Author Archives: MortarMark
August 29th, 2007

Larry Harvey weighs in on Customer Service

Man2_2

Reacting to the early, premature burning of the "Man" at this week’s festival of fire, Burning Man, the King of Black Rock City apparently reacted with" laughter", reports today’s Wired.

"Burning Man’s co-founder and director, was on a platform in his camp watching the eclipse when he noticed his Man on fire. Once realizing that the fire was under control and no one was apt to be hurt, he says, his immediate reaction was laughter.

The early burn, he said, will help show that the Man itself is "nothing but a wooden doll," and that the event is really about the joint effort of attendees to create it. It will turn this year’s Burning Man into a "narrative of community and redemption" as the attendees get to see or assist in the public rebuilding of the statue, he said."

How’s that for a lesson in handling corporate disaster (are you listening Pepsi-Mento’s-person?).

Mortarblog is proud to report that the scorched man still stands, awaiting his fiery ascent this weekend.

More here.

August 28th, 2007

Ads takeover highways…and I shudder

Yes, I’m in advertising. But some things just aren’t meant to be. The New York Times features a growing "medium" for local businesses – paying private SUV and truck owners to wrap their vehicles in advertisements. It’s like "Pimp my Ride" meets local television commercials meets a world before pop-up blockers (ugh, yuck, bleck).

Adsuv

(photo courtesy of NYTimes)

Makes me want to either:
(a) throw up, or
(b) make my millions on the first human adaptation of horse blinders

August 24th, 2007

Do good, spread the word

Action_250x250

On October 15, bloggers unite to spread the word and contribute funds towards environmental concerns of their choosing. So far, 2,735 blogs and websites have committed to participating, reaching a total audience of over 2.7 million people.

Mortar’s in. Are you?

August 24th, 2007

Dell’s drops ball with its super new anthem.

Dell’s new anthem is simply terrific. It was produced by Mother.

Was kind of disappointed that the direct mail and outdoor launched in San Francisco 6 weeks or so before the TV. The idea works great in broadcast, but the print left me well, nah… still the TV. It moved me.

August 23rd, 2007

There was a time before Starbucks

“Mommy, what’s a coffee house?”

Apparently, the Coffee Cantata WAS a real live place on Union Street.

Gone but not forgotten.