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olderthannetfic · 4 years

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Vidding absolutely counts as a fandom, and Escapade is key to the history of vidding.

Notice how the terminology shifts over the course of Escapade: The first year, it’s ‘songtapes’ being shown, then ‘songvid’ or ‘song video’ predominates for much of the 90s, and then we move on to ‘vidding’ and ‘vids’.

The vidshow moves from being more of a curated presentation of old favorites to having a lot of premieres. It goes from just one night to two, then back to one. Vidshow panels where you just watch vids for a whole panel slot come and go. In 1998, vid review starts up: This is a Sunday morning panel for in-depth critique of the vids shown the previous night and is a famously contentious part of the con. And then there was this:

2002, Friday, 6pm - VividCon Discussion (Come discuss the proposed VividCon, tentative time/location, August/Chicago.)

Yep. Escapade was where Vividcon was born!

By 2008, people were talking about how vidding had moved on from Escapade. In 2011 a vidshow retrospective was added to try to counter the lack of vidding-centric programming. There was a big resurgence for a few years, including such hard-hitting topics as:

2016 - Vidding Aesthetics (”Why is there so much show audio in this vid?", "Why didn't that cut hit on the beat?", "What do you mean 'Cheesy?' She's Celine Dion!" and other immortal questions of vidding aesthetics. If you've ever watched a vid, we want your opinions.)

Why yes, it was my panel. Why do you ask?

There were rounds of warnings wank, caused by Oz vids and by that time Absolute Destiny sent a vid of a violent coming of age film.

Check out this 1994 panel description from Fanlore:

"[The technology in fandom panel] included several things that people can now do in-home that they couldn't do five years ago: cutting and splicing songs on Macintosh computers (to remove inappropriate choruses, verses, or the word "girl"); the soon-to-be-easier ability to select different people from different clips and combine them onto a new background (also for songtapes); printing vhs video frames directly to computer screens, printers and/or color copiers (for fun); and zines and/or libraries on disk. Most of the new technology possibilities were followed by comments that the actual work we can do is illegal [...]. Which comments were followed by the statements that seventeen years ago, writing and publishing a slash fanzine was illegal.... [...] a few people [...], talked to me at different times throughout the con about getting accounts or modems [...]”

This is interesting not just technologically but aesthetically. Is the word ‘girl’ bad in a slashvid? Different communities have disagreed.

Conversations about digital vidding and digital vs. VCR really heated up around 2001, much later than you might expect if you’re coming out of an AMV background. While most of Youtube vids on Sony Vegas--a Windows-only program--at Escapade, Mac has been the norm.

The topics that have remained big are vidding aesthetics, including things like how to make an effective pimp vid, discussions of hosting options and where the community is hanging out now, and how-tos for people who want to get into vidding.

(And before anyone asks, the answer is that you should download DaVinci Resolve because it’s free and cross-platform. And you should encode with h.264 because it’s widely compatible.)

The 2020 vidding panels are:

Vidding 101: The Vid Bunny Farm So you’ve had an idea, and it’s gnawing on your leg? Or maybe you have too many vid ideas and can’t choose? Or you want to make a vid but don’t know where to even start? Aspiring fan vidders, unsure-vidders-to-be, and experienced vidders welcome alike to share vid bunnies, brainstorm together, and talk about the processes of conceptualizing a vid.

Vidding Genres Then & Now We’ve come a long way from “living room vids” vs ‚”con vids‚” or have we? Let’s talk about evolving fanvid genres, from ship vids to AU vids to multivids, from character vids to fake trailers, from genre-bending vids to long form vids to cosplay music videos, and more. Let’s talk about all the genres of fan videos floating around YouTube, Billibilli, AO3 and beyond, and also consider if the old school genre terms still apply.

Escapade has had many, many vidding panels. So many that even I feel the need for a readmore. I’ve pulled out the meta ones and left off some single-fandom vidshows and whatnot. Sorry for the wonky formatting, but Tumblr, in its infinite wisdom, seems to have removed the horizontal rule feature.

1991 - "Classic" songtapes were shown at 9:00 on Friday.

1994 - Song Video Roundtable (Bring works in progress or finished works you're having difficulty with for a quick jump-start. Open to anyone who enjoys videos as well as the people who make them.)

1994 - Songvid Editing (Authors get edited and usually have to do at least one rewrite of a story. Artists have erasers. What stops songvid makers from doing drafts and re-edits of their work? Let's talk about editing style (what cuts to use for best emphasis) and technique (how to physically do the inserts.)) [Notice how much of an issue editing is. These are VCR vids, edited in order, so insert edits are a gigantic pain.]

1995 - Techno Vids—Media Cannibals, (What's available with the new computer hardware and software? Can have Bodie & Doyle screwing on screen if we apply the right touches. Should we? How and when?) [Yes. Sweatily. Always.]

1995 - Video Workshop (video makers & watchers discuss the art.)

1996 - Music Video Critique and Workshop (Roundtable critique of videos, how to tell/recognize story, POV, rhythm. Also, tricks of the trade.)

1997 - Music Choice for Song Vidding (Finding the right song for the fandom is almost as great a challenge as finding the right clips for the song. Discussing what to look for in music choice.)

1997 - Songvid Critique (An exploration of different elements of media vids, with an emphasis on aesthetics. We'll look at segments of different songs to see how the images were used in conjunction with the varied rhythms of the music, and to enhance the mood.)

1998 - Media Cannibals Self-Indulgence Hour (Stunned to look back on vidding effort, MC plans to show -- and talk about -- some of their best and worst vids, pointing out some happy accidents and some annoying f*ckups. This is a great panel for people who want to learn about vid-making, the work that goes into them, and what to look for when watching them.)

1998 - Con Vids vs Living Room Vids (What are the elements that make a music vid accessible to a large crown, or more appropriate to an intimate setting?)

1998 - Music Video Show Review (Selected vids from Saturday's show will be replayed and discussed for their aesthetic, technical and musical choices. Open to all, for feedback and fun.) [Perhaps the start of the Sunday vidshow critique, which was also such a feature of Vividcon?]

1999 - Songvid Aesthetics (An exploration of theme, color, mood, and rhythm. Choosing clips to relate to the music and convey your message to the viewer.)

