The first is the not-for-profit approach; having nothing to do with nonprofits. The NFP approach is essentially men, who have, at one point or another, been in a similar situation to the men seeking guidance, helping other men. This is typically done in groups of men who meet up with each other over beer or sport and just normalize their acceptance of the presence of other men. There is no motive to gain off the other men in the group and the only reward is each other’s success. There is, however, another model for doing good among the Men’s Studies Movement.

This second approach to doing good is the for-profit model of business with peers. Similar to a local economy, the ability to buy and sell to people within a familiar context is an agile model of commerce. An example of this perspective that I recently ran into is PDXlair here in Portland Oregon. Like many other professional Pick Up Artists there is a need to sell services to men who can afford it. The justification for paying for help is the same as for seeing a counselor; someone else, who has had training, gets it.

The goal of either of these approaches is to help men who need a little kick start beyond the first Google search. To understand the breadth of popularity for this ideal I took a look at Google’s Insights for Search tool using the phrase “Pick Up Artist” and here is what I found. According to Google’s indexing records for the volume of searches conducted by people from around the country, there were several periods when this representative phrase was most popular.

It is interesting to me to see the differences between a for-profit and a not-for-profit take shape as the movement expands into the Pacific Northwest from New York City and California. Whichever the model for “doing help” there are many men who need the assistance. Some will pay for it and others can’t, the important thing to remember is that there is room for each of us at the adult’s table.

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This afternoon, say around 6PM, I was walking with my girlfriend through Fred Meyers off West Burnside in Portland Oregon and I saw something that peaked my curiosity. I was witness to a “Mr. Sticky In-store Demo” that came complete with the kind of rotating lights you would see at a night club.

Seeing this struck me as interesting enough to actually sit down and mention why I would assume that this demo is the product of several realities.

1. The marketing behind “Mr. Sticky” allows for demonstrators to be “innovative and creative” when trying to attract a passing audience . Essentially, USJesco International, LTD., Inc, the distributor for the “Mr. Sticky” product,  hires commissioned promoters to sell their “Business Partner’s” products. To accomplish this, there has to be a need for creativity by each unique presenter, hence the club lights. Thus, the experience for each audience is different, potentially.
2. The commissioned demonstrators are talented stage performers. The performance stage and a marketers platform are the same thing. To be effective as a communicator you must understand the power of the body and the voice. These two means of delivering a message encompass every message a communicator can deliver, thus for USJesco to use unemployed acting talent is brilliant.
3. Presentations are only effective for a minority of potential customers. Using rotating club lights show a degree of desperation for attention and a lack of confidence in the product. Mr. Sticky should be able to be placed on a blank table and sold at a fair price. Mr. Sticky should not have more bark than bite.
4. Trade Show Booths can leave the Floor. The appeal of a Trade Show Booth is the ability to display and demonstrate sample products to an audience with a short window of attention. Being able to integrate that approach to promotion is wisely applied to retail situation. I can imagine that this could be duplicated by many product vendors.

Whether the consumer likes it or not, there is a degree of theater here. I laughed out loud when I saw the Mr. Sticky booth as it reminded me that the humor in advertising relies on being unexpected.

No related posts.

It was earlier this week that I was in Old Town Chinatown when I noticed something; a promotional sticker that was placed completely out of context; accident much? Using, what has turned into my primary media capture device, my iPhone, I took a picture of the image and emailed it to myself with the note, “Out of Place, Within Reach”. I was curious as to why someone would buy promotional stickers for a free blog? This notion seemed passing an inconsequential really, so I ignored it; until yesterday.

Last night I was standing in line at Stumptown Coffee off of Belmont in SE Portland when I noticed a flier on the counter. After picking it up I glanced down at the promotional URL and noticed that, it too, was a .blogspot.com address; again, interesting.  I again took a picture and emailed it to myself, but this time I was beginning to see a pattern; artists in Portland seem to be using Blogger as a platform for their work.

Appreciating that even if this was a local Portland media trend, there was immense value in understanding why artists were using Blogger as an online channel, a gallery of sorts , for their work. Why weren’t they using WordPress or Drupal? I was interested in the association between an assumed demographic and a product had with each other. I began to research the actively referenced blogs in Portland and see what kind of content, therefore users, I could find.

