in DC. I will let southern family know you'll be in Atlanta February 14th.

Inspired by the show, I am now working on a new series of paintings based upon the shows in Toronto. I will update this blog as I complete the paintings.

Me and Rachael, The Best dancer I've ever seen in my life.

Making Fresh Logos Daily!

2012-01-05T01:18:00.000-08:00

Here are examples of logos that have been created by Digexart. We are professional Graphic Designers with over 20+ years experience. What you get at Digexart Creative Inc., is a custom drafted logo specific to your marketing needs. This is what sets us apart from these $99 dollar crowd sourcing sites that guarantee you a logo. There are up to 40 designers that work for free and only one is rewarded in the end. No Crowd sourcing or spec work here. Keep in mind that Spec work is done by inexperienced designers hoping to build their portfolio, and many believe spec work is a necessary evil for all starting designers to prove themselves. The rise of the design community has also been met with the rise of the ‘weasel economics’ of spec work. Now that we have identified it as an evil and seen the destructive manner, we can identify how the creative community is fighting back.

For the few people out there who don’t know what ‘spec’ work is – I’ll try to sum up: it’s when a designer creates artwork for a paying project in the hopes of having their artwork selected, in order to get paid for that work. Think design contest as opposed to, oh, I dunno, a professional trade. Design organizations like AIGA (USA) and RGD (CAN) have generally frowned upon ‘spec work’ as being ‘unethical’ and have campaigned against the practice for years. Members are encouraged not to engage in spec work as part of the regulated standards in the industry. While I have a hard time branding designers who participate as ‘unethical’ – shortsighted perhaps, but many have their reasons and motivating factors – I have absolutely no qualms about describing people who try to profit from the ‘spec’ work of others as ethically challenged.

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Vaughan Atom Boys Basketball T-Shirt

2011-12-15T19:36:00.000-08:00

A weekend Tournament for the Vaughan Atom Boys Basketball team needed Coaching and supporters T-shirts. A total of 32 shirts needed to be produced in 48 hours. I created a varsity styled logo in illustrator, purchased the T-Shirts from a Gildan associate and printed the artwork in my studio. My graphic design, and production saved the client hundreds and over seven (7) days. The project was delivered on time, under budget and the clients were extremely satisfied with the work.

Foundation International T-Shirt

2011-11-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

LMJ Labour Logo

2011-11-23T22:43:00.000-08:00

This logo was for my good friend Lester Jarvis. His Labour Company is taking off, and business is going well for him. Visit his website here. The logo was completed in 20 minutes. It was needed to go up fast. The website was completed in 7 hours. It is a work in progress.

LCD monitors for Art & Photography

2011-11-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

What LCD monitor should I buy?

This is a question being asked from photographers designers and artists. This is not written to endorse any particular brand however if it seem to be biased toward any brand it’s purely coincidence.

NEC MultiSync PA271W

The three main panel technologies currently used in LCDs are: twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS). Manufacturers make the vast majority of consumer monitors using TN panels.

Photographers, get a IPS monitor! It’s simple, first thing you look for when choosing a monitor is not what brand but rather what kind of panel does it have? Whether it’s a S-IPS or H-IPS this is the first you look for when buying a monitor for photo editing.

Who makes IPS monitor? Most of Apple cinema display monitors have IPS panels however not all Apple products have IPS panels. There are Dell, HP, Lacie, Eizo and many more who ‘s monitor s have IPS panels however always look for the particular model with the IPS panel not the Brand name.

IPS-based monitors are usually the most expensive; however, the new e-IPS panels cost as little as $300 for a 22-inch model. They also have the best viewing angles of all three technologies and produce the most accurate colors; however, their blacks are not as deep as VA panels'. IPS monitors are the slowest of the bunch in both response time and input lag.

Very few monitors sold in big chain store such as FutureShop , Costco and Walmart have the IPS Panels. In fact, most monitors on the market have TN film panel which is more than adequate for web and gaming use but not for Photoshop or Lightroom users.

It's very important to know that what makes an IPS panel better than the other is view angle where color and density of monitor remains constant. Another advantage of IPS technology is to be able to calibrate accurately for ICC compliant colour manage workflow.