1999 - Sunday Morning Vid Review (Selected vids from Saturday's show will be replayed and discussed for the aesthetic, technical and musical choices. Open to all, for feedback and fun.)

2000 - Vidding Basics (Or "you want to learn how to make a music vid, huh?"—Carol and Stacy will take a group of novice vidders from the basics of what you need on your VCR, to all your hardware set ups, thru the selection of music, to actually doing some hands-on putting a dip (or two) into a music vid. So if you're interested in music videos and you want to try your hand at making one... you know what panel you need to go to.)

2000 - Songvid Appreciation 101 (Remember Art Appreciation? "Why is this painting good?" Well, we're doing the same for vids, using examples from the ESCAPADE Video Show. Let's take advantage of the fact that we've all just seen these vids, and use them to illustrate how to do cool things in a vid. We'll look at clever POV changes, appropriate choice of music to theme, skillful uses of musical changes within a vid, storytelling techniques, changes of mood, cutting on the beat vs. cutting on the lyric line, the different approaches to serious and humorous vids, or single fandom vs. multiple fandom vids, and more.)

2001 - Vidding Workshop (2 hours) (This workshop will cover: a comparison between digital and analog vidding; a how-to for analog vidding; a how-to for digital vidding; and a discussion of the artistic side of vidding, including song and clip choices, and techniques to avoid.)

2001 - Impact of Computer Tools on Vidding (Vidding used to be push-and-pause between 2 vers, and a LOT of patience. Now with I-movie and Final Cut and Macintosh G4's, the technological leap is here and it isn't going anywhere. Are vids better for the technology available to them?)

2001 - Songvid Appreciation (2 hours) (Comments and feedback on vids you saw last night, Escapade style.)

2002 - Art Manipulation Using Photoshop (A how-to overview, with demonstrations in Photoshop, and more detailed techniques for creating photo manipulations, web graphics, and zine graphics. Depending on interest, creation of vid titles and overlay vid graphics may be included.)

2002 - Digital Vidding (An overview of the digital vidding process, including some advice on the hardware and software you need to get started. Learn the basics of editing with Premiere and similar programs, and get an overview of some of the fun options you have when using a computer to vid.)

2002 - Vidding Workshop: Art After Craft (What is the Art of Vidding?)

2002 - Vid Revision (The art and craft of revising vids—how you get from a song in your heart and a bunch of clips on your hard drive to the final product. We'll show multiple versions of a few vids, critique them, and talk about what improves a vid. No technical knowledge needed; come whether you make vids or just like watching them.)

2002 - Vids: Pro vs Fan Editing (A long time fan vidder and a professional editor discuss techniques.)

2002 - Sunday Morning Vid Review

2002 - VividCon Discussion (Come discuss the proposed VividCon, tentative time/location, August/Chicago.) [VVC started 6 months later, in August 2002, and ran until 2018]

2003 - How to Vid on the Computer (A brief intra vidding on computers. It will touch on hardware requirements, software options, and basic concepts of non-linear editing and what makes for a good vid, and, time and tech permitting, it may also include a demonstration of some of the editing basics. There will be handouts.)

2003 - Vid Show Review (A discussion (and literal re-viewing in some cases) of some of the vids from the Saturday night show.)

2003 - Also Premiering Vid Show (The "Also Premiering..." vid show is for vids premiered in the last year that aren't going to be shown in the Friday or Saturday shows. This will be an informal setting and we'll go by participant preference — if folks want to see a vid a second time, or want some time to chat about it, or if a vidder wants some feedback on it, we can decide to do that on-the-fly. If you'd like to show any vids in this show, just bring them to the show itself. There are no hard-and-fast limits on number of vids; we'll just go with what shows up and take turns until we run out of time. Afterwards, consider going out to lunch with other participants to talk about the vids!)

2004 - I want to vid! (But I don't know how) (Introduction to vidding hardware, software and maybe some concepts if we have the time.)

2004 - Made On a Mac: The MacFen Symposium (So you're a slasher and a Mac user. Come and share your tips and tricks for HTML coding, photo editing, website management and vidding on a Mac, Share the programs that have and haven't worked for you and hear some helpful tips from the front lines.)

2004 - Vidding: Creating Mood (Why do rapid cuts of short clips create tension? What does a wipe *feel* iike? A vidder's toolbox Includes more and more options, but how do we know what emotional effect each technical effect will produce? Leave the music at the door; this one's about the visuals.)

2004 - Editing Techniques and Vidding (How can you edit together clips from widely different episodes and movies into a seamless whole? A familiarity with concepts in filmmaking can help you achieve the results you're aiming for. A look at some of the common rules of continuity editing and how they relate to vids.)

2004 - The changing face of vids (How has increasingly cheap technology, wider highspeed access and the new flood of vidders changed vidding? What should we rejoice about and what should we worry about? How do we help make it a winning situation for all?)

2004 - Vid Review (A retrospective on the Saturday night show.)

2005 - Vidding: Let the Lyrics Help You (How to look at lyrics to add depth and structure to your vid. or why top 40 songs usually make you do all the work.)

2005 - Vid Review (A Sunday morning tradition at Escapade, and a chance to discuss those great vids.) [See how it’s a “tradition” by this time.]

2006 - The Changing Vid Audience (The move to digital vidding, the availability of vid source and software, and the expectation of online distribution have all radically affected audience desires and expectations. What do audiences want from vids now? Vidders, share your historical perspectives. Vid fans, this is your chance to tell vidders what you want.)

2006 - Defining the Character Study Vid (We love character study vids, so how do you go about making a good one? What's the difference between a vid about a character, a vid about a universe, and a vid about seeing the universe through the eyes of a character?)

2006 - Marketing Your Vid (How can you stand out among the swelling ranks of vidders? What's the best way to present yourself, and to draw attention to your work? We'll focus on knowing your audience, timing your release, pimp communities, etc.)

2006 - Vid Review (Like Ebert and Roper, but much better looking.)

2007 - Ulead Media Studio Pro 8 and Why It's Better Than the Rest (A compare and contrast of the semi-professional video editing software programs with a strong emphasis on Ulead Media Studio Pro 8. If you are new to vidding, or interested in upgrading your video editing software, this panel should help you make an informed choice.)

2007 - Mac Workshop (The ins and outs of vidding on a Mac.)

