Alex’s little synopsis of what Independents Hall was all about, and how the idea of coworking could really benefit the Philadelphian freelancer, gets right in line with my Bauhaus driven design philosophy. Echoes of the Wiener Werkstätte and the Werkbund, founded by Hermann Muthesius and Peter Behrens; rang in my ear as the meeting progressed. I could not help but consider that both of those early design organizations probably started the same way.

Both were founded on the idea of creating a profitable environment for designers and craftsmen, while promoting the improvement of the services and goods they were offering. In 1903 it was mostly centered on manufactured goods, but for our modern times it is design and technology, which, for all intents and purposes, are modern manufactured goods.

The coworking movement is following this very same idea; get a bunch of talented free-agent designers, developers, artists, and business types together to build on the success of each other. All the while promoting free flowing, ideas in a creative, open minded environment; contributed to, and sustained by the very workers that provide it.

To me that was always the business model for my dream job!

Among the many benefits that come with coworking at Independents Hall, the one that sets its hook in me is the social creative environment that it generates. As a creative that has worked in bullpens with other designers, and now works alone, from a home studio; I feel the subtle drain of sustained creativity, due to lack of social interaction during my business day. I was not aware of how much I feed off the everyday company of coworkers, and creatives; it is kind of scary.

Independents Hall is sure to leave its mark, and I am ecstatic about the opportunities, and relationships that are sure to blossom.

[tags]independents hall, coworking, philadelphia[/tags]

Independents Hall, is a philly based coworking community started by Alex earlier this year. The basic premise is to create a community of independents; sharing off of mutual success in a professional, yet cafe-like atmosphere. The idea; while I am sure was thought of by many independents, was placed into motion in San Fransisco by Brad Neuberg, back in 2005.

As a newly independent/freelance designer I was starting to feel the rough edges of working from home, alone, everyday. It is a fantastic time to be a freelancer especially in the current design and development arenas. However, there is such an atmosphere of ideas that gets generated when you work in an office with other creative types, and I was missing that in a big way. My mind just started to feel the pinch of not working with anybody. Getting involved with Independents Hall is about to change all of that.

Through Independents Hall I will be able to work on projects with other designers and developers, expanding my services through the services of others. Now as a member of a group of independents, we all benefit from assets we can provide each other; equipment, experience, services, technology, vendors, etc. All of us working together to gain success.

The first meet-up for Independents Hall is Monday, and I am attending with a good amount of excitement. I am forever grateful to Alex for introducing a concept such as this to me! There is a bright shiny future ahead for my business and lifestyle that will blossom from this initial meet-up.

In all of my confusion with projects and promotions, I totally forgot that this weekend is the FIRST F1 RACE OF THE SEASON! I do not think any of you appreciate the gravity of this weekend. F1 is my favorite sport, and as an American fan it is very difficult to find peers that are just as excited as I, when it comes to the top racing championship in the world.

Formula 1 is a glorious sport with a rich and interesting pastime. Names like Ferrari, Lotus, Renault, and McLaren have made their names on the shoulders of Formula 1 seasons. Since 1894 there have been Grand Prix races which were the roots of Formula 1. The “formula” is a set of rules and regulations that each team must adhere. After World War II, the FIA, racing’s world governing body, established Formula 1 as the highest class of auto racing. Through the years the rules have been changed to reflect the times, but for the most part it has always been the cutting edge of automotive engineering.

I became a fan about 6 years ago, when I started to do research into auto racing leagues and sunk my teeth into some of the cars I could drive very well in Grand Turismo. When I first started watching I just became absolutely enthralled by the technology, and engineering that went into these fantastic machines. With the help of Speed Channel and its supplement’s, I emersed myself into the drama, rules, competitions and races that would take place through the season.

11 teams compete in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, for two titles; the constructors championship and the drivers championship. This splits some fans down the middle in such a way where you may have a favorite driver, but he may not drive for your favorite constructor! I am a prime example of this. I have become a devout BMW-Sauber fan however, as much as I like their drivers, Nick Heidfeld, and Robert Kubica; I also support “The Iceman” Kimmi Räikkönen, who now races for Ferrari.

Although I was drawn to the sport by the amazing speed, competition, and the shear fact that the aerodynamics on these cars could literally allow them to drive upside down. There is such a backstage of drama, bitter rivalry, and racing politics, unfolding in the halls of the highest of world racing authorities; that I follow it like a soap opera.