Whether the photographer is editing / post processing their files for printing or for the web publishing, it’s important to be consistent with colour therefore choosing a good monitor is the second step after the camera equipment in achieving the optimal results from your files.

Here are some 2011 monitors that have been tested

Dell UltraSharp U2711

Samsung SyncMaster S27A850D

Asus PA246Q

Samsung PX2370

NEC MultiSync PA271W

Back on the Market

2011-11-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

posted by Demuth Flake March 28th, 2011

After a short successful stint as Lead Graphic Designer for Soligsoft Inc., a Learning Language Software company operating out of Bolton Ontario. I have left that organization to finish up some freelance work A new line of T-shirts called "Artical" you will be seeing it soon. I've completed work for my previous employer Bold Internet Solutions. I was asked to translate the 'Marissa' Beef safety animations in French. I am happy to continue to work with Mario Zeskoski at Bold. I have recently completed new websites for LMJ Labour, a group of hardworking labourers in the GTA. Another for Word Rebab Inc. A speech Pathologist that operated in Atlanta Georgia. I am currently seeking full-time employment. I will post the results here and on my Linkedin Page

Prospecting for Clients in 2011

2011-03-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

The beginning of the 2nd Quarter, April 2011 is a good place to start afresh, to wipe the slate clean and make this year your year. Once the 1st Quarter has run it's course, the 2nd Quarter has begun, the large crowds celebrating the winter transition season have left you, the memory of winter are still fresh in your mind, you can start that plan.

I'm going to walk you through 7 techniques that I use to build my client roster. These are tried and true techniques that I've developed in over 25 years in the game. Remember that,"The game'll swallow you if you ain't strong enough to make it follow you." These are valuable keys that should help to build your business's success.

1. Hone those Social Skills

Socialising with clients and prospects is, without doubt, one of the easiest and most effective ways to develop your business.

Business is about relationships. In a social setting, the prospect or client gets to know you on a different, more personal level, they see you in a different light, and they understand where you're coming from.

All things being equal, who would you rather deal with?

a person who's, considerate, enthusiastic, has integrity, conviction and who takes an interest in you
an individual who is crass, tempermental (undiagnosed mental illness). Prone to fits of rage and generally a bad minded individual.

People like to deal with those who share the same experiences, and convictions. Through this interaction, they build a likeness to them. By socialising with your clients, you give them (and yourself) the chance to find common ground — shared interests, opinions, tastes. You open up a new spectrum of opportunities in which you can to grow to like each other.

I always consider taking certain clients to TFC, Raptors, CFL, or Championship Games in nearby cities (Montreal, Ottawa, NYC, Detroit, Chicago), or invite them to church. This is important for some personality types. (This is a whole different subject. Personality types in Social Marketing) It's not that I support a particular team — It's just that I get to spend 3+ hours with the prospect in a social situation. They will learn about my convictions. We have a chat, and we get to know, like, and hopefully, trust each other.

Know your Prospects

Getting to know your prospects is a critical element. First in knowing your not mining Fools Gold and second in gaining their trust. Once you've proven yourself trustworthy to your prospect, things get a whole lot easier. You're not just another salesperson trying to make the sale: you're a friend, a trusted contact and a known quantity.

Because of the writing and media work I do, I regularly get a few calls from people who want some advice on business and marketing. I always have a chat with them, and things sometimes move forward from there.

Here's a great example of that. As I write, a web developer called Rima is meeting with our programmer to discuss some software that Rima developed.

Rima called me a few months back for some advice on her web development business. I gave her some general advice for which she was very grateful — so she sent me a nice bottle of Oil to say "Thanks." But that wasn't all. Rima kept in touch and kept me updated on what she was doing.

Last week Rima completed her first design job for us.
She's in the middle of another job right now.
She's also going over a detailed brief for another of our clients right now — this will be an $12,000+ job for her.
Rima's hoping to sell us her software (a web management system with a shopping cart in Zen Cart).
She's about to create 10 podcasts with me for distribution over the next 10 weeks.