2007 - Vid Show Review (Take apart what worked and what was missing from selected vids in the Saturday show. Audience participation at its finest.)

2008 - Ulead Video Editing Introduction (Intro to Ulead Video Studio/Media Studio Pro for those who are interested in vidding but don't have a clue as to where to start. or wouldn't mind a refresher course.)

2008 - Vid Review (Last night was for watching, today is for analyzing. What worked, what didn't, and why?)

2009 - Fannish Aesthetics: Extrapolation v. Subversion (How do we as writers (and especially as vidders) interact with the source material? Is that relationship evolving? What can we say about where we've been and where we're headed?)

2009 - Vid Review (Last night was for watching, today is for analyzing. What worked, what didn't, and why?)

2010 - 2010: A Vidding Odyssey (Current trends in vidding, including what's changed and what's remaind the same when it comes to slash, vidding in particular. We will show some examples of "classic" slash as well as some of the newer develpoments in constructed reality.)

2010 - Vid Review

2011 - Escapade Songvid Retrospective (A trip back to the days of yesteryear, when vids were made on VCRs and Escapade was the place for vids and vid programming. Compiled by Kandy Fong, this show will survey vids from a variety of vidders and shows, covering Escapade 1992-2001 in a fun, informal environment.)

2011 - Decoding Vid Meaning (How do you read a vid? Clip choice, lyrics, structure, symbols or the tone of the music— vids offer plenty of clues, and we decipher them as we see fit. Come watch a vid (or two!) and discuss how we get meaning from what we see and hear to develop a deeper understand of what's going on in the vid. Multiple viewings are required!)

2011 - Vid Review (Flash all the way back to Saturday night to dissect our favorite (or not) vids from the show.)

2011 - The Vidding Explosion (1985-1990) (Who taught whom. The growth of storytelling, technique, and sophistication. Includes vid show and presentation.)

2012 - Vidwatching 101 (Vids have their own language and their own framework for discussion. It can be tough to translate vids into words, but if we have the same language, vid discussion can be wonderfully rewarding for both vidder and viewer. This panel is a primer to get us all on the same page.)

2012 - The State of Vidding Fandom (Ten years of VividCon and roughly the same years vids have been distributed online, let's talk about the state of vidding and the community of vidders. Is there one? Where is it? How do vidders fit in with fandom at large? What are the different options for watching/releasing vids, and how do they stack up for vidders and viewers? If you love vids, join us—whether you vid or not.)

2012 - Festivids Review (Festivids is a fannish vid exchange inspired by the Yuletide fic exchange. This will be a vid review-style panel where we show clips from some of this year's highlight vids and talk about the challenge.)

2012 - MVD Vid Retrospective Show (Sometimes the oldies really are the goodies. Mary Van Duesen has made songvids since the 1980s, working in a range of fandoms. She has also remastered many old vids, and they look better now than they ever did. Come see some old favorites, or find some new ones.)

2012 - Vid Show Review

2012 - Nearly New Vids (So many wonderful vids were submitted for the Escapade show that we couldn’t fit them all in the early show. Here’s your chance to see the rest in the daylight hours (replay of the late-show vids).

2013 - Mac Vidders Roundtable (What’s the best way to vid on a Mac? Our vidding options have changed a lot in the last few years, and it’s been a while since we had a roundtable to discuss and compare our tips, tricks, and processes. This panel is for all of the above.)

2013 - The Art of the Pimp Vid (What makes a pimp vid so addictive one hit will get you hooked? Let’s talk vids for people outside of your fandom. Plot arc vids, character vids, pairing vids: How do you grab a new audience hard and never let them go? Hey there, little fangirl, the first taste is free!)

2013 - The Bestivids of Festivids (This year’s Festivids featured everything from incest testtube babies to care bear Avengers to a surprisingly large amount of kickass femslash. Let’s watch and discuss some favorites from Festivids 2012.)

2013 - So You Want To Be A Vidder (Nobody vidding your OTP anymore? Sad that vidders haven’t discovered your new favorite show? Why not vid it yourself? Come learn the very basics, from choosing programs in your price range to dos and don’ts if you’re planning to submit to cons.)

2013 - How Do Vids Work? (Let's talk about the techniques (not just the feelings!) that make a slash vid work. What makes for a vid that we watch over and over and that sticks with us long- term? We'll talk about these things with reference to a couple of specific vids, see what strategies, commonalities, and differences we can identify, and then open up discussion to additional favorites from the audience.)

2013 - Vidding Aesthetics (Vidders and vid watchers: let’s talk vidding aesthetics. How have styles changed over time? What makes a good vid and what’s just a matter of personal taste? What do you want to BURN WITH FIRE? Let’s get this cage match... err... discussion going.)

2013 - Vid Review (Flash all the way back to Saturday night to dissect our favorite vids (or not) vids from the show.)

2014 - Vidding 101 (Never edited before? Haven't made a vid since the VCR went the way of the dodo? Come learn how to turn those vidbunnies into reality!)

2014 - Vids for the Viewer (We often discuss writing from the perspective of a reader, but vidding from the perspective of vid-watchers not so much. Let's talk about how to read a vid, different vidding aesthetics and how accessible or popular they are with viewers vs. vidders, and impostor syndrome in vid review.)

2014 - Vid Review (Flash all the way back to Saturday night to dissect our favorite (or not) vids from the show.)

2015 - Best of Festivids. From the slashy to the merely sublime, what tickled our fancy in this year’s Festivids?

2015 - The Perfect Slash Vid. What makes the perfect slash vid? Is it the song choice? The point of view? The abs? (Okay, you got me: it’s the abs.)

2015 - So You Wanna Be A Vidder. Bring your laptop or at least a pen and paper and find out how to get started in vidding.

2015 - Vid Review: Flash all the way back to Saturday night to dissect our favorite (or not) vids from the show.

2016 - The State of *Vidding Fandom. Sunday, Noon, San Diego 2. What's going on in vidding fandom today? Where are people hosting and posting? What's next?

2016 - Vid Review. Flash all the way back to Saturday night to dissect our favorite (or not) vids from the show.

2017 - Vidding 101 - Have you dreamed of making a vid but just aren’t sure where to start? We’ll go step by step, talk finding your source(s), choosing music, finding your way with non overwhelming tech-tools, brainstorming ideas, finding collaborators, and learning by doing. Already a vidder? Come and help new vidders find their way, find new collaborators, and make new ideas happen.

