Sowing Seeds of Thanks

We are very lucky to do what we do.

We're even luckier to be doing it here in the Adirondacks.

Luckier still to work with the people we do.

Seasoned Greetings.







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Invitation for a coder

T'is the season to add a Tramp.

We are hiring a coder.

We have a listing up at Ad Hub.

Shoot a resume to amanda at designtramp dot com.

I guess that's about it.

Tally ho!



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Blogging South

We're off to SMBTV to sit on a panel about blogging.



Looking forward to sharing how it went in the next couple of days. In the meantime, go have a gander at the blog of one of the funniest people on Twitter.



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Talkin' Turkey

Two weeks from now Amanda will be taking to the stage, kind of, as she sits on the panel for the 4th Social Media Breakfast-Tech Valley. SMBTV4 will examine:

What makes a successful blog? Is ghostwriting appropriate? How do you attract more readers? What kind of content do you write about? Is a blog right for every organization? How does blogging fit in to an overall social media strategy? Should CEOs and corporations blog?

Amanda will be there in her capacity as a founder of Trampoline and as a blogger— personally, professionally and unofficially. @amandamagee + @designtramp

The other panelists are:

Lara Kulpa, owner of Ginkgo Consulting and community admin for ProBlogger.com
@larakulpa

Christina Gleason, copywriter, blogger, and founder of Phenomenal Content LLC.
@christinagayle

Greg Dahlmann, the co-founder of All Over Albany.
@alloveralbany

SMBTV has taken the area by storm, with each breakfast selling out and having a lively stream of live tweets that run the gamut from best takeaways to funny asides. Amy Mengel puts each event together and serves as moderator.

The December 4th event, sponsored by The College of St. Rose Communications Department will take place at The American Red Cross of Northeastern New York . Annemarie Lanesey of MZA Multimedia will provide live-streaming.

For those not signed-up for the sold-out event, you can follow SMBTV on Twitter @smbtv or hashtag #smbtv You can also sign up for the waitlist.



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Judging Amy

Stacey Mattison, Campaign Communications Manager at Skidmore College, asked Amy to sit on a panel for the Case District II – Council for Advancement and Support of Education judging how photography is used in college marketing materials. The other judges on the panel were Meg Marshall from FingerPaint Marketing and Tom Myott, a South Glens Falls art teacher and owner of Tom Myott Art and the Corner Gallery.

The panel worked together to narrow the entrants to the final 3, relying in the final stretch on the evaluation forms to declare the winner.



Stay tuned, though Amy knows who the winners are now- she won't tell us, they'll be announced in Mid-January.


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Free to Breathe

Perhaps at the top of the list of things you take for granted: breathing.

You should be able to trust that every day you'll breathe, that your lungs will work the way they ought to, but it isn't always the case.

Not yet 30, employed yet uninsured, Tribune employee and Glens Falls Resident, Regina Rothstein found herself staring down a diagnosis of lung cancer (neuroendocrine carcinoid) on September 18th of this year.

One of her co-workers, a longtime friend and client of Trampoline, Melissa O'Sick, called us to ask if we might be able to help in some way. Unsure how to have the most impact, we decided to do everything we could in the time that we had.

First came t-shirts for those walking with and for Regina.





Colleen over at Ridge Street Coffee Company (1 Ridge Street in downtown Glens Falls) continues to sell the Regina t-shirts for $15 a piece— raising awareness and money for Regina as she battles this diagnosis with bottomless ferocity and zero health insurance.

Next came banners and markers to guide the way along the walk.



A poster to get the word out to hundreds of Tribune employees.


A spot on the web that directs people to a place to give.


Melissa O'Sick, Nicolle Burton and Regina Rothstein.


Team Regina's frontline.



Regina's Behind-the-scenes Team. A very special thanks to these Trampoline vendors who helped us complete this effort with minimal costs. They always work hard for us and produce quality products. This went above and beyond—we're proud of the work, humbled by their commitment and generosity.

Arca
A&M
GFprinting
GVHstudios


Breathe new life into this campaign, give to Regina and Team Regina.

