The annual "Doodle 4 Google" is happening now and the winning artist will see their work on the Google homepage for a day, win a $30,000 college scholarship, and win a $50,000 technology grant for his or her school.
A nice nod to 1984 Apple Commercial which worked well for taking a stab at the the rest of Genre. This promo had a lot of pressure behind it because ABC has not jumped into the Genre till now. LOTS OF PRESSURE.
Congrats to the ABC Promo Department...NICE!
It was also interesting when this popped into my email from AD AGE regarding this promo.
Brek A Leg to Marla Provencio, the new chief marketing officer for the Disney broadcast network's prime-time,has bit off a big bite by Green Lighting this promo. Read the article she has an awesome resume and I hope this promo / show works well.
This is seriously going after the American Idol / Voice Audience.
ABC is finally throwing its hat into the ring with DUETS. Launching on the week of that American Idol hits its Season Finale. GOOD TIMING!
Anyway check out the original and check out the show.
Ironically the original promo was with Lionol Richie and he has since been replaced by John Legend.
Lamb’s Players Theatre Presents “Big Mike vs The Con”
NBC Co-Star of Chuck Hosts Comedy Extravaganzas
San Diego, CA - Lamb’s Players Theatre, in conjunction with Prayer Dudz, presents Mark Christopher Lawrence of NBC’s hit series Chuck in a two-night comedy extravaganza, “Big Mike vs The Con” at the Horton Grand Theater on July 21 and 22. Mark is joined on Thursday night for a family-oriented “clean comedy” show with comics Jimmy Burns, Lester Barrie, and Scott Wood and guest musician K.C. Murdock. Friday night’s show is an edgier, more adult-oriented evening with Chuck co-star Scott Krinsky and comics Chris Clobber and Vicki Barbolak and musical guest Josh Damigo. The two nights are a counterpoint to the wildly successful Comic-Con which runs Thursday through Sunday.
Thursday, July 21 Mark Christopher Lawrence is joined onstage by Jimmy Burns, known as "The Teacher Comedian," “Mister Punchline” Scott Wood, and Gospel comedian Lester Barrie. Jimmy Burns has toured with George Lopez, Arsenio Hall, Brad Garrett, and the late Richard Jeni. Jimmy has also co-hosted "Live from Here with James P. Connolly" on the National Lampoon Comedy Radio Network. Scott Wood has performed at such venues as The Ice House, The Comedy Store, and The Laugh Factory, and was named Stand Up Comedy Champion at the Improv Comedy Club in 2010. Lester Barrie has been the opening act for Ray Charles and been a co-headliner with Mike Epps, Jonnie Witherspoon, and Bruce Bruce. Musical guest K.C. Murdock opens the night with his mix of classic and alternative rock and blues.
Friday, July 22 Mark and his co-star from Chuck, Scott Krinsky, are joined by talented comics Chris Clobber and Vicki Barbolack for a night of edgy and adult-oriented humor. Besides his role as Jeff Barnes on Chuck, Scott Krinsky regularly performs at the Comedy Store and Improv in Los Angeles. Chris Clobber is the co-producer of BrewHaHa comedy and has written for major Las Vegas and Hollywood performers. Named Nikelodeon’s “America’s Funniest Mom” and “California’s Funniest Female,” Vicki Barbolak has worked with the likes of Pauley Shore, Rhonda Shear, and Roseanne Barr during her years on stage.. Friday’s musical guest Josh Damigo was the 2010 winner in the San Diego Music Awards “Best Acoustic” category and the 2009 “Best Local Recording Artist.”
We extend a special invitation for the media to attend and review the “Big Mike vs The Con” show on Thursday, July 21, or on Friday, July 22, for a fun filled night celebrating Comic Con in San Diego. For tickets call 619-437-6000. To learn more about Big Mike vs The Con comedy show visit Lamb’s Players Theatre at http://www.lambsplayers.org. For media inquiries or to schedule and interview with Mark Christopher Lawrence, call David Kamatoy/Kamatoy Media Group at 619-940-5648.
Blog This w/ David Kamatoy returns with a brand new virtual set, new music and solid content. If you're an entrepreneur, entertainer or e-markter. This is the show to watch. Please RT, Tweet, Digg, Like and of course BLOG THIS.
We originally hit elance back in the day looking for some outsourcing ala 4 hour work week. We enjoyed the interaction but it was such a long time ago and we were not bidding on projects.