2017 - Let’s Collab! New Forms of Collective Fan Creativity , Newport Changing technologies mean that we collaborate with each other in ever-evolving ways when we create fic and vids. What are the possibilities for collaborating beyond geographic boundaries with digital technologies? How are you collaborating with fellow writers and vidders these days? Are you interested in finding new collaborators and new ways to connect? And are these new forms of collaboration creating new forms of creative fan work?

2017 - Vid Review, Marina del Rey On Saturday night, we watched the vid show. On Sunday morning, we talk about it. Join Rache to discuss the good, the better, and the great of the show, including techniques and all of the reasons Charlotte doesn’t vid anymore and never will again.

2018 - Noon (Vids from the Vault, Part One Kandy Fong Newport A curated retrospective of vids from early Escapades.

2018 - Fanvid Feels (What vids do you return to again and again because they just make you *feel* things, thrill you, or fill you with joy, or even sadness? Maybe a vid introduced you to a pairing, or a fandom, or perhaps you love it even though you’re not really that into the source? Let’s look at some of our/your favorite vids and think about what makes them tick. Come with vids you want to talk about in mind, or just come to watch and talk about vids that make us feel stuff.)

2018 - Vid Review (Flash all the way back to Saturday night to dissect our favorite (or not) vids from the show.)

2019 - 3-Minute Pimp Vid (Forget telling: Show us your canon with a vid or clip! (3-5 minutes each.))

2019 - Lend Me Your Ears: Vids and Music (Have you ever discovered a song or musician because of a fanvid? Do you have thoughts on what music works and doesn't with fan vids? Let's talk about all the ways in which different types of music can work in vids, and look at some vids that work with music in awesome or surprising ways. Plus maybe there will be a little singing along...)

2019 - AO3 But For Fanart and Fanvids (AO3 has been great for fic, we need safe harbors for art and vids too. Let's talk about it!)

2019 - Pitch a Vid Bunny, Find a Vid Beta (Have an idea for a fanvid you'd love to see happen? Come with concept, song, source ideas, characters--share your bunnies, find some cheerleaders, brainstorm together. For newbie & experienced vidders alike, all welcome!)

2019 - Vid Review (Rehash the Saturday night vid show with a room full of fans.)

#escapade 2020 #escapade con #fandom history #vidding #vividcon

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tf2canons · 6 years

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Hey, nice blog you have here. I'd understand if you decided not to do this request considering how long it could potentially be, but in case you decide to, what do you think the first impressions the mercs had of each other was and how do you think that changed over time?

(This did get pretty long so I’m going to put it under a cut! I really liked this question though, thank you!)

Spy - One could say he got mixed reviews when the team first formed. He was one of the very first mercenaries hired, and he helped Miss Pauling do background checks on some of the others before they were accepted to the team. Therefore he is privy to a few of their secrets some of them would rather he not be, and it got them off on the wrong foot. Sniper in particular wasn’t fond of Spy sniffing around in his stuff, and considered him a “rotten bloody snake.” Medic and Heavy, on the other hand, were very welcoming. Heavy was able to talk to him about literature, and Medic discussed classical music and poisons with him, so they got along well. The others have gotten used to him over time, but many of them still think he’s somewhat cold and pretentious, or distant at the very least. Sniper respects him much more than he did when he first met him, but they still have plenty of differences.

Sniper - “This guy seems pretty normal- wait is that piss?” While he can sometimes be shy, Sniper appears like the most normal at first glance. He’s reasonably personable and willing to make small talk about the weather. It’s once you start to get to know him better you realize how weird he is. Spy was the first to find this out when he got dosed in jarate for trespassing in Sniper’s camper. No one believed him that that actually happened until they saw Sniper using it on the battlefield. Sniper has a habit of pushing people away, so some people on the team have actually grown less close to him over time. He doesn’t go to Medic unless he absolutely needs to, and he doesn’t like to bother the Engineer. Only more outgoing people like Scout and Pyro consider him a friend, and they forcibly include him in things and try to get him more involved with the rest of the team.

Medic - Everyone had the same first impression of Medic which was, “This man is absolutely insane.” Some were a little more afraid of him than others, however. Sniper disliked doctors in the first place, Scout thought Medic wanted to steal all his organs to sell them on the black market, and Pyro had to be physically dragged into the infirmary for any sort of checkup or procedure (its like trying to take a dog to the vet. They know what you’re doing and they’re not going to cooperate). Heavy was the first one to get to know him better, discovering that Medic had a likable side. He’s not completely evil and he has a quirky sense of humor. Engineer discovered this quickly, too, while working with him. Medic slowly bribed Pyro into liking him with lollipops, and he eventually convinced Scout that his organs were more valuable inside of his body (for now).

Scout - While it isn’t technically a first impression, when Spy saw that Scout was on the team he did not have the best reaction. He avoided him for several weeks and tried to convince Miss Pauling to fire him. He didn’t want to work with his estranged son. Eventually he came to terms with this being his life now. Most of the others thought Scout was a big egotistical douche bag. Demo thought he was a funny kid, but overconfident, and probably going to get himself killed. Engineer was more worried than anything else. “Don’t y’all think he’s a little too young to be out here…?” He ended up being Scout’s first friend on the team simply because he was trying to keep an eye out for the kid and make sure he didn’t get hurt too badly. While they never became super close, they stayed friends, and Scout still goes to him for help occasionally. As time passed, the rest of the team started to see that there was more to Scout than being obnoxious and fast. They caught moments where he was being emotionally vulnerable, missing his family or pining over Miss Pauling, or they’d sneak a look at his sketchbooks while he was doodling to find out he was actually rather talented. Spy grew more accustomed to having the Scout around but still tries to limit interactions with him in an effort to keep Scout from realizing the truth and to prevent himself from getting too attached.

