I think I used to love Madonna…That was until we listened to close to 80 songs in the span of 3 days! Today I officially won the Madonna music challenge, but not without a fight. Diego clearly played a repeat of Frozen, but then again do my spoken word poems set to music count as a Madonna hit anyway? (Nobody has to know, right?)

This particular challenge posed a debate about whether or not we could keep a running list of all the songs previously played. It was all going fine until a certain contestant who shall remain nameless (sounds like a city in California) stole the lists and tried to destroy them in the paper shredder. NOT COOL! Well, either way I reigned supreme and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are the next to be conquered…

Posted by lilkim under Music & Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Say it fast five times in a row.

Posted by covergirl under Art & The Collec+ive & Videos | No Comments »

All companies like ours wax on (and off and on and off and on and off) about branding/design/advertising/strategy/interactive/whatever.

Today I promised a client we would not be doing that in our blog. Go to Landor or Pentagram for the ultimate in that kind of talk. Professionally, we are always part of industry conversations and are constantly and persistently in the loop -and in some cases ahead of it. More than one hundred awards and hundreds of clients over the years speak to that fact. And we will continue to hang out on that interesting and cutting edge.

However, we have other things we want to share with you. Like who we are. What inspires us. How we are in the world. How we give back. Often this gets lost in the rat race.

We are very very very great at what we do. Where we differ is in HOW we work. Over the years and through our evolution into The Soffer Collec+ive, we have learned that Business IS Personal. All things equal, the key to a successful business is how you relate to each other, to clients, Collec+ive partners etc, through thick and thin (yes, my dear and wise friend Mike Gentry–we finally get it!!!).

We have embraced and live by a very human way of working. Yes, we’re experts. We’re not pushovers. We have opinions based on specific knowledge and research. But we’re also very warm people who value relationships. 

So OUR BUSINESS IS PERSONAL is our mantra. You can count on it. And on us. Our core values (see the Wordle above) are also very human. This paints a picture of The Soffer Collec+ive that we are very proud of. We want you to know us as people. So you will be seeing lots of posts about us and our passions- and oddities - in this blog. Like, for instance, one day soon Shortstop will get up the nerve to tell you all about High Heels and Power Tools. 

And if we haven’t told you before, thank you. For being our customers. For trusting us. For letting us be real and personal with you. 

Grassy ass and xoxoxox to all.

PJS

Posted by Patty Soffer under Art & Design & The Collec+ive & Uncategorized | No Comments »

For anyone that knows the various personalities at the Soffer Collective we are an eclectic bunch to say the least. But when all is said and done we are truly a family. Full of sibling rivalries, tattle tales and prank pulling. You can walk into our office at any given time and become privy to some fairly random conversations. Sometimes they are blatent and intentionally risque, but no matter how well-spoken or how harmless a phrase is uttered, it can always be miscontrued…

So when someone busts out one of these memorable phrases, they are immortalized on our quote board.

That said, I will give you all a taste of, or a “best of” our greatest one liners:

“There’s a couple black people in Africa.”

“If I were gay, I’d be the guy.”

“If you don’t cup it, it will sting for days!”

“Russia obviously sucks at soccer.”

“Old enough to pee, old enough for me.”

“He’s an ex-Marine.” Q: “Mr. Rogers?” A: “Yeah!”

Q: “What do you mean he’s soccer player.” A: “He plays soccer.”

“We’re not content managers, we’re models.”

“I just wanna kick a soccer ball and get some tail.”

“Once they’re in your mouth, they’re not too big.”

“I’m not emotionally crippled anymore, I take drugs now.”

Q: “Do you eat raw fish?” A: “It depends how it’s cooked.”

“Who knows where I put it? I could have dragged it anywhere.”

“Don’t be such a brut when you pull it out.”

Posted by lilkim under The Collec+ive | No Comments »

In this world of text messaging, video conferencing and Satellite TV, some people are still living in the times of 8 tracks and rotary telephones. You remember rotary phones right? The ones that take like 7 minutes just to dial out because after each number dialed, you have to wait for the rotor to come back to zero?

Technology has brought us so far, but yet AJ still won’t get a car. I have a 15-year-old daughter who can’t wait to get her drivers license, but yet, AJ won’t get a car.

When my friends and I make plans to go out, we all get ready to go, have a couple drinks, and then we always ask the same question.  “Wait…who’s got AJ?”

AJ is one of my closest friends, and an all around great guy, but damn…get a car already. Just once, I would like be able to go out and drink ’til I drop, but I can’t because I gotta drop off AJ. Why doesn’t he be the designated driver? ‘Cuz he ain’t got no car man!

Last year we actually won a motor scooter in a raffle. So excited that we won and that I could help out my man AJ, I drove it to his house to give it to him. Do you believe this guy didn’t want it?

“I’m a proud black man,” he says. “I’m not going to drive a scooter.”

” Ummmm, ok, you don’t want a free scooter to get around in?”

“NO!” AJ replied.

So here we, are back to the drawing board.

In the meantime, we will all take turns taking AJ here and there.

I look forward to the day when someone says, “Wait…who’s got AJ?”

“I thought you had him.”

“Not me, my car is already full.”

“Well I guess AJ got left behind!”