Here is my process:

1. Using the advanced search feature on search.twitter.com, I isolated the parameters to mentions of “.blogspot.com” to within 15 miles of Portland Oregon.
2. I then activated the Greasemonkey Firefox Plugin with the Autopagerizer Script to be able to load multiple pages at the same time.
3. From here I used several keyword analyzers to understand the density of popular phrases inside of the individual tweets referencing each unique .blogspot.com URL.
   1. I found that the most popular words were common adjectives and pronouns.
   2. Understanding that the use of specific descriptors, especially pronouns, is indicative of a personal relationship between two parties, we begin to see some of the justification for using Blogger emerge.
4. Next, I identified the top three users who appeared within this search and plugged their Twitter names into Twiangulate.com to find common relationships between them.
5. Based on the common relationships found between the three users I was able to then plug the profiles into Twello.com and find the categorical titles and location of each unique identity.
6. It turns out that the majority of these profiles were owned by other artists and that their associated links were almost entirely .blogspot.com sites.
7. I can conclusively say that there is a community of artists in Portland Oregon who are using .blogspot.com for their media.

As more and more creatives are turning to the internet to represent their work, like any other online community, specific portals are becoming collective homes for different varieties of media; Portland artists included.



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1. 58 Portland Podcasts
2. The People’s Republic of Portland
3. Another Portland Conference Season

Without a little context, this poster is essentially meaningless to the laymen, including myself. However, after having asked my co-host about the significance of the poster, my appreciation for the internal conversation at this particular terrestrial radio station was solidified. This media provider  is beginning to have the highly important conversation with their sales force about how to monetize new channels.

It turns out that this is an internal message to AEs (Account Executives), saying that there is an emphasis being placed on including a price quote for advertisements in Online Streaming Feeds for various stations. This is, in my mind, a shift in the focus for the monetization of broadcast media.

Terrestrial radio, by and large here in Portland, does not fully embrace the utility of Online Media Feeds as they are seen as solidly secondary to their terrestrial broadcasts. This is due to the share of revenue that either channel brings into the station, thus justifying its significance to those who decide where resources are being allocated. To see an internal push to begin monetizing the internet stream is a sign that the Legacy Media of Portland Oregon are not blind, but slowly awaking to the realities of potential profit within online streaming efforts.

This conclusion, however, comes at a time when “other voices” inside of the various Portland media industries are resisting the “Great Transition to Online Broadcasting”. These “other voices” are heavily invested in the continual reinvestment of precious resources into analog technology.

An example of this outside of Portland is Chicago, specifically WBEZ and Vocalo. In 2007 Chicago Public Media launched an effort to connect with minority audiences; Vocalo. The initial budget for this new venture was roughly $3 Million, a significant percent of WBEZ’s overall operations budget. Immediately, the forces inside of WBEZ that were invested in maintaining status quo retaliated by leaking the 2009 Annual Report; Portland beware.

While this was an event some 2000 miles away from Portland, it holds itself as a precedent for degree of ferocity that the Old Guard within media has towards preventing the impending changes on the horizon. But when it comes to any modern media, whether it be Non-Profit or For-Profit, there is a class of media moguls that will resist this change at all costs, quite literally.

The question is therefore, “How can Podcasters, Bloggers and other Media Producers aid those on the inside fighting for the media revolution to succeed?” The answer is elusive, potentially controversial and has to do with more than just our content and it’s dissemination; we are already doing that. Whatever the solution it has nothing to do with the continued separation of our media and “theirs”, we must Remake the Horizon.

The future success of media will come in three smaller revolutions, in this order.

1. The monetization of online content, from archived to streaming.
2. The integration of the “people’s understanding of content” and “legacy media’s control of distribution”.
3. The disappearance of “New Media Consultants” and “Legacy Media Vanguards”.

It is going to be a very rabid battle until we achieve a great equilibrium within the world of mass communications. Until then, online content will be scattered at best and legacy media will continue to hit its head against the wall in the attempt to continue performing business as usual, “Controlling the Message”.

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2. Local Content on a National Scale
3. KBOO Sponsorship Expands; Communities

Three things real quick.

1. The “Behavioral Economics” of YouTube’s (Google’s) Advertising are not very user specific, making them less accurate on a content site.
2. I don’t own a Television, something that Facebook knows.
3. Why are all of the Food “Trucks” (aka “Carts”) being showcased from California, primarily LA?

We will ignore the first two points and simply concentrate on the critical error the people at The Food Network made when advertising this show to the Portland Market.

Does anyone remember the sign that Governor Tom McCall installed at the boarder between Oregon and California? It essentially read, “Thanks for visiting, dont stay long.” Tom McCall understood that “the cultural influence that California could have on Oregon has the potential to undermine our own.” However different the world of media was in 1970 versus 2010, it is still amusing to see how California media producers are trying to sell their content to the North.

If you really want to understand what Portland would respond well to, talk with Food Carts Portland. The lesson here is that despite the interest of further popularizing a growing trend, Food Carts, you must create a message that resonates with the natives. The differences between LA and PDX cannot be understated. I wonder when the definition of a “Media Network” and “Content Providers” will truly reflect their natural definitions, the inclusion and popularity of “Local Content Creators”?