Pyro - Most of the team had the same thought when they first saw Pyro. “What on Earth is that thing?” Just watch the beginning of Meet the Pyro to get a sense how they all felt about them in the beginning. Engineer was the only one who treated them with some human decency instead of fear, and it earned him his first homemade flower crown. He didn’t waste time trying to convince the others that Pyro was actually very sweet and friendly. Medic stepped up to the plate next in a strategic attempt to get them to like him so they’d go to their fucking checkups. Pyro started drawing them holding hands in crayon but it still took months before they willingly went into the infirmary. Spy, meanwhile, saw the Pyro as a challenge. They were the only mercenary he knew nothing about and he made it his mission to find out their true identity. He has yet to succeed and its a bit of a sore spot for him. The rest of the time warmed up to the Pyro a bit over time, learning that they’re actually very kind and well-meaning, but a couple of them are still nervous around them.

Soldier - When they first met Soldier, the team wasn’t sure he was fit for duty. While he certainly wanted to fight, and had a passion for it, he didn’t seem quite right in the head. Now they know he isn’t quite right in the head, but they also know he can handle himself just fine on the battlefield. He’s incredibly dangerous and effective in a fight. He can hold his own just as well as the rest of them can. Once they got over how loud and strange he is, some of the team took a liking to him, as well. In particular, he and Demo are practically best friends, and Heavy and the Engineer are happy to listen to him rant about America for as long as he wants.

Heavy - His teammates made the same mistake many people do when they first meet Heavy. Because of his bad English and his giant stature they assume he isn’t smart. All brawn and no brain. Medic learned almost immediately that that wasn’t the case when Heavy joked, “You are doctor? I am also doctor. Literature doctor.” Spy and Engineer were next, making quick friends with him. He and the Sniper became what one could maybe consider friends, as they both understand a need for quiet coexistence. Now that they’re comfortable around each other they’ll sometimes just sit in the same room together, Heavy reading and Sniper sharpening his kukri and whatnot, neither of them saying anything. Just the way they like it. Heavy and the Pyro still don’t get along particularly well; Heavy is scared of them and the Pyro can sense it. But they’ve learned to coexist over time.

Demo - It’s hard to get the wrong impression from Demo. He’s very loud and honest about himself and his opinions. What the team assumed incorrectly at first was whether or not he can be trusted with explosives. He’s a one-eyed drunk, surely its not a good idea? They were hesitant to be anywhere near him on the battlefield or while he was working on his bombs back at the base. They found out rather quickly that he knew exactly what he was doing, however, and was incredibly skilled at his craft. He was hired for a reason, after all. They also found out he’s a very nice friend to have. He’s passionately supportive and gives great pep talks, and will share his beer if you need some.

Engineer - Engineer is hard not to like. He has a warm, friendly disposition and he’s a very intelligent man. Most of the team liked him right from the beginning, but Spy was an exception. Something about the way the two of them interact with other people always clashed. Engineer thought Spy should mind his own business and that he was a bit uppity, and Spy thought he seemed like an uncultured hillbilly who is only there because of his family connections. Needless to say they respect each other a good deal more after working together for so long, but they still aren’t the best of friends. Some of the team were also a bit nervous around him at the beginning because he worked so closely with their superiors. He wouldn’t rat them out or anything, would he? Did he have sort of ulterior motives? Over time, though, they realized that Engie is one of the most honest and trustworthy people you can find.

#All

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michaelandy101-blog · 3 years

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Methods to Get Backlinks in 2021 [Series Part 3: Outreach]

New Post has been published on http://tiptopreview.com/how-to-get-backlinks-in-2021-series-part-3-outreach/

Methods to Get Backlinks in 2021 [Series Part 3: Outreach]

Editor’s Notice: The quote on the whiteboard from Paddy Moogan ought to say: “Do they have the ability to link?”. That is mounted within the picture under.

Britney’s again with the third and remaining installment in her hyperlink constructing sequence, this time overlaying the do’s and don’ts of hyperlink constructing outreach (with bonus ideas from the consultants!). If you have not already, you should definitely take a look at Half 1 and Half 2.

And, should you’re simply beginning out in your hyperlink constructing journey (or want a refresher on the fundamentals), you should definitely learn Moz’s new-and-improved information:

The Newbie’s Information to Hyperlink Constructing

Click on on the whiteboard picture above to open a excessive decision model in a brand new tab!

Video Transcription

Hey, Moz followers. Welcome to a different version of Whiteboard Friday. At this time we’re going over hyperlink constructing outreach, a essential, essential half in your hyperlink constructing success. So that is Half three of our hyperlink constructing sequence.

Hyperlink constructing do’s

Let’s dive into the do’s. There are many methods to probably get outreach, however there are much more methods to probably screw it up. So we wish to cowl all of our bases, offer you all of the instruments you want right now to have the next success charge sooner or later.

So among the do’s:

Be temporary. We get so many emails every single day. simply in addition to I do know. Be concise. Omit useless phrases. Get to the purpose. Let me be clear. Your first outreach aim ought to merely, merely be to only get a response and begin to construct some sense of rapport. That is it. You are not asking for a hyperlink out of the gate. We’ll get into that. Once more, that is all we’re attempting to do is get your foot within the door. So be temporary.

Personalize. Present that you simply care and that you have accomplished some homework, you’ve got put effort into this.

Present worth. So one solution to get somebody’s consideration is to offer worth, assist them not directly, form, or type. That would take the form of being related, offering them some information insights, geo-specific, distinctive, serving to them with one thing on their web site that you have observed. There are all types of ways on the market.

Creating curiosity is one other good one. There is a cause why “Quick?” topic line does fairly effectively for hyperlink builders.

In Garrett French and the late Eric Ward’s new, up to date “The Ultimate Guide to Link Building”, they have an ideal part on how the psychology of asking for a small favor leads that different particular person to assume extra fondly of you and maybe belief you extra. Whereas we’re not attempting to be manipulative in any respect, we are attempting to assist your web site’s success. We’re attempting that will help you lead a stronger function in figuring out hyperlink success. Total, this ought to be a win-win scenario.

You actually ought to be offering worth and serving to and creating an trustworthy relationship with another person. I all the time assume that is a great factor. So once more, set up the connection.

Spell their title proper, for the love of Roger. That is in all probability my greatest pet peeve. There is not any excuse lately. You completely need to get this proper. Simply spell their title proper. In any other case that is going to be powerful.

Social proof is a very nice solution to get somebody’s consideration as effectively. So show that you simply run in the identical circle, that you simply each know so-and-so, otherwise you each spoke at or attended this convention. Create some mutual connection.

