T&T Podcast

Throughout this course (Multimedia Productions) I have learned a great deal of skills. This post is going to highlight some of my favorite moments and some of my more frustrating moments that have come with broadening my skill range.

What were some production skills/concepts that you expected to learn in the class?

I expected to learn some software skills and learn the basics of a lot of different mediums. I wanted to learn how to understand how to do a little bit of everything which I believe I accomplished.

To what extent did you gain the production skills/concepts that you expected to learn in the class?

This class definitely met my expectations of what I was expecting to learn. I feel that I have a wealth of knowledge that would make me very marketable to a variety of different companies.

Now, brainstorm about what “soft skills” you have learned in this class. To what extent have you learned and practiced “soft skills” in this class?

One of the most important “soft skills” that I learned is the ability to trouble shoot problems that may come with the software. I am very comfortable with looking up how to do something online or messing around with the software until I find what I needed/wanted to do.

I also feel like my interpersonal communication skills have improved through all of the interviews we had to conduct.

Discuss how these production and soft skills/concepts could help you in your future career.

Having experiencing interviewing is always a good skill to have because it not only is a professional skill but also shows how well developed your interpersonal skills are. I also like to be as well rounded in my professional development as possible so having this base knowledge of all these skills is very helpful.

I believe that employers would rather hire someone who has basic knowledge of a lot of different softwares that they can build off of over someone who is an expert in one software but wouldn’t know where to begin with others.

What assignment did you find the most meaningful? Why?

I think that the blog post where I interviewed and did a full story on my mom was the most meaningful because this was the first time that I did a comprehensive/all inclusive-type story on someone. I had to take pictures, write about her and got to interview her with my microphone.

I think this assignment was one that I spent the most time on because there were so many different parts to it. I had to flex a lot of different skills to make it as fluid as possible.

What assignment did you find the most challenging? Why?

The assignment where we had to compare two companies social media campaigns was one of the more challenging ones because I had to do a lot of research and digging on the companies. I also was trying not to be biased and give each company the treatment they deserved even though I heavily favor one over the other.

This also really challenged my writing ability because I was trying to come up with new and interesting things to say about all of the social media accounts I went to, but it was hard because I felt like I had the same things to say. I was also trying to find the differences between the accounts and, overall, was using a lot of brain power the entire time I was looking at the accounts.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice about this course, what would you say to yourself?

Don’t burn yourself out with your assignments and try to give each one an equal amount of time. I felt like I had run out of steam when it finally came to making the video because I didn’t want to learn anything new anymore or spend hours learning a new software. I would try and pace myself more while still giving some quality content.

I would also try and focus more on writing my posts because all of the posts are public and sometimes I would forget that.

This is my first attempt ever at making a video! Because I bored in my house and didn’t have anything to do I decided to make my video about how to stay mentally healthy in quarantine! I go through some various activities that I’ve been doing to take care of my mental health in these challenging times.

See the full video here:

What did you enjoy about this video experience (brainstorming, shooting video, editing, etc.)?

When I was first getting into this video I thought it was going to take me forever because I was going to have to learn a whole new editing software. I ended up using Adobe Premiere and was pleasantly surprised at how straight forward and intuitive it was.

I also enjoyed the process of shooting the video more than I thought I would as well. There was instant gratification in getting a really good shot want watching it back. This processes showed me that, if I needed too, I could shoot and edit a video again.

What did you not enjoy or struggle with?

I struggled with how to upload my videos into Adobe. They had a video tutorial that walked you through a bunch of the basic steps but then when it came time for me to upload my own videos I had to mess around with it to get it back to a screen I recognized.

I also had some trouble uploading the video on to YouTube. I had to do some trouble shooting because I couldn’t figure out how to convert the file into a format that could be uploaded onto YouTube. However, I ended up finding a video that walked you through the steps on Google so then I was able to do it.

What surprised you? What do you wish you could have done differently?

Having worked with a bunch of other Adobe systems (InDesign, Audition, etc.) I was expecting everything to be a little more complicated than it needed to be. That being said, I was very surprised at how straight forward everything was. I didn’t do anything that was too fancy when it came to the editing so it was nice that all of the basic things were easy to do.

