Archive for April, 2008

Telling Your Story Through a Unique Powerpoint Presentation

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Occasionally I am asked to give presentations about the Wren’s Nest to local groups and clubs.

I know, right? I laughed too when I was first asked. But it turns out that these people who are doing the asking are totally serious.

Yikes!

My first presentation was about eighteen months ago. I’d never really given a speech before. I didn’t know what to do. So instead of penning an eloquent speech and practicing in front of the mirror, I tried to find the best way to convey information that would make me the least nervous.

Very quickly I figured out that stealing someone else’s style was the way to go, and I stumbled across Dick Hardt’s amazing Identity 2.0 presentation.

Why is it so amazing? It isn’t boring!

Why isn’t it boring? Because the slides are telling you a story.

Don’t let the shirt on the guy who introduces Mr. Hardt fool you, either–this presentation is well worth your time, which is why I stole the style (and why–I think–Mr. Hardt stole it too…from Lawrence Lessig!)

Here’s why this fast-paced style works–

1. It allows the audience to retain your information.
2. See #1.

What else do you want?

The style is certainly unique, and therefore memorable. Most powerpoint presentations present information without telling a story.

Plus, the slides move too quickly for your audience to fall asleep, and the simplicity allows you to present complicated ideas without confusing too many people.

And this style of storytelling lends itself to jokes very easily, which is important for keeping people awake and all but impossible in your average powerpoint snoozefest.

Best of all–old people just love it! Trust me on this one, it’s, like, the coolest thing they’ve ever seen.

So, if you need to give a powerpoint presentation soon, may I recommend that you steal this style and tell a story instead. Your audience will thank you for it, unless of course they had planned on sneaking in a nap.

The Art Block

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The Art Block is a two-week summer camp we’re trying out for the first time this year.

It’s a partnership between the Wren’s Nest and two arts organizations that are just down the block: Fly-By Theatre, an improv theater company, and Hammonds House, an art museum specializing in the African diaspora.

The camp is for middle schoolers.

The goal is for them to write, design, and perform a unique theatrical production based on a fairy tale. Students will write the play at the Wren’s Nest, design the sets at Hammonds House, and learn to perform and dance with Fly-By Theatre. They’ll be taught by professionals in their respective fields.

At the end of the two weeks, the kids will cap everything off with a performance open to the public.

What do you think?

I’m a little nervous, to tell you the truth.

It’s similar to when we started the Wren’s Nest Publishing Co. last year. We had no idea what we were doing. We had no idea if anyone would even bother to apply or show up. We had no idea if we could pull it off.

The Art Block is a little more ambitious because (a) the kids are a little younger, (b) there are way more moving parts, and (c) our funding so far is pretty minimal.

I mean, we even have to provide a healthy snack! Guh! Talk about high-maintenance.

Plus, the only reasonable place to host these kids is our office. My spirit excluded, there’s not much in here that the average twelve year old can break without trying too hard.

Want more? Check out the page we made for the Art Block.

Marriott In West End?

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Suna Om–investor, business owner, and fellow member of the West End Merchants Coalition–wants to build a Marriott right down the street from the Wren’s Nest.

(photo courtesy of the AJC. They’ve got three more in this album.)

Gosh, what is that little dog doing behind her?

Anyway, I had no idea that she has a Marriott in mind. Her property is about three and a half blocks east of us, just across from Hank Aaron’s Krispy Kreme and the Mall West End.

Here’s what I like–this idea is totally out of left field. If you walked by her property today, you’d go, “Really? A Marriott? Ohhhkay, lady.”

I really like the prospect of bringing a hotel to West End. What a great kick in the pants that’d be.

Here’s what I’m skeptical about–the location.

Granted, those old buildings are a little grimey. But they’re also neat old urban storefronts that already cater to a lot of street life. I’d hate to see them torn down. It would change the neighborhood irrevocably, and not for the better.

Put a little money into cleaning those buildings up, and they’re no different than what you’d see in more successful shopping districts like Little Five Points or East Atlanta Village.

(thanks for the picture, Amber!)