Related posts:

1. Local Content on a National Scale
2. Mr. Sticky In-Store Demo Booth
3. Oregon Media Central

From April 2007 until May of 2010 I was a proud DJ at KPSU. During those three+ years I had several shows; Sex Talk PDX, PDX Gen-Y, InsYght; recording over 1100 hours of content. This station was my outlet while I attended school at Portland State University. However, towards the end of my time at the station, there seemed to be a rift forming between many important people at the station, myself especially.

I had an unfortunate falling out with the station, with mixed perceptions.

I quickly pushed KPSU out of my mind until I saw the headlines in the student paper, The Vanguard, which read, “KPSU Loses AM Signal”. You see, right here the irony of this whole media conversation we have been having for the last 5 years comes to a head. I was reading about a terrestrial AM Radio signal being lost by a state supported station in a state funded newspaper, hearing about it for the first time. Ha.

Shouldn’t I have heard of this earlier in the day from a Tweet or a Facebook update? I mean, hell, a good number of my friends on Facebook had DJed alongside me at KPSU, surely they would have known to publish this vital information on the internet!

History and Perspective

It is important to understand that I had written KPSU completely off as a place where I wanted to grow professionally, learn. I had, instead, moved over to to PDX.FM, an all Internet Radio Station here in Portland Oregon, and had taken my best show with me, PDX Gen-Y. I knew that I was smart for leaving when the getting was good. I didn’t want to be around when the place imploded, and it only took two months for it to happen.

What happened was that KPSU, as a Non-Profit, lost its AM Signal, which is borrowed from Benson Polytechnical High School here in Portland. However, the real relationship wasn’t between two schools, it was between Bill Cooper and KPSU’s Station Manager. It is significant to understand, that Bill Cooper has masters and therefore is working under the pressures of constantly having to monitor content for subject matter that would be inappropriate for youth.

While I was involved with KPSU, both as the Volunteer Director and a DJ, there was frustration with the limits Bill Cooper put on KPSU’s broadcast time. However, I now understand that his motto of interpreting the FCC Broadcast Guidelines through a conservative lens was only because of his pressures.

At 10:55 PM on June 24th, 2010 the KPSU program, The Debate Hour, went a little to far according to the Portland State Vanguard. A discussion of sodomy was had where several unsavory comments were made. Having had been upset by content before, even twice from myself, Bill Cooper, probably frantically, decided to immediately cut the contract between KPSU and Portland Public Schools.

So here we are today, Friday, August 13th.

Community

Today, the community around KPSU is incredible, as it always has been. This is the life blood of college radio.

The community that KPSU has isn’t held around a brand or a cause, it is held around each other. This is a fact for those involved with KPSU, nothing that can be argued against. KPSU, however, as a brand is recognized by the community and is therefore a player within it, only as a brand could be.

The community of KPSU is always changing, with DJs and Staff Members graduating. This works in KPSU’s favor though. It seems to be that when a new challenge arises, so does another leader.

The Future

From the ashes will rise a Phoenix, KPSU is no different, this I am certain of.

It was the funniest thing, I beginning to write this article when I needed a link from the KPSU website. I clicked on over to the site and noticed something intriguing, the current broadcast was that of tonight’s love episode of “The Debate Hour”. I thought to myself, “What better time to reengage with KPSU than right now?” So I promptly picked up my cell phone and called into the station’s call line. How intriguing an opportunity.

After having talked to the fine hosts of the program for about 5 minutes, I realized that I had just essentially had a conversation with KPSU station insiders about the current sentiment inside the station as well as the future plans the station was hoping to make a reality.

From the on-air conversation that I was able to have with The Debate Hour program I was able to understand quite a good deal of information. According to one of the hosts, “I am excited right now because of this,” referring to the cancellation of the AM signal by Bill Cooper. Also, there was one host in particular, without knowing his name, who openly shared about the future of KPSU. Here is what we learned combined with a little bit of research:

1. KPSU’s budget now has $47,000.00, that was going to be spent on renting their AM signal from PPS, freed up.
2. There is work being done on “radically changing” the function of the website.
3. There are new partnerships being developed.
4. There are new staff members in place.
5. Most importantly, the internet is going to be pivotal to the future of KPSU.

KPSU is up against some hard times, having to now justify the gap in the budget this year to next year’s Student Fee Committee. It can be assumed that KPSU is going to do one of two things:

1. Wait until the SFC asks for the $47,000.00 back and then appeal, or
2. Spend everything and soon.

I am going to assume that Doug Friend, the Station Manager at KPSU, will choose option #1 and will win in appeal. Besides, he has The Debate Hour on his side.