I kind of wish I would have reached out to a partner to help me with the video because I think I could have come up with some more creative ideas if I hadn’t done it by myself.

How do you see yourself using video in a future career?

I would love to work on a video with a team of people in the future! I think I could come up with some really good ideas for promotional videos and believe that if I were to bounce them off a team of people we could come up with something really cool.

I could do this if I was by myself again but I think I would much rather make a video in a team.

It is known by many names: The Largest Outdoor Rodeo in the World, the Daddy of ‘Em All, CFD, Frontier Days, but none of them can accurately describe how much fun this event is. Frontier Days can be a great place to make some memories but it is easy to miss events if you haven’t been before.

Luckily, I happen to know Frontier Days very well being a Cheyenne native so I ranked everything to do in Frontier Days from the must-sees to the could-miss-’ems.

What is Frontier Days?

For everyone who wants to live the experience as a modern cowboy this event is for you. What began as a rodeo event has turned into ten days of jam packed western experience. Taking place the last full week of July but lasting ten days in its entirety, Frontier Days has everything from family friendly pancake breakfasts, to crazy night show performances, to the largest outdoor rodeo in the world.

This map is interactive! Click on some of the pins to give it a try.

Frontier Park

This is the most important location on the map because of the high volume of events that takes place here. The grandstands are home to the rodeo and night shows where people come from all over to participate/perform. Cowboys come from all over to compete in the rodeo and a chance of fame and fortune.

The Old Frontier town, which is right behind the grandstands, is within walking distance. Take a stroll down and look at a replica of a town straight from the wild west and check out all the vendors.

Right in front of the grandstands is the carnival which is home to all sorts of games and rides! Make sure you get a funnel cake as you browse around. Also on Cheyenne day, the Wednesday of the week, all Cheyenne residents get into the park for free!

Finally, stop by the Indian Village to hear the flute players, see traditional Native American dances and to browse all of the vendors selling everything from fur pelts to jewelry.

I would say that you couldn’t say you went to Frontier Days unless you when to Frontier Park at least once. It’s a must see!

The Thunderbirds

Why are they called Thunderbirds? You see them and then you hear them.

This is my personal favorite part of Frontier Days, the elite Air Force Thunderbirds stop by every year on Wednesday at 10:00 am, weather permitting, to give an incredible show. Made up of the best pilots in the Air Force, this stunning show is sure to not disappoint as well as amaze.

“It’s my favorite event. They’re scary, talented, awesome, unbelievable, and their show’s amazing!” Said Cheyenne local, Kim Hein.

The Depot

No, not the Home Depot! The Cheyenne Depot!

Next to Frontier Park, the Depot is the biggest hot spot. The Pancake Breakfast, where local Wyoming figures come and serve thousands of pancakes for free, happens right outside. If you need a break from the sweltering July heat, take a step inside to walk around the craft fair!

“My second favorite thing to do it walk around the vendors both at the Depot and the Old Frontier Town,” said Hein.

The Atlas Theater

Home to the Old Fashion Melodrama! Take a peak inside to see the hero take down the villain in the classic tale of good vs. evil. Audience participation is a must so make sure to boo the villain and cheer the hero when they come on stage.

Wyoming State Capitol

The newly renovated State Capitol is more than just the beginning of the parade route. One of only ten states in the U.S. to have gold leaf covering the dome on the top of the building a free tour through the building is sure to excite.

Go early in the morning on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday to catch the parade which begins with the firing of a cannon.

The Old West Museum

Housing some of the most intriguing artifacts in the west, the Old West Museum brings Wyoming history to life. Can’t get enough of CFD? The museum has you covered showcasing how Frontier Days really became the ‘Daddy of ‘Em All!’

F.E. Warren Air Force Base

Known for being the first operational intercontinental Ballistic Missile base in the United States, even just a drive past the front gate is exciting. It is the oldest continually active military installation in the Air Force.

