Eenie, meanie, miney, mo, which portfolio school do I go?

Before you read: If you can get through this post in one sitting, damn, you have a way better attention span then me.

This is the holy grail of questions for Ad creatives straight out of undergrad. I’m asked this question all of the time.

There are a lot of great schools out there, and honestly it depends on the kind of person you are. There isn’t one bad school out there. It’s kind of like dating. (A lot of things in advertising are kind of like dating, and we all end up dating each other, weird.) I digress.

You need to find a school with the right timing and personality for you.

Most programs are two years long, but there is one program that is only one year.

What’s the difference?

The difference is, how much time do you need?

I, personally, had already interned and worked as a full-time copywriter for 6 months. I knew what I was getting myself into, I just needed a better book. A much better book. I look back now and cringe at my first student portfolio. I also wonder how the hell did I ever get hired before P.S.

So I chose Chicago Portfolio School.

Why I loved CPS.

One year. I adore Chicago.

The hardest year of my life. And I’m not kidding. Way worse then going through your awkward phase as a teenager. It’s a boot camp, and it’s meant to be a boot camp. You get out what you put in. Seriously. If it’s not the hardest year of your life, then either:

A) You’re an insanely talented ass who I am already jealous of.

or

B) You’re just plain lazy and your book will suck after that year.

If you’re not sure what advertising is, or what your roll as a creative is, these two year schools will probably be a better choice. It gives you time to develop your skills and knowledge of advertising. There’s nothing wrong with needing an extra year, and sometimes it makes all of the difference.

Other great schools

Miami Ad School – Most of my friends went here, and are super proud. It’s a two year program and you can travel around the world learning as a student.

VCU – Great two year program, a lot of people I work with now went there.

Portfolio Center (or I think it’s now referred to as Brand center) They also have other awesome programs for account planners as well as creatives.

Creative Circus – Oddly enough, I don’t know anyone who went here. Sketchy. Kidding, ass.

Yeah, I suck at updating.

Apparently when you're in Portfolio school, you don't have much free time. Well, I don't have any free time.

I just saw the grossest status update on facebook and figured I would share it with anyone who still reads this. I'm sure it's not many, if any.

Here it is:
Is proud of our son for practically sleeping thru his circumcision! We have such a trooper! He did better than mommy.
Gross. Seriously? You seriously think we want to hear about your kid getting cut. Yuck.

That's all for now.

Cause for celebration!

Damn it, I neglected my blog again, I won't let it happen again, hah, but anyway.
Anyone who has worked in Kansas City advertising knows that Bruno Peroni doesn't smile. Okay, well to be fair homeboy does smile, but never shows his teeth. Hallelujah! It has happened, it's like the solar eclipse, once in many years. (Yeah so I was going to look up however many years, but all I could find were the song lyrics to Total Eclipse of the Heart.)

The cause: It was my 23rd Birthday
Katie: Happy Birthday Christa!
Me: Uh, yeah my name is Christi
Everyone busts out into laughter and history is made!

Must Work In Advertising

I found this on another blog where people over hear comments and post them.

They Must Work In Advertising
Businessman To Two Other Businessmen: "All you have to do is treat me like I'm God."

Enough said.

P.S. the website http://overheardlines.blogspot.com/

The thing I hate about mass transportation...

Is that it transports the masses. Haha kidding, I swiped that from my favorite books. Anyway this will be a long post for all of those 2-3 months I neglected this blog like I neglect my cats. (Kidding of course, my cats are spoiled. Hell, one is named Francois and his hair cuts cost more than mine.)

I've learned to love the transit here in Chicago. I take a running count to see how many old ladies fall down like bowling pins when the buses come to an abrupt stop. Right now I'm at 5. I know I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it when the old bird actually fell head first into someone. Maybe she shouldn't be taking the bus. I must say, MUCH different then Wichita and I can't believe how open I even am to the whole mass transit here in Chicago. I didn't realize how big of a deal it was until my mom and a friend came up on separate occasions.

Me: Yeah, lets hit up Portillos, we'll just grab the 55 bus.
Friend: Bus?!? Can't we just take a cab?
Me: Arg. Sure. (As I'm calculating how much the bus would save me, I fork out the $10 cab ride instead of the $2 bus ride.)

Me: Great, lets go on the Redline.
Mom Excuse me? I don't ride trains.
Me: Well I hope you're paying then.

Another topic.

I live in Lincoln Park, I heart it. But damn it, everytime I walk out my door I smell fresh baked brownies. It's not even in just Lincoln Park, it's everywhere. It's taunting me, all I want to know is where the hell are the brownies and how can I get some.

Walking

I don't mind the walking, I actually prefer it, but my body is totally not use to it. In Wichita, people are lazy (totally the understatement of the year) and don't get me wrong I was included. It was so bad that during certain lunches at the office at my old job, they drove the block and a half there. Seriously? A block and a half to the restaurant.
I find myself walking on average almost 2 miles a day when I don't have much to do. Which is fine, except for my old figure skating injuries, specifically my knees ( I know, insert dirty joke here) and it's killing me. And another thing, I'm on the 4th floor and whenever I'm not carrying anything heavy, I walked up the 4 flights of stairs. I usually trek up these stairs 3 times a day, so then I ask, "Why the eff am I still huffing and puffy after the 3rd flight." Every time I walk up to my apartment I can barely breathe, you would think with all of that walking I'd get some kind of endurance.

Alright, let the whining commence. I bet I'll get another comment that lectures me about laughing at poor helpless ladies. But I'm okay with that, I'm just happy someone actually reads this thing.

Bottled Water Tax? Seriously?

Here's the lowdown. I'll make it quick so I can get to my more interesting stories. I no longer work at SHS and I moved to Chicago in order to break into my almost dream market. I love Chicago and Chicago advertising. So hopefully I'll make it.

Alright, now that's taken care of, there is something that I would like to discuss cause it bugs me.
"Bottled Water Tax" Think I'm kidding right? Yeah, well I thought the cashier at the grocery store was kidding.

"Just so you know you're pack of water will be an extra $1.60 because of bottled water tax."

I giggled, and say that's funny.

"No, really, the city of Chicago enforces 5 cents per bottle of water. Doesn't matter what size it is. So you're 4.99 pack of Dasani is really going to be 6.59."

Doh. Okay, if you're going to charge extra why not put that it's $6.59 for a case instead of adding that extra charge? And why would you tell me like now I should change my mind? I'm already in line checking out with many impatient people behind me. And there is no way in hell I'm drinking the cloudy water out of my faucet. So I accept defeat and pay the tax. Welcome to Chicago.

It's just that simple, and it's just that hard.

Okay, I totally ripped that line off of an HP commercial with Gwen Stefani, but I still love it. Just like I love this billboard that Leo Burnett in Chicago did. They are growing real lettuce in the billboard to get the full effect of Fresh Salads. Awesome, eh? Too bad it's in Wrigleyville and I'm here in Kansas. I wonder if Hobos would find a way up there?
Like I've always said, Less is More. I heart Simplicity.