That's all because Rima took the time to make a phone call, have a chat and keep in contact. Her marketing costs have been $50 for a bottle of Oil, plus the cost of a phone call. She's now looking at a pretty good return on that investment!

Rima has developed the relationship she wanted, and she gains the benefits of doing that. So far, those benefits look like they'll be in excess of $20,000 in income, as well as a chance to access a wide listening audience (and have the credibility of being involved with a podcast), and a lot of future potential.

I know it can be daunting to call up a client or prospect and say, "I want to run a few things past you. How about lunch?" But after the first call or two, you'll realize that it's easy. Don't try to sell. Just see lunch or coffee or The Final Four for what it is: a fact gathering exercise, an informal chat, bet, etc.

Imagine one of your suppliers rang you up and said, "I'd love to get together and ask a few questions about your industry and business when you have a minute. Are you free for lunch next Tuesday?" What would you say? Most likely, you'd say, "Yes." You'd meet, have a chat, and answer some questions. And in future, you'd be more likely to deal with that person than any other.

Building a community of contacts can also be helped by you taking the time and effort to help others. It's a funny thing. When you help others, you seem to get benefits.

I'm a volunteer of a local media charity organisation, I'm the Coach of my son's baseball team and I'm the keynote speaker each year for my college's annual event. I've met a lot of local business people through these associations and have the added advantage of being seen as a leading figure within these organisations.

It makes sense to join business groups for a whole range of reasons:

You meet lots of useful contacts.
You meet lots of potential prospects.
You learn a lot.

Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce? What about a local charity group? Perhaps you could do a public speaking course or join your local Toastmasters group (Perfect! You learn a new skill, meet like-minded people and meet people who are, more than likely, in business).

2. Blow your own Trumpet (No one Else Plays your Tune)

Public speaking terrifies most people. After all, most people are bad at it. That's great news for you!

If there is one tip I'd love you to take from this article it's this: learn how to be an effective public speaker. I speak fairly frequently and it provides me with more highly qualified, hot leads than any other marketing strategy I implement. In terms of new business generation, this tactic is simply unbeatable.

Recently, I spoke for a Government small business program. I was marketed as the key note speaker for the day (there was 5 other speakers). I spoke to 120 people who were interested to hear what I had to say. The topic of my presentation? The service that I sell -- on which I'm seen by the attendees as the recognised authority. It's all looking good so far.

The MC of the event introduced me by listing my achievements and generally telling everyone how good I am! (He read from biography I supplied.) I get an hour of the attendees' time. In that hour, I got the opportunity to say exactly what I wanted to say without interruption. I provided interesting, relevant and entertaining information about a topic in which the audience was interested. I had the opportunity to connect with the audience, to demonstrate my expertise, to talk about my experience and generally to market myself and my business.

By the end of the speech, the audience knew me and what I'd done previously. Hopefully, they liked me and saw me as a nice guy. They definitely saw me as an expert.

And, here's the best bit: I was paid to do it!

To give you a head-start in your own public speaking programme for 2006, I've included my own step-by-step guide to public speaking. This free PDF will walk you through the whole process, from securing speaking opportunities, to securing and following up on the leads you generate. Use it to your advantage this year!

Media coverage is another great way to establish your credibility and get in front of your target audience for next to nothing.

Over the past few months, I've had a spot on the local radio station talking all things Internet; I was featured in over 10 business publications and I was the 'go to' guy for a number of local journalists seeking expert commentary on Internet issues.

Not once did I have to try to 'sell' my services. All that happened was that I was introduced or written about as the Internet expert. I talked about issues affecting web sites or the Internet in general. That was it.

Then, my phone would ring off the hook with calls from people who had heard me on the radio show or read about me in the local newspaper.

The media is always looking for new content. Can you give it to them? It can be as simple as ringing a journalist about a current event and providing a newsworthy comment that's related to your area of expertise.