This year looks to be one for the books, and come this Saturday at 10:30pm, this ecstatic fan will be ready to partake in what promises to be the most exciting F1 season in years!

F1resources

Planet F1, The Official F1 Site

That is when I picked up the phone and ordered Fox Soccer Channel and GolTV, when I found out it would only cost $5 extra on my cable bill, I got up and danced a jig. $5!! Are you kidding me? I had to ask the customer service rep; “You mean I can get all the Premier League Games, La Liga, FA and UEFA Cup games, all for $5?”

There was only silence for a moment and then, “Uhh, yes!”

I told her to sign me up and quick! Two days later the cable guy came in, dropped a box on my set, and that night I watched Tottenham vs. Everton! It was a replay from the Wednesday before but i did not care. I was now going to journey down the road of international football.

Since getting the package it has become a daily stop in my TV watching. I just have to find out what is going on and who is doing what. There is a level of confusion as I am coming into the last half of many seasons, not fully understanding how all of the Cup qualifications work. Although I am familiar with the Champions League, there are other cup tournaments that I know little about. That is exactly why I purchased this service.

It is unbelievable what can be bought for $5! I can tell you it is the best $5 I have ever spent.

I took a risk back in June when I told my, soon to be former boss, that what he was paying this designer, equaled jack shit compared to the kind of employee I was. I left the company two weeks later, with nothing but a loose contract with a possible freelance client.

One client!

I look back and think, I must have been crazy.

In this, my 3rd attempt at freelance, I have noticeably learned from the previous two attempts. That one “possible” client ended up sustaining me until September. It was nothing glamorous, mind you; it was just enough. From June to September I searched for jobs; in Philly, abroad, on the West Coast, etc. You get the picture. All the while looking for potential work.

By the end of September things were rough. My one client halted work on their project, I was a month behind in rent and was about to call my parents to see if they could help me out. The next day I picked up two clients, it was as if life just wanted to “waterboard” me a bit to see if I could take it.

Since September things have been progressively gaining momentum. I now have 5 clients including 3 that have me on retainer. I am still living month to month but I can see the foundation of a prosperous freelance design career.

I likened this to an old car. You get in it and try to start it up, nothing happens. You make adjustments, and try again, now you are getting clicks and chokes. You make more adjustments and she starts to turn over. This is how my career is feeling right now. It is as if I am a car turning over, just waiting for the opportunity to rev my engine and peel down the road, on my hopeful way toward my own design studio.

Downstairs there is a bunch of guys, 1, at least with a rubber penis on his head, getting their fix of female solicitation. I am not against this sort of thing, I just have never been comfortable with the de-romanticism of sex.

Okay, call me a pansy! Go ahead, I may deserve it. It is just that I know that these sort of things feel so utterly false. You receive a woman’s attention, you feel the curves of her body, you smell the sweetness of her skin, and you have a desire. But…hold on, this girl could care less. This is a job for her, you are a job! She performs and you take nothing with you from the experience but a story to tell, that the guys from the last party she worked are telling, at that very moment, down at the corner bar.

Perhaps I am so afraid of it because I feel it will warp the idea, or vision I have of what I like sex, sensuality, and passion to be.

Is that a key factor as well, the fact that it lacks so much passion. Now, do not get me wrong, I have witnessed some pornographic situations that were utterly passionate. I have even been involved in a few; but something in this feels different. Not just the night going on downstairs mind you, but every time I find my self in this particular situation.

Thank god it is not often.

……..

So, I am back from a visit to the party downstairs. My ice cubes were getting dry and the last lingers of Makers Mark on my tongue were really making me thirsty.

When I came back upstairs I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah. She was one of the girls providing the entertainment who had made her way to the room I am sitting in. She began to get dressed, and while I was writing this sentence she came up, and started reading over my shoulder.

At first she was a little curious as to why I was sitting in front of a keyboard when there were naked, hard bodied, sexual, “chicks” (as she put it.); right downstairs giving all the men a show. I told her; “If you want to know why, just read as I type.”

After the first paragraph she was giving me the “Awhhh! That is so sweet!” By the time she got to the third; she was telling me I need to break out of my box, and get with the “flow!”

I had to ponder a moment of what the “flow” was. Nahh…I am definitely not “with” the “flow.”

She read on, as I am typing this mind you….