Pour out a little liquor for him, and party on; I know he’s got a bus pass.

Posted by covergirl under Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Let’s blame the twintern for playing a Janet song in the first place.

In our haste to tell her she didn’t know her Janet songs, she pulled out an old-school Janet, which prompted an all-out Janet Jackson song war in the office! (Don’t worry. We can multitask.)

Apparently Janet has been the shit for what,  20 years now,  and she has oldies but goodies and hot new jams! No I’m not doing Janet promo, but if every J song makes you snap your fingers or go ‘oh yea!!’ or makes you think of haha,  well you know what I’m sayin’.

So when the smoke cleared, one man emerged as the Janet Jackson challenge champ.

“I cannot be defeated! I defeat all man, and if he dies, he dies!!” (for all you Rocky 4 lovers.)

That’s right. Dr. McChocolate is the music guru of this office, at least on this day.  ;)

Winning video:

Look for the next challenge coming soon!!!!!!

Posted by drmcchocolate under Music & Uncategorized | No Comments »

Okay. We get it. It’s a digital world yada yada yada.

But nothing says good breeding like some non-digital attention.

I just attended a fab birthday bash for uber-fashionable Miami PR guru Tara Solomon of TARA, Ink, along with 700 of her other close friends. I kid you not. She knows everyone. While the heat of that many bodies in one small room drove me out the door to the nearest non-crowded air-conditioned restaurant, I did get the all-important photo-op birthday hug so was able to present her with a little gift. 

Wonder of wonders. Today I got a HAND-WRITTEN thank you note! Not an email, not a text, not a vm, im, em, or any other combination of ones-and-zeros that have taken over the world.

This note was on paper (remember that? ) written in pen ( I think I still have one of these) with 100% human spit sealing the envelope (a sentimental favorite) and an authentic, 100% US-made POSTAGE STAMP that actually cost 42 cents (I think). 

This really made me feel special. No matter how fast the world flies by, when someone takes time to let you know they are grateful, there is no better feeling. 

Tara, you are, as always, the queen. As I said in my email to you (yes, I am still an electronic addict), your parents brought you up to be a lady. Good manners always rule. 

Happy Happy Birthday to a very special person. 

Posted by Patty Soffer under Design & Fashion & Uncategorized | No Comments »

Usher.-.Love in this Club - MyVideo

Today’s challenge was Usher. I must say I had my reservations. I really only know 2 Usher songs. And going up against tried and true R&B enthusiasts such as my fellow office mates, I figured I had no chance. But miracles do happen people. U really just have to want it. If U put the Twork in, U will be amazed by the results.

So, do to the help of iTunes, wikipedia and a few flaws in the rules of our game, I won the challenge. My first bit of luck was when Twintern Jessica played a song intro that was already played today and then AJ played an R. Kelly feat. Usher song (by the way songs that feature the Challenge artist are totally off limits, only duets are allowed).

I am the champ! For now of course. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. I vote for a Nerf Herder challenge. Any takers?

Posted by covergirl under Music & The Collec+ive | No Comments »

No matter what anybody says, the Olive Garden is still, by far, the most scrumptiolesscent restaurant created on God’s green Earth. As I was in D.C. this weekend visiting my rocket scientist brother, we made time to visit an OG in PG County (that’s Prince Georges, Holmes).

So what did we have? Well what else could you get at such a fine establishment - the Tour of Italy. Equal parts Chicken Parm, Fettuccine Alfredo and Lasagna. Add on the magnificent bread sticks and some salad and it’s a feast fit for kings.

Alright, ’nuff said. I hear D.C. has some other things.

Posted by covergirl under The Collec+ive | No Comments »

Holy Crap!

I’m a creature of habit. I like for things to be the same so my routine isn’t broken.

When I have a routine, its much easier for me to function.

My afternoon routine is to have lunch at 12:30, and by 2:30 imp ready to go to the bathroom, and meditate about life, love and the Dallas Cowboys.

During my daily meditation, I usually poop around 2:40 or so.

Lately, I have gone for my medipoop session and the bathroom has been rendered unpoopable for various reasons. Either the toilet hasn’t been flushed and there is a pile of urine and crap just submerged there, or someone tried to crap without actually sitting on the toilet, and shall we say…they missed.  There was the time when I went in there only to find a ton of paper towels stuck in the bowl full of muck, or I would see another pair of feet and scrunched down pants around the ankles of another fellow crapper.

Did I mention there is only one stall? 

Thank God for the Embassy suites hotel right across the street.

The 6 stalls and 5 urinals are a poopers dream. The handicapped stall is my favorite. So spacious I can kick my feet up, and really settle in for good days poop.

This bathroom is so luxurious, the seats are so comfortable, and it always smells like fresh pine in there, mmmmm.  It’s like being at the playboy mansion, without the playboy bunnies, and without the mansion.  They don’t have a bathroom attendant, which I always found to be a little weird. “Dude, I don’t need your help, I can get my own soap, and I can dry my own hands thank you”

This blog post is dedicated to the Embassy Suites. For an awesome pooping experience that is both rewarding and fulfilling, sit your behind on those imitation marble toilet seat covers. You butt will be in heavenly bliss with no backsplash.

Posted by covergirl under Uncategorized | 2 Comments »