I'm titling boards for a glorious 2 day event I'm illustrating this week in San Francisco. The nice thing about local events is that I can use the boards I have at home 😎 and listen to my records while I'm prepping them 💜
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@silentjames
I'm titling boards for a glorious 2 day event I'm illustrating this week in San Francisco. The nice thing about local events is that I can use the boards I have at home 😎 and listen to my records while I'm prepping them 💜
I'd like to dedicate this #smallbusinesssaturday to myself 🥹😊😁✨ Esther took this photo to commemorate my first visual notes event as my own company. I'm very proud of the person in this photo 🤗 You proved you don't need a firm or an agent or a boss to accomplish your "ridiculous" childhood dream of becoming a "person that draws by hand for a living". You did it (your way) 💜
Visual notes for Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women @csvanw They are an incredible organization doing amazing work. I've had the honor to live illustrate their events over the years 💜💛💚 Lots of love and support. Consider supporting native groups this #givingtuesday
Visual Notes for Creative Conferences
A Richer Conference Experience
Conferences require a lot of planning and investment, but how do you make sure attendees will remember your keynotes and panel discussions? If you put yourself in your attendees shoes, it's very difficult to sit through talk after talk (sometimes across multiple days) and retain all of that information. If your conference has multiple tracks going, it's physically impossible for attendees to experience it all. During receptions, attendees could be continuing your content conversation over drinks (instead of just talking about their flights and hotel rooms). My live visual notes service supports engagement, retention, and productivity - your conference deserves it!
A Branded Physical Space For Your Content
People have been spending more and more time in front of a screen (data suggests an average of 6-7 hours per day!). Seeing someone draw, live and in-person, can have such a profound impact on a person's engagement and comprehension. My visual notes communicate complex concepts into easily digestible, thought-provoking art. I believe when we have time to reflect, the brain is able to understand and retain more information. The boards may be displayed in common areas, giving attendees that valuable reflection time, while also creating a branded space for your content. There's an opportunity to create tower displays of the boards, which are easy to set up, and make a huge impact at multi-day events. They make excellent photo opportunities too!
Visual Notes for a Variety of Sessions
I've been live illustrating events since 2011, drawing for the world's most innovative thought leaders. Allow me to illustrate all of your inspiring and insightful takeaways as they happen live!
KEYNOTES: Most professional speakers have given a version of their keynote multiple times in the past. Having me illustrate it will make your event a unique experience for attendees (as well as the presenters!).
PANELS: Panel discussions are typically organic conversations. I illustrate the variety of perspectives into a dynamic visual summary that tells the story of the conversation.
RECEPTIONS and TRADE SHOWS: Whether you'd like to keep your content conversation going at your reception, or bring people to your booth at a trade show; my Crowdsourced Boards will certainly draw a crowd :) We come up with a question or topic, attendees give their responses, and I illustrate them live. This accomplishes many things:
The group will continue the conversations around your themes and topics, even after the talks are over
You turn the spotlight on your audience, giving them a unique experience where their voice matters
Discover valuable insights into where your audience is at, on any given topic
Make your trade show booth approachable, people will want to see what's going on in a creative, low pressure environment
Virtual Conferences and Digital Visual Notes
If your conference is strictly virtual, or a hybrid of virtual and in-person; I'm able to fully support via my digital visual notes.
VIRTUAL CONFERENCES: I live illustrate all of the content digitally on my laptop, and am able to share my screen via your preferred conferencing software.
IN-PERSON DIGITAL and HYBRID CONFERENCES: I connect to your screen onsite via my laptop, and create the digital visual notes live. This gives everyone in the room (and virtual attendees) a holistic view of the visual notes being created.
Let's Give Them Something to Post About
Have your content reach even further on social by giving attendees dynamic visuals to post. This user generated content can aid in getting your conference trending, plus there is no denying the engagement level when someone proudly poses next to their own words. Your event will be elevated by this added engagement layer, and people will be talking about it long after it concludes.
"How Do I Hire You For My Conference?"
Call 415-917-6779 or email [email protected] to discuss your next event, it's that simple. I'm your first, last, and only point of contact (no sleazy salespeople here!). It's important to contact me as early as possible, so I may confirm availability (my calendar fills up quick!). Thank you for learning a bit more about my live visual notes service for conferences, let's make a memory together!
What Are Visual Notes? What Makes a Great Visual Note Taker?
"What Do You Call This?"
At events, attendees love to approach me in-between talks and tell me their positive reactions to the work... yet, they don't always know what to call it. There are many different terms, the most popular are:
Visual Notes
Live Illustration
Graphic Recording
"Visual Notes" is the most accurate description, and the one I use to refer to my work. I like "Live Illustration" as well. The term "Graphic Recording" means nothing to most people outside of my industry (try saying that to someone you meet at a networking event haha), and is the one I like the least.
"What Are Visual Notes?"
