Wordpress-ed Fuzzytek

Press Release

Detroit, Mar 28 2009 – Laurette Designs and 313FAD are partnering in bringing Champions Play Here, a celebration of Art * Fashion * Music  to Tangent Gallery on Saturday April 4, which is the date for NCAA Final Four Championship playoff games at Ford Field in Detroit.

“We are offering the public an alternative to sports action. If you are visiting or are a resident in the area desiring something creative, fashionable, and festive to attend we would like to be your destination,” states Stephen Boyle of 313FAD.

Artists hare invited to stop by Tangent Gallery on Saturday, March 28 to have their work evaluated for selection into the exhibition by Laura Deljanin, owner of Laurette Designs. Vendors and sponsors interested in participating are asked to contact Laura at 248-379-9997. Desired vendors would offer jewelry, health care products, clothing, domestic/creative services, and similar.

313FAD.com is arranging fashion shows to take place twice during the night. Fashion designers and boutiques interested in participating are encouraged to contact Stephen at 248-632-6156. Models, makeup/hair artists, and more are welcome to participate. All sizes accepted and all levels of experience. This is a unity oriented fashion show for the networking community of 313FAD.com. We have seen restrictions in so many mainstream markets when it comes to fashion shows. At this show we are ready to celebrate fashion of all sizes, genres, and genders. All ages in show until 9pm. Youth designers and models welcome.

The event will feature a main performing stage with catwalk. Vending area will be in this room and a few tables in the main art gallery space. The mezzinine will be a special VIP area with admission of $10 required. General admission to the event is free. All ages admitted from 5pm-9pm, and open until 2am.

Dinner and mingling was underway when I arrived at day 1 of Detroit Startup Weekend. Food was provided by American Coney Island. I even saw the guy that serves me when I stop by there late at night. I’m sure that surprised him a bit. I regret to say coney dogs and fries are not in my diet.  Thankfully there was a big salad and baklava. Drinks were bottled water, tea, pop, or beer.

Day 1 – Pitches and Choices

I was looking at project options… which group to join. I wasn’t surprised that nobody was interested in 313FAD since it is fashion and the majority of attendees are white male tech-geeks. In some ways it fits me… although I see this is a group that I don’t really fall-in with very often these days.

I don’t want to give too many hints as to what projects are being worked on. That will be the unveiling at the end of the weekend. I was drawn to one which I saw similarity to 43places and Wikipedia. But when discussion of what was needed came up… development time is what is being sought and I’m not much of a true developer at this point.

We came back from creating summary statements about the projects and people began to shuffle between groups. I heard a few people talking about graphic interfaces and that is probably a good area to pursue using the photos I’ve taken as theming and skinning surfaces. One of the projects looking for graphic assistance lines up with one of the genres of photography I’ve been working on the past couple years well, so that is the group I will be participating in most. I’d love to see them working with Drupal as a base, but Brian feels it won’t scale well and has a grown PHP/MySQL system that he is willing to work from. Same basic architecture as Drupal, perhaps it is slimmer or handles load better. We’ll find out on day 2.

We were told that it is OK to act as a free-agent and contribute to a few projects. While it is possible, I know my weakness is to take on too much. So I’ll be focusing on one project this weekend.

Day 1 came to a close last night around 10:30pm. That was great in that it left me time to hop bus home.

Day 2 – Plan to Execute

Day 2 starts at 10am with breakfast. The time listed is 9am, so I guess I’ll be able to sleep a little longer. HA – this blog entry is being written at 7am.

Today we’ll be creating identity and laying out entities, relationships, and framework for presentation. I’m a bit afraid that if we don’t map our time that we won’t wrap with a working prototype, or one which will need to be ripped apart and redeveloped. Creating our plan for the next two days will be critical in the first couple hours Saturday.

Geek Time Leads to Free Headshots

Naturally when surrounded by geeks you find some cool tools. iPhones are the buzz and development toward them is too. However I’m there as a developer and have no laptop to work with. Brian was glowing about the small MSI U100 solid state  machine he is using. Uses a minimum of power, is ultra-portable and durable. When I think about my travel situations that makes a ton of sense. The last laptop I had was lost due to a cracked motherboard resulting from too much road-use. Retail on this PC is about $330, so that is my goal.

I saw the ChipIn widget Startup Weekend is using for donations. Looked into it and now using it. Seriously I need a laptop and soon. As plans to have me move are quickly coming to a head, using the curent borrowed desktop PC isn’t working. I have to raise cash for a purpose – staying in business and alive.

This donation widget is duplicated on the sidebar now. I’m offering a free headshot photo session for anyone contributing $50 or more. In essence this is simply putting the purpose for shooting out there and visible. Photographers have equipment expenses. Our equipment becomes worn, outdated, and needs to be replaced. It is a never ending round of updates and upgrades to improve what we are able to provide. I know with better tools my photos would be different… can you assist me in getting there?

The world will be observing Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28 from 8:30pm-9:30pm (according to your local clock). Sydney Australia demonstrated the power of unity in 2007, and the movement spread in 2008. It continues to 2009. One person, one hour multiplied by millions – this makes a difference.

Impact On Startup Weekend?

I will be attending Detroit Startup Weekend during Earth Hour. I’m wondering what provisions the group has made to observe this worldwide movement.

Earth Hour News

Black is The New Green – 1,500 cities around the world have pledged support for Earth Hour. Detroit is on the list. One of the many recommendations is a candlelit dining experience. Working with a menu of organically grown foods – just makes sense to set the stage for a ‘green’ evening.

Tonight from 5pm-9pm all ages are welcome to attend the 313FAD.com networking event, titled Clicked Up! This month we have the assistance of Fiasco Market in producing the event.

$5 Photo Contest

Fuzzytek and Imagine Nation Art Wear have teamed up to create the Shred Bare & Wear Design Challenge. This contest has ONE NIGHT for entries – tonight! So bring your scissors, thread, glitter glue, and stuff to redesign this shirt from Imagine Nation to suit your style.

I know the question is “what does $5 get me?”

• Multiple photos in a mini-shoot at a booth space upstairs at the venue. Yes you’ll have to get upstairs to be part of the contest. If you stay downstairs you miss the opportunity.
• One of the photos taken is printed
• The set of photos will be placed into the Hunt for Trulie Scrumptious and Professor X contest. Winner to be announced on 313FAD in May, and the two winners will receive a full compcard package including…
  • Two days of shooting both on location and in studio
  • Up to 10 looks will be covered
  • Styling assistance in wardrobe, makeup, hair provided
  • Graphic services in retouching, compcard layout
  • You’ll be featured in the premiere issue of Eleven X Seventeen fashion journal
• There will be sponsors looking at the contest entries – do you have what it takes to attract their attention?

I look forward to working with a lot of people this evening. Your patience and cooperation during the event will be well noted.

I am busily setting aside the cash for Detroit Startup Weekend coming March 27-29. If anyone would like to donate to be certain I get there I would appreciate the gesture so very much! Tickets are $40 and the event will be at Compuware headquarters downtown Detroit.

What Is Startup Weekend?

Friday everyone pitches new business ideas to the group. The facilitators and group members will ask questions of the presenter.

Teams are then formed by the group gravitating to those ideas which attract their interest. The remainder of the weekend is spent getting everything in place to launch the new business venture. A very busy exciting 54 hour weekend to be certain!

Schedule

• Friday, March 27 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.