From the ashes will rise a Phoenix, KPSU is no different, this I am certain of.

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1. Podcamp Portland 2010

I was walking down near PSU earlier this week and I ran across the old location for the Portland Bartending Academy. As I walked past the building, with my headphones on, I noticed that there was something awfully destructive happening. Here is what I saw.

It is just weird to watch a building be destroyed that you have walked past every day for three years. Oh well, they seem to be doing just fine in their new location.

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After having met with Anni, the Volunteer Director, for a couple of hours one day and being given a whirl wind tour of the place, I was at the mic and behind the control panel; this truly was Community Radio. I was blessed at that age to be learning of my interest in media and communications. I will always be thankful for KBOO.

Since then I have been actively following the content and outreach that they have continued to do. I have begun to notice that KBOO is really ramping up their sponsorship of local events. For instance, I interviewed Rahmiel from EcoPalooza on PDX Gen-Y during which he mentioned that his media sponsor was KBOO. That was just the beginning of what seems to be a regular occurrence in my life; attending event around the community that are sponsored by KBOO. For me, this is evidence of something different at KBOO.

I am going to assume that there is a new staff member or volunteer behind these sponsorships.

After looking through the KBOO Staff List I noticed that the Development Director (the position typically associated with Sponsorships at a radio station) was currently being filled by a “Interim” Staff Member; Sun Lee. I am intrigued by this finding, as it means two things.

1. There is, in fact, a new Development Director.
2. Being that Sun Lee is only temporary, will they be replaced with someone with a lesser interest in community outreach?

This story has turned into quite a bit of a Matlock tale.Regardless of what happens to the continuation of KBOO’s sponsorship of events here in Portland, I am proud to have come from here.

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As part of arriving early I was given the opportunity to meet the different staff members at the Crystal Ball Room for the evening. One of them happened to be a security guard named Justin Cate. There was something about him that stood out, something obvious. It turns out Justin has a huge beard. So, as the curious inquirer I am, I asked him about his facial hair.

Justin told me that there was a new group in town. A group he referred to as the “Stumptown Stash and Beard Collective“.  From what I gathered, Justin was completely serious about what he was telling me, “My friend is world famous for his mustache.” I knew I had to learn more about these hardy hairy hipsters.

The first thing I did was check out their website and was sad to find “Our site is currently under construction.  Please check back shortly!” blazed across the top of it. However, I did find a bit of Social Media, how appropriate, that did reveal a bit more about the group.

According to their “Facebook Info Tab” the group describes itself as,

We are those who choose to promote growing of all things… such as beards, mustaches, oats, barley, hops, corn, hemp… and the list goes on. We enjoy congregating with our fellow beardos to share in drink and dance as often as possible. We have two goals: to dominate the National and World Beard & Mustache Championships, and to rage til we drop!

This self-description is something to be proud of. It becomes clear that these “dangering” young men are interested in creating a community around a chosen identity. It is within this brotherhood that they find solidarity. Despite the potential to seem like a closed group to outsiders, these bearded men are holding their first event on March 15th at Mt. Tabor Theater at 5:30 and if you are curious than I suggest that you arrive early, it might get crowded.

The Stumptown Stash and Beard Collective seems like something that Portland will really dig. If you would like to contact the Stumptown SBC you can email them at stumptownsbc@gmail.com. Groovy stuff.

Portland Beard and Mustache Links

1. Stumptown Stash and Beard Collective
2. Beard vs. Mustache
3. World Beard Championships
4. Beard Revue

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1. Artists in Portland Are Using Blogspot
2. KBOO Sponsorship Expands; Communities

The reason why I am promoting this event because, yes, I am attending the event, but most importantly, I am interested in having the larger marketing community of Portland be present to importance of demographics in marketing, especially in Portland with it’s incredibly diverse youth population.

Out of all of the speakers at the event I am most interested in hearing Chris Miller from group Y speak. I believe that the content is going to primarily focus around the issues of brand identity and the goals of continuing to integrate young men into the world of competitive branded sports. Essentially, this will be a conversation about whether or not brands can find a newer and more “authentic” way to cope with the continued degradation of the trust and interest youth have in brands.

Interesting stuff, I am sure, but I don’t believe in the power of brands; they are the marketing tools of the early 1980s. I am more interested in learning how we collectively rid ourselves of the power of brands, marketing campaigns and especially advertising. The goal shouldn’t be to encourage a young adult into believing in the religion of brands, but to have strength and faith in their own crusade. Putting money behind an activity as a sponsor, to me, degrades both the activity and the sponsoring brand.

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2. Scion and Generation Y
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