Of course, I’m not the one bringing the money to the table. Nor do I have much idea of what property is on the market, but it seems like there are more than a handful of better, nearby locations for a Marriott–

Say, perhaps, the empty parking lots around the corner where people sometimes sleep on discarded mattresses.

Or the newer gated, cookie-cutter apartment complexes that bisect the community with fences and parking lots.

Replace those with a well-executed hotel, and the neighborhood would gain economic steam and retain its historic character. Developers, especially here in Atlanta, tend to overlook the economic importance of authentic vintage flavor (ahem–old streetcars, houses, libraries, etc.).

We’ve got a great, urban neighborhood here in West End. My fear with the Marriott idea is that it will cause the neighborhood will become a victim of its own success before it even has the chance to be really successful (again).

That said, assuming she is sensitive to the historic and urban fabric of the West End neighborhood, more power to Ms. Om.  I’m excited to follow her progress, and I hope she inspires others.

Pollen is Attacking the Wren’s Nest

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Check out the wisteria on our well trellis. In the words of our Executive Director, it’s on and poppin’.

But don’t let its beautiful facade fool you. This wisteria (and every other lovely plant that is currently exclaiming “spring! wahoo!”) packs a deadly punch.

Meet my new nemesis, pollen. Note that “extremely high” is over 120. I’m no math whiz, but 3,243 is at least… 4 times that.

Before I spent a spring in Atlanta, I was only allergic to cats, and I assumed that was because they are evil and I am pure of heart (stop laughing, Mom). But now, well… let’s just say Claritin-D and I have a very intimate relationship.

Though I will admit: when my eyes aren’t watering, it is all quite pretty.

Except for this.

(Nannie’s car and its lovely yellow dusting.) (Gross.)

Tar Baby In Classic Saturday Night Live Sketch

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This is one of the best sketches ever performed on Saturday Night Live.

I know this because I’ve seen it before and loved it, and also because the 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time just told me so (via Funny Pages 2.0. Thanks!).

Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase are obviously amazing. The flow, timing, and writing are tight and masterful. I wish they kept most sketches this short.

It’s interesting, however, that the drama hinges on the phrase “tar baby,” which may or may not be a racial slur. Tar is of course black, and baby is diminutive, so it’s been easy for many to assume that it is a racial slur.

For example, check out the end of this article, published yesterday, which once and for all declares John McCain a racist because he used the phrase tar baby–

The big question is: Is McCain racist? Or is he pandering to racists? And is there a difference?

His 2007 use of the term “tar baby” pretty much settles it. Unless, of course, you’re a sucker for yet another apology: “I don’t think I should have used that word and it was wrong to do so.”

It hasn’t always been this way. The tar baby image comes from the “sticky hair” stories from Africa. There are hundreds of these. As circumstances changed, and enslaved Africans were brought to the United States, the image changed too–from sticky hair to the glue man to the tar baby.

Donald, one of our storytellers, regularly tells an African story called “Anansi and the Glue Man” juxtaposed with Joel Chandler Harris’ “Wonderful Tar-Baby Story.” They’ve got quite a bit in common.

If you listen to the Wonderful Tar Baby story, it’s pretty clear that the tar baby represents a lot of things, but not a racial slur.

Donald Griffin – The Wonderful Tar Baby Story

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While it’s a shame that the Saturday Night Live sketch has broadcast phantom connotations of the tar baby, that doesn’t make the clip any less of a classic. Not only is it hilarious, but it’s historic.

And although tar baby is misused as a racial slur, I like how it’s ambiguous. Would Richard Pryor have reacted the same way had Chevy Chase not preceded “tar baby” with “negro”?

Jeri Broke Her Arm

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Jeri, one of our sassy and awesome docents, broke her arm yesterday.

(Jeri in happier times.)

She was on her way to the print shop and tripped on some askew bricks in the sidewalk.

A stranger, who found her on the street about three blocks from here, called to say it was an emergency. After putting down the phone, it’s a little hazy but I think I flew out the window, stole Amelia’s car, picked up Jeri, and threw her in the car. She was in a lot of pain.

