SMW Recap: Nick Jonas, Parsons, & tips to be a Social Media Jesus #38

Fashion Week wasn't the only excitement for last week. It was also Social Media Week. Some of you may be thinking, "what the hell?! Social media week?! Please don't tell me about facebook." Calm the f*** down! I'm not going to bore you with technicalities. I'll pick out the best features and list things you should probably know so you don't get 'unfriended'. 

L to R : 1. Nick Jonas 'Social Media in the Music Industry'.                 2. Parsons, The New School for Design 'Social Media in Fashion'.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Going inside Bloomberg headquarters. That building is built for a modern day Pharaoh. Picture Google HQ mixed with Dubai.
2. Checking into conferences on the 28th floor. If you're in New York and get to go into any building with more than 20 floors you need to be somebody with a life.
3. Going to a talk with the head of marketing and social Media for the Grammys, Beverley Jackson. Useful piece of information #1: The Grammy's are planned mid June and fully finished by the 15th of January. Hence when the death of Whitney Houston came the night before, Beverly had 24hours to reconstruct a show (planned almost a year ago) and integrate a tribute. Not to mention the Etta James tribute that also had to be sensitively handled so it wasn't over shadowed.  A lot of people were pissed off with how short the tribute was but given that they had 24hours it was pretty well done. Any other awards show would have reverted to powerpoint slides and comic sans headers. 
4. A talk with Jeff Daschis, CEO of the Dachis Group, at Bloomberg HQ. Favourite quote: "Look at the people around you. Capture this moment. We are on the verge of the biggest technological shift in history. This is as big, if not bigger, than the industrial revolution." Total mind-F. 
5. Using social media in fashion, at Parsons. Not only was this in the building where project runway was filmed but it was totally an eye opener. If you are in any type of creative industry make sure you're on-the-ball with all social media shizz. Knowledge is power. 

What the hell happened last week? #37

I have been trying to think of ways to recap this week without boring you to death with business jargon and computer coding phrases. Let's be honest, as well as you losing focus, I'd probably fall asleep writing about it. So I decided I'd, instead, make you sweet lists of useful things I picked up.

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK 2012

Photo : © M.Godwin 2012

TIPS

1. Plan you outfits for each day. But be cohesive. It's like you're presenting your own collection to the public.
2. If you're ordering Starbucks within a 2km radius of Lincoln Center (where the majority of FW events are held) they will assume you want low fat milk and no whipped cream. Wahh. Specify. 
3. Be prepared to bullshit the pants off people. But in a truthful way.
4. Hype yourself. 
5. MAKE CONNECTIONS. Have amazing business cards! I'd definitely look twice at a strawberry centered business card. 
6. If you're taking street style photos find shots that no-one else has. E.g find another exit (mostly 'show ponies' come out the front). Often the best outfits are seen in creepy lane ways while people are inroute to a show.
7. Pack snacks. You will die if you do not have snacks and no-one will care. They will walk right over your rotting corpse with their Louboutin's on the way to the next show. Let's face it, Alexander Wang is more important. 
8. Take music. Nothing like a little Drizzy or The Black Keys to pump up the confidence levels. Having said that, don't be an Ipod drone who acts 'socially oblivious' to the world. Uncool fool. Uncool.
9. Get there EARLY! When I mean early I mean early like 3 hours early. If you don't have the pleasure of being on Anna Wintour's christmas card list then getting there early is one of your greatest assets. Certain stage doors are open if you're there early...
10. SMILE like you have just had more botox injections than Dolly Parton. People will find you approachable. 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM FASHION WEEK 

1. Finding Bill Cunningham. 
2. DKNY shenanigans that resulted in me writing a post and them reading it. No big deal (*puts hands over mouth and tries not to scream).
3. Talking smack to try and get backstage. It's more fun and a better story if you weren't invited (cough cough not that I wouldn't love an invite).
4. Eccentric people who really didn't conform. Cudos to y'all! 
5. Getting owned by my coffee just before I got to Diane Von Frustenburg. Raah.

