Chris Smith Associates

What is it all about ?

I started this blog on the basis that my business is complex. If I were a full time widget maker, my site would be a display of my latest widgets with an on line purchase button. However, I have a range of marketable skills which I sell. Podcasting is what I have been passionate about for the last wee while. There are a number of examples of the current projects and clients here on this site. However, there are a significant number where, particularly for Corporate clients, anonymity is the order of the day.

The purpose of this site is to give a flavour of skills I have to offer. I have taken the pictures, edited the video and audio, built the website, and done the clever Web 2.0 things behind it. If you think I could help; contact me.

Finally, I hate po-faced websites. But, I hope, you've already guessed that.

Cheers

Chris Smith

A date for your diary

If you bought the Scotsman over the last few days, you will have seen an advert like this one with Joyce McMillan. On 17 February, the Scotsman will launch a weekly podcast which will be produced by Feisty Productions. Lesley Riddoch will be joined by a posse of Scotsman journalists to discuss, dissect and debate the big issues. The podcast will be available on the Scotsman website. And here. 

Put the date in your diary now.

Coming up on February 17th !

 

Rabbie joins Philosophy Football Squad.

"The honest heart that's free frae a' intended fraud or guile. However fortune kick the ba', Has ay some cause to smile." Robert Burns

Selected for the Philosophy Football T-shirt squad and just in time for Burns night, Robbie's poetic tribute to the benefits of fair play. Sir Alex's failure to abide by these Burnsite principles we blame squarely on his move south. Available from www.philosophyfootball.com

I had to admit a wee smile when this was arrived in the auld email from Mark Perryman.

Happy New Year to everyone...the dust settles

 

Well, I think I have stopped wishing everyone "Happy New Year" in person. In fact, it seems to be so long ago that Christmas and Hogmanay were on us.

This year has already started like a whirlwind for me. There are a series of videos being produced for the marine energy groups, a podcast project which starts in mid February and a software project which will be a very interesting product. It's a dream mixture of innovation and really bright people. To say I am excited is an understatement. More details as things unfold, I promise.

A Christmas Poem

My message with the Christmas Card read...

Hi there,

No movie this year, just a wee photo from Orkney. Just to say, it's been some year...from elite athletes, Bob Dylan, vikings, argumentative Quakers, more Gaelic music, marine energy and a global recession that touched everyone.

Our phasers are set to 'smile', we carry what we need and our caps are at a jaunty angle as we look forward to a new decade.

Take care, enjoy yourselves and engage!

Chris and Lesley

And back came this reply...

Hi Chris and Lesley,

 I echo your sentiment! 

And wish you great merriment

From athletes to the odd shuttler

At times I feel I'm a butler serving my customer 

Times have been tough but very rewarding 

Although I'm not that au fait with Bob Dylan's recordings 

Although I will look out my vinyl and check out the Smiths 

Amongst kin it will go some way to dispel that "miserable" myth 

I don't wear a cap although I am in recession! 

But I will join in on your jaunty procession 

Onto the new decade and fresh challenges I'm sure 

So good luck Merry Christmas to you and your's!

Jim C

Our Christmas Greetings

Every year we send out a corporate Christmas card and a few words via email...it's more eco friendly and gives us an opportunity to get great images from the year and re-use them. This year is no different. As ever, we get lots of responses. It's great to hear from people we have worked with. And I was going to say 'this year is no different'. But come back tomorrow and I will share a response from our friend over at Culture Sport Glasgow...watch this space.

Great series comes to an end...

 In this last podcast of the 'On the Bike' series, Lesley reveals some of the secrets and things that happened on the epic cycle. She comes clean about the 'behind the scenes' operation. Pictured here is Lesley's back up driver for the trip.

 The whole production team would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to write and say nice things about the series. As you will hear if you listen carefully, Lesley may be tempted back On the Bike

Enjoy and feel free to comment/email or buy a bike and cycle the Western Isles...

Listen and enjoy.

Why can't our colleges and universities be like this ?

A timely reminder

 This week, the management team of this project are in Brussels reviewing progress with the European Community. Working with the Feisty team and other members of the EquiMar partners, I put together the website and their YouTube Channel. Part of the review was to judge the effectiveness of this media in 'public dissemination'.

So, as you can imagine, I spent some time poring over the numbers. I can't reveal the specifics but there is clear evidence to show regular interesting content builds an audience. Nothing startling there, I guess. However, there were some other interesting points. The one I would like to highlight is 'less is more'. The most watched video is the shortest and the second is the longest. The common thread is the content - both interesting and important at appropriate length.

A quick update...

It has been so busy around here, I have forgotten to update thing. So, here's a start; the Glasgow School of Sport opened an exhibition of their athletes and work over Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It runs until early November and the podcasts are all up on a big screen and look fabulous. So, check it all out.

Sandy Campbell sent me an email from the global headquarters of Working Rite last week with this good news. ..." Yesterday at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester David (Lord) Freud - the Tory spearheading their Get Britain Working policy, said from the main platform - "Inspired by the successful Working Rite model, we will match up 100,000 young people with sole traders for a 6 months work experience. Your first boss - one of the most influential people in so many of our lives. We are calling on sole traders to seize this opportunity. We will strip away the bureaucracy and let them teach the youngsters. It's a win for them; a win for the teenager, and a win for society"

David Willetts (Shadow Skills secretary) also mentioned our methodology with phrases like: "passing on skills to the next generation with a youngster being helped by an older guy who has mastered the skills. This isn't about paper qualifications".

So a Scottish idea could well be scaled up across the border - that is IF they form the next UK government.

Strange times we live in when the English Tories are the ones who understand this approach best."

Sandy is right and what I am learning is that there are more prospects on the road south. Watch this space.