Have an expert electronic mail signature. That is fairly simple to place collectively and establishes that you’re a actual particular person. You are not a spammer doing this at massive. Somebody is behind the hassle right here.

Triple verify your electronic mail. An incredible tactic — I am not going to say as a result of I am unable to fairly bear in mind who stated this — is wait no less than 30 minutes earlier than sending the e-mail that you have created. Simply give it 30 minutes. Triple verify it. Be certain that there isn’t any spelling errors. You then’re good to go.

Maintain observe of your efforts. Actually, actually essential. Know the date on which you’ve despatched out electronic mail outreach, who it was to, if the response has come again, what that was, have you ever accomplished a follow-up. These are all stuff you actually ought to be conserving an in depth eye on.

Observe-ups are so, so essential. Plenty of occasions, even in an everyday electronic mail life, a follow-up is important. It is all the time good to probably point out another “big names” or media or no matter it’s that you have crafted in your outreach. You would drop some names. I am telling you guys to call drop. That sounds so unhappy. That is not what I imply. Not what I imply, however you get what I imply.

So that you’re proving worth. You are proving that there’s want behind this straightforward request or an concept or whatnot. So hopefully that paints a little bit of an image of stuff you wish to get proper.

Hyperlink constructing don’ts

Now what do not you wish to do?

You positively do not wish to doblanketed outreach. That’s the similar template to a bunch of people. You do not wish to do this.

You additionally do not wish to be impolite. I really feel like this ought to be apparent, however I’ve positively acquired a pair impolite hyperlink constructing requests in my day. Nuts.

Do not ask for a hyperlink. Now I am to listen to any folks that disagree with this down within the feedback. Let’s have a wholesome dialog, buddies. I simply assume that you do not wish to ask for a hyperlink within the first outreach. It seems to be and sounds and feels spammy, and you have not even established a relationship or any type of back-and-forth electronic mail with this particular person. So I’d all the time advise do not ask for a hyperlink within the first electronic mail. Remark down under should you disagree. I’d like to see why and should you’ve had success.

Do not use spam triggers. So brush up on a few of your spam triggers. It is truly generally simple to incorporate some, however Google continues to get actually, actually good. Completely different electronic mail platforms proceed to get actually good. However even phrases like “dear,” “click,” and “opportunity” might be potential flags.

Do not spell their title incorrect. I put this right here twice as a result of it drives me so nuts. Simply spell their title proper. Simply present that you simply care and that you simply put in some effort. There is not any faster solution to get a non-response.

Do not use clunky or complicated sentences. Be clear. Be concise.

Do not contact somebody once more after they have been requested to not. That is tremendous essential and one other simple solution to get you flagged as spam and trigger issues for you shifting ahead.

So all that being stated, these are among the high do’s and don’ts.

Hyperlink constructing ideas

There are such a lot of unimaginable hyperlink builders in our trade. I’ve realized from the perfect of them and the assets that they’ve created. Man, there’s simply a lot good things. So listed here are a few of my favourite ideas from skilled hyperlink builders.

Garrett French says, “Use ‘mentions’ or ‘sharing’ instead of requesting links.” Love that. It is rather more pure. I feel it is a sensible, sensible tip by Garrett.

Karl Kangur — I do not know if I am saying that proper, I am sorry — “Reach out to people already aware of you/your brand.” Good. That takes care of among the creating the connection. There’s already some sense of rapport. There’s already some sense of that connection which you can leverage by way of opening up that dialog.

Debra, OG hyperlink builder, “If you want to experience higher open rates for your outreach, I recommend you use a point of commonality in the email subject line.” Good, sensible, sensible and this works extremely effectively. I bear in mind in all probability 10 years in the past now I used to be doing hyperlink constructing and particularly focusing on people who went to the College of Minnesota like I did. So within the topic line I may put “Go gophers” or “Ski-U-Mah.” I let you know what, these have been the very best open charges that I had in my efforts. Actually enjoyable stuff.

Paddy Moogan in his older hyperlink constructing ebook that I nonetheless adore, by the best way, I’ve been a fan of all of those people for a really very long time, Paddy stated, “Do they have the ability to rank?”. His entire principle was why are we placing our vitality and our efforts into crafting outreach to people that do not have the facility so as to add a hyperlink. That is very, essential that you simply discover the editor or the webmaster or somebody who can ultimately present that hyperlink.

Some assets that I’ve completely adored over time, and granted a few of these are a bit previous, however, you guys, I really like these items. I hold observe and I make notes. Let’s simply undergo a few my favorites:

Level Clean search engine marketing. Jon Cooper is a genius. He wrote this a very long time in the past, and he stated it was somewhat previous and outdated a number of years in the past. However I nonetheless prefer it. I nonetheless assume there’s numerous nice stuff in right here. He is additionally supplied some new content material that is superb. I completely adore his work.

Ken McGaffin taught me a hyperlink constructing class in all probability 10 years in the past, and I used to be capable of print this ebook of his, “Link Building Made Simple”. Nonetheless numerous nice stuff in right here that I exploit once in a while.

Paddy Moogan’s previous ebook, this was certainly one of my favorites too, “The Link Building Book”. Once more, these are from a number of years in the past however nonetheless have actually, actually good things in there.

This was simply up to date. It is in all probability the most recent one. That is the most recent one I’ve. Garrett French and the late Eric Ward wrote the “The Ultimate Guide to Link Building”, and so they simply up to date to the second version.

I’ve no affiliation with any of those books or e-books. These are simply assets I actually loved. There’s numerous nice stuff on the market right now. I do know Brian Dean has nice stuff. So be at liberty to share another assets down within the feedback and a few of these examples. I do know this one accommodates electronic mail outreach examples. Numerous folks have been doing a few of that currently, which has been actually enjoyable to see.

Yeah, I hope this helps. That is actually enjoyable stuff, and I look ahead to listening to your whole ideas and feedback down under. Thanks a lot for becoming a member of us on this version of Whiteboard Friday. Hope you are all hanging in there and we are going to see you subsequent time. Thanks.