As a side note to my 'LIST' I offered my seat to an older woman on the train. She politely declined in what I thought was english. Before I could ask her where she was from the train stopped and she very kindly (slash loudly for the whole train to hear) said me a prayer in what I now think was Japanesse. 

And I'm out.

Peace, Morgs

p.s I'll be recapping Social Media Week tomorrow which includes the Nick Jonas thing, Parsons, and tips on how to be a social media Jesus.

THE END. New York Fashion Week + Social Media Week #35

What an insane week it has been! And it's only Thursday! It went something like this: Fashion week, Social Media Week, Fashion week, Fashion week, Fashion week, Social Media Week, Social Media Week, Fashion week.

I'll be recapping the exciting events from New York Fashion Week and Social Media Week on Saturday USA (EST). 

But just to get you uber hyped like an ADHD baby sloth, here's some of what has happend in Morgs' world: 

Fashion Week images are my own. Social Media Week images courtesy of 'Social Media Week'

• Somehow got backstage at DKNY, but ended up being shown the door. Found myself outside next to Bill Cunningham, and he called me child (if I had died, I would have died happy).
• Wrote about 'momentarily' being backstage at DKNY and tweeted it to them. They responded "...Loved the post". Win. (read it here)
• Went to a talk with the Director of Marketing/Social Media for THE GRAMMY'S, Beverley Jackson. I can't even explain to you the value of the knowledge she provided. We just don't get that in New Zealand. 
• Got backstage to Betsey Johnson only to be turned away. Wah. Just let me observe. I shall quote myself here (the worst form of shameless self promotion), "I'm not some weirdo trying to steal Jennifer Aniston's Blackberry. I just want to take photos."
• Went to a talk with Nick Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers. What a mature young fellow (he's a year younger than me but what the hay). Very smart. 
• Took copious amounts of street style photos.
• Dropped my coffee all over my pretty blazer. Raaah. 
• Watched 'The Vow'. I love a good chick flick. 
• Watched 'Safe House'. I love action movies almost as much as my family. 
• Discovered Macaroons. My life is over. 
• Went to a party DJ'd by Jersey Shore's Pauly D. I have never heard the words 'Yeah Buddy' so many times in one night. Next it'll be in the Oxford Dictionary (too far?). 
• Met some amazing people, doing things that will change the world. Total mind-F. 
• Woke up just in time to catch the live stream of the Calvin Klein show. Thank goodness!

And I'm out.

Peace, Morgs

Backstage at Donna Karan New York + Finding Bill Cunningham #32

The second Donna Karan show just finished in NYC. DK is a fairly big crowd puller and yesterday the likes of Nina Garcia and Ashley Greene were in attendance. Today the Donna Karan runway bleachers played host to none other than Adriana Lima. I have somehow acquired a pass that, if used correctly, can get you backstage. Total win. The hardest part is not the first line of security but the second. I made it past the first but when I got to the second they totally called me out. Dammit. I am pretty much legit (if I do say so myself). I'm not some weirdo trying to steal Jennifer Aniston's Blackberry. I just want to take photos. I shall try again. I love DKNY.

After total deflation from being ushered out I found someone I admire very much . I came outside and Bill Cunningham was right infront of me (everything happens for a reason). I couldn't believe it. I took this photo and I think it shows how much Bill loves what he's doing. There were obviously a few other creeps there who were total Bill Cunningham nerds. They started talking to him and I could tell he just wanted them to piss off so he could take photos. Thus, I didn't approach him. However, when I was walking back to the apartment I found him walking to his bike. Why I know this is because I bumped into him. I was looking at my phone and he walked infront of me so I tried to swerve but failed miserably. I momentarily stopped (then realized who it was) and said sorry, he replied, "that's ok child." My life is complete.

And I'm out.
Peace, Morgs