We are now starting to look at being a virtual provider and expand out networking via our online presence. These are my initial thoughts based on wandering around for a while...
a. Great opportunitty if you can spend the time. We are going to segment a part of the day to virtual submissions and try not to get lost in the sheer numbers....However it is a NUMBERS GAME.
SCHEDULE 1-2 hours a day or days to submit.
b. Create an engaging profile(s). It's one of their biggest tips but I have to agree on this one. Just by looking at the site you can see that every job has multiple bids going in and creating some smart copy is a GREAT IDEA. More and more it bodes to great copy writing and an e-version of the elevator pitch.
Create a solid Elevator Pitch First Paragraph. Do not be afraid to change the copy until you start getting work.
c. A Lower the hourly rate in order to get jobs and reviews? Elance lists the amount of money and jobs that you've completed. It's only common sense that you would want to work with companies that have a history of achievment. The quickest way to get there is via JOBS and great reviews.
Consider a discounted rate in order to get jobs & reviews.
d. Don't be afraid to be an AMERICAN... The power or weakness of the American Dollar on this site does freak me out. I mean we originally came to elance via the 4 hour work week looking for cost-effective solutions.
However in actually outsourcing stuff, I can tell you that there are certain jobs that you want to keep a US based contractor for. Any writing or editing is a definite plus and any project where an uderstanding of it's end application in the business world or US is also important.
Find a Niche where you can compete based on your location and dollar power.
e. Embrace the restrictions...ARGH! So one of my biggest challenges is the format. We are used to meeting clients in person first. So this FORMAT is extremely foreign to us. Normally our online presence supports our physical presence and in this virtual situation our Virtual presence is now our "FIRST IMPRESSION" and it's not even our site but a profile.
We will try to keep within the restrictions or elance. I sort of hope its either a booming success and we are able to find a niche on elance for our team or the other business picks up suvstantially.
Moreno Valley, California – Hanshi Daniel Hect, the Masters Hall of Fame CEO, has been named as the United States Air Force Space and Missile Command selection for the 2010 Outstanding Individual Reservist of the Year Award.
The Martial Arts world knows Hanshi Daniel Hect as a dedicated and talented martial artist, a Karate Champion, and a 12-time medalist in the Western States Police and Fire Summer games in martial arts events, as well as the current CEO of the Masters Hall of Fame. Most of the Martial Arts world does not know that Hanshi Daniel Hect is also Sergeant Daniel Hect in the 61st Security Forces Squadron, USAF.
On 30 September, 2010, Daniel Hect received the 2010 Outstanding Individual Reservist of the Year Award, Enlisted Category, for the Space and Missile Command. He will now move on to represent the Space and Missile Command in the Air Force-wide competition.
The Outstanding Individual Reservist of the Year Award recognizes enlisted members who demonstrate exceptional performance in leadership, educational achievements, and self-improvement efforts. Sergeant Hect was also promoted to Master Sergeant that same day.
“I did not do anything special. Call me weird, I like school. I believe education is an important part of the self-development of a warrior.” Hanshi Daniel Hect.
Daniel Hect graduated from the University of Southern California with a Masters Degree and now attends Cal Southern Law School in Riverside, CA. He is well known as a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication applications within the Martial Arts community. The ability to use the lessons from his Martial Arts training to improve his professional career is another example of what Hanshi Daniel Hect brings to the Martial Arts Community.
The Masters Hall of Fame’s expertise in developing partnerships, working with community associates in support of the Masters mission of “Recognizing Excellence” in the Martial Arts has impacted over 1000 alumni and thousands of martial artists world wide. Masters Hall of Fame has held their events in conjunction with Long Beach International Martial Arts Festival, the World Wide Martial Arts Festival, and the Disney Martial Arts Festival in Anaheim.
For more information on the 2011 Masters Hall of Fame that will be held as the capstone event of the Disney Marital Arts Festival, visit, please visit their linked websites. For press inquiries contact Kamatoy Media Group via email at press@jugglemail.com.
With the passage and signing into law of the Small Business Jobs Bill, it seemed an appropriate time to get back with SBA Loan broker Craig G. Francis. In this email interview I asked Craig for his thoughts on the various parts of the bill and how they might affect the country’s economy.
David Kamatoy: We have been waiting for passage of the Small Business Jobs Bill for some time now. What do you think the real reasons behind the holdup were?
Craig G. Francis: The real reason for the delay in passing the bill was that the Republicans did not want to give Barak Obama a win for business that he could crow about. Until the Democrats got the one filibuster proof vote from Sen Voinovich, they could not ram it through. Chalk it up to politics as usual and the $3 trillion dollar agenda of progressive bills that had to come first. Businesses are an afterthought. In general, business owners won’t vote for the Democrats.
