Archive for the ‘Horse Power Podcast’ Category
Jan
16
It’s no secret that Twelve Horses loves making websites for ski resorts. If we have to make repeated client meetings on the Gondola to get things done, you know, that’s just one of the prices we are willing to pay.
At the same time we’re hard core geeks, to varying degrees, and we love the gadgets and code almost as much as the snow! (actual results may vary). And we also are really into blogs, twitter, forums and online magazines and video. So it was really awesome to partner with Heavenly to run the first annual Tahoe Snowcial last weekend.
What is Snowcial? Well you could check the buzz around it on twitter, check out the photos on Flickr, and the videos on Viddler, but that might not get you the whole way there…
Social media, online storytelling, and snow sports are all about interaction, collaboration and having fun with friends. So Snowcial was a natural fit once all these guys got in the same place to have some fun. Our original vision included top professionals in social and online media, snow sports media and athletes getting together to talk shop, learn from each other and get some, rather a TON, of turns in on the mountain. It went down perfectly!
We had Ray Sidney pummeling Aaron Lowe, Paul D, and Abe Cunningham at the poker tournament. We had John Shafer talking about the birth of online user generated communities with Pete Blackshaw while touring the mountain. I saw Eugene Lee and Brian Hafer talking with Greg Prosl. It was great to get some of our favorite people in tech, web and snow sports talking together about working together and regrouping again for Snowcial next year.
It was great to meet all of you and see how the worlds of social media, snow sports and online storytelling come together and hit the slopes.
What does Tahoe Snowcial have in store for next year? Plans are still hazy, but everyone was stoked to come back and bring all their friends, and Abe tentatively promised a private concert from the Deftones!
So stay tuned…
-Mike
PS As Brian mentioned int he video, HUGE props and thanks to Heavenly for treating the group so well. Russ Pecoraro and Aimi Xistra organized a great event and we were all super impressed and had a great time!
Also thanks to sponsors Mont Bleu Resort who set us up in some great rooms with jacuzzi tubs and Solscice who hooked us up with some sweet jackets!
Posted in Horse Power Podcast
Jan
2
In this episode of Horse Power, Nik Hafermass, Acting Provost at Art Center College of Design, about “Between Grass and Sky,” a collaborative exhibition which he designed for the Nevada Museum of Art and the Western Folklife Center. Nik also has a unique view of the United States and The West, particularly Nevada based both on the imagery and icons of western pop culture, which he grew up watching on TV and in the movies and also his travels through the back roads of the state with his family.
The exhibition, “Between Grass and Sky,” features craft work, art and poetry meant to coincide with the 25th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV in January. If you are traveling to the event, be sure to check out the exhibit in Reno at the Nevada Museum of Art as part of your trip. Nik is very interested in themes and imagery of the American West as well as the contrast and interplay with more modern and evolving themes, and he has designed an exhibition which will act as a commentary on that contrast.
This podcast was recorded in Josef’s Vienna Bakery and Café at 933 W. Moana Lane. This is one of the best places for breakfast and coffee in Reno and our Favorite. They have great coffee, pastries, food and WIFI! Thank You!
-Mike
Posted in Horse Power Podcast, Reno-Tahoe
Oct
28
In this episode of Horse Power I spend some time with Ryan Berman of Fishtank Brand Advertising out of San Diego, CA. Fishtank is doing some really cool work with Pony Shoes to bring them back from a fairly long hiatus from the sports market. Part of their new campaign involves using imagery and stereotypes from brands like Nike, UnderArmor (who actually make shoes now too) and Adidas to show their product right next to the familiar brands and get people to add Pony Shoes to their list.
Ryan also talked about one of his first projects in national advertising when he worked on the Jared campaign with Subway. Initially, the commercials featured Jared and a voiceover narrator. Ryan had the idea to let Jared speak for himself and that was when the campaign took off.
He also gave some good SoCal insight on Reno and Tahoe as brands and how they interact with each other in the minds of travelers in other parts of the country. Basically, our Sushi is good even by SoCal standards, and the $18.99 All-you-can-eat doesn’t hurt either!
It was great to get the chance to spend time with Ryan and talk branding and advertising with an expert who has worked on major brands like Subway, Olevia, EAetna and Unicef. Their work looks tight and spot on to me.
The local professional associations are stepping up the game in recent months with the AIGA, AMA and A2N2 putting out some national experts like Ryan. Be sure to keep up on the latest speakers and events for the Advertising Association of Northern Nevada.
All of these horsepower podcasts are available and downloadable to your iPod as well. Be sure to click the video subscription button above and get it on your iPod or mobile device for the next time you’re on a car trip, buss ride, or waiting in a long line on Election day!
-Mike
Posted in Horse Power Podcast, Podcast, Reno-Tahoe, Social, Uncategorized, Web & SEO
Oct
27
We are stoked to present to you a conference that, well, is thankfully not a conference. Produced by QuarterHorse, BrandEvolution is our Fall 2008 symposium, and it is coming to The Depot on November 13th.
Set in a collaborative environment and designed to get at the heart of questions such as:
How do businesses effectively translate and transform their brands to connect with their customers both online and offline?
How do businesses stay ahead of relentless consumer expectations, and form emotional connections between customers and products.
To answer these questions and more, Stanley Hainsworth, world renowned global creative director for Starbucks, Lego and Nike is joined on stage at The Depot November 13th with fellow digital storyteller and business improvisation visionary Mike Bonifer, and David LaPlante, entrepreneur, web strategist, and CEO of Twelve Horses.
In 1994, Disney became the first entertainment company to boldly drive its customers to a narrative brand Web experience by launching the Toy Story movie web site under the creative strategy of Mike Bonifer, a move that forever changed branding.
In 1995, David LaPlante launched Lake Tahoe’s first ever ski resort website – skiheavenly.com. Today, Heavenly Mountain Resort ranks number one in skier visits, commands an impressive presence on the web, and delivers its message via video, podcasting, blogging, Twitter, Facebook, email, and more.
In 2004, Stanley Hainsworth left Lego and took the helm of Starbucks as VP-global creative and set in motion transformational creative and design strategies that created the ubiquitous brand of our coffee-shop connected generation today. As stated by AdAge.com, “Stanley Hainsworth put his stamp on nearly every piece of creative at Starbucks; he devised the “brand book” that defines the Lego image; and he helped push Nike into entertainment.”
In addition to gleaning real world branding experience, you will also benefit from a collaborative workshop that takes participants beyond the scripted and linear models of strategy, and challenges them to engage in an improvised branding discussion. The exercise is designed to develop greater emotional intelligence, and push the boundaries of defining a brand.
Come be a part of it!
For more information or to register for Brand Evolution visit events.twelvehorses.com.
Posted in Horse Power Podcast, Reno-Tahoe, Salt Lake City, Utah, Web & SEO, events