Video transcription by Speechpad.com

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productlaunchreviews · 5 years

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#offline #client #confidential #closer #high #ticket #clientele #review

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fakesam · 6 years

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Top 10 Albums of 2017

10. Sophia Kennedy - Sophia Kennedy

There are numerous moments on Sophia Kennedy’s debut album that will make you feel like you’re listening to someone narrate a new-age fairytale. Just look at some of these song titles: “Dizzy Izzy”, “William by the Windowsill”, and “A Bug on a Rug in a Building”. These could all easily be the titles of children’s books. But the fantastical nature of some of the songs only serves as a starting point for Kennedy’s emotive writing to shine through. Born in Baltimore, Kennedy moved to Berlin to study film before falling into a music career somewhere along the way. That disconnect from her roots seems to act as her main motivator on this record, as her lyrics veer from surreal aphorisms to direct and personal with ease. It also manifests in the production, which shifts between genres in a way that is pleasingly unpredictable. There’s even a sample of the Last American President Barack Obama thrown in for good measure. Kennedy may feel far from home, but she’s taken that restlessness and turned it into something beautiful.

9. Kamasi Washington - Harmony of Difference

I’ve spent most of my life living contentedly as a jazz hater. I blame it on the mind-numbing smooth jazz radio station my dad would listen to on long car rides. I’d shrugged with indifference whenever old heads would tell you to listen to “real music” or whatever synonym they’d use to scold young people for their listening habits. Youth makes you stupid that way, but it also gives you the opportunity to grow with time. I was comfortable living on “Jazz Is Bad” island until To Pimp A Butterfly forced me to reconsider my opinion on trumpets and whatnot. I’ve been slowly forcing myself to take more chances ever since, but the first jazz album that's really grabbed me was Harmony of Difference. The whole album is great, but “Truth” deserves special praise, an impressionistic song that communicates the pain and passion complicit with existence in a way that is beautifully melancholic. The song’s video makes me emotional in a way I can’t quite describe with words. Harmony of Difference has become my background noise whenever I read a book or need to focus on work. Listen to more jazz.

8. Arca - Arca

Born name Alejandro Ghersi, Arca has made a career out of mining and unveiling surreal electronic symphonies that seduce and unnerve in equal measure. His skills can help Kanye West soundtrack his frustration and depravity, and he can be Bjork’s co-pilot in her pursuit of nirvana. His capacity to morph sounds in his own unparalleled way has been there since the start, but his newest album does so with the rarest and most affecting instrument in his arsenal - his voice. Utilizing one-take recordings of his vocals, the self-titled album presents Ghersi’s glories and anguish front and center, adding another layer of personality onto his distinctive work. The crackle of ominous synths is still prevalent, the sense that some songs could collapse at any given moment. It is a testament to the musician’s skills that they don’t. The highlight of the album, “Saunter”, represents this tension in microcosm. A sea of atmospherics and prickling keys eventually give way to Ghersi’s booming vocal. Fully at ease in his own skin, Arca aligns creator and creation together in perfect symmetry for the first time.

7. Rostam - Half-Light

There’s a moment on every song on Half-Light, Rostam’s debut album, where the singer appears to be cracking up. It’s as if he can’t comprehend his own talent. After years of producing for some of the biggest names in pop music, the former Vampire Weekend member steps out on his own, presenting a collection of gloriously ephemeral pop music that shows why so many talented artists want to work with him. Much of the production is gorgeously weightless, like if cotton candy was converted into an audio format. Rostam’s voice is the only piece of the puzzle that stays in one place, which the singer uses to craft inspiring tales about love and his journey to self-acceptance. There are moments of voluminous joy, as well as instances of steely resolve that underpins the strength one must have to be an openly gay man in modern society. Half-Light feels like it'll slip through your hands at any moment, but Rostam masterfully keeps it together.

6. Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives

An album made by electronic musicians that sounds so tangible and organic that it sounds like a lost gem from a forgotten era. Equally indebted to fuzzy punk rock and intelligent dance music, Love What Survives jangles with the energy of a live band. The eclectic mix of sounds gives the album a particularly British sensibility, and that’s before we even get to the terrific list of guest appearances from James Blake, King Krule, and Micachu. Where most modern electronica settles for easy rhythms and vapid drops, Love What Survives eschews simplicity for grounded textures, and the result is more engrossing because of it.

5. Johnny Jewel - Windswept

Twin Peaks consumed my life for three wonderful, terrifying, perplexing months of the year. A tale of doppelgangers, horrific violence, and Marlon Brando impersonations that made man’s lack of control over nature abundantly clear was exactly the escape I needed from whatever looming disaster had its day in the daily news cycle. The sounds of David Lynch vehicles are just as important as the visuals, and Windswept, the soundtrack created by Italians Do It Better head Johnny Jewel, lived up to series’ musical lineage. Since the day after the finale, I don’t think I’ve listened to any other song as much I’ve listened to “Saturday”, both the finished version featuring Desire and the instrumental performed at the Roadhouse at the end Part 12. The track’s sweeping strings and pounding synths combine to make a track that is simultaneously romantic and unnerving, unknowable and intimate, a dream and a nightmare coexisting. It’s the spirit of the show in microcosm. The lack of any news regarding the new Chromatics album is one of the smaller disappointments of 2017, but Windswept is more than an adept substitute.

4. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

As well as being a meditation on blackness and the plights of the ghetto, To Pimp A Butterfly was also Kendrick Lamar’s appeal to become the entertainment voice of the current social justice movement. Fast-forward a few years, and he’s found the crown to be more stressful than he imagined. In many ways, DAMN. is a total repudiation of the preceding To Pimp A Butterfly. Where that album is meditative and sprawling, DAMN. is tight and bristling. Where that album reintroduced jazz to the mainstream lexicon, this album has rattling 808 drums. Where that album spawned a hit single out of tragic serendipity rather than planned orchestration, DAMN. has one of the biggest singles of the year. DAMN. is much less of a statement album, which is probably why I enjoy it more than To Pimp A Butterfly. It’s more of a time-stamped portrait of a certified genius struggling for faith in himself and in his country. There’s no better prescription of America’s endemic ills than “XXX”. That song also manages to make Bono listenable in 2017. If that’s not the mark of a master, I don’t know what is.