The Cattle Drive

Putting on The Daddy of ‘Em All takes a lot of livestock that is stored out of town. So how do you get them to Frontier Park? Walk them straight through town! Sections of the road are closed off during this event to allow the livestock to walk freely…with the help of some cowboys.

Some final advice from Mrs. Hein would be to go early to all the events and take the shuttle if you’re going to Frontier Park otherwise parking is hard to find or expensive.

Cheyenne Frontier Days is one of the biggest draws of tourism to the state of Wyoming and the most fun ten days of the year. For anyone yearning for a piece of western culture, Frontier Days can deliver.

For more about Frontier Days visit cfdrodeo.com.

With the fear of Covid-19 sweeping the nation, we could all use a little distraction. Luckily, we have Lady Gaga and myself to keep us entertained.

One World Together at Home is an event that was put on by Global Citizen with help from the UN and World Health Organization. The purpose of these event was to response to the Covid-19 pandemic by bringing the world together through music. This event celebrated the healthcare workers along with all other essential workers who are on the front line.

See all of my tweets about the event below.

Tweets by 3Kzbee

Thoughts About the Event

I reported on this topic for my Multimedia productions class because I figured this to be a historical event that should be captured. I tried to use a journalistic approach by not writing in first person and leaving as much bias out as possible. I want to pretend that I was tweeting about this from a news agency standpoint because I was curious how reporters handle live-tweeting in this manner.

The experience was not unenjoyable but I don’t know if I would like to do it again in the future. I don’t have a large following on Twitter but I found that I got a lot of engagements on some of my tweets from people who I didn’t know which was interesting.

The only thing I struggled with was keeping up with what was happening in real time. There was a lot more quotes that I wanted to tweet but I would forget them before I had the chance to write the tweet out. I also kept having spelling errors in my tweets so I would have to delete the tweet and rewrite it.

I learned that the people who live-tweet an event are more skilled at it that I originally anticipated. I was surprised on how easily I got distracted during the event and would have to force myself to pay attention because I needed to tweet. I completely forgot to post a photo so I would post a photo if I ever got to do this again, however, I did post an article that had a photo attached to it which I thought was cool.

I could see myself running a social media account but I would want to learn from someone who has done it before. I could see myself having to come up with creative posts and using the social media platform to its advantage.

In this post I will be analyzing the social media of Nike and Adidas on the following sites: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Social Media’s Used	Nike	Adidas
Facebook	X – 33million likes	X – 37 million likes
Instagram	X – 107 million followers	X – 25.7 million followers
Twitter	X – 8.1 million followers	X – 3.7 million followers
Pinterest	X – 10 million monthly viewers	X – 10 million monthly viewers

Facebook

Nike’s Facebook account is the only account that has less people following it than Adidas. Their content most consisted of photos of famous athletes with a little blurb that says who they are or a poem that captures their essence in their sport.

Such as:

Adidas seems to post more video content and focuses more on the style aspect of their Facebook posts. You see a little more of the products they offer but it seems like they are trying to mostly promote a life style.

Instagram

Personally, I prefer both of their Instagram posts over their Facebook posts because I feel like you don’t go on Facebook to connect with brands like this. Nike has a huge social media following on Instagram, however, they don’t get as many likes or views as you would expect a following this big to get. It is very obvious that they are gearing this more towards a younger audience because of the people they chose to have on their page. They also show a lot more people who are not as famous, more unknown athletes. I actually love their most recent post because it directly talks about the effects of the virus on society from Nike’s point of view (it actually gave me chills). I think this is why they have such a large following is because they post things like this. (This post has significantly more views than any of their previous videos.) It’s simple but effective.

Adidas has a lot more people who are famous and are not athletes support their brand (Kanye West, Beyoncé, etc.). Their feed also features a lot warmer tone colors and over all looks happier and brighter. The don’t get as many likes as Nike does, but I think they’re doing well considering they have ¼ of the following. Adidas is getting into 3D printing their shoes which is really interesting and so their most recent post it about that. It’s a cool post because they really utilize the ability to post multiple photos at once because they post two photos right next to each other that combine to make one giant photo. You have to swipe through the post to see the whole thing which is a nice feature that brands use.