Now that we have the term, how do I define it? Visual Notes are illustrated summaries of content. Keynotes, panel discussions, strategy sessions, brainstorms, Q and A; all spoken content could become Visual Notes. These are created either in-person (typically using markers on boards) or virtually (I use Photoshop), and aid in retention, engagement, and productivity.
"What Makes a Great Visual Note Taker?"
I chose the name "Silent James" because "silent" is an anagram of the word "listen". To truly listen, you need to be silent. I've honed my listening skills so I'm able to listen, synthesize, write, draw, listen for the next point, watch my spacing, and show how the ideas connect... all in real-time (and a bow-tie!). I also have a background in illustration, making my notes so much more VISUAL than other people in my field. You won't be getting a bunch of stick figures and messy compositions when you hire Silent James! You don't have to chose between ideas or art... you get it all.
"What is the Value?"
The beauty of my live visual notes service is the value it brings before, during, and after your event.
Before: I've supported over 300 events from Fortune 500 companies, to nonprofits. This expertise makes me an asset while you're planning your event. We'll go over your goals and objectives, collaborate on how I'll best support, and I'll personalize my approach to your specific event.
During: I call myself a professional smile-maker because attendees in any industry are delighted and engaged by my work. I communicate complex ideas into insightful imagery, immortalizing your words as they are spoken.
After: Put yourself in your audience's shoes: it's overwhelming to try and retain every insight when it's talk after talk (sometimes across multiple days). The physical boards I create may be displayed throughout your event, creating a branded space for reflection. I also take photos of the work, giving you easily shareable ways to keep your content conversation going.
"How Do I Hire You For My Event?"
Call 415-917-6779 or email [email protected] to discuss your next event, it's that simple. I'm your first, last, and only point of contact (no sleazy salespeople here!). It's important to contact me as early as possible, so I may confirm availability (my calendar fills up quick!). Thank you for learning a bit more about my live visual notes service for events, let's make a memory together!
I’m so proud of this video ^__^ Silent James Cuts the Red Tape! I’m your first, last, and only point of contact. You don’t have to deal with salespeople, directors, managers, and whatever else firms try to throw at you! Contact me today to discuss how I can support your next event https://www.silentjames.com/contact I create live visual notes for conferences, meetings, trade shows, and receptions. Thank you!
Watercolor painting stroll through Jardin des Plantes 💚 from my Paris holiday 💚
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#silentjames #watercolor #painting #illustration #paris #france #nature #trees #timelapse #speedpaint
Silent James shared a post on Instagram: "Watercolor painting stroll through Jardin des Plantes 💚 from my Paris holiday 💚 . . . #silentjames
Napalm Death "Scum" 1987, Cover art by Jeff Walker
Deadpan stone face while I'm working 😑💜 Even I am startled when I see photos of my intense expression when I work 😱 Attendees often approach me in-between talks to ask me how I do what I do. There's a lot going on in my brain (writing / drawing what's been said, remembering the next point, connecting the ideas, watching my spelling, spacing it all out, etc), in a word I would say: FOCUS 👀
📸 Patrick T. Power, at PCBC
Keeping warm ❤️🔥 and entertained 🙃
My live visual notes immortalize your content at events. It’s very common to feel mentally isolated, especially after so many years apart. I listen, synthesize, and turn your words into productive art. Contact me to discuss your next event, and let’s make a memory together! https://www.silentjames.com/
Icelandic wool from my trip to Reykjavík, not a minute too soon 🥶brrrrr (BG bunny ears cracked me up) 😅
"Tragedy is a close-up; comedy, a long shot" I was Buster Keaton for Halloween 🎃🖤 🤍
One of my favorite live illustrations was for Dr. Genevieve Bell at Intel Capital Summit. She compared the future of AI with the arrival of the steam engine train. Dr. Bell was so excited about my work and seeing her likeness, she asked for a photo before we started :)
Make Events More Creative and Memorable
My work (called visual notes, live illustration, graphic recording, graphic facilitation etc) communicates your talks visually and is a valuable tool for retention, engagement, and productivity. I'm at the front of the room, or working digitally, drawing out the content of the talk in real-time. My approach combines improvisation with visual learning, and attendees will walk away with a richer understanding of the content discussed. Your ideas become productive art :)
2002 James 💜 I made those 3-D glasses in 1999. I wanted them to be "Rave-Proof" (so they wouldn't fall apart as I was burning up the dance floor). I cut the pieces out of comic backboards, attached lenses, and had it laminated. Then I attached a nose guard that I made. I was inspired by Biff's henchman "3-D" in Back to the Future, and Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo.
Fun info video about me and my visual notes.
• I’m non-binary (they/them)
• I chose the name “Silent James” because “silent” is an anagram of “listen”
• I was born in NY and moved to the Bay Area, CA
• I travel around the world creating live visual notes for events
• I’ve supported over 300 events, from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits
• I also create studio illustrations in watercolor and ink
• I love silent film, vinyl records, 1920s, zines, and Paris
More on my site https://www.silentjames.com/about