Become the Authority

One of the market niches we serve is holiday resorts. We've developed web sites for numerous resorts, we're good at it, and we've had some successes with our sites. So, to strengthen our position within that niche, we developed an extensive case study explaining how we took a web site that received no online bookings at all, and helped them to create a very successful business online. Of course, we had the client's permission for all the details we included in that case study. Then, we posted the case study, with a covering letter, to all of the resorts in our city. We followed up soon after with an offline newsletter that was developed specifically for these prospects.

Within a week or two, every resort manager knew of us (after all, who wouldn't read the case study of how a direct competitor went from zilch to success in about 12 weeks?). We were widely perceived to be one of the best at what we do. All this as the result of a simply case study, about $200 in printing costs, and $200 in postage.

If people don't know about your successes, they might as well have never happened. It's up to you to make a noise. Let people know of your successes, your skills and your business's development. It will keep you top of mind for the moment when they need your services.

Tell Of Your Successes

If people don't know about it, then it didn't happen.

One of our high profile clients (an ex-champion athlete) recently sent us a signed singlet to say thanks for our help. Within a week, the singlet was framed and hung on our 'Brag Wall'.

I mentioned the client's gift and kind words on our web blog. I mentioned it in our online and offline newsletters. I'll be mentioning it in articles I write, speeches I make and our business podcast.

Why? Because the client has a high profile and is highly respected. I want people to know he's our client, and that he likes us. I want people to know that they can trust us, just as that high-profile client does.

The Deadly Venoms of Web Site Design

2009-11-20T11:04:00.000-08:00

For those outside the I.T./Development/Design industry, things are new and unfamiliar and there are some deadly killer mistakes that can be encountered that can render your project useless, stopping you cold in your tracks. Here I will offer you the antidote for what has stalled your project.

Conceptualization and planning
The first deadly venom is failing to understand the purpose and planning for your website. Be clear to understand what your end users want, based upon your end users (clients) needs. Do not base your decisions on what you do or don't want (especially if you've given creative license to your designer) rather, do enough research to develop a rough idea of what you will need to serve your business. This planning phase is skipped more often than the other two stages. Most writers don’t enjoy creating outlines for research papers, and most web designers don’t like creating flowcharts either. Don’t be lazy in this phase, insist on proper planning. If you put forth the effort and plan out your website, then you will find the web design process to go smoothly with fewer mistakes made along the way. There are a few things that you will need in order to effectively conceptualize and plan your website:

a general idea of the different sections of your website
a pen and paper
conceptualization
flowchart

Understand what you are buying and paying for.

Once you pay a 50% deposit, it is virtually impossible to get it back without going to legal avenues. If your website developer is in a different country, you may not have much hope to recover your money, if things go wrong, even if you use PayPal.
No attention has been given to title tags, key words, page descriptions and content, meaning the site does not appear for search terms that it should rank well for. Make your titles on your web page make sense: One of the core attributes of a web page is its title. In between the tags you can specify the page's title as it appears in the browsers top title bar and in the search engine results.

The website is not XHTML compliant by W3C standards.

This means it does not render or work properly in all browsers and operating systems. Issues include improper tag nesting, depricated tags, unclosed tags, spaghetti code, tables and frames. This also hinders seach engine ranking, usability and Web 2.5 compliance.

The website hosting company is unreliable.

The web site is hosted on inferior computer equipment and the connection to the Internet is slow. This is another way of cost cutting, and the customer is left with a web site that just doesn't perform like it should or is down for long periods of time. If your using a host that does not support the features your website needs ie: Joomla, SSH, Unix, Google Adwords, Cold Fusion, Java, ASP etc. Although connection to the internet cannot be 100% guaranteed, website uptimes vary considerably among hosting providers.
Is the web site compatible to browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer. This means that people who use a different browser to access your web site will not be able to read your web site or navigate through it.

Another pitfall is the emphasis on having flash animation

to make your web site stand out. Unless you can afford to change the flash animation on your web site every day, not many of your customers will want to see it again, and some may not even want to see it the first time. Flash animation must be used appropriately. It must convey meaning and be there for a reason. Otherwise it looks tacky and cheap and there are better ways of spending your money. Search engine optimisation for flash websites is more difficult, especially if the site has a flash intro on the index or home page.

