Jeff Cutler™ – columns, essays and opinions

Setting: Bar room, stage, smoky, night, microphone on stage, couples huddled around the room

Characters: Jeff Cutler, unnamed people at the tables around the room, announcer/bartender

The bartender wanders across the stage and grabs the microphone. If you looked carefully at his hands, you can see the scars on his knuckles from numerous fights. This bartender used to be a bouncer who worked his way up in the organization. To some, bartending isn’t a lateral move.

BARTENDER: Here’s that writer guy. He twits or tweets, whatever. Give it up for Jeff Culter… Cutler.

Jeff bounces onto the stage wearing his Duluth Trading Company firehose pants and presentation jacket.

He smiles at the bartender and then waves to the crowd. Crowd is an overstatement – there are 9 people in the room, eight of them are awake.

JEFF: Thanks for that warm welcome! I just flew in from Boston and boy are my arms tired….

Then I wake up.

That little sequence is an approximation of the dream that keeps me – and maybe other dedicated content professionals – on task and focused when preparing to deliver information and training. I imagine it’s what Chris Brogan used to feel like before he made it (or is making it) big.

The reason I bring this up is because I’m now doing the mini-Chris Brogan tour around the country. As many of you know, the Society of Professional Journalists has hired me to teach newspeople all around the world how to use social media tools to listen to and engage people.

What’s that mean? Aside from harrowing flights on planes about the size of an Egg McMuffin, it means that I’m meeting some great folks, honing my presenting skills, and staying brutally on top of the latest social media news.

It also means that I get to taste some of the magic that Chris Brogan sees on a daily basis. Guess what, it’s not magic.

Like any other job, it looks attractive from the outside (except maybe for cat neuterer and human paintball target). The flying around the country, the exotic meals in random restaurants and the huge paychecks make it seem so. But here’s the breakdown…

Airport food, Wichita, KS (the people and beer were fantastic), wobbly planes, basic paychecks. It’s not the glamour you might have anticipated.

Yes, I’m not Brogan. But I imagine aside from a much larger check – rumors say it’s above $20,000 a day – it’s a similar grind.

So, before you start having dreams, waking up in a sweat, or bobbing around the midwest in little prop planes, take a look at your current workload and assignments. You might be better off with the day job and letting masochists like me and Chris go chat with organizations about how they can better use social media.

What job do you lust for? Share that in the comments.

Keep reading!

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Tags: automobiles, Chris Brogan, Jeff Cutler, planes, social media, SPJ, trains, work

Today, Steve Garfield was on CBS Backstage being interviewed about video blogging and his new book, Get Seen. Here are some screen shots from the event. And I believe Steve has the interview archived on his site.

Keep reading!

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Tags: Boston, cbs, CBS news, Get Seen, Jeff Cutler, steve garfield, video, vlogging

Hi, I’m Jeff Cutler from JeffCutler.com. I am sometimes Jeffrey Cutler to my parents and my siblings when they’re annoyed with me. My first name is actually something different than Jeffrey and a bunch of people know what it is. But this isn’t a column about who I am. It’s a commentary on who I am not.

In early December 2009, I saw a tweet go out (a tweet is a 140-character missive that is carried on Twitter.com) saying how excited someone was about a meeting I was scheduled to attend. I panicked and played the skilled investigative journalist.

Sending back tweets like, “Where are we supposed to be meeting?” and “Who are we having the meeting with, again?” I was able to ascertain that Jeffrey Cutler was going to be speaking to the Greater Boston Food Bank about social media later that week.

I didn’t remember making that appointment, but chalked it up to having thousands of Twitter followers, a social media career that went back to 1999 or before when I started blogging, and an increasingly packed training schedule (as I regularly give talks to corporations, learning institutions, nonprofits and even national conference groups on how to leverage social media tools in their jobs, study and operations).

So, I made a phone call. The gentleman at the Greater Boston Food Bank was thrilled to hear from me. We chatted for three minutes before I decided to clear some things up for him.

“No sir. I have not received ANY of the scheduling emails you’ve sent out.”

“Yes sir. I am Jeff Cutler, the social media journalist and new media trainer. But I don’t think I’m the Cutler you have scheduled to speak to you.”

“Yes sir. I do this for a living, but don’t work in PR. I actually am a 21-year journalist and have run my own writing services firm for 18 years.”

“Yes sir. That may very well make my career older than the Jeffrey Cutler who you are meeting with this week.”

Once we clarified that I was NOT Jeffrey Cutler from Fama PR we compared notes. It was decided that the meeting with the other Jeff Cutler would go as planned. Then, if the Greater Boston Food Bank wanted some additional help, they would contact me and I’d come speak to them about social media tactics. That call came quickly.

