Nov 30

The Spirit of Giving, Part 1

By CSMG

For the past couple of years, I have adopted a family through United Christmas Service.  For about $100/person, the family has a Christmas they would not otherwise enjoy.  This year, six CSMG Christmas elves have gotten together to provide Christmas for a family of 5.

 

The original wish lists from the family are a bit heartbreaking, requests from a 12-year-old boy for socks and underwear, from a 20-year-old woman for a robe and slippers, from Mom for dishes and cookware.  In conversation we were able to address bigger wishes, such as Xbox 360 games for an 11-year-old boy, Barbie dolls and tutus for a 5-year-old princess.

 

The family is currently in temporary living quarters, awaiting an apartment vacancy in their neighborhood.  Mom is a nurse, her 20-year-old is studying nursing at IUPUI, and the boys attend Challenge Academy where some of us tutored for ReadUp last year.  The family is artistic, drawing and sketching in their leisure time, and seem to have their acts together while going through very difficult times.

 

Each year, this has been a fun and heart-warming adventure.  The elves will get together soon to plan the shopping, the wrapping and the delivering.  Stay tuned for the next step in the journey.

Elaine Selmier

Producer





Nov 11

Ch ch ch ch changes…

By CSMG

I would characterize myself as a fan of change. I change my hair, my direction, my mood, my shoes (oh how I love to change my shoes!) and my mother would like it noted that during my childhood I changed my clothes up to five times a day. Can you imagine her woes over the laundry!? I like things to be new and fresh. It excites me to think about the next new adventure, the next song on the radio, the next gift I can buy for a friend—you name it. This explains my excitement over our upcoming address change. I’ve been in the same office for 10 of my nearly 12 years at CSMG. I’ve had my privacy and I’ve had company (good times, Becky and Stephen). The walls around my desk have seen hugs, high fives and fits; they have heard laughs, gripes, contemplation and cheers. They are not anything extraordinary, but they have embraced the change that has happened inside of them—both personal and professional. Alas, they have provided a good office home, but I am ready for a change… new walls with new paint, new windows to gaze out of when I’m stumped on a script, a new roommate (or rather an old roommate…again) against whom I can bounce ideas. The change of it all thrills me. I can’t wait to arrange the furniture, hang pictures and just make it mine.

 

I am sure that I will sit at my desk once the flurry of moving is over and smile, wholly satisfied to change locations from CSMG-North campus-house 3-first floor-Liz’s office to my new third-floor office in the 409 building. There, I imagine I will listen and contribute to the telling of the sameold stories, with the same old colleagues colored by the same old revelry we’ve always had. Ok, I guess I don’t love all change. Some things are better untouched—like our friendships and the great (and not so great) times we’ve shared. Good thing I can bring those things with me.

 

Liz Dee

Writer/Producer





Nov 1

A Moving Blog

By CSMG

As there are two sides to every story, there are two emotions welling up when I consider our impending company move to Mass Ave.

 

As one of the fortunate sheltered at the company headquarters these last seven years, or in other words, one of the “northsiders,” I’ve always looked with some envy at those who daily enjoy the benefits of working on one of Indianapolis’ most cherished downtown avenues-- a place where the arts, good food, and a variety of drink blend into one intoxicating siren’s call.  Even the studio at the end of Washington Boulevard with its remodeled charm and better weather (isn’t the climate always more agreeable as you go south?) plays its part in this ‘grass is greener’ scenario.

 

At the same time, 3719, along with her awning-connected sisters, has always been Creative Street.  That one original little house welcomed a rag-tag group of smoking, intellectual pirates over 25 years ago.  And though her crew has changed some over the decades, the little ship with her sometimes leaky roof and walls has helped keep this company afloat, weathering storms, successes, trials, and tribulations.

 

I’ve enjoyed my bedroom office on the second floor in house #2 with Elaine’s occasional laugh next-door and Dave’s music across the hall.  With Emily’s help we gently removed Mike’s ducks and painted the walls a pleasing gray.  I hung my pictures and turned my desk towards the traffic on Washington Boulevard.  I have enjoyed my time here. But the time has come.  I can think of no better change than being One together.  I look forward to seeing Debbie, Rick, Heather, Dan, Hilary, Steve, Brian, Cory and all the rest each and every day. We have been a splintered group, not by choice, but by coincidence and chance. And now, without hesitation, and in Dave’s memory, we will become a scary-strong central unit.  I am so excited and looking forward to the new Creative Street on Massachusetts Avenue. I can’t wait.

 

Chris Wertz

Producer

 





Oct 25

Movin' on Up

By CSMG

I’ve worked at Creative Street for almost 12 years now. I met my husband here.  I’ve made some of my best friends here.  I feel like I’ve grown up here.  So, forgive my nostalgia for a minute as our company begins a new chapter and, I’d say, a great adventure.  We will begin the process of moving to a new location on Mass Ave., where, for the first time, all the divisions of the company will be housed together.  We will put up for sale 4 historic homes on Washington Blvd. that were bought up one by one down the block as the company grew.  Other tenants will eventually take over our other space on Mass Ave., where many of us have resided since before “45 degrees” was filled with food trucks and trendy boutiques. For all the times I cursed when the roof leaked in my sun porch office, or was afraid to ask what was causing that smell in the basement, these spaces have been a singular place to work. Nobody else I know works out of a converted bedroom that isn’t in their own home.  But I look forward to being in a vibrant, new space, and better yet, close to all my co-workers where I know we will not only be more efficient, we will have more fun, feeding off each other’s creative energy, special talents, and infectious laughter that I know for a fact does not permeate most workplaces the way it does here.

 

There is no denying that the changes at Creative Street in 2011 run much deeper than new office space.  Our excitement in the coming weeks will be shadowed with grief.  Yet here before us is an opportunity to give the best in us—our teamwork—a tangible presence and a place to call home.   I, for one, can’t pack up my office fast enough.

 

Becky Fisher

Director, Creative Services

 




Aug 9

Putting the Custom in Customer

By CSMG

If you are looking for a solution to a particular website challenge, you know there are lots of off-the-shelf options available.  Content management, learning management, ecommerce, hosting, and template website products look affordable, easy, and appealing.  Besides, words like “custom” and “tailored” just sound expensive. But like clothes off the rack, some things fit, but don’t necessarily flatter.  Is your business a “petite,” getting lost in the enormity of the web?  Maybe you’ve had a growth spurt, and your current website suddenly fits like Capri pants.  This is where a custom approach can help.  At CSMG, we look at the specific challenges facing your online presence:  what do your customers need, what does your business need, where are you looking to go?  We then develop solutions that are scalable, and tailored, often for the price and time you would spend trying to alter an off-the-shelf product.  Approached with their individual objectives and budget in mind, our clients find online solutions that accomplish more than they thought possible, backed by solid technology and performance.  So, don’t shy away from the tailor--think of the figure your business could cut in a website made just for you.

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Creative Street Media Group is a nationally-recognized leader in the media production and communications industry. For over twenty-five years, we have served a diverse and prestigious roster of clients, creating award-winning communication solutions. Our size and experience allow us to focus on the coordinated use of all media - interactive, online, video, film, audio, and print.