Many people believe that they are purchasing a website

and will own the copyright to that site and can move it where ever they please. Generally, this is not the case as the code belongs to the developer and the user is paying for a licence to use rather than property rights. Likewise, people also believe a logo comes with their website design, or that registering a domain name gives them online incorporation. A clear understanding needs to be sought and agreed to (preferably in writing), so both parties understand their respective rights and obligations. Unless otherwise specified, Passion Computing customers receive full non exclusive license to use and modify their website.

Another pitfall is that

website developers do not consider the implications

of the website they design. Example. A website that is intended for a community portal will not only require more data traffic and web space, but will ideally need to be hosted on MS SQL and not Access database. The client wants it cheap, so they host it on Access, only to find that when there are too many visitors the system slows down and becomes unusable.

The client is not computer literate and they need to be informed of what is and is not plausible and reassess their budget or design based on information supplied by an expert. The client is not the developer and because price is important, shortcuts are taken at the expense of functionality. It is important to find a good developer that will listen to what you require but will also advise on the best way to design and implement that solution and tell you realistically if the amount of work involved is more than what you have budgeted for. Too often, the developer simply implements the client's ideas without highlighting the limitations and problems associated with that solution.

Passion Computing

simply will not implement unsustainable software solutions and we consider the project in a holistic context of computer hardware, software, and risk management.
Customers do not consider security. Implementing free code on the interent or open source code though cost effective have potential danger, in that the code may be full of spyware, have back door logins that allow information to be stolen and customer information to be compromised.

Guerrilla Marketing

2009-11-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

Over the past month, I've explored the ins and outs of the weird world of guerrilla marketing. What was once a fringe movement in the world of advertising has become much more popular and mainstream since the late 1970s, when marketing expert Jay Conrad Levinson and artists like Milton Glaser introduced these concepts to the world at large. But what is guerrilla marketing, exactly? If you’re still scratching your head about what this guerrilla stuff is all about, step onto the tour bus as we take one more look around. Keep hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, please. We’ll review the highlights at each of our stops. Feel free to hop off and visit any of the sections that interest you, then hop back on to navigate the rest.

  1) The History of Guerrilla Marketing  In part one of our gmarketing series, we took a look at how advertising went from boring, educational, and sometimes downright false ads to the entertaining spectacle we know and love today. Jay Conrad Levinson, author of many books on the subject, is credited as the father of Guerrilla Marketing. His ideas paved the way for small businesses to compete in the marketing arena with the big companies, ushering in an era of innovative sometimes extreme marketing ideas. But Levinson’s ideas aren’t just about getting the customer’s attention: companies have to be ready and willing to back up their advertising with excellent products and services.

2) The Origins and Evolution of Guerrilla MarketingHave you ever wondered how guerrilla marketing got so popular? J.C. Levinson’s book was only part of the equation. The main reason guerrilla marketing took off was its incredible effectiveness at breaking through our advertising blinders. The first instances of guerrilla marketing were radical for their time, but the techniques continued to develop. Girls convincing men to buy them drinks was suddenly more about marketing than about flirting. Even rappers got into the game when Run DMC released a song called My Adidas, sending sales of Adidas through the proverbial roof.

Usain Bolt's historic Olympic victories have provided his shoe sponsor, Puma

AG, with an unexpected burst of publicity on the global stage. His hand gesture Gesture alone after the recrds were broken generated over 10 million dollars and all his shoues were sold out. And yet the German footwear company's immediate reaction -- as laid back as a sunny Jamaican morning -- is almost the opposite of Mr. Bolt's now-famous celebratory celebration. This is one of may situations where geurill marketing goes wrong. The beast becomes too big to manage. Dana Flavelle of the Toronto Star reported that "

Ikea Canada has quietly pulled a "guerrilla" marketing campaign aimed at promoting its fall catalogue and driving sales to its stores, citing complaints from some businesses.

The issue came to light again yesterday after Toronto city councillor Howard Moscoe, chair of licensing and standards, called Ikea's spray-painting campaign "vandalism" and ordered the retailer to "cease and desist.","Ikea took a "calculated risk" when it decided to use the guerrilla marketing tactic as part of a wider TV and internet campaign, said spokesperson Madeleine Lowenborg-Frick.

