Creating Content For Signage

I wanted to share with you some interesting tips on creating digital signage content.  I thought for my business owners out there this would be helpful if you are considering adding digital signage to your business. 
Your most important message should be in the beginning and the end of the sign.  This will help to get their attention and remember the message.
 Use slower speeds on the 1st image than the others and leave enough time at the end for the last message to be remembered.
Choose 2 messages and get rid of the rest.  People like to say too much.  Keep it simple by focusing the messages and not going off on a tangent.
Group together in 3 Key phrases and concepts.  Important words and phrases need to be introduced 2-3 times in a row for enforcement.
Use jingles and Rhymes to help your clients remember.
When you use images of peoples faces or babies this can detract from your message.  Be sure to include these only if it is reinforcing.
Keep Text Clear, Simple and remember to use a Call to Action Statements.  It's best to keep your Logo and the Action Statement On the Screen at all times.
Your Call to Action Statement should Start with a verb, then the subject immediately following.
Use San Serif Fonts and Large Fonts for readability.  Don't go overboard with animation, text hodgepodges and colored texts.  Consider the style of your business and message.
Use Contrast on foreground and background.  This makes a huge difference even if it's done by 10%.
Motion Graphics and images should not interfere with the message either.
Digital signage is more like posters and not TV Commercials.  Each Slide needs to be strong enough to stand on it's own.
All the slides need to be geared toward the full message. 
I hope this is helpful to my readers that are either creating digital signs or are thinking about using digital signs. 
We Do FREE consultations for businesses seeking Video Branding and Marketing, Digital Signs, Apps, and Films.

Professionalism by texting?

So here it is at 4:44 am (my nemesis). I am wide awake and can't sleep because of a NON-Client who has been texting me for two days.  First what makes it comical to me is that he was trying to set an appointment by texting.  What intrigues me is where is the professionalism here?
This person contacted me approx. 5 months ago requesting to have some music vid made.  At the time I spoke to him, he hadn't even put lyrics to his music and sent me 3 MP3's of some shoddy keyboard tracks.  I explained to him that I would need to have completed music to produce the video,  gave him some solid advice on scripting since he didn't want to pay my fees for that.  (I charge $350 for scripting,design and development).  I wished him luck and told him to contact me when he had everything completed. 
5 months later, I'm receiving a random text asking to set an appointment on a Saturday (which I don't work, unless it's contracted) No details just I'm coming over to your studio on Saturday at 2:30 what's your address? I asked him several times to call me by phone.  He just kept insisting on getting the address and wasn't cooperating with calling me.
I asked the person to identify themselves, and to call me so I could get more details.  (The text only shows the phone number as I don't plug in every person who contacts me in my address book?)
The client only responded by continuing to ask me for my office address. He started to become hostile because I wasn't making the appointment.
I tried to contact the client by phone and got a digital recording to leave a voicemail.  Not even a real person on the recording?  At this point I wasn't only thinking that why would a recording artist not record a voicemail? I was also thinking, this could be dangerous.
The best part was that each time I requested that this person contact me by phone  as I would need  more details, the person was getting angry and insulting me for not giving him my address.
At what point do you say no to business?  What professional person sets appointments with a video producer by text messaging.  Am I supposed to have less courtesy than other professions?
The person wanted to spend $500 to put together a stock footage music video, which is great.  However he would have cost me over $500 in grief.  At what point do you walk away from business?
When the person can't make a phone call or talk over the phone, they are probably not legit.  
He even had the gall,  to tell me he was a broker who worked from 6am-5pm. 
I frankly don't care if he was the President,  If he can't pick up the phone and have a conversation with me about his project then there is no project.
As a professional I always try to do the right thing.   My integrity is very valuable to me.  I treat my clients in a very special manner and with the utmost respect.  I demand respect back.  Does he think I'm that desperate for $500 bucks?   I only set appointments with people I know and trust.  If it's a client, I would have a contract in place before I spend any time dealing with them face to face. 
What makes me not be able to sleep is the fact that this person thought it was my problem that I wasn't making an appointment via text with a complete stranger???  
As much as I'd like to make $500,  I don't need his money and when all is said and done it's not the money it's the relationship that was missing.  I'm in this industry because I love what I do.  But I also love that I can say no when it doesn't feel right. 
Take care Mr. Non Client. 

Midlife Show Business

I have become the most independent/dependent person I know.  If this sounds like a double negative it is.  However, aren't double negatives sometimes truthful?
A year can embrace so many changes.  Perhaps it's because I left a miserable job in Aerospace to become a Producer.  How is that possible? Well it is.  While working previously as a material coordinator in Aerospace I have also worked in several other positions.  If I had to describe my career path, I would say it's like a big giant bin of Jelly Belly's.   I have been a Kitchen Designer at The Home Depot wearing an orange apron.  I was a loan officer before the real estate housing bubble burst.   Now wait...Before I sold sub prime mortgages to people who didn't listen to me,  I sold cars for ten years. Other than the main careers I've had; I've also been a huge hobbyist.  I volunteered as an art instructor for children and adult that suffered from mental illness.   I've been a back up vocalist in a band. I organized a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity.  I've been an extra, a double and a stunt person. I've even drove an ice cream truck.  
Why producing?  Well,  what doesn't a producer do?  In order to get it right you need to know when to act, how fast to act, and how to come as close to predicting the future as you can.  I'm happy to report to you that a producer wears all hats and it just helps if you know a little about everything in this career.

You are always selling, you are always a customer service supervisor, you babysit, you counsel and you grow excitably happy with every second that it works out.
 I am happy to have had all these opportunities that's why when someone asks me to go make coffee I can smile and be happy to do it.
The best part is.... I made the decision to change my career again at the age of 46!   
Go after your dream no matter how much of a sacrifice it is.  Never let anything stand in your way but don't step on people on your way up.
The best, best part is it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there enjoy the journey.