On satchels.

Posted by Kamran Popkin on Feb 2, 2013 in Tribes | Comments Off

Satchels.

  I damn love em. Indiana jones had em. He packed a Whipp. I do,too. Plus knives, swords, Jingle bell nipple clamps, a grappling hook, duct tape in several width, strength,and color profiles, explosives,liquor,et al.

Ad infinitum.

Here’s my most recent.

Looks like it belongs to a degenerate school boy. Doodling. Dreaming. Cause I kinda am.

Wait. Satchel? Puzzled?

Itsa book,innit?  

No. No it’s not.

It’s a satchel.

Really Like this one,too. Feels military,but subversively so.

That guy thats so overt he’s covert. The flair and bombs is the catch-22 tip to corporal klinger. Kind of a shitbird.   Not in drag, but clearly bucking the system. Like a flower in a gun barrel. Or a peace sign on a bomb.

Thats our style.

Love the fancypants elegant,aerodynamic,sleek,&efficient little box.

A gift from the tribe for my unbirthday. Sometimes it’s appropriate to bring to a meeting. Other times it causes a panic. Oooops.

They’re in security lockdown again!

This was a utilitarian piece, something to take to churchcamp.

And a pean to #bovinova.  In which, we roasted a whole cow. Six sheep. And a goat. You’ve seen the article in the Wall Street journal. And the episode of man, fire, and food. That time we also roasted a llama.

Whole.

This is a great one, really useful. And graceful.

A secretary, to hold the trappings from a different time. Stamps,seals,correspondance equipment. Trappings from a more elegant age. When you had more than 140 characters to get their attention. And a second envelope protected the fiddly bits in the first envelope.

The ikea bag.

Part of our instigator onboarding kit.
Just. Part.

Vomit resistant, not vomit proof, as #15 can well attest. But she holds her hair like a lady when she vomits.   So, there’s that.

Dr. Bag.

Oh yeah, one of my all time faves. Feels like ima doctor. People treat you differently when you’re in a suit. People treat you even MORE differently when you’re in a dark suit AND sporting a leather doctors bag. Doors are held open. Crowds part. Is the a doctor in the house? Yes.

Yes there is.
Relax, this will only hurt a moment.

Theres another piece of work coming soon- when the sample arrived, we all gasped. She feels MUCH more expensive than it is. Its something that I would be proud to own, and even prouder to give someone. Photos coming soon.

Relax.

Good things take time. Dunno what’s next, but I bet it’s not a damned two dollar cinch bag. Not to transport your #swagworthstealing. Your story deserves better. 

So do you.

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Some of my favourite things.

Posted by Kamran Popkin on Jan 16, 2013 in Tribes | Comments Off

“Hey swag,what’s the hot new thing!”

I hear it daily.
Honest answer- nothing.

And everything.
This much is clear to me,after five christmases in open revolt of the rampant swag malpractice- theres no silver bullet.

What matters is tea. More accurately,a beverage that warms the recipients heart. Tea,when you dream of tea. Lightly honeyed. Clean ceramic mug. Lively conversation,comfy chair.

What matters in swag is what matters in life- meeting your intended where they are.

Intimate.

Like the smile of a dog.

Authentic.

Like sharing something of yourself. Something you think they’ll like. And find useful.

Useful for their revolution.

Not shilling. Not ‘buy our stuff’,but ‘lemme help you with that load. Lemme hand you a hammer to toss. Another one.

Unexpected.

Jinglebell nippleclamps. Or thinking putty. Whatever works for ya.

What. Ever. Works. For them.

Rick warren was right,in purpose driven life. Its not about you.

Its about them.

Looking for easy answers? We’re not those guys.

Looking for what matters? For #swagworthstealing?

Then lets have tea. Or soup. Or makers.

Whatever suits you.

We’ll prolly ask about your penguin. Mine is lemule.

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This. This is why we fight.

Posted by Kamran Popkin on Oct 13, 2012 in Tribes | Comments Off

Me. Sugarmouse. Swimming together.

Me. Hk. Playing a robust game of chess. Hes getting really, really good. Beating me regularly.

Oh, And I’m not half bad myself.
#Humblebrag

We serve an awesome tribe. Wiley, smart,plucky, creative, passionate people.

A tribe of artists, entrepreneurs, writers,story tellers,and creative class thought leaders. People who are making the world a better place.

I doubt that makes sense. Hells bells, I doubt that’s you.

But if it is, turn yourself in. we have agents all over the place, typically doing work worth doing. Solving problems worth solving.

Making a difference.
Doing the work.

And if you suck?
Stop it.
Before we stop you.

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About your shrine. Its time we talked about it.

Posted by Kamran Popkin on Sep 20, 2012 in Tribes | Comments Off

That thing you do? So glad you are doing it. So please don’t take this as slagging, please take it as, um,
constructive criticism.
Your swag could be pandoras box of awesome.

Or. It could suck. Whatever.

Its your call.
Your budget.
Your tabla rossa.

But whatever you put in your swag arsenal, please prayerfully consider this-
How is it telling your story? Even when you’re not in the room. Hells bells, ESPECIALLY when you’re not in the room.

Working through some things for the store, STOAH!, I’ve been compiling things. A dogs breakfast. A basket of bits.

Some things were sheer awesome, others, not so much. But the desired outcome was always the same.
This.

This abides. Smiling. Creating a touch point. Creating a memory.
Telling a story.

“Do you want more panty with that?”
Yes. Yes we do.

Good swag doesn’t have to be expensive, although it’s always nice to have a robust budget. No, good swag requires a robust story. Which I’m sure you’ve got.
Right?
We wanna help you tell your story. That is unlikely to be done elegantly through another koozie, stress ball, cheap plastic pen, refer magnet, or coaster.

Theres been some confusion around. About that thing we do. I’ll have to admit, it’s intentional. A magicians trick. Before we get to the reveal, the prestige, we work the pledge.
Hard.
Sleight of hand, to help you let your hair down.

To soften the perimeter.

We help people tell their stories. Are tools are intimate. Authentic. And unexpected.

For those tall enough to ride the ride.
Itykwim.

What’s in YOUR box?

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Wanna sponsor some koozies for our event?

Posted by Kamran Popkin on Aug 6, 2012 in Tribes | 1 comment

No. No we don’t.
And, as a matter of fact, although I recognize cash is king. Theres no cash coming, either.

Cash is king. But he’d be forgotten before the check clears. IF the check clears.

You want us to support your wangdangdoodle? Throw up a table of trinkets and trash?

I know our contemptuous haters and competitors have sent you koozies, stress balls and cash. Then they don’t even show up. But they did send a box of koozie of the day, festooned with their logo.

Nice. Checkbook evangelism.
Wait.
Koozie evangelism.

xxxx. That.
~~cursing redacted~~

That’s not our style.
‘Wanna sponsor some koozies for our event?’ You asked.
Heres how to get our help for your event-

Then throw one that matters to us.
Invite and incite us to play in your sandbox.

No. We’re NOT gonna sponsor some koozies for your event.

But we might or might not come in hot. Chock fulla the intimate, authentic, and unexpected.
Locally made moonshine, quirky shot glasses, elegantly laser etched with the penultimate easter egg. Whips, explosives, incendiary devices, knives, and lightly bombed jingle bell nipple clamps.

I dare you to ask about koozies. That’s bush league.
We came to win.
To change the world.
To shock and awe. That’s how stories are told here.
Koozie free.

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