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THE WHO: My Education
Published: VH1: 100 Greatest Albums, MTV Books
I’m guilty. As ashamed and embarrassed as I am to admit it, up until late last year, I ignored the invaluable musical contributions of The Who. Rather than explore the psychological factors that led me to consciously turn my back of one of the greatest bands of all time, I have decided to share my virginal experience with Who’s Next. Much like a wide-eyed juror chosen for a high-profile trial, I come into this assignment with no knowledge of the case.
The catalyst for my education was VH1’s Concert For New York, an event that featured dozens of acts performing to benefit The Robin Hood Relief Fund in Manhattan. The legend-studded concert raised 33.1 million dollars, most of which, I am convinced, can be attributed to the electrifying performance delivered by The Who. In the current state of glossy pop and pseudo-rap, people are looking for something to hold onto; I am looking for something to hold onto. Rock continues as a fading mirror of itself as it forever weakens in failed duplication. The answer, my friends, is not ahead in the future; it’s waiting for rediscovery in the past.
1971’s Who’s Next opens with the sounds of synthesizers that still sound state-of-the-art over three decades later. Add in Keith Moon’s tight thunder behind the drums, John Entwhistle’s ever-changing bass, Roger Daltrey’s blistering vocals, and Pete Townshend’s windmill guitar licks, and what you have is, quite possibly, musical perfection: “Baba O’ Riley”. I only wish I had the opportunity to hear “Baba” and the other tracks back in the early seventies. If they’re blowing me out of the water today, I can only imagine the impact they would have had on me as they revolutionized rock radio.
Friends, family, and even Townshend’s band mates, had trouble understanding the complex concept behind his Lifehouse vision. They were so baffled in fact, that on many occasions, the subject of Townshend’s sanity was raised publicly. A virtual media montage, the project was to take place in a fictitious future where a single note held the key to salvation. This scheme was to spawn Who theater, film, and albums, all created as a result of interaction between an audience and the band. The magnitude of this ambitious project proved too much to handle, but the fragments were salvaged into rock ‘n’ roll bliss for tens of millions.
While Who’s Next has a flavor for every taste, the remnants of the evacuated Lifehouse project resonate through many of the album’s songs, thematically reminding the listener that salvation not only lies within, but is entwined in the creative process of making music as well.
Where has this band been my whole life? Maybe I needed an older brother to show me the way. Perhaps just an open mind and some blind luck. Even with half of the band’s original lineup traveling up to the musical ethers, I find myself muttering, “Better late than never”. Who’s Next offers a sound that transcends the decades and can be understood intergalactically. And while The Who continue to try to convince us that “Love Ain’t For Keeping,” there is no doubt that their music certainly is. ***
The Exit Guide: How to Leave a Job the Right Way
Published: October 2009
Leaving a job is an art form – one that most people will never perfect. Why? Because it's something we only do a handful of times in our lives. Practice is not an option. That is why it is imperative to get it right.
The Exit Guide can help.
Content includes:
* How to put in your two weeks notice
* Resignation letter templates
* Goodbye letter samples
* Rules for the final two weeks
* Reference letter template
* Exit interview traps
* A plan to stay calm
"If you're thinking of leaving your job, The Exit Guide will help you cover all the bases. Don't leave work without it!" - Penelope Trunk (Founder, Brazen Careerist)
Read a sample
Conceptualized VH1 Marketing Campaign
Objectives: Make meaningful connections and increase awareness for the weeklong debut of VH1's "I Love the 80's Strikes Back" television series. Create buzz at high-traffic areas in Manhattan via grassroots marketing teams. Generate a high number of impressions by incorporating music into the campaign, distributing postcards, and spreading information via word-of-mouth.
Strategy: Create a "Say Anything" promotion by having a "Lloyd Dobler" member of the team outfitted in the character's trademark trench coat - holding a boombox over his head, a highly recognizable and defining 80's visual. Two-person teams distribute postcards, stickers, and help spread tune-in information.
Overview: Teams visited over 25 high-traffic locations and distributed over 40,000 postcards.
Results: Achieved a quarter-million unique impressions at Penn Station, Herald Square, Columbus Circle, Wall Street, Grand Central Station, etc.
Testimonials:
"This is such a great idea for a promotion." -Danielle, Rockefeller Center
"That guy looks exactly like John Cusask!" -Shawn, Times Square
"This is so funny, I just watched "Say Anything" the other night." Jenn, Penn Station ***