Ikea likes to be seen as youthful, fun and edgy but never at other people's expense, she said. She blamed miscommunication between it and the firm it hired to execute the guerrilla marketing campaign."

In the meantime, the controversy received national media attention, which some might consider a sign of success.

Zig, the Toronto firm Ikea hired to design its fall campaign, has made headlines in the past; A previous campaign for the Breast Cancer Society featured a cute young guy named "Cam" offering to help women with their breast exams. Using humour instead of fear didn't sit well with some. But it earned the client all kinds of free publicity. "The effective spot was even the subject of numerous lead stories on the evening news," Zig says on its website.

And the $15,000 Ikea contest? It had 1,000 entries within five days, Guerilla Marketing gone wrong. Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment hopes you’ve noticed the messages and logos it hired an ad company to spray on sidewalks. The city definitely took notice and gave MLSE 48 hours to remove the markings, according to a published report.

The ads that read “Leafs Nation, Spirit Is Everything” started appearing on sidewalks in October. This week officials at City Hall contacted MLSE to inform the company it had two days to remove the markings, or else the city would do it and send them the bill, the Toronto Sun report states.

Mike Gillissie, vice-president of Grassroots Advertising says "I don't understand why it's become such a big issue,'' the agency that subcontracted the job from MLSE's ad purchasing firm. "We thought it was a cool thing to do but now the city says we can't. So they're coming down.''

MLSE said Grassroots Advertising claimed it secured the right to spray sidewalks with paint. They lied, and tried to do the thing small innovators do. MLSE is to blame, for hiring a Wack agency to develop their campaign. Was the purpose for Grassroots to make a buck or gain fame piggy backing on real street artists and smaller innovating compamies. They're just biting other peoples style and cashing in to make a buck, after all, what was the purpose? I could sell these leafs in Ottawa with nothing more than a pencil. The bottom line is to innovate, captivate and motivate the MIND!, not to copy, that's weak wack!

I think this ad campaign was dreamed up precisely because it’s “unconventional” - it’s an attempt to give the Leafs “street cred” and make them feel cool, like the urban fabric of the city. There is probably the hope that less critical minds will think that this is spontaneous fan art, and that it will nestle into their hearts all warm and fuzzy.

So you’re allowed to deface public property and insert your marketing message into our collective space if you’re a corporation with oodles of money, but if you’re an artist trying to get people to think, you’re a criminal? Typical.

3) Major Corporations Go For Guerrilla Marketing

Although J.C. Levinson’s ideas were geared toward the small business evening the playing field against bigger rivals, major corporations soon began using guerrilla tactics to sell their products. Their efforts aren’t always rewarded, especially when existing customers feel like the big businesses are overstepping their bounds or being deceitful.

4) Guerrilla Marketing Versus Viral Marketing

Advertising executives are under a lot of pressure to make their campaigns successful. At some point, it occurred to some ad people that they could make ads so irresistible that they would actually be passed around willingly by customers. The result: self-propagating advertising. Guerrilla marketing sometimes takes the form of a viral campaign. The viral campaign happens organically and spontaneously; if it’s pushed too hard by its creators there’s a pretty good chance it’ll never get off the ground. Some of the most successful guerrilla marketing campaigns have taken the form of viral videos or websites.

5) Guerrilla Marketing for Social Causes

So far, our guerrilla marketing tour has focused on businesses and making money. Nonprofit organizations need to spread their word, too, and today many of them are turning to guerrilla marketing tactics to reach their target audience. The Red Cross has created some of the most ingenious and eye-catching socially aware guerrilla marketing messages.

6) 10 Different Types of Guerrilla Marketing

Did you know that guerrilla marketing isn’t just about putting up some posters or creating a rad short video? It can take on nearly any form. From strangers chatting with people on the street to making a product really hard to get hold of, marketers have lots of sneaky, amusing, and intelligent ways to get you to want what they’re selling.

McD's Lightpost Free Coffee Campaign is a winner.

