Jason Figg

60s Hit-Making Songwriters Key To Creating Winning Ideas

I read that a song-writing duo recently, separately died. So successful that in the Sixties they racked up UK Top 20 hits in number second only to Lennon-McCartney. With a love of songwriting since schoolmates, they were rejected by the gatekeepers of the day (Soho's English Tin Pan Alley). So

Your German Discounter Smash Hit Middle Aisle Pitch

I say smash hit but, according to their UK Chief Exec, I could equally say divorce-maker. For apparently the 'middle at Lidl' phenomenon that is their ever-changing selection of all manner of weird and wonderful household items can cause domestic ructions. “We often get partners at odds with each other

Now and Next Renown

I was enjoying a chat with a shift manager of a large gastro style coffee shop that when in that city centre I frequent. She had just begun to split her time to help steady the fortunes of another location. As with many such endeavour, I sensed a combination of

Behind Unexplained Curtain

Much-loved English radio broadcaster, Howard Hughes, left quite the body of work. In his later life, a significant light in the murky world of bizarrerie where he stood apart as a beacon of sanity and curiosity in a field otherwise mired with the crank often verging on dangerous. His arena

Operation Mincemeat-ing Opposition Minds

An avid reader in my early school years, I lapped up The Man Who Never Was. Also made into a terrific film, it tells the story WW2's daring Operation Mincemeat. How the Brits sought to distract the enemy through the sleight of doc of 'top secret' yet false landing plans

Top Animator, Murder Club Bestseller Author & Biggest Daytime DJ on Storytelling

Recently I've heard a trio of luminaries touch on storytelling tips. Kicking off with the starkest. A resurfaced clip from Trey Stone. Of South Park and Team America World Police fame. When recounting a tale, never hear yourself saying, "and then...". In context; "We can take these beats which are

US Election Zoomscape Samples

Now it's over. Can the world breath again? Regardless of policy, passion or preference, at least we might all take something from these random six video call backdrops seen adopted as the '24 American campaign reached its climax. One candidate on the unsuccessful ticket gave glimpse to their workspace. Perhaps

Deadlock Mapping

A coin-toss clean sweep. Knife-edge landslide. Who saw that coming? The just-completed US Presidential campaign seems to have delivered plenty of gasps all-round. One arena pertinent to us though, is in the visuals. Beyond the sloganising vibes/joy/brat or ᴍᴀɢᴀ 2.0 slants. Into graphical representation of projections, status

Incumbency Penalty

I hear there's been an election. The most consequential in a lifetime, apparently. For which you may or may not have had a vote. In any case, you probably have a view. Whether you've spent the immediate aftermath lapping up meltdown liberal tears, fearing the rise of the fascists or

Dual-Hatters

A phrase that seems to have grown out of public sector contract awards that have the, ahem, sniff of the elicit gain about them. Dual-hatting is where someone quietly works both sides of the fence. Secretly leveraging a vested interest, or at least taking advantage of privileged relationships and information,