Not always about winning

We like to think of ourselves as nice, but the truth is, we're pretty competitive. Sometimes it's just challenging ourselves to be better, or it's competing within the studio and other times it's against other agencies. Recently we entered into our first New York State bid project.

It was a monumental undertaking for us, but felt as if something we should do. The entire Tramp team came together and worked in the most literal sense as a team, pushing, supporting, combining and executing things in a way that had the full strength of 8 different skill sets and talents.

It was intense, exciting and ultimately the single-greatest act of team-building that we have ever experienced. We are stronger, bolder and more aware of the value of each player than ever before.

All that said, we didn't get it, which kind of sucks. However, at the risk of sounding like an also-ran, the truth is, it was awesome just to compete. We can look back, feel damn proud of the creative and genuinely say, "We gave it our all."

Last Friday everyone got a little something as a way of rewarding their willingness to go above and beyond what was expected of them. Upon recounting the story to a nephew, one Tramp shared this:

So when I got home Friday Jacob said, "so how was work" in an annoying teenager tone, 'cause whenever I see him I ask him how's school. I said it was great and that actually we got a little bonus for our hard work on the state bid. Even though we didn't get it, the work and effort didn't go unnoticed. I said that it was such a nice gesture and how appreciative I was.

His response: "wait a minute, you got extra money for NOT getting a job? That's like sports teams, they lose the game but they still get paid. Not fair Aunt Amy."

We may not have a state gig, but the state of affairs here at Trampoline is this: Our team kicks ass and we are grateful for that every day.



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Go Big.

Amy is known around these parts for her delicate and refined touch, some might even call it girlie. Underneath the pinks and paisleys, Amy had a fine trick up her sleeve, 74' of trick to be exact.



Long a hardworking yet unadorned part of our community, the Finch Paper Mill needed a sign. A very big sign. Amy worked with Beth Povie to get it just right and the folks at Sign Perfect hung it exactly to spec.



A big job, well done.



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Added Features

It's fascinating to track waves, whether it's Lists to Twitter or campaigns to add a dislike feature to Facebook, it's interesting to see the landscape evolve. The thrust of change, easy or hard fought, seems to be coming from consumer or individual demands as opposed to business models or internal strategies.

"I want my phone to do this."

"I want this out of my plan."

"I choose not to work out of the office."

Whatever it is, people are taking the initiative to make demands and initiate a kind of compromise that is leaving some businesses behind. You can use advertising as an example in a very general sense, the idea of sticking to the same approach despite an evolving consumer preference creates a dead end. You cannot corral people into digesting their information a certain way, there are simply too many variables. The three or four tried and true arenas for marketing oneself are diluted. Mechanisms exist to circumvent advertising, preferences are honored and, quite simply, people are opting out in the literal sense.

So, does this mean a hamster-on--a-wheel existence of catering to external elements?

Hasn't customer service on some level always translated to that?

Or are we not thinking about it the right way?

What about imagining a way for it to work? A way to make the business run smoothly as it met, and maybe even exceeded, the expectations? I mean, when you get down to it, it's really kind of simple. The marriage is— your bottom line, your fulfillment and your clients.

The way to a harmonized trio would involve considering each one and taking pains to make sure the balance always stays fairly close. Can you think ahead and find ways to please people as you accomplish your own objectives?

So instead of running just to keep up, you veer a little off course, look ahead and carve a new way. Better, stronger, faster, cuter. Whatever. Just don't do it in a vacuum, don't pedal furiously only to find yourself alone. You are as entitled as anyone else to demand a better way, leaving behind what hasn't worked.

We're working on this. Strengthening relationships where it makes sense and extending our capabilities where we anticipate people (ourselves and our clients) needing to go.

It is scary and challenging, but the alternative is a much darker place, don't you think?




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Be Counted

UPDATED: The Crandall Library Budget passed!

We all have something from our childhood that made a difference— for some of us it's a teacher, for others it's a place. Participating in campaigns for Crandall Library is an honor for us, as we know that one day, new voices will say, "Crandall Library was my place."

