There’s an odd thing that happens whenever I’m trying to explain what I do for a living to anyone more … errr … experienced in years than I am; confusion. We’ve made up so many jobs in the last decade. Titles that mean shit on paper, and even less to those not surrounded by a digital environment. When I try to explain how business works, and is influenced by Social Media, I get more blank stares than I’d like to. Talk to a millennial, and it’s part of their daily addiction. They are both all-knowing, and consuming.
#SocialMediaYVR and the fantastic people behind Toronto’s (and now Vancouver’s) BrainStation collaboration/educational suites, brought together a who’s who of young social savvy Vancouverites on Thursday night.
An ocean of inquiring minds, and myself, attended the event which found us waiting in the elevator zooming to the fourth floor of a trendy Yaletown building. Immediately I feel like the price tag on their programs would benefit from the expulsion of a “fancy location” budget. But hey, whatever makes you feel like the people want to be there.
Regardless of the conveniently pricey locale, BrainStation is trying to play the same game that other work-share companies are doing in Vancouver. Only better. They’re offering teachings from industry professionals, at times of day where people are available. Yes. Not a nine-to-five. Rather, evening and night-time courses. And these aren’t retired, or ex-whatevers, or those who couldn’t get a ten-year at Hootsuite because they weren’t good enough and still think they know a thing or two about how to rebrand for digital channels. Instead, you’ll learn from the folks who just got off work, and are there to teach you the thing they just finished doing. If this, or any of these industries become more cut-throat, such an opportunity would die just as quickly as our collective camaraderie. No need to educate the competition. But for now, it’s a loving mentality.
The panel itself, the main attraction of the night — although… there was a ping-pong table which came in at a close second — was filled with some of the leading veterans whom work for high-profile brands, that are genuinely making movement on social.
Herschel Supply Co, Vancity Buzz, Saje Wellness, PostMark Brewery, and more sent their tweeting, re-gramming, snap-chatting, hot shots to serenade a room of hopefuls with tales of whimsy and success. Unfortunately, none of them mentioned that eighty percent (made up guesstimate percentage) of those who try to have success on social media fall flat on their face. Because they aren’t students of trend.
In even more unfortunate news, the event was sold to those who work in Social Media. And if you were in the room, and your job is in the realm of SM, and you didn’t already know 99% of the things said from the panel, put in your two-weeks notice now. Find a new career path. This one’s not for you.
This event should have been touted as a lesson in basics. A beginners guide to how social influences the success of your INSERT NAME HERE business. Most of the people I spoke with, were in the industry already, and I hope they learned nothing. For the students/padawans in the building, those two hours would have given you a really awesome foundation to begin making a difference in your success. So I hope you wrote some things down. If you didn’t, guess what, social media is here to help. Look up the#SocialMediaYVR tag on twitter, and you’ll get a good list of tips/knowledge.
A spokesman/teacher for the educational space says that during some of the classes he teaches he notices something unique.
“Here there is a classroom filled with industry professionals. An astounding amount of experience in one group, and all looking to learn.”
So there’s an added benefit. If you get into one of these select courses then you’ll potentially learn from both the leader, and the learners.
Overall, the night was a success. I saw many people leave there looking fulfilled. Having made more than a few connections. And with a new chipper attitude towards their approach to their career in social media. In contrast, everyone that I knew in that room (the people that work in the industry) left shortly after the talks were over. Maybe they felt like leaving DURING the panel would be too disrespectful.
This feeling of disappointment in the event vanishes when paying a bit more attention to what BrainStation is ultimately trying to do (even if it wasn’t on display during this particular event); Educate Professionals. Whether you’re a social media manager, looking to learn CSS/HTML5, or you’re a back-end engineer on the hunt for some marketing knowledge/tools, I feel like this organization can help you. Their course-loads, and class times, are both extremely conducive of “extracurricular learning”. I think there’s a lot of value in the expansion of ones skillset.
Here at East Side Games, we have a development budget. Each employee gets a certain dollar amount a year in order to improve, or grow in their desired field. Making BrainStation a go-to for companies like ours.
To view the full list of courses offered at BrainStation Vancouver, check HERE. If you’re reading this out East, the BrainStation Toronto schedule is HERE. Workshops also exist in New York, Waterloo, and San Jose.
As an aside. While it seems the group plans to add full-time courses, it’s the part-time nature of their evening classes that strikes me as a service worth paying attention to.
As with yesterday’s Valentine’s Day treats, we’ve been on a roll with our determination to be more active in our charitable mindset. .
Every year around the Christmas holidays, with the help of our families, and friends, we raise money to support Crabtree. But in 2015, we decided to do something a little bit different.
Between hosting the Star Wars Screening and the Crown Royal Raffle, we were not only able to raise over $2500 for Crabtree, but also increase awareness about the issues in the DTES for all that attended the event, and more broadly through our social channels.
@EastSideGames Thank you for your generosity!
— YWCA Metro Vancouver (@YWCAVAN) February 12, 2016
We have continued this support into 2016 with our Valentines Day project. With help, we created 36 gift bags filled with tea and coffee, chocolates and personal care products, which we delivered to the centre yesterday afternoon. 12 bags went to the women-in-need living at the facility, and the other 24 were distributed to the volunteers who are integral to keeping everything running.
