Yes we do.

Marlin Rocks.

The best projects are the ones where you can do whatever you’d like. The best-of-the-best projects are when you do something you’d like to do for yourself. Marlin Rocks is just such a project.

Marlin was visited by some folks from “they-who-must-not-be-mentioned” and to say thanks for taking a look at us, we put together two iPods with music selections from some of the crew.

But what made it real cool was a video introduction of the songs which Judith Garson and my man Quentin Brown put together. They went around and had folks present their pick for the playlist. We set the iPods to play the movie first thing when the recipients turned it on.

Would anybody like to send me an iPod?

Real Smooth

Getting smooth to work for you.

Seattle’s Best Coffee (SBC) is a well-known brand that’s owned by a much better known brand, Starbucks.

The SBC folks had a SYSCO trade show to attend and needed a simple handout to create a little (yep, I’m gonna say it) buzz.

Smooth is the name of game with SBC so, working with copywriter Chris Rock and AE, Ashley Earwood, we developed the above piece with the head, “Smooth works for you.” The message was directed at SYSCO reps, delivering what they’re looking for; something that sells itself.

The mechanics of the piece were a literal play on the headline; the lid pops off and reveals the message.

Real smooth.

Let’s Go Bowling

Downtown Quentin Bowlin’ Brown.

At Marlin, we don’t just drink Starbucks coffee, we make it look good to drink Starbucks coffee.

We do tons of work for Starbucks Foodservice. They’re the folks who get Starbucks into places that Starbucks retail hasn’t penetrated (unbelievable, I know). Every year the FS people have a national sales meeting and for FY08 they all got together one evening for billiards and bowling at Garage in Seattle, Washington.

We presented several options (mostly gutter balls), but the beauty above was the spectacular splasher that got the game to a cool 300. Head kegler, Matt Rose, did a quick sketch of a mug as a pin (which forced me to cough up a beer frame—I’ll getch’ ya next time, Rose) leaving me to pick up the spare by tackin' down the stars as goal posts and nailin’ a barmaid down the back ends to the kickback with slick type and touch of good old fashioned distress to get ’er in there. But hey! We were sandbaggin’ just to get ’em to pickup the next beer frame.

As the legendary Chick Hearn once crowed, “Bowling for dollars, where the money goes up, as the pins fall down.”

Soccer Clubbing

Young Ben owns the soccer pitch.

My youngest son, Ben (Bubba), is an anomaly. I have done fairly well in sports, but I always had to work at it. Ben on the other hand is a natural. He plays on two soccer teams, one through the YMCA and the second is a competitive club team under the monicker of Magic Soccer.

Both teams have been without a proper logo, with the Y team using the provided t-shirts and the Magic Soccer team sporting cheap uniforms from South America. So it was time to get them branded properly.

The Cones, coached by Ben’s uncle Jon Timson, was named by Ben’s cousin George due to the brilliant orange of the Y shirts they wore during their undefeated season.

Magic Soccer is coached by Jonathan Marquez who is a fantastic, supportive leader for the U11 boys. Growing up between Missouri, San Diego and Venezuela, Jonathan’s coaching style has created an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.

We are Magic!