7) Is Guerrilla Marketing Right for You?

You don’t have to be a business (big OR small) or a socially conscious nonprofit organization to reap the rewards of guerrilla marketing. You can use unconventional techniques to land a job, get a date, or promote your talents. Of course, if you’re a small business owner you should know that guerrilla marketing isn’t all about the flashy message. It’s essential to back up the advertisements and never disappoint your customers. As quickly as guerrilla marketing messages can spread, negative feedback spreads even faster.

8) The Future of Guerrilla Marketing

We can’t see exactly what is in the future for guerrilla marketing, its devotees, and the public who alternately loves and hates the constant advertising. But as we become more commercially oriented, it seems that advertisements are popping up nearly everywhere. Will we soon see ads on any and all available surfaces? Will the forehead tattoo ad become mainstream? Perhaps, but one thing that’s sure is that future advertisements will be even more difficult to tell apart from real life.

We’ve reached the end of our guerrilla marketing tour. We’ve seen some amazing sights and gained some valuable knowledge about the world of advertising. You’ll probably find yourself looking differently at ads now that you know the secrets that marketers use to grab your attention. We hope you’ve enjoyed your tour

, and you’re invited back to re-visit all of your favorite stops at any time. Please watch your step as you exit the bus

The Blastmaster with Digexart

2009-11-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

Demuth Flake and Chris Parker AKA KRS One in the BMG offices

Have you ever wondered what happened to the enlightened informed individuals who innovate and have refrained from becoming Wack Recording Industry concoctions.

Throughout the 90's and early 2000's I was heavily involved with the Hip Hop Culture. In fact, My first record was Public Enemy "98" b/w "My Uzi Weighs a Ton" I purchased this record from Recods on Wheels in 1984. I subsequently started breakdancing, DJing and writing graffiti. I became known for all disciplines as a BBoy. I needed to fully Suss out what was out there to take advantage of. The music was often inspiring and in the same way James Brown was ahead of his time, many of the artists I listened to were also way ahead of their time. Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Africa Bambatta, Kool Herc, Red Alert, The Cold Crush Brothers, Slick Rick, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and many others were at the forefront and the innovation of the craft happened like magic right before my eyes. You must have remembered when Micheal Jackson did the Moonwalk right? Well it was well known that BBoys in the Bronx were regularly creating new dances including the Moonwalk , also poppin' Lockin' breakin' and the B-Boy was the creator of all this culture. I knew where I fit into this program.

Is hip-hop dead? It sure sounds like it if you turn on the radio. What used to be exciting, groundbreaking music seems to have been reduced to a one-note din, Autotune Ring tone Rap. The only topics discussed are bling-bling materialism, how many guns you have, and "ho's." Hip-hop poster boy 50 Cent appears on the cover of Rolling Stone with the caption "Mastering The Art of Violence." There's the raunchy Lil' Kim, and of course, top dog and now Oscar-winner Eminem, who has threatened to kill his wife numerous times on his records.

When you start to think about our Hip Hop music through the years, and how it has been infiltrated by purveyors of ignorance and arrogance. Are you suprised to find that Kanye West is a Moronic Idiot?

Diana Ross and Li'l Kim at the VMA's 1999. Mary J. Blige and Kim presented an award with Ross, Ross opted to greet Kim not by shaking her hand but by jiggling her breast.

Back in hip-hop's heyday of the '80s and early '90s, some of the most popular groups were also some of the most vibrant - the militant Public Enemy, the uplifting Arrested Development, the stylistically abstract A Tribe Called Quest, and the teacher KRS-One. Despite different approaches, they seemed to be working together to speak about the black experience and create the melting pot that made hip-hop so refreshing and vital.

"In the late '80s, there was such a diversity (in hip-hop)," says Kevin Powell, former Vibe magazine senior writer and editor of "Who Shot Ya? Three Decades of Hip-Hop Photography." "If you were a young black male growing up then, you could aspire to be Chuck D, or Big Daddy Kane, or Too Short, or Doug E. Fresh. You had choices. That doesn't exist anymore."