In 10 months, attendance is up more than 50% over last year's total. The library has seen a 70% increase in new borrowers in the 2009. And, 1,000 children read 20,000 books in the Summer Reading Program.

Knowing that we may have had a hand in helping strengthen the potential of legacy, well, it makes us feel powerful. Try it.

Halloween at Trampoline:

Bond in a Box

Secret Agents aren't the only people who need to go undercover, nursing moms are another group requiring a bit of extra stealth. Baby Bond is the latest product from Slurp and Burp, offering nursing moms and easy, washable, wearable, stuffable product for use on-the-go.

Creating the mark and packaging was a labor of love and the end result is proof positive.



The relationship with the Bell Harbor, NY company came from a successful and longing running partnership with SaraBear Company on everything from textiles to packaging and projects with KaBoost, another juvenile product company.

We'd be lying if we didn't say that we get a kick out of seeing BBQ sauce next to beer next to diaper caddies next to collateral for a lake saving organization. The different personalities and challenges they present are what make them so fun to work on.





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Call it the 13 Year Itch

The Davidson Brothers Brewing Co. decided that after nearly thirteen years in business it was time to make their image as fresh as their ales. Rick and John Davidson wanted to position the company for success in the ever-changing distribution market. A brand overhaul began to help regional favorites like IPA, Irish Red and Brown Ale compete with the big boys in the beer world.

Their new look has also allowed the restaurant to participate in the emerging force of downtown Glens Falls, with merchants building a following through delightful whimsical window displays, sidewalk sales and a growing selection of choices.

T-shirts to tap handles, a new website to a Facebook page 800 fans strong, coasters to tabletops, the integration of the new mark has sparked an engagement, as the line between consumer and company has blurred. Each beer and each meal now comes with a shared sense of triumph, 13 years and going strong, the rewards of and for a community.


Db Merch is available online and at the Brewpub in downtown Glens Falls.
Look for coasters at a bar top near you (coming soon).
Ask your bartender to pour you a D.Bros. IPA. If he doesn't have it on tap, ask him why the hell not?!
Visit the brewpub online at davidsonbrothers.com
Become a fan on Facebook. Over 800 people have in the space of a month.
There's no substitute for stopping by the Brewpub (on Exchange St. Plaza in Downtown Glens Falls) for a pint, and a cup of the Stout + Cheddar Soup.
Heck, they even look good in frosting.


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Little bit of lake

We all love the Adirondacks, some of us striking out on hiking excursions or gnarly bike rides, others of us hunting game and adventure. One area we all seem to agree on is the lake. Massive, magnificent and steeped in undiscovered delight, there isn't a Tramp among us who wouldn't jump at the chance to send some time on the lake.

When Peter Bauer, Executive Director of the Fund for Lake George, asked us if a ride on the lake might be valuable to our process as we produce illustrations for a project, the answer was clear: Yes!

Dome Island off the port side.

Setting up a shot on the western shore.

Shooting in Northwest Bay.

Heading south, with Tongue Mountain behind us.

Watching the team of eight divers remove the Eurasian Water Milfoil beds in Basin Bay.

Charting a course for protecting the lake.




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A Treat

The Adirondack Theatre Festival is turning 16. They may not be naive, but we can honestly say that we're sweet on them. The theme for this year's Winter Benefit is: Sweet! As only the Adirondack Theatre Festival can, an evening of spectacle and delight will be fueled by "sweet" songs to herald the 16th year of incredible theatre in the Adirondacks.

It seemed fitting that the Tramp who most often exclaims, "Sweet," would be the source of the mark for the ATF Winter Benefit.




Can't wait to see what they'll do two years from now for their 18th!




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Rollin' on the river

It's a dirty ride, but somebody's gotta do it. Promoting this area is something we are passionate about, cycling is another such thing.

Enter: Dieter Drake and the Tour of the Battenkill.

It's made a name for itself as one of the grittiest, gnarliest races in the United States. It needed a mark worthy of the challenge and beauty inherent in the race. Recently, the Tour of the Battenkill was recognized by Union Cycliste International and now appears on the UCI calendar for 2010. The race draws 1,500 cyclists and has grown into one of the largest one-day events in the country.







