Introducing Jasmine Scott…Why I am the Princess of Phrase

By: Jasmine Scott

I talk a lot. No, like, really. And loudly, I’ve often been told. And I talk over people. I do try to work on that. To the multiple people objecting to the previous sentence, I know I just talked over you yesterday but trust me, I’m working on it! I always have something to say. But I’m not just talking. I’m bonding with my listener. I’m storytelling! Storytelling isn’t just what the oldest living person in your family does because he’s ancient. Through the connection of storytelling you’re receiving true social currency. If you’ve got content to share, then you’ve got something valuable. Social media is confirmation of that. It’s just a collection of stories online. Ok, it’s a very powerful and influential one, but a collection of stories nonetheless.

Don’t believe me? OK, I have a challenge for you: 1. Think of your favorite TV show or the next big movie you want to see. 2. Watch it.  3. Never, for as long as you live, discuss that show or movie with anyone. I don’t care if it’s trending on Twitter! You walk away. Now! Can you do it? Probably not, because commentary among your circle is a valuable commodity. Especially if it’s a topic you’re enthusiastic about.

In a world with eons of things to wear you down, we need entertainment and humor in the form of stories. Nowadays, there are so many ways to enjoy them. So go ahead and indulge. They’re calorie free!

World peace and harmony would be remarkable but until that happens, I’m using my creative powers to make the world better, or at least funnier. If I can deliver great content then I feel I’ve met my purpose for this excursion we call life. And if it’s not my purpose and I’ve been bamboozled, it’s ok because I’ll ride this ride until the wheels fall off.

Keeping Your Head Above Water…Literally

We live in a hyper-busy, uber-urgent world constantly swimming faster and faster from task to task to task. It can be hard to keep your head above water, yet we do. But what if you couldn’t, literally? Many adults and children report that they can’t swim. Research has shown that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of downing among children, which is a surprisingly high statistic. So with a shared love of swimming, two members of the Umbrellas team took time out of their crazy lives to participate in the Oz Relay. It was 24 hours of non-stop swimming filling five lanes at the YWCA Evanston/Northshore pool in memory of coach Oswald Roper and his life-long commitment to teaching kids how to swim. The goal was to raise at least $109 for each 30 minute leg swam. Each $109 donation will support one full scholarship (7 lessons) for a child from our community to receive life-changing, potentially life-saving swim instruction. 160 swimmers participated usually for 30 to 60 minutes each (including Michele and Rachael from Umbrellas) and as a group swam 16,259 lengths or roughly 230 miles. Congratulations to Rachael for swimming an inhuman number of laps in an hour and congratulations to Michele for not having to have Rachael tow her across the finish line! For both our clients and our communities, doing great work is so important to each and every one of us at Umbrellas.

A Whole New Liver…A Whole New Appreciation for What We Do

Did you know that a liver regrows in four months? If you donate more than half your liver it will most likely grow back in that time. Just four months and you have saved someone else’s life. It’s an amazing process: from the commitment of the people that make it possible to the art and science during surgery and recovery.

I’ve had the opportunity to work in healthcare for over 15 years. I’ve cried in patients’ living rooms listening to stories about how a medicine or medical device or medical test or procedure changed their lives. I’ve made life-long friends and had experiences like being in a brain surgery in China. Tales I’ve told so often that even my kids remember! But it’s when you or someone you love is the patient that the true impact of what healthcare can do hits you.

Recently, my best friend and partner was a liver donor for a family member. The whole process—from telling our children about his decision, to holding his hand before he went into a seven-hour surgery, to dealing with complications—was scary, inspiring and eye-opening.

Throughout the process there were many brands and names I recognized. Drugs and devices and tests manufactured by companies I used to work for and where people I knew are still working everyday to help save lives. These are people who have committed themselves to making life better for people who face illness everyday. Even at the toughest times, having this knowledge was a source of comfort.

In my role here at Umbrellas, I have the opportunity to work with amazing people in healthcare, both my co-workers and my clients. They are people who are raising awareness of global issues, people who never give up on finding a cure or a better way, people who are helping make sure all of us have access to quality healthcare that is sustainable. I am proud that I have the opportunity to help and support them and work as part of an industry that changes lives.

-Trisha Daab
VP, Corpus Callosum* & Stuff
*where ideas meet execution
Umbrellas on the Beach

Watson shows his support for World Prematurity Day

After vacations and business trips, many of us (Scott, myself, Emily, Nick, Trisha, and Meredith) were finally in the office yesterday.  It's good to catch up with people face-to-face. (It actually reminded us how much we love to meet with our clients and how much we get done when we do.) Emily brought her adorable Pomchi in. His name is Watson. He spends a lot of time barking at squirrels and laying on the couch. Also on the couch yesterday was a preemie baby hat that Meredith had knit for an international advertising and promotional campaign we're working on. Scott thought it was a good idea to put that hat on Watson. Our good camera was still sitting out from a recent photo shoot and fortunately Nick had the wherewithal to grab it and take these adorable shots. Oh the adventures of an advertising agency--this is what happens when you put a bunch of creative people in one room. We have fun!

-Michele

A New Look for Umbrellas on the Beach

As a full-service creative agency, we're always focused on managing our clients' needs. In the thick of the workweek, it's easy to forget that sometimes the best way to show just how well you can do something is to do it for yourself. Which is why we dedicated the early months of this year to updating and redesigning our website, www.umbrellasonthebeach.com.

Given the fluidity of web design and the increasing needs to have an Internet presence that is optimized to any device a client (or their customers) might use, this was an important decision for our team—and we couldn't be happier with the result. Take a few minutes to look around and see for yourself. We think you'll like what you see. 

Being an ad agency has always meant being a partner to clients, but these days that means a lot more than it used to. We've refreshed our Samples section so you can see just what a partnership with Umbrellas on the Beach can look like. From event production to branding to videos and presentations to full 360-degree campaigns, Umbrellas on the Beach has you covered no matter what your creative solution needs.

We also want our website to serve as a living document to everything that's going on with us, so check back often for updates on our interactive marketing and media capabilities, messages from our team members, and an ever-expanding blog where we'll be sharing the ideas and innovations that inspire us. We hope they inspire you too.

See you soon!