The 2008 ADDY Awards Advertising is an art. And art is all about expression. So what better theme for the 2008 ADDY Awards than Express Yourself? There simply wasn’t one more appropriate so the Jacksonville Marketing and Advertising Club took it and ran with it. Well first and foremost let me clear something up so that we can continue without any confusion. What was once known as JAXMAC has been renamed the American Advertising Federation of Jacksonville—yes, AAFJAX. No duck impersonations needed, thank you. The name unveiling happened at the awards ceremony along with the distribution of many awards to deserving local advertisers and creatives. The American Advertising ADDY Awards is the biggest creative ad competition in American, and Jacksonville was poised and ready to represent. With around 300 entries from local participants such as Ruckus, Brown Dog Creative and Scott-McRae...

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I survived another Singles Awareness, I mean Valentine’s Day. Much to my surprise, it turned out to be one of the best ever. The day started with a single rose (thank you bossman) and ended with an uplifting experience. Earlier this week I ran into an old advisor of mine from UNF and as we were chatting, the fact that I work at the Florida Theatre came up. He inquired about Trisha Yearwood tickets, which I assumed he would use to take his wife out for Valentine’s Day. To my surprise he wanted to bring his 17 year old son, who 11 years ago had met Trisha in Phoenix at a conference. Ever since then he has be her biggest fan and always asks his father to, “Tell Trisha I said hi!”, every time he traveled to Phoenix. So last night Tom surprised his son Christian, by bringing him to the theatre without revealing who they were there to see until he gave him the tickets. The pure excitement and overwhelming joy was moving in itself....

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No, that spot wasn’t dirt. Yes, I do wash my face. 12:20 on Ash Wednesday you would have found me standing in the back of Immaculate Conception. With ashes on my forehead, a few co-workers and I made the short walk back to the office, contemplating what we were going to give up. Lent being a time of repentance, many forego something they enjoy, a food or activity. I’m not what you would call a devout follower of some of the traditions of my confirmed religion, but thought that this would be an interesting and appropriate time to reflect of what I wanted to give up. Let’s see if I can do it. 1: I’m going to give up my disdain for talk radio. It used to really irritate me when I was driving to school back in the day (and yes for me that means like eight or nine years ago) with one of my parents and they would listen to talk in the morning. Ever since then I’ve never taken to listening to people talk at me in the car. The catalyst for such a transition? Our incredibly fun Saturday morning live radio broadcast...

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January has left the building. Enter a PACKED February schedule. We have a lot to offer this month and YOU need to take the time to check it out. Classic rock, dance, country, family shows- it is all here. Next week the amazing group from Classic Albums Live will be here to perform Led Zeppelin’s IV. This is an experience unlike any other. If you were lucky enough to be here for the Pink Floyd show, you know what I am talking about. This group plays the album in its complete entirety. On February 5 immerse yourself in the classic music and talent- which will then intrigue you to check them out next month when they perform The Beatles Sgt. Pepper. Dance. I know we have touched on this a few times and Katie let you have it in the last post, but here I go again…. Next Friday, February 8- Jennifer Muller/The Works. This company is unlike anything I have ever seen or experienced before. The showcase in New York gave us insight to what we will expect here, on our stage, and it will blow you away. The part...

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I’ve lived in Jacksonville my whole life—a soon to be 23 years. That’s a pretty long time to get used to a place. The way it works and the way it very much doesn’t work. Travel is a blessing. You must always get outside the little box you call home to experience exactly what else is out there…the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful for that matter. So when my beloved job takes me places, I gladly accept the invitation. Now don’t get me wrong about Jacksonville. I do love this place. It has been the setting of grand memories and almost every notable stride made to advance myself in life. But it simply does not have everything. It simply does not understand everything. We as a community have a lot of work to do. Let’s start here. A recent trip to New York brought out the magnifier glass on my world back home. The city is incredible and if you have never been, you must make...