Mike traveled back to his glory days, drawing on thousands of miles ridden in dirt and dust.



Derek rode back in time to mountain paths and unforgettable climbs.



And in the end, they shared a moment.







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Sep-html-ber

Our e-trigger has been pretty happy lately, with HTML emails going out for everyone from Tribune and The Copperfield Inn to a ghoulish little number we sucked out for ourselves.

If you have something to say, say it with all the tricks and treats you have available, because if you don't, someone else will.









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Goodisms

We are parents, siblings, spouses and professionals. Our extracurricular pursuits run the gamut from cycling and swimming, to writing and walking. This blog demonstrates a pretty authentic balance of work and play, which makes sense, because when we started Trampoline, the idea was to be as much about great creative as it was to be a place to have fun and honor family.

It isn't always easy to find ways to explain the other side, to talk about the Saturdays into Sundays spent offering constant care and companionship for an ill relative or the frenetic mornings filled with snapping shot of preschoolers. Volunteering in the routine ways that so many of us do— coaching, mentoring, singing and more care taking, are all things that we do when we aren't at 196 Glen.

Sometimes, though, it's more. A donated chunk of time does more than help someone, it changes the person who gave it. Paula has been a non-practicing registered nurse since she joined Trampoline full time late last year. She has missed it, so when she suggested offering a week of her time at the Ranch, we all thought it was a great idea. We also thought we'd be lost without her for a full week (we were), but we gave a collective, "Go for it!"

During her time she shared things on Facebook and sent out Tweets, but a journal entry she shared painted it in a way that can't be surpassed. She's let us share it here in hopes that one of you reading this will be compelled as she was, to offer your time. She promises that it will be more than time spent away from your routine, it will be time unforgettably spent.

High Ropes

You know that feeling you get when you're high above everything? Whether it's at the top of a long climb and your looking at the view, or your taking off in a plane and are watching as things down below get smaller and smaller or even when you reach the top of the stairs and you turn around to look at something down below? You know that feeling... kind of a twinkle in your belly, a lightheadedness?

Well I experienced that today at the high ropes course at Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne. I have spent the last week volunteering as a nurse at this wonderful camp for children with life threatening illnesses. Some are wheelchair bound due to their illness while others have illnesses that allow them to be up and walking around like the rest of us. Today it didn't matter which category the kids were in-they all went on the high ropes course. The wheelchair kids were removed from their chairs and placed in seats with ropes and carabeaners already attached. They were hoisted and guided up and into harnesses made especially for their seats. They were attached to the zip line and sent soaring through the air like eagles, flying and weightless. Peels of laughter and screams of joy could be heard throughout the forest as could the cheers from their fellow campers down below.

So that feeling, that "flying" feeling... I felt that today, only me feet were still firmly planted on the ground. I felt it though, just by watching these kids fly! I will remember it always...

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The Real McCoy

We've used them personally and professionally for years, so when they came to us for help, we were determined to give it our all.



The past several months have been a whirlwind of collaboration between our team here at Trampoline and the brothers O'Brien. The results, much like their service, are impressive.


















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Tidbits

Every once in a while it's nice to put out some things that may be of interest or assistance, like, "Guys, check the mirror, if you can see two inches of sock you need longer pants."

Or, "Ladies, just because you have ten fingers, you don't have to wear 10 rings."

Public service nuggets. (Or cattiness in sheep's clothing)

Anyway, a little round up of the links we found interesting:

Twitter shenanigans, phishing is cross platform.

Social Media can save lives.

Twitter do's and duh's.

Also, if you are in the area, and by area, we are speaking within a couple of hours, you should know that our friends at ATF, along with another friend, are presenting Second City in Rutland on October 16th.


Have a great day.




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Tight Pants & High Spirits

Making Monday nights into something more in North Creek.

For the record, while you are welcome to wear them, the aforementioned tight pants refer to the players and high spirits refers to the general mood at Trapper's on Monday Nights. Points to Mike for his marksmanship, right on, man.










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