This past Tuesday, Gradon Tripp and I went to the GBFB offices and spoke for about 75 minutes on the topics of social media, community, listening, marketing and more. Fun stuff. But it hasn’t helped stem the flow of Jeffrey Cutler incidents.

In fact, tonight I was at the #140Conf Tweetup and meeting at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge. I was approached by my friend Alexis who thanked me for agreeing to come speak to her company. Turns out they got the Jeffrey Cutler with 140 Twitter followers to help them mold their social media strategy.

So what should I do? I could send Mr. Cutler a tweet with a link to this post and start a conversation. I could monitor the Internet and see where “I’m” speaking or training next and just show up. Or I could worry unnecessarily about the damage the other Cutler might be doing to my brand and public image by selling people his social media training sessions. Then I could write about it on Things To Worry About and then go get something to eat.

What do you think I should do? He’s not (I don’t think) purposefully presenting himself as me to land jobs. If he is, Jeffrey Cutler deserves at least some credit as a salesman. But if his clients are hiring him based on my experience, prominence and aptitude, that’s a fraudulent path and maybe something the courts would suggest he be careful about clarifying when he signs on to train folks.

Or maybe it’s just caveat emptor. He has an impressive list of PR and marketing coups. He’s done something right to build up his list of clients. And he’s also been in startup land for a while – having been with Going.com from the beginning.

Maybe there’s room for two Jeff Cutlers….errrr, one Jeff Cutler and one Jeffrey Cutler…in this social media space. Only time will tell.

Keep reading!

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Tags: @jeffcutler, Jeff Cutler, jeffrey cutler, mistaken identity, PR, worry

If you’re not a Seinfeld fan you won’t get the partial reference to the Jerk Store joke in the title of this post. No matter. The reason I used that joke is because I’m now an app in the Apple iTunes app store. Really.

Just like Chris Brogan’s blog before mine, this very blog has been created into an app you can download onto your iPhone or iPod Touch.

That doesn’t mean you’re going to be happy with the app. I’m thrilled with it, but I like most things having to do with Jeff Cutler. You might not.

One thing you should be amazed at though, is that the fine people at MotherApp were able to do this for a blog. Seriously.

The technology behind what they had to create is just beyond me and it’s really cool that they took the time and energy to use my site as a test case. If you want to learn more, run over to their site and take a look.

In the meantime, I’m excited that many of you will now be reading my blog right on your iThings. Lots of posts coming this week about gadgets, CES, life, journalism and snacks. So stay tuned….iTuned….into my blog.

Keep reading!

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Tags: App Store, Blog, iTunes, Jeff Cutler, MotherApp

Just a quick list of some stuff I saw – along with links to their sites.

The rest of this week will feature a series of columns on my entire CES experience. Stay tuned!

ToolGuard – a loud, battery-powered alarm for your tool box. Not listed on their site yet, but it’s from Dynamco of Australia.

http://dynamco.com.au/

Album is a portible digital-photo storage in a 7-inch display. Stores up to 40,000 photos.

http://www.album-life.com/en/

Laptop to HDTV – watch your movies on your flatscreen.

http://www.alereon.com/

GPS transmitters to maintain tabs on your loved ones or employees.

http://blacklinegps.com/

Bluetooth headphones and in-ear pieces.

http://www.myblueant.com/index.php

Podcasting microphones from BlueMic – they make the Snowball, the Snowflake and the Yeti.

http://www.bluemic.com./

Sync and share your computer, mobile and the cloud.

http://www.dazzboard.com/

Videos and more on your TV, live streamed from your computer or similar device.

http://www.boxee.tv

Evaluate your own car – just plug it in. CarMD.

http://www.carmd.com/

Case-Mate has protective film that needs very little prep. They also introduced the HUG, the first real iPhone osmosis charger.

http://www.case-mate.com/

Collaborative authoring tool for your book. Use the Web to get input and feedback.

http://www.fastpencil.com/

Thermal imaging. It’s neat, but I’m not sure I’d know how to use it as a consumer – unless I was going to use a surface to surface missile to take out a skunk or a pesky rabbit.

http://www.flir.com/US/

The i-Mate is like a smartphone toughbook. Waterproof, drop-proof and built to meet military specs.

http://imate.com/

System software to help speed up your PC.

http://www.iolo.com/

Bluetooth headsets, earphones, earbuds and more. Flashy design, too.

http://www.jaybirdgear.com/

Find Song Lyrics and Download Ringtones. Over 600,000, including hard-to-find, songs. Might be like Mobile17.com, but with lyrics.

http://www.mspot.com/

My favorite smartphone cases. Love the durability and the access to all my iPhone’s functions. Also love the other sports cases they offer.

http://www.otterbox.com/

Tiny scanners that are portable and work fast.

http://www.