3. Brockhampton - Saturation I, II, III

In the shit-stained punch bowl that was 2017, the most consistent source of hope and joy came from a group of misfits in Los Angeles, California. Brockhampton’s origin story is so unlikely it sounds mythological: A group of teenagers meet on an internet forum and leave their homes to make music together. Moving into a house with a bunch of internet strangers sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it has worked out fantastically for this group of artists. The influence of Odd Future is obvious with the group (sorry, boyband). There is a shared disregard for genre stratification in favor of an amorphous brand of music that ranges from aggressive bangers to radio-ready pop earworms. What differentiates Brockhampton is their earnest dedication to emotional honesty. Where Tyler, The Creator initially obfuscated messages behind horrorcore lyrics, Kevin Abstract raps and sings about his homosexuality with a plainness still all too rare in hip-hop. The group’s collective ambition leads to some seamless chemistry that can sell tracks as silly as “Star”, as gooey as “Sunny”, as melancholic as “Bleach”. They’re also one of the few acts that seem to care about making unique music videos, utilizing a good mix of youthful flailing and craft. As great as their output is, it’s what their success represents that makes Brockhampton so powerful. In an era where empathy and collaboration are being discouraged by those in power, seeing a bunch of diverse kids striving for stardom despite the state of the world is inspiring. Their recently announced fourth album is literally named Team Effort. They are the twenty-first century ideal of a group of young people can accomplish when given the chance. This is the future millennials want.

2. Tyler, The Creator - Scum Fuck Flower Boy

There’s a point during “Where This Flower Blooms” where Tyler, The Creator walks us through some of the ways he takes care of himself: “Look, I smell like Chanel/ I never mall grip with my manicured nails/ I coconut oil the skin/ I keep the top low cause the follicles thinnin”. If there is a more succinct example of one man’s personal growth, I haven’t heard it.

Flower Boy is the album Tyler has been trying to make his entire career. The artist has never been this emotionally available on record, reckoning with his place in the artistic stratosphere, the responsibilities that come with that status, and revealing aspects of his sexuality for the first time. The album’s release date made Flower Boy a serendipitous companion to Jay-Z’s 4:44, with its desire to uplift the listener with some advice and a push in the right direction. But where Jay preached the gospel of black capitalism as a gateway to equality, Tyler is more interested in extolling less financially-based virtues. Take care of your health. Make time for your friends. Be the person you are in your dreams.

Everything is laid bare on Flower Boy. For all the cars purchased and creative whims fulfilled, Tyler still feels very alone, his financial stability no longer a panacea for his anxious thoughts.

But its his romantic desires that weigh heaviest on his mind. Love has always been a staple in Tyler’s music, but until now, the absence of affection and the “me against the world” mindset forged in response has received much more prominence. Flower Boy is sincere and moving in a way his previous work never felt comfortable enough to exude. The identity and gender of his crush is fascinating for how it re-contextualizes the homophobic slurs that stained his previous work, but where Tyler’s sexuality lands on the spectrum isn't important to loving the music. What is important is how “See You Again” and “Glitter” envelop you in their warm glowing warming glow and only let you go once their melodies are stuck in your head.

Tyler’s existential crisis never diminishes his musical talents. Rather, it serves as fuel for the best production of his career. The spirit of Los Angeles permeates every chord progression, sometimes rejoicing in the west coast’s everpresent sun (Enjoy Right Now, Today), sometimes suffocating under the oppressive brightness (911/Mr. Lonely). His rapping ability can stand with anyone in the non-Kendrick division, and while his singing voice isn't per se good, you feel his every word. The entire album speaks in the same register, but the songs never become repetitious or boring. The featured guests take the role of the rug in The Big Lebowski, accentuating the music surrounding them without ever stealing focus. (If Lil Wayne ever makes another album, Tyler needs to produce most, if not all, of it.)

Flower Boy showcases the importance in giving a person room to breathe and mature on their own terms. It’s gratifying to see the growth Tyler has made since the group’s peak, and the same could be said of the other solo stars from the former collective (Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, and Syd). But the change is most stark in Tyler, given his status as ringleader and his initial reticence to give any detractors credence. But age has a way of opening one’s ears to different ideas. Progress can only be made you’re prepared to look inside yourself and confront your sense of self. It’s uncomfortable and vaguely terrifying. But that road must be crossed at some point. To paraphrase a line from “Pothole”, you just have to keep pushing.

1. King Krule - The OOZ

It’s only fitting that the best album of 2017 is one that is so claustrophobically anxious. Archy Marshall has spent the last couple years recusing himself from potential stardom after his first King Krule album caught the ears of mainstream stars. Beyonce showed him love, luminaries such as Kanye and Frank Ocean wanted to work with him, a devoted fan base lauded him as generational voice. But Marshall has always worked on his own speed, with his own moods.

When he finally reemerged, it was not with an album ready to capitalize on mainstream acclaim. It's easy to draw a connection between King Krule’s music and the subconscious sprawl of David Lynch. The same way Lynch refused to adjust his vision for the sake of audiences, Marshall is similarly uncompromising with his music, doubling down on his jazzpunk fusions and valley-wide compositions. The OOZ works as an album title and a description of the songs collected under its banner. It’s a slow, moody exploration of a psyche that hasn’t quite lost his grip on sanity, but he can feel his hands getting sweaty. He portrays this warped reality with his signature raspy howls and distinctly laconic turn of phrase, and it’s impossible not to feel whatever emotion he’s exploring at the moment.

From the instant the sparse guitars and the muted shuffling begins on opening track “Biscuit Town”, it is clear you are entering another person’s world. The music only sinks into a deeper groove from there, as Marshall becomes ensconced in his depression amid the dissolution of his last relationship. Archy Marshall pulls off a magic trick with The OOZ: He manages to adroitly communicate the ways mental illness impedes any form of progress while evolving his style in truly incredible ways. There’s a cinematic quality to these songs, the way each word animates and pulses even when describing emotional stillness. “Dum Surfer” sounds like the 21st-century update of “Monster Mash”, with raucous nihilism replacing holiday kitsch. The way Marshall tweaks his voice in a less gravely, more sinewy direction on songs like “Slush Puppy” opens up new avenues for his music to explore. I’ve imagined music videos for several songs on the OOZ. From the darkness of solitude, Archy Marshall created a world that is astoundingly beautiful and achingly melancholic. In a year that demanded escapism, The OOZ delivers more than any other.

#albums of 2017 #writing

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