Kem Meyer's Blog, page 18
June 4, 2012
I saw this 3 minute video 3 weeks ago & it’s still...
I saw this 3 minute video 3 weeks ago & it’s still messing with me. “There is a mutiny in my soul and I’m in this fight for my life, with a violent, gushing sickness…” (Via Romans 7: 25, Cody Baker & Second Chances.)
March 19, 2012
Would more money make it better?
I ran across this a while back, but just watched again recently and took some notes. It's from from the 2011 Santa Barbara International Film Festival where "Lynda.com puts you in the front row of four fascinating panel discussions with some of Hollywood's top filmmakers."
This particular 14 minute clip speaks to 6 directors on the Oscar circuit and the pressures they face. Unusual for a group of nominated films—with the exception of Toy Story 3—these are all relatively low-budget films. The directors discussed how not having a big budget to work with forced them to be more creative and focused on the story.
Boundaries and restrictions create a visual language. Work within the confine and get things done.
Many times when we compromise because of cost, the scene ends up being better (because we're desperate).
Success isn't found in a big budget but in who goes with you. You want people on the project who want to be there whether they're paid or not.
Had we had more money, we would have crushed the land we were using and rolled over the local participants. As outsiders, this is poor form.
There is a key relationship between budget and oversight–the level of scrutiny is reduced. I would gladly give up more money to gain more creative freedom.
Necessity breeds invention and keeps the egos out.
You always make better decisions when you have limitations (even if they are self-imposed).
March 16, 2012
4 ways to communicate complicated ideas through simple storytelling…
This is an oldie but a goodie. Jon Collins from Epipheo Studios talks at the Q Conference about communicating complicated ideas through simple storytelling (9 minutes of goodness).
He starts out acknowledging that new technology creates new ways to communicate. Then, he breaks it down. Breaking through the noise isn't as technical as you'd think.
Visuals. They're sticky, anchors in your brain. Images allow you to say more with less.
Humor. Draws people in and disarms them before you try to rock their paradigm.
Significance. Why? What's the point? Make sure you answer that. Frankly. One sentence.
He gives some great examples about new ways to tell a story. Watch the video. And, if after that, you're still looking for additional inspiration, take some cues from commercial spots and Very Short Story on Twitter.
March 14, 2012
12 stops along memory lane over the past 3 years…
I've been approached by a couple of people in recent weeks looking for series samples–inspiration for a new way to approach God's unchanging story in a changing world. I get it. A different perspective always helps generate new ideas of our own. And I know I'm grateful for the people and places we get new ideas from (e.g., leaders, churches, grass roots organizations, big business, my kid's classroom, my neighbor, YouTube, Google, Vimeo, blogs, etc.)
Anyway, I just went on a short stroll down memory lane at Granger and pulled a dozen samples of topics we've tackled in the past three years. While postcards like these aren't designed to tell the whole story, they do help approach a topic from a different angle. It's all about making a connection that invites someone to respond…to take that next step.
Intervention a breakthrough is closer than you think
Fail when life disappoints
Blink it's never too late to start shaping your kids
Unrated what they can't tell you in Sunday school
Picture This all the things around you that deserve a different outcome
The Time I Needed God The Most questions your pastors have asked at critical times in their lives
Gone Country a simple chord, a memorable chorus and a strong storyline
Family Life how to live in relative peace and harmony
A Christmas Carol Christmas Eve personal invitation from the desk of Scrooge
Relationslips finding traction in the places where relationships slip
Meet Two Tasty New Options new service times
Sand Traps navigating the course we find ourselves on
By the way: If you want the original graphic files for these postcards, you can download them at WiredChurches.com. If you're wanting to watch series clips from the weekend services, you can find them on our media player.
March 13, 2012
Want some print communication ideas? Here's 10 free samples.
Last week I got to spend the day with 50+ leaders talking about ways to implement simple strategies for smart communications. We talked about the inside work, the outside work and everything in-between. We had people from ten states and two countries. As an added bonus, there were two people in the room with my maiden name (but we weren't related). Anyway, back to you, and what this post is about. I shared some print samples with the group & I thought you might like a piece of that action. Here's links to a variety of print pieces we've produced over the past year. Hope it helps with your brainstorms. Enjoy.
Picture This mini-magazine (Story of us and new 2011 vision)
Fall 2011 Semester Guide (Fly over of special events, key opportunities and go-to landing spots)
25 Favorite Things Christmas (Weekend service program)
25 Favorite Things Christmas Offering (Weekend service program insert)
You are Here 2012 (Annual report)
The New Normal Project Field Guide 1 (Fundraising campaign)
The New Normal Project Field Guide 2 (Fundraising campaign)
The New Normal Project Field Guide 3 (Fundraising campaign)
The New Normal Project Field Guide 4 (Fundraising campaign)
Keeping Score (Weekend service program)
FYI: If you're interested in a one-day learning retreat about communications, volunteers or first impressions, I've got good news. We're hosting another set of 1-day workshops on Friday, July 20. Come spend the day with us!