We spent the afternoon in the red level trauma unit at Grady. The x-ray indicated that Jeri had dislocated and broken one of the bones in her arm. She has a cast and everything.

Remember how you used to sign the casts of your classmates in elementary school?

Well, we don’t quite have that luxury. Luckily for us, our docents take a lot of pride in the Wren’s Nest’s blog. If you feel so inclined, please leave a comment here for Jeri to read during her recovery. Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of taking one of her tours, it will make a difference. No need to be shy.

Having trouble coming up with something to say? Here are some suggestions–

“Get well soon, Jeri” or

“Gosh, feel better, Jeri” or

“Toughen up, you big sissy.”

You get the picture.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that the good doctors and nurses at Grady were exceptional. I don’t know what they could have done better. We were ushered into the trauma unit immediately, and the only waiting we did was for the painkillers to wear off a little so Jeri could return home safely.

EDIT 10:14 am– I should also mention that it’s a good thing that Grady is still open! For a lot of you out-of-town readers, Grady has had some very serious financial trouble of late. I don’t have any comment on the administration because I don’t know anything about it, but our experience was excellent. Thanks, Woodruff Foundation!

Seth Godin Should Totally Call the Wren’s Nest

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As staff of This Nation’s Most Exciting House Museum (trademark pending), we at the Wren’s Nest do our best to keep tabs on our peers here in the upper echelon. Thus, when reading The World’s Most Popular Marketing Blog I was happy to see that Mr. Godin and we at the Nest are on the same page.

In the past, we’ve written about our general disdain (loathing, hatred, etc.) for voicemail.

However, we may have forgotten to clarify one thing: the phone and voicemail are not the same thing. We’re all about the phone.

As Mr. Godin points out, a phone call remains the most personable and direct route to a corporation, yet often an undervalued one. Answering the phone is often the task of those lowest on the ladder, who are given the least flexibility and ownership, yet they’re the customer’s first impression. Boo.

Now, it may be because we only have a handful of staff members, but at the Wren’s Nest, even the famed Executive Director answers the phone! And we make a point of doing so quickly (on the first ring) and cheerily (though this is hurting my delivery today).

So hey, Seth Godin, give us a call. We’ll chat about impressive titles, take your comments to heart, and maybe even send you a tote bag because we like you.

Wren’s Nest Tree Takes Pliers Hostage

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Sometimes I am forgetful, which leads to dumb little mistakes. Sure, I’m not alone in this, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less embarrassing when there’s proof.

Thankfully, proof of my mistakes rarely lasts forever. The person who left these pliers loppers in our tree cannot say the same.

Seriously. We can’t get them out. The tree has taken them for its own. It’s awesome!

P.S. – I don’t know quite how to say this, but um… don’t these pictures look oddly PG-13?

Interior Decorating at the Nest

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As I sit and write to you now, I’ve got three piles of various paper items in the 8 inches between my arm and the phone, am in danger of hitting our new credit card machine with my elbow, and have my salad directly under my arms as I type, because there’s no room elsewhere.

(I’m not proud.)

Sadly, this is not atypical.

Now, I understand if you say “Amelia! Stop being a slob! Put those papers away, stop cluttering electronics near your bony parts, and – wow! that salad looks great!”

First, it is great. Secondly, easier said than done, opinionated reader.

You see, while we have lots of drawers and files and (go!) cubbies, they entered our lives full of mystery. And there are a lot of them. Which means all of our space is already occupied, but we didn’t get the chance to fill it.

(What’s in there?! I sure hope nothing important.)

What a tricky situation!

But sometimes enough is enough, and Lain and I made bold, vague statements this morning like, “Let’s do this!” and “Yeah! Takin’ care of business!”, in order to ready ourselves for this afternoon’s activity: rearranging and cleaning the office.

Hopefully, we’ll emerge unscathed and be back to talk to you about house museums soon. But I make no promises.

Why We Love Nannie

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Nannie‘s quote of the day:

“Day two of those little monsters! I need a beer with some sugar in it.”