Twitter

I think Twitter is one of the hardest social medias to get right because of the character limitation. I also think that Twitter is where people want entertainment in their media as well such as Wendy’s account. Nike seems to do a lot more product posting on this site, at least compared to their other social media accounts.

I think Adidas had more tweets that were more personal and geared toward the Twitter audience. This account seemed to have a lot of over lap from previous accounts and made it seem like they were trying to advertise to a wider variety of people. I think Twitter does have a pretty diverse fanbase so this would make sense as a marketing move. It looks like Adidas is making a better use of the platform by making threads which is something that is unique to Twitter.

Pinterest

Pinterest is one one of the social medias that I know the least about. However, it looks like a lot of the photos that Nike is posting are trying to stick to a certain theme as well as support their products again.

Adidas is also trying to go for a certain type of look with the photos they are posting on Pinterest as well. They have created a lot of boards with different types of looks that are based around their products.

To what extent was the branding/message presence consistent across social media platforms?

I think that overall, Nike is trying to sell a legacy of athletic wear. They post a lot of successful athletes wearing their gear and try to sell the image of greatness. “If you work hard and ‘just do it’ you could be successful like these people as well.” I think they’re trying to do what Apple does where they sell a lifestyle which works in their favor because when I think of companies that have ad very successful marketing campaigns I would think of Nike and Apple.

Adidas tries to keep to a brighter side of advertising. Compared to Nike who has a lot of dark advertising, Adidas uses a lot of bright colors and I think that they utilize the features of the social media more than Nike does. Just in my brief look through of the Adidas social media accounts I don’t really know if I got their brand message. However, they definitely are using more medium such as videos and Twitter threads to spread their images.

For what purposes (i.e., HOW) did the organization use the social media platforms?

I think they the main thing they were trying to accomplish was to build brand identity and awareness. Both of these brands are pretty well matched with each other when it comes to what they sell and so they have to build a presence online that is unique form the other in order to stand out.

When they have a new product coming out or they are trying to promote something then they will post about it. There isn’t an overload of product information because that’s not the only thing they’re trying to sell. They’re trying to sell a lifestyle.

Based on the characteristics and tips, determine how the organizations are using social media in a constructive and effective way, and how the organizations can improve their social media presence.

I think that both of these brands have some great social media posts on all of the platforms. I think that Nike posts content based on the demographic of who is most likely to use that particular platform. Their content is clean and looks very professional because most of their posts are black and white or darker/muted colors. They do a great job highlight famous athletes and selling an the idea of greatness.

I think they can improve on how they utilize the platform they are posting on to their advantage. I think when brands post to the full advantage of the platform it can be more engaging and encourage people to spend more time looking at the post. I think both of the brands could benefit by having more consumer interaction on these sites. It would be cool if they retweeted/reposted outfits of people dressed in their stuff.

Adidas has some really cool photos that they post and switches up the style and theme of what they post regularly. They are also very good at using the platform to the full advantage. I really liked that they did a Twitter threat because I think that is something that is really trendy right now on Twitter. This is something small, but all of the Adidas accounts have (at *home emoji) in their usernames and it’s a fun way to encourage social distancing. They also respond to people in creative ways which is always nice because people love being noticed by brands.

I think Adidas could work more on spreading their message on their social media. They have a lot cool things that they could do if they try and sell the lifestyle a little more like Nike does on platforms other than Twitter. Both of the brands somewhat post about the same things, it’s either a video, an athlete, or a product. I would try and have them post something about a humanitarian effort that they might have done. If either of the brands have donated money to a charity that has anything to do with the Corona virus I think they should post it. People like to know that their money is going to a good cause.

During this quarantine pandemic, my choices for interviewees for limited. However, I did manage to be stuck in the same house with an all but willing participant: my mother.

I was going to start a podcast with one of my friends during the second half of this semester, then the virus happened. However, I was able to get my hands on a microphone over the previous winter break and am able to hook it right up to my computer. This allowed for the interview process to go over without a hitch.