David Kamatoy: Now that this Bill has been signed into law, how long do you think it will be before we see real results?
Craig G. Francis:Real results started taking place 3 months before the bill was passed as 7(a) and 504 borrowers got into the reduced fee queue to get some of the stimulus money. From what I heard, the stimulus money started to be made available this week. How large an effect it will have can’t be measured precisely, but there were probably tens of thousands of jobs to be created that were hanging in limbo. SBA lending is all about creating jobs.
SBA lending is all about creating jobs.
David Kamatoy: What do you think will be the most beneficial portion of the Bill? What element of this Bill will have the strongest positive effect on the economy?
Craig G. Francis:If we can quantify the effect in real time, the best we can expect is that business owners will see this bill passage as a sign that the government supports the expansion of businesses. Entrepreneurs are eternal optimists; that is their nature. But encouraging signs from any quarter can give the businessman or woman the needed boost in economic confidence to get started and moving again.
The most beneficial aspect of the bill is the reduction in SBA fees. Just the loan costs alone could pay for one employee.
The other important benefit is the 90% guaranty, a level of SBA backing that may get some banks off the fence. If their risk window is 10% of a loan versus 25%, or $100,000 versus $250,000 on a $1,000,000 loan, that could allow some of the banks with strained capital bases to make loans. Besides which, the premium on the 7(a) loan is about 10%, so the income from that premium would nearly cover the risk window. Making SBA loans may allow the bank to provide capital without the heavy hand of the federal regulators questioning their loan portfolio or motives in making loans to the riskier small business field.
David Kamatoy: Opponents have warned that this Bill is “TARP Junior” – how accurate do you think that assessment is?
Craig G. Francis:The “TARP Junior” label applies to the government funding of a secondary market for the 504 loans. Yes, there will be some oversight and control involved in that, but to a lesser degree than the first round of TARP. If the bank decides making a pact with the devil is worth it, they will sign on - or not - as the case might be.
David Kamatoy: There have been suggestions that banks may not be willing to tap into the $30 billion fund because they are concerned what the long-term ramifications would be. Could you explain just what these banks are worried about?
Craig G. Francis:The long-term ramifications may be further control of the bank, dividends to be paid to the government, and potential management oversight by the government for those who take these funds. It is a time to be cautious in these matters as the long reach of the government and its intentions for good or ill are to be carefully scrutinized. Think about the camel and its nose in your tent.
David Kamatoy: Do you think that there is really a market for the $30 billion in funds that the Bill provides, or are businesses more concerned with survival than with expansion right now?
Craig G. Francis:There is a large market for the $30,000,000,000 which can be leveraged 10 to 1. Smaller banks who could not portfolio the 504 first-trust deed, or who dealt with a client whose loan could not be sold to the presently-established secondary market, may find this arrangement very attractive. Bear in mind, that despite this economic rough patch, banks still have to lend. And compete. If their fellow bankers jump on board by using these funds and beat their lending neighbors, this could create a rush to the funds that would help the business owners, if for no more reason than the community bank can offload a risky loan to the secondary market, gain an account relationship, and garner a market sale premium of as much as 6 percent. Good money if you can get it. Think of it as a financial cattle call for lenders. Some eat well and some get trampled. And even more get turned into hamburger.
David Kamatoy: What is it about the $30 billion lending portion that concerns bankers?
Craig G. Francis:The bankers are concerned about the government control and oversight for the $30,000,000,000, particularly if these funds provide an avenue to taking some small amount of control over the bank, its lending preferences, and the geographical priorities of the bank. In other words, who they lend to and where they lend.
David Kamatoy: How will the increased limits on SBA loans benefit the businesses community and the economy?
Craig G. Francis: To some extent, $30,000,000 seems like a drop in the bucket. But in the past the SBA provided between 30-50% of all long-term financing to the small business community and did so with low risk to the banks and government. Small business owners and entrepreneurs can stretch a buck farther than Ebenezer Scrooge.
David Kamatoy: There have been suggestions that banks might begin making risky loans with this $30 billion pool of money. Do you think these concerns are valid?
Craig G. Francis: Banks will make 'riskier' loans to their clients if the risk is reduced to near zero. See the subprime debacle as an example. This small pot of money won't create a bubble and businesses will use the money wisely, but we will have some increased risk-taking on the part of the banks.