A BIG THANK YOU for your support in helping those who need it most in our community feel empowered and cared for. Stay tuned for more opportunities to give your time or resources in the near future! We are kicking off this year with a new official hashtag for all philanthropic endeavours:
#ESGcares
If you’re interested in giving, to a beautiful cause, and great people, please go HERE TO DONATE and find out more information about what Crabtree Corner does.
After a very fiery vocal discussion about our health benefits forms in the office this morning, we (the entire studio) received an email from HR stating:
Due to Jason Bailey’s passionate rant this morn about gender boxes on the benefit forms and forcing employees to state their sexual orientation by identifying their partner’s gender AND supporting gender identity and gender expression, ESG is going to make a stand to force change within the insurance company, specifically raise sh*t for Equitable Life.
Below is a copy/pasted letter from East Side Games Founder Jason Bailey, about the lack of empathy across the board by our health benefits company.
Today I am embarrassed as an employer. We signed up for a new benefits program to hopefully make our employees life better and fuller. As part of that process we asked everyone to complete and submit new forms to us. That formed asked them to identify their gender as well as their partners gender and submit it to us, thereby outing their sexuality. This is none of my business, I apologize. Because it is 2016.
East Side Games works hard to be a very liberal and inclusive workplace and many people here are ‘out’ on both sexuality and gender identity issues. Unfortunately many employers are not as liberal and having to reveal such information could create a very disruptive and upsetting result. Sadly, even in 2016, even in Canada, revealing your sexuality to your employer could be devastating in many workplaces. This stand is for those people.
We will allow any employees who wish, to uncheck any and all of those boxes before we send the forms in. If Equitable Life of Canada or Ace Life feel they need this information for a valid reason, they will have to address that directly and privately or lose customers.
There may well be valid reasons an insurer may want to ask gender questions, ‘validity’ of that is another issue, but there are much more sensitive ways of gathering this information IF it is truly needed. At the very least, there are more creative ways for insurance companies to fluff their pricing.
As a ‘1 Percenter’ who was lucky enough to be born english speaking, first world, reasonable looking, able bodied, straightish, reasonably intelligent, white, AND male it is my obligation to stand up and check my privilege. I did nothing to earn the fact that most every door of opportunity I have ever approached has opened widely for me. The best thing I can do with such privilege and voice is to stand up and say “What the fuck Equitable Life?!? How does forcing my employees to reveal their sexuality and gender to me ‘Benefit’ them?
I personally apologize to all of East Side Games employees.
Sincerely,
Jason Bailey
Founder.
On behalf of ESGers, and all those affected by prejudice worldwide, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making THIS workplace a safe one, a loving one, and most of all an EQUAL ONE.
Last weekend, into the wee hours, games were made.
The Global Game Jam, is the largest event of it’s kind. It’s global! These “jams” are events where large groups of people gather in a central place to destroy the internet… I kid. Game Developers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds gather to make a game within a short time-frame. There are rules. You only have 48 hours, and everyone gets the same theme!
The given theme sounds scarier than you might imagine. They’re generally pretty vague, and the ideas that are turned out from the teams of devs are surprisingly varied. It’s interesting to see how different people interpret a single idea.
Vancouver’s Global Game Jam, is a sight to be seen. They (those jamming) take over one of the biggest foyers you’ve ever seen — located in the health science building at the University of British Columbia — where you watch hundreds of people gather. It’s amazing. On Friday, everyone arrives with however much gear (computers, tablets, devices, sleeping bags, sustenance etc.) they desire, and await the announcement of the theme. Most have prepared teams ahead of time, some hope to find new friends/jammers when they arrive. There is seriously little in the world that cultivates such an environment of creativity.
“THE GGJ STIMULATES COLLABORATION AND IS NOT A COMPETITION”
Such an accurate statement. A mission that is executed well. Friday came and went…. the excitement, and electricity (in both senses of the word) was palpable.
“RITUAL” is the theme!
Right away, the room is abuzz with whispers, voices, pitches. The tornado of ideas flying all about you is dizzying. But one by one, you can capture the looks on the faces of groups as they hit the mark on their game idea.
So many friendly faces. I knew such a large amount of people in that room, and that made me happy. Better yet, I left there knowing far more! And I think that’s what this kind of thing is largely about. Nothing brings people together like art. Whether you’re weaving lines of code, creating pixel-art, or laying down amazing bass-heavy doom-synth soundtrack loops, you’re in a room filled with like-passionate individuals. We can’t think of a better reason to get very little sleep over a weekend.
It is extremely satisfying to see the impact that local game studios are trying to have on the event. If anything, it’s an amazing place to spot emerging talent. All of the major sponsors for the Vancouver Jam this year were Vancouver Game Studios. Including us, who threw the kick-off party for all jammers to attend, at the Portside Pub in Gastown.
ESGer Frank, playing ESGer Tim’s HAPPY CULT:
Plenty of East Side Games people took part, and it was great to see. Next year, we hope to have an even bigger presence, and more support to offer the group of game developers, and volunteers.
Speaking of amazing people, a huge cheers to the volunteers, and the folks who spent their entire weekend (and tons of effort prior) facilitating this amazing experience for so many of us. Some of these amazing people have put in months of work.
ESGer MADE GAMES –
STARTIFACT
HAPPY CULT
TERRACOTTA WARRIORS
DEAD END JOB
For an even more intimate playable experience, FULL INDIE this month is going to showcase all of the Global Game Jam games made in Vancouver. So make sure you RSVP on the meet-up, and come find anyone from ESG and say hello!