I don’t mind the editing process, sometimes I even find it fun. The only problem that I have consistently run into is that my cuts occasionally become obvious because the background noise changes. It’s not as noticeable when I play the recording out loud, but when I listen to it with headphones I notice it.

There were a few different things that I tried when taking the portrait. She is currently in the process of making masks to send to hospitals meaning she had fabric laying around. I tried to capture a shot of her with those loose pieces, but we both didn’t like how any of them turned out. We them moved to her sewing room where I captured the shot above.

This assignment was easier than I thought it would be, however, I am always surprised at how long it takes me to edit audio. As soon as I find my rhythm, the process becomes a lot easier, but those first few cuts are tedious.

I wish that we were not in the situation that we were currently in, though I understand it. I was originally planning on interviewing one of my friends about a paranormal experience she had happen to her. I think this would have made for a different kind of blog post, but I am satisfied with my mom and I’s interview.

In the future, I could do an audio interview for a web interview. I believe it would also help to know audio editing software for any career because of the rising popularity of podcasts. I could also work for a firm that wants to begin a podcast or make a press release that also comes with audio people could listen to.

After oil, coffee is the second most sought after commodity. Each day, over 450 million cups of coffee are consumed in the United States with the average person drinking around three and a half cups each day.

As the popularity of chain coffee shops, such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, continues to grow each day, it might seem daring to take on these corporate giants. However, for shops like The Grounds in Laramie, WY, it’s quite easy to see the appeal of shopping locally.

Cheyenne, only 45 miles away, has very few local businesses compared to Laramie. The local businesses that they do have often struggle to keep up with the convince and pace of larger chains. Yet, Laramie’s small business population is booming with some of their businesses having existed for over 100 years.

“I love [working for a local business]. You get to know the customers really well, you get to know their orders and it’s a nice atmosphere,” said The Grounds barista, Jennifer Buetow, “It’s not too harsh like corporate businesses can be sometimes.”

Shopping Local

According to Adriana Lopez in Forbes magazine, one of the ways local shops can compete with corporate chain shops is by using alternative strategies that go far beyond brand associations.

This could be by adding something other than drinks to the menu, adding new and original flavor combinations, or in the case of The Grounds, adding fresher ingredients, wheatgrass, and power smoothies. This is their way of keeping up to date and modern with the latest trends.

Lopez also talks about how local coffee shops can offer higher quality goods to their customers than their chain counterparts. Being consistent is key because it will keep customers coming back and may even make it into their morning coffee routine.

“Making sure everybody knows how to make the drinks the same way so everybody is not doing something different,” said another barista at The Grounds, Kayley Hart.

One of the main pulls for local coffee shops is the consistency they have with their ingredients and their customers. Who doesn’t like being acknowledged and recognized by their friendly neighborhood barista?

“I like places like Starbucks because I know what I want on their menu, but I prefer the coffee in local shop’s coffee more,” said Mara Madsen, a Pharmacy student at the University of Wyoming.

Local coffee shops, and shopping local in general, are great ways to support your community. According to Amy Livingston on the Money Crashers website, local shops hire local workers such as local contractors, insurance brokers, and ad agencies.

Shopping local can also have many benefits for the environment. Many local chains have to ship products into their stores from all over the world to reach people. Local businesses are more likely to carry goods made by local people which means the good does not have to travel as far to get to the customer.

“I think people are getting more and more concerned about where their money is going and that people want to know that they’re supporting local businesses rather than big chains,” said Hart.

The town of Laramie is a college town through and through. One of the best ways to understand the unique culture of the town is by experiencing their local businesses.

A recent poll taken by the Tri Delta members at the University of Wyoming shows that 31 of 43 people prefer to go to the local coffee shops in town over Starbucks. The Grounds is part of this unique coffee shop culture.

“We are one of the only places [in Laramie] that does smoothies with fresh fruit. Plus we’re pretty quiet like it’s a quiet location, we have a lot of space for people to do homework,” said Hart.

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“I know a lot of people who [come here] specifically just to have more of a personal atmosphere,” said Hart.

Want to learn more about The Grounds? Connect with them on their Facebook page here! Or to see The Grounds’ complete menu, visit this website here.