Of course, when you consider the fact that the banks have been taking zero risk lately when lending to the small business community because they are making zero loans to that community, all the while trading free fed money for treasuries and making huge spreads, I think that the banks will see SBA as a more profitable loan deal. They can make much more money with higher leverage with limited risk, so why not go for it. They will now boost risk modestly but I am certain not to the prior level that got us in this jam in the first place.
David Kamatoy: Having been in the business for 30 years, what is the most exciting piece of this Bill?
Craig G. Francis: I love to tell my clients I got them zero-fee SBA loans for their businesses and commercial real estate owner/user purchases. Just like the two approvals I got today. Oh, I also like to tell business owners that the government is here to help them.
I love to tell my clients I got them zero-fee SBA loans for their businesses and commercial real estate owner/user purchases.
David Kamatoy: The Bill also includes some tax breaks for businesses. How effective do you think these will be in stimulating business growth?
Craig G. Francis: Regarding the other items in the bill to help businesses, like accelerated depreciation, see my blog from two weeks ago. This administration does NOTHING to help ANYONE that does not disempower or enable the recipients of Uncle Sam's boon and well being. Trust me on this, if you take supper with the devil use a loooooong spoon. This administration is not business friendly. They are doing these things for appearances only and only to garner votes.
David Kamatoy: Who should really be paying attention to this Bill? Give us some examples of who this is going to benefit most and how it will help.
Craig G. Francis: The bill itself is a real benefit for the business owner using SBA loans. The waiver of the SBA fee, saving up to 3.5% of the loan for a 7(a) and about 1% on the 504, is a solid achievement of fiscal assistance to the business borrower. Startups with good credentials and support of equity injection and backup collateral should provide this borrowing class with an improved chance of getting financing. Expansion loans and business acquisitions will be more likely to get financing since the guaranty protecting a bank loan is now 90%, reducing the bank's potential loss dramatically, and at a historic low of 10%.
Commercial real estate purchases are also going to benefit. Presently we are seeing a 50 year low in rates, which makes the purchase of owner-user property very inexpensive in terms of fees and monthly payments. The benefits of owner-user property have always been a financial boon to the business since it improves the value of the business, secures long-term equity appreciation, and provides a tax shelter depreciation to the borrower. Prices on many properties and in many areas in the US have dropped 40% or more, so they are lower than any time in the last 20 years.
David Kamatoy: Are there any last concerns about the possible effects of this bill, anything we should watch out for?
Craig G. Francis: The people who should be paying closest attention to this bill are the banks. They risk taking on shaky loans because of the manna of high SBA guaranties. They also run the risk of a TARP-like intrusion into their credit affairs that could lead to loan steering from the highest offices in the land - or at least from the offices of Senators Chris Dodd and Barney Frank. They will micro-manage anything they have their political fingers into.
As for businesses, they don’t need to watch out too much. An SBA loan is a pretty decent form of financing and can do a lot to help secure a business owner's future if they use the funds judiciously and look to the long term well being of their firm before plunging into debt the likes of which can be obtained from the SBA bank loans. Once a borrower has the SBA loan funding, they are largely free to do what they please so long as they don't damage the collateral and make sure they make their payments on time. Just don't do anything crazy.
Craig G. Francis is the owner of Francis Financial and The SBA Loan Store. He has been a top producer of SBA Loans since 1981, and has worked with Dun & Bradstreet and Bank of Commerce. Craig Francis has the expertise to steer clients through the often confusing rules and regulations associated with SBA Loans, having helped over 2,000 businesses acquire over a billion dollars in loans. He can be contacted through CraigGFrancis.com, SBALoanStore.com, on LinkedIn, or at 888-666-9722.
David Kamatoy is an entrepreneur and entertainer. Kamatoy Media Group is an interactive agency that works within social media, pr, email marketing and video. David originally interviewed Craig on his radio show in 2006. Shortly afterward it became clear that the place to communicate the message was clearly the internet. Craig G. Francis, Francis Financial, SBALoanstore are a client of the Kamatoy Media Group. Special Thanks to Editor Stephen Prendergast.
San Diego, CA - Mark Christopher Lawrence, Big Mike on NBC’s Chuck, hosts a night of comedy on Tuesday, September 21, at the Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Headlining the event will be ventriloquist Kevin Johnson, who has appeared with his “friends” on America’s Got Talent and The Late Show with David Letterman. Also in the lineup are Frances Dilorinzo from Last Comic Standing and comic juggler David Kamatoy.