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Let me begin with this, Kathy Griffin is a tremendously funny lady. What a great show last night. The sold out crowd never paused for a breath while laughing from start to finish! For those of you who are Life on the D-List fans, I got to meet and chat with Tom! Woo! Now for a little recap of NYC…I don't even know where to begin with my amazing "business" trip to New York City. Let's see, our hotel was on 6th Avenue, which is in the middle of everything! We were in walking distance of Central Park, Times Square, Broadway theatres and of course 5th Avenue (just to name a few). Through the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference which we attended, we had the opportunity to see and experience various showcases and events unlike anything I have ever seen or done. As Katie reported last week, we were lucky enough to visit Jennifer Muller/ The Works studio to enjoy excerpts from new and old dance pieces. Incredible, this company will take your breath away. The best part of the experience, was knowing they soon would be here on our stage to share their amazing talents with the Florida Theatre. The company will be performing with local Jacksonville dance students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Jacksonville University as well as FCCJ. It is going to be remarkable to see the collaboration between this innovative company and the local talent. Take the time to experience something you may never have before and check out their performance on February 8th....

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I’m in a New York state of mind….and that’s a good thing, because I also happen to be in New York. Sitting comfortably out of the drizzly cold in our lovely Hilton hotel room with a view of more windows, I will recap our first…and my very very first…day in the big city. The K-girls (Kendall and myself, Katie), Mary Claire and Toni have jet-setted to NYC for business, or we’ll call it that, wink nudge. We are participating in the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference that is held here every year. It is a chance to go to workshops to learn more about our field and our specific roles in our field, network with amazing people who do just what we do and view a variety of showcases that range from dance to musical theater to comedy and beyond. And hello! It’s in New York! An interesting thing happened though last night. We were checking out one of the neat little hangouts...

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It's a New Year, why not write a blog? For your viewing pleasure, as well as to see what is going on at the Florida Theatre, stay tuned each week for insight and overview from the "K" Girls (Kendall and Katie!). Check in every Friday to get your weekly fill from the Florida Theatre. First "K" Girl up is me, Kendall! Happy 2008! And to kick it off, three lovely Florida Theatre ladies and I will be heading to The Big Apple next Thursday for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference. For five days we will be immersed in talent, ideas, creativity and new experiences. Can't wait! Katie and I will fill you in when we return. Now, what we are leaving you here with are some great acts next week and it is sad to know we are missing them. To kick off the weekend check out Willie Nelson on Thursday, January 10th. This legend is about sold out! So make sure to get your tickets today. Come along and sing to your favorites...hopefully "On the Road Again", "Always On My Mind" and "Mamas Don't...

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Hello. Is there anybody in there? There is something you should know about. I have figured out the key to time travel—well of sorts. It’s really easy. Just close your eyes, or keep them open for that matter, but just listen, and you’ll be whisked away to years gone by…say 1979. This grand invention is called music, really well done music. Apparently it’s been around for a while I hear, but this kind of music, courtesy of the Canadian troupe Classic Albums Live, has super powers. Classic Albums Live is not a tribute band. They are not a cover band. They are an experience. Taking our favorite classic rock albums, they re-create them live on stage complete with every drum beat and guitar riff perfectly placed like a carbon copy of the original. There are no cheesy costumes or over flamboyant singers and absolutely no creative freedom with the songs. CAL performances are the...

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Almost every day, I get to work with the same cast of characters, all of whom enrich this experience in one way or another. Each one of us has our own part to play to make sure the show does go on. The leads can take the spotlight most often, but it is the ensemble that deserves the recognition also. Within this ensemble is a special group of men and women who gladly volunteer their time to this theatre as ushers. Not one show goes by without a team of ushers manning the doors, taking tickets and assisting the patrons and staff. They allow for our events to run smoothly. The service provided by each usher warrants recognition. They have their own jobs, their own lives, their own stories—where this theatre is only one chapter. With all of this, they appreciate this place that much to take time out of their busy lives to help with our mission. For that we hold an Usher Appreciation...

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