I took these photos over the course of a few days. I was surprised at how easily I got these photos. Naturally, I struggled capturing the sports photo the most because it’s harder to take photos of objects that are moving. I wish I would have chosen a different sport to take photos of because it would have made me branch out of my comfort zone. I know there are a lot of interesting inter murals at the University of Wyoming and it would have been cool to capture those.

The Highlights

I knew this event was happening because I looked up the basketball schedule online. Going to a women’s basketball game was something that I typically don’t do because I generally only attend the mens basketball games. The energy of the scene was a little underwhelming because it was the highlight reel of the first half of the game. This was the trickiest shot to get because sports photos are only exciting if they are caught at the right time. It took me many attempts to get this shot. I felt a little awkward taking this photo just because there were so many people around. Overall, however, I did enjoy the atmosphere.

The On-Lookers

This photo happened completely by chance. I had just walked into the arena when I came across this enduring scene. I didn’t get a chance to speak to the man but I think it is safe to say that him and the little boy are related. They were standing there watching the Cowgirls basketball game. It wasn’t hard to get this shot because it was so perfectly set up. I felt that it was better to take this shot from a bit of a distance because I liked how the ramp draws the eye up to the older man and felt that it created depth.

Scott

I made it a point to go into coffee shops and take pictures of the barista as they were working. I asked Scott Lewis if it was okay to take a photo of him. I didn’t pose him, but he ended up feeling a little awkward from me taking his photo and ended up giving the cheesiest grin that I captured above. It was pretty easy to get this shot because I just followed him around while he worked. I thought that this shot as the least awkward one to take so I had fun taking it! I tried to use a little bit of framing from case but also a little bit of viewpoint.

Kayley

Kayley also knew I was going to be taking her photo but didn’t know where or when I was going to take it. I thought this was the best one of all the shots I took because I like how the steam is billowing up. This was another shot that was relatively easy to get as I’m pretty sure we were the only ones in the store. I had never been to The Grounds before but I will definitely be returning at some point! I feel like this photo uses the rule of thirds pretty well between the barista, steam and stack of cups off to the side.

Alicia

The woman was one of the few other people in the shop and I saw her move over to the sugar and cream section of the store and knew this would be a cool shot. I asked if I could take pictures of her putting sugar in her tea and she obliged. This photo wasn’t too difficult to take either because I knew exactly the angle I wanted to take it at. I wasn’t trying to go for any creative device actively but I think this one has some great leading lines in it.

This past week, my Multimedia Production class met at the local conservatory here at the University of Wyoming (UW). We were tasked with capturing moments that fit into the creative devices of photography.

Though I have been going to UW for almost four years now, I had yet to make my way into the conservatory. I was pleased to find a plethora of plants posing right when I entered the room, begging to have their picture taken.

I would not consider myself a professional photographer by any means, however, I do find that I can take a decent photo when the time strikes. The following are some of my favorite shots from the shoot and have not been edited in anyway.

There is also the element of line in the photo with the leaf showcasing both vertical and horizontal lines. The vertical line helps draw the eye up into the rest of the photo. There is also a small pop of red on the left side behind the leaf. This can give the eye something to discover the long the photo is looked at.

Another prominent theme in this photo is color. As I mentioned above, the contract between the pebbles and the spout and the pebbles with each other make for an interesting photo.

There are a few spots in the photo where there is some great texture peaking out. Right at the top where the plant starts it looks much rougher then the green sections of the plant.

Even though the photo is taken from an angle, there is still quite a bit of symmetry from one side of the leaf to the next. This makes the photo really satisfying to look at.

The angle of the photo also helps to provide some depth and turn the tree into a leading line. It allows the eye to travel up with the tree.

There were not a lot of challenges that came with this assignment because I prefer to take pictures of nature over people. I didn’t really want to have people in my photos because I feel that I can’t capture their essence like I can with nature.

The only problem I encountered with this assignment was that there were a lot of us taking pictures at the same time in a rather cramped space. I still feel like I got come nice shots but maybe we could go somewhere with more space in the future.