“We’re gonna bring the Funny. Bring yourself.”
Mark Christopher Lawrence
Kevin Johnson is a self-taught ventriloquist who has been entertaining family, friends, and fans since he was 9 years old. After honing his skills at the San Diego Zoo and Legoland, Kevin hit it big on America’s Got Talent in 2006, and achieved a life-long goal when he appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman. As Simon Cowell told him, “America loves you.”
CLICK ON THIS IMAGE AND PRINT FOR 2 FOR 1 DEAL
David Kamatoy is the #1 Filipino-American comic juggler, quite possibly the only one, and has been entertaining crowds for years in front of the reflecting pond in Balboa Park. He will bring his mix of humor and juggling as the opener for the evening.
Featured comic Frances Dilorinzo’s career began, interestingly enough, in a required college speech class where she was encouraged to include humor in her presentations. She moved from there to the speech team and eventually to the comedy clubs of Los Angeles. She has appeared on Last Comic Standing, the Comics Unleashed, and Comedy Central, among other venues. She is currently working on the reality show Real Housewives of Orange County where she plays “the one with the real personality, sarcastic mouth, and smallest boobs.”
Be sure to come out for what Mark Christopher Lawrence guarantees will be “a rib rock roaring show.” Cygnet Theatre is located in San Diego’s Old Town, at 4040 Twiggs Street. For more information, contact the theater at 619-337-1525.
The Legend of Lionman & The Seven Kurodos is now Casting.
Final Auditions will be held on June 19th, 2010
Los Angeles, CA- Last minute video auditions are now being accepted for The Legend of Lionman & The Seven Kurodos reality tv show leading to a movie "The Lion and the Dragon". Seven young Martial Artists between the ages of 10-17 are being sought for a culturally diverse inspiring team that will be positive role models for America's Youth. A short 3-5 minute video that shows technical skill, performance and a brief introduction can be submitted at the contact us page at TheLegendofLionman.com.
"We wanted to open up the audition to those who could not make it for our earlier auditions and we hope that young martial artists and actors take advantage of this opportunity." - Grandmaster Eric O'Neal Sr. creator of The Legend of Lionman.
The top "7 Young American Heroes" will participate in a reality TV Show and they will take part in the new movie, "The Lion and the Dragon", with Grandmaster Eric O’Neal, Sr. and Grandmaster Jim Kelly, from the movie, Enter the Dragon, starring the Legendary Bruce Lee.
Winners of the auditions will compete at The Legend of LIONMAN finals during the Disney’s Martial Arts Festival on June 19, 2010 at Disneyland® Resort, Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The winners of the 7 Young American Heroes will be crowned as Ambassadors of the Martial Arts at the Masters Hall of Fame.
For more information visit The LegendofLionman.comhttp://bit.ly/ceOEcx or call 504-258-7773. Submissions can be made by posting to a social video site and then emailed or sent to us directly.
Las Vegas, NV- Sears Blue tool Crew hosted a cocktail and hors d' oeuvres event for the Media. The party featured some new tools with a DJ providing the soundtrack.
It's exciting to see one of the oldest brands in the United States
SEARS embracing Social Media.
The real story was the showcasing of the new Sears Blue Tool Crew a sort of Handyman Hotline to get your questions answered for anything having to do with a HARDWARE product bought at Sears. A life line for tools, a GEEK Squad for Screwdrivers...
The team demonstrated logging into the website and requesting help. Within minutes the phone ideally rings with an attendant ready to interact and answer questions.
Dan McClellan and I had a chance to talk with the leads of the division, social media and the PR company taking the lead.
Sears is taking an aggressive stance and embracing the social media model of interacting with their customers via phone, email and social media. They are utilizing many of the strategies that we talk about on "Blog This With David Kamatoy" and implement with Kamatoy Media Group and our assorted projects: No More Geysers, jugglemail, and CraigGFrancis.com.
We captured some footage today and are planning on interviewing a few more of the principals tomorrow.
Bill Kiss, Chief Marketing Officer
S.D. Light SVP- Tools & Hardware
It's exciting to see one of the oldest BRANDS in the United States embracing Social Media.
So stay tuned because it's clear that we are collectively re-writing the play-book as we go...
San Diego,CA- These were taken at the Spring Buskers Festival 2008 at Seaport Village.
Charles Frey took these at one the better shows of the weekend. Charles has a great eye for capturing those moments. Thank you for these my friend...
Special Thanks to Charles Frey at http://www.freyphotos.com/
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