It's certainly harder to find. And offering it may take courage. When everyone else is talking about violence and riches, it's tough to talk about more cerebral issues without being laughed at by your peers and being called soft. "It is more difficult to try and make the masses buy it," says Common, one of hip-hop's most positive thinkers. He and Talib Kweli, performing at Roseland tomorrow evening, headline one of the most socially conscious hip-hop tours of the year.

One of the pioneers of politically conscious rap, Public Enemy co-creator Bill Stephney, feels that the music has gone so far from its roots that it is almost a parody at this point. "There is an over-representation of the criminal aspects of black youth culture (in music) from the videos and the records," he says. "Not all black kids out here are slinging cocaine, crack and heroin, and shooting at one another. What about the black kid who works at Haagen-Dazs in Brooklyn? He or she is not represented. What about the black kid who just goes to church with his grandmother on Sunday? I don't hear their story in any of these records! All I hear is bang, bang, shoot 'em up." Star, the outspoken host of Hot 97's morning show who never shies from calling hypocrisy when he sees it, calls this "die niggas, die slowly," and Stephney agrees.

So what happened? How did rap devolve from its glorious past to what even some founders suggest is its least innovative period? One of the reasons for the nihilistic themes that dominate today's rap music, Stephney believes, can be traced directly to the rise of the crack epidemic in urban communities.

"The heavy influence of the crack trade changed many of the values of the youth black culture since the mid-'80s," Stephney says. "That's where you get the materialism, the guns, the absolute die-hard mentality for meaningless things. So if you add all those things to the history of black people in general, then you get a very bad mix."

Under the surface, there is a non-commercial brand of rap that exists in the real Hip Hop culture. As KRS One states, "Rap is something you do, Hip Hop is something you live". In the Bible referring to the book of James, In verse 2:14, James speaks of a person having faith without deeds and asks, "Can such faith save him?" Can it?

New Design

2009-06-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

Alicia Dardaine, Director of Development at the Touchstone Youth Centre Thanked me for this "absolutly fabulous image" that I designed for them. I was happy to help support this worthy cause. It is a T-Shirt submission for their 3rd Annual Fund Raising Gala. This Design will be applied to T-Shirts to help support efforts to benefit their youth homeless shelter. Touchstone Youth Centre is a 32 bed emergency shelter for 16 - 24 year old homeless and at-risk youth. In addition to shelter, they address the many issues of homeless youth by offering an Employment Program, Housing Help, a Drop-in Centre and an Outreach Worker. The perfect model for a situation spiraling out of control!

"Dreams Under Construction" is happening on Friday, June 12, 12:00pm at The Touchstone Youth Centre. This centre is located at 1076 Pape Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 3W5. For additional info visit their website, or contact Alicia at Tel: 416-696-6932 ext. 35.

New Shirts in production

2009-06-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

I am currently printing two new designs. I will have production completed by the 10th of June. The 'Usain Bolt' and 'Dancehall Riddim Driven'.

The new shirts will be ready forthese upcoming events.

Olympic and world record holder, Usain Bolt, will definately be the main attraction, at the University of Toronto with the "Festival of Excellence" track meet featuring the world's fastest man and Canada's present and future athletic talent.

The meet will take place at Varsity stadium on Thursday, June 11. Also throughout the summer, look out for the shirts at these events.

Montreal's (Carifest) July 4, 2009 and Toronto's (Caribana) August 1, 2009, Hamilton August 7-9, 2009, Chicago IL (Carifete) August 14-16, 2009. For wholesale orders, please preorder by contacting me in advance.

Now Shipping

2009-06-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

We'll Bring Arms House to your Mom's House!

The Arms House shirt is available fe de battle dj's dem! The perfect piece of clothing when crushing a tin pan sound! I'm also offering an unreleased version of the oldie but goodie B[OO]M Comic with this shirt. This comic book first appeared in 1992 as a result of a thriving freelance career, and a lot of unused ideas. The now defunkt comic book issued it's final release in 1999. One unreleased issue remains and has never been seen until now. Ten years after the last issue rolled off the press. The shirt and book are available on shipped orders only. Buy Now!