March 12, 2012
Four reasons why it's ok to pass notes in church…
I've gotten some feedback recently from people wondering why we put Facebook/Twitter quotes in the bulletin or hashtags on the screen during our weekend services. One person put it this way "Who cares about Twitter?" Honestly? This feedback is awesome. It reveals we can do better job with context and vision. Thanks for the feedback!
Bottom line? Remember when you used to get in trouble for passing notes in class or church? Not here! WE WANT YOU TO! The series hashtag you see on the screen during the weekend service is just one way to do it. If you're on Facebook or Twitter, get social during service and use the hashtag as you post notes about what you're learning, what's connecting, what your next step is… you get the drift. Oh, and if you're not on Facebook or Twitter—no worries. You're awesome just as you are—traditional and focused. At least now you know what the little message is for when it pops up during service.
If you're interested in the why behind the what…read on.
Overall, there's a few key objectives we have for incorporating social media touch points into our weekend service:
Elevate the story. By facilitating conversations, we're aware of more stories to follow-up on, share and elevate. Social media is a no brainer. Stories are social. Anytime we provide tools to help people tell stories —its a win. Not to mention, it helps extend the conversation from Saturday night and Sunday morning into digital realms that live long beyond any stand alone live event.
Interactive experience. Culture rallys around experiences where they are invited to a conversation, rather than subjected to a broadcast. That's a distinctive that's not available in a lot of venues—especially church. Anytime we try something in the service that invites a little interactivity, or gives people a choice, we get great feedback. People are hungry for more. This is just another easy way to get at it on a regular basis. Giving people a part to play. It's ok to be texting, tweeting, sharing digitally while engaging in the service. Engaging digitally is important to today's culture. Even if they read a feed and choose not to speak up, it's still their choice and we're providing an option.
Real time feedback. Self-explainatory. Benefits obvious. Informs us of the whole picture, not just the part we see. Allows us to make decisions, program and respond to felt needs from the people in the congregation, crowd and community.
Discipleship tool. Twitter and Facebook discipleship tools? WHAT?! You say? My friend, Joel, put it this way:
"If you could be a fly on our pastor's shoulder all day long and see how he handles everyday situations – our lives would be better for it. We would see the world through different eyes. We would see how he interprets scripture through practical real world illustrations that he may think nothing of. But to many people this is extremely valuable. Twitter because its so instant and so personal, gives a person's followers a glimpse into their minds. Think about Jesus and his disciples, they were with Jesus all the time for three whole years. They saw him interact with shop owners as he bought lunch, as he interacted with people, as he taught. They got to see the bible lived out. I wholeheartedly believe that we should be connecting our congregation to our pastor's twitter accounts for the same reason the disciples followed Jesus; it can be another way to connect our congregation to our pastor's everyday lives. I think that its important to see how Mark goes on a nightly Starbucks run with his wife, or how Rob is interacting with his girls, or how Tim pours into others. This can only be good. Pastor Beeson's blog is very encouraging to a lot of people, and helping people find his posts via tweet stream can be just as encouraging and could help more people."
Offline people? There's some good to be found online. Online people? There's some good to be found offline. Hope this helps. Enjoy and be social!
February 29, 2012
Social media strategy 101? Just do what you do…
NASCAR driver gets 100,000+ new followers in ONE HOUR from tweeting during red flag. Amazing publicity for the dude's team (entire sport really). All because he just did what came naturally.
HT: Justin Moore
February 28, 2012
1 day workshop about communications. Start at 9, done at 4.
Next Friday, March 9, you have an opportunity to match principles with real life examples. Curious how to gain…
a fresh perspective and some new ideas about how to craft communications release the right response? (Less clutter. Less Noise. with me)
hands-on training that will empower paid and unpaid wow-makers to make great first impressions ? (First Impressions with Mark Waltz)
creative inspiration for arts programing and volunteer team building in a small church? (Worship in the Sticks with Dan Vukmirovich and Don Reynolds)
Invest in this one day learning retreat. You deserve some specific and practical encouragement. As a matter of fact, grab one or two teammates and bring them along to make the day even better. I'll be here. Mark, Dan and Don will be here. And, so far 96 others have signed up to be here, too. Hope you can join us.
Get all the specifics and register now…
What's happened in a year? Glad you asked…
A year ago we unveiled a new vision at Granger. Wondering what progress we've made since then? Glad you asked. Here's a handy dandy little PDF that reveals it all. Enjoy.
What's happened in a year? God is good.
February 2, 2012
20 minutes about communication trends in the local church…
Sean Cannell over at Think International sat me down on Skype last week for an interview about communication trends in the local church. Best practices, bad habits, missed jokes and all–we covered it in 20 minutes.
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