Not that much better in the Pac NW. We've got more work than ever, but not enough to warrant hiring another PM (we hired one in June). There are a few companies here that are hiring, but what they're looking for is very specialized (direct marketing/training and retail/manufacturing HR). I don't really believe there's an appreciable difference in the number of jobs now compared to 2 years ago. I have fewer friends out of work, but many have also left the industry entirely. ----- Original Message ----- From: Ari Feldman To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 12:17 PM Subject: [webproducers] Re: Why managers will replace "web producers" climate? depends from what perspective? there's still no abundance of jobs, at least in the NY metro region. --- C L <cl888@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Speaking of running companies, I've been meaning to ask - > what's the general > climate out there? I've been isolated in working with a > non-profit and > freelancing strictly with past clients. I'll be re-entering > the workforce > full-time next year (hopefully - as long as I can find work), > so I'd > appreciate any comments. > > Chang Lee > > > >From: "Katherine Gray" <kat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >Reply-To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >To: <webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >Subject: [webproducers] Re: Why managers will replace "web > producers" > >Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 11:21:09 -0800 > > > >I totally agree. Since I run my company I don't have to worry > about those > >things like I used to, but that was my number one reason why > I wanted to > >run the show. At my last gig I was the producer for a small > creative shop > >that was acquired by a large technical staff-aug company. > After the merger, > >I was supposed to be responsible for a schedule and a budget > for projects > >where half of my team (the programmers) didn't actually > report to me, but > >to the tech lead, and I never had access to their hours > spent! And the tech > >director told them they didn't actually have to track hours! > It was a joke. > >Of course, it all ended rather dramatically in late 2000. > >Michael, my favorite from your list is number 2. You have to > have good > >instincts to do this job. It's making me more and more > convinced that good > >producers are born (and made better with experience) and that > it's very > >difficult to take someone from say, sales or marketing, and > turn them into > >a producer. And not just because of the lack of technical > background. We > >concentrate on front-end work so I'm never as concerned about > this and > >actually find that former programmers tend not to manage > creatives very > >well. It's just hard to teach people how to navigate a > project with their > >antennae up and teach them to be cautious and always thing > ahead to the > >consequences of a decision without being a micromanager and > driving > >everyone crazy. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Ari Feldman > > To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 4:23 AM > > Subject: [webproducers] Re: Why managers will replace "web > producers" > > > > > > > > interesting. the term "producer" has been ambiguous since > 1997 > > or so. i've held that title since but did 99% of what you > > outlined below. > > > > of the points you mentioned, having total responsibility > for a > > given project and the team's actions *but* not being able > to > > burn people for screwing around or institute change has > and > > continues to be one of the most frustrating aspects of the > role. > > > > > > > > --- Michael James Pinto <michaeljamespinto@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote: > > > --- Katherine Gray <kat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > As we're hiring new producers and developing our > training > > > methodology, one of our advisors has > > > > asked us to define what a good producer/project > manager > > > looks like. What are the qualities and > > > > skills you all think define a good producer? > > > > I'll start: > > > > > > I think producer seems to be a code word for a > > > "manager who has the risks but not the power to > > > make change". I blame books like the "Mythical > > > Man Month" for the view of managers being equal > > > to programmers, or even in supportng roles. This > > > point of view played a direct role in many failed > > > dot.bomb projects. > > > > > > Here is my post dot.bomb qualifications: > > > > > > 1. The ability to identify slackers and fire them. > > > 2. The ability to smell BS a mile away. > > > 3. Revolts against "not invented here". > > > 4. If managing programmers, should have programmed > > > in the past. > > > 5. Attention to detail. > > > 6. Can write worth a damn. > > > 7. Can say "NO" but not piss off. > > > 8. Knows how to research. > > > 9. Knows how to say "I don't know the answer to that, > > > but I'll find out." > > > 10. Won't build a Ferrari when you need a Honda Civic. > > > 11. Can explain the technical in plain English > > > sans buzz words but not be patronizing. > > > 12. Can track a project without a "management program". > > > 13. Can take good notes. > > > 14. Proactively organizes, but not goldbricking. > > > 15. Calls the client before the client calls them. > > > 16. Understands the need for QA. > > > 17. Understands "critical path". > > > 18. Doesn't procrastinate. > > > 19. Stops mission creep. > > > 20. Get it in writing, put it in writing. > > > > > > I submit the above is not a "producer" but is a > > > classic description of a manager. I will never hire > > > a "web producer" or create a job with that description. > > > Like the job title "webmaster" what web producers did > > > will evolve into different roles. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ===== > > > Michael James Pinto | http://www.vm.com | > http://www.anime.com > > > > > > > > > Upgrade to Clark: http://www.clark04.com | > > > http://www.nyforclark.com > > > > > > Join my list on the arts & technology: > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EIA_list > > > > > > >__________________________________________________________________________ > > > To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in > the > > > subject to webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > To access our webform to subscribe, unsubscribe, and > manage > > > your subscription (digest and vacation) visit > > > www.WebProducers.org. > > > > > > The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public > > > archive at www.WebProducers.org. Be sure to trim your > posts > > > and delete personal information such as telephone > numbers if > > > you do not want them as part of the archive. > > > > > > > ===== > > -------------------------------------------- > > --------- www.arifeldman.com --------- > > -------------------------------------------- > > > > __________________________________ > > Do you Yahoo!? > > New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. > > http://photos.yahoo.com/ > > > >__________________________________________________________________________ > > To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in > the subject to > >webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > To access our webform to subscribe, unsubscribe, and > manage your > >subscription (digest and vacation) visit > www.WebProducers.org. > > > > The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public > archive at > >www.WebProducers.org. Be sure to trim your posts and delete > personal > >information such as telephone numbers if you do not want them > as part of > >the archive. > >__________________________________________________________________________ > >To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the > subject to > >webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > >To access our webform to subscribe, unsubscribe, and manage > your > >subscription (digest and vacation) visit > www.WebProducers.org. > > > >The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public > archive at > >www.WebProducers.org. Be sure to trim your posts and delete > personal > >information such as telephone numbers if you do not want them > as part of > >the archive. > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Browse styles for all ages, from the latest looks to cozy > weekend wear at > MSN Shopping. And check out the beauty products! > http://shopping.msn.com > > __________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the > subject to webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > To access our webform to subscribe, unsubscribe, and manage > your subscription (digest and vacation) visit > www.WebProducers.org. > > The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public > archive at www.WebProducers.org. Be sure to trim your posts > and delete personal information such as telephone numbers if > you do not want them as part of the archive. > ===== -------------------------------------------- --------- www.arifeldman.com --------- -------------------------------------------- __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ __________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the subject to webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To access our webform to subscribe, unsubscribe, and manage your subscription (digest and vacation) visit www.WebProducers.org. The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public archive at www.WebProducers.org. Be sure to trim your posts and delete personal information such as telephone numbers if you do not want them as part of the archive. __________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the subject to webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To access our webform to subscribe, unsubscribe, and manage your subscription (digest and vacation) visit www.WebProducers.org. The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public archive at www.WebProducers.org. Be sure to trim your posts and delete personal information such as telephone numbers if you do not want them as part of the archive.