“You should not feel that way about this,” she said; “We are trying to make your fantasy!”

I look over at Sarah, and say “My fantasy with a woman is a unique experience between her and I.” I continued; “What you were performing downstairs is not my idea of a fantasy.”

She was a bit perplexed by this and asked; “So you do not like having a beautiful, naked, woman dancing for you, making you want more, placing her sex in your face?”

I replied; “Absolutely! I would love that! Not with 20 other guys throwing dollars on the floor next to me, shouting, and begging for it to be their turn though. Furthermore, when a woman is done doing her “dance” I do not want her to wipe her skin, or any part of her body that I licked, touched, or pinched, with a sanitary wipe. It kind of spoils the whole thing. Savvy?”

She stood there for a moment and really looked at me deeply. I felt as though I had insulted her in some way. I apologized, explaining that although I am very comfortable with sex and the experimentation that goes with it; the practices that take away from the romanticism of the experience, the moments that are sans-feeling because you cannot get personal; create a version of sexual practice that I do not find very pleasing at all. It turns into a mindless task, one where either one of you can be watching your favorite TV show during the whole thing.

When I am with a woman, I want to look her in the eyes and see the same desire I feel for her; whether it is a one-night stand, or the love of my life; rough and primal, or sensual and passionate. That gaze, that look, cannot be faked.

Sarah was not the first I had t explain this to. All night the other guys were asking me; “What’s wrong with you?” When I would show up downstairs they would all grab me saying; “You are next, Johnny!”

I would reply; “Don’t waste your money.”

I had to be told at least 20 times that I just had to “go” with it and have fun. You know what, I am having fun, put me in the midst of the show and now I am not. I am not the one who got this together so I am not going to complain about it. I am going to take my Whiskey and enjoy myself the only way I know how in this situation, stand back, observe, and write about it.

Wawa is a local staple and a popular one at that. G Love sings its praises in the song “I Like Cold Beverages” with the lyric “Wawa’s to the right, they got beverage inside!” Damn right G, a whole lot of beverages including coffee.

Anyway, Wawa is a daily stop during my morning, I walk up from my studio and grab myself one of their 24oz coffees at least twice a day. So the other morning as I was strolling the counter of coffee pots, which are brewed fresh all day, I noticed a pot a little different. It had flowers on it and the label said “Kona”. I stopped and stared in excitement. Could it be true, the marriage of my favorite convenient store and my favorite coffee?

Yes true believers Wawa, had taken a step in the direction of ultimate greatness, and were serving Hawaii’s finest coffee. You have no idea how much this improved my mornings and quite actually my day! I grabbed a 24oz cup and poured myself a tall one. I usually go 3/4 of the way up and top it off with some cream. 6 sugars and I am that much closer to heaven… I mean damn! The first sip brought on feelings of such fulfillment that I literally stood there for a moment, engulfed in bliss, until a woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was in line for the check-out. I looked at her with wide eyed amazement, as if I just awoke from a dream. I know for sure that I said something reminiscent of Will Farrell in “Old Skool” like, “Ohh, when it hits your lips….” She scurried off; quickly realizing she had interrupted a man with a passion.

That’s right lady, run and get yourself one. Only then will you see what I mean.

The Black Keys are a downright, badass, blues-rock band that plays with the dirtiness of an all weekend whiskey binge. We all know how much we like those. They hail from Akron, Ohio and have been selling out shows all over the Eastern seaboard. With a cocktail sound of Hendrix, Velvet Underground, and a dash of Thorogood, shaken, poured into the shot glass and lit on fire; the duo of Dan Auerbach on guitar and Pat Carney on drums is an electric combination on stage. Two man bands are rare. Good two man bands are almost non-existent. Matt had told me these boys were at their finest when you saw them live, he had experienced that at the Austin City Limits show 2 months ago.

Let me tell you; he was damn right. Only seeing two guys on stage ripping through songs like “10 A.M Automatic,” and “Girl Is On My Mind,” left me with my jaw agape and my ass shaking to the rhythm. I mean, DAMN!!! Not only did they rip up the TLA, they left dirty, blues rock all over it for the morning crew to clean up.

The show goes on my “Best Shows Ever” shelf and I have to give the boys credit. Keep on Keepin on, Keys. In Philly we love you.

You can check out more on the Black Keys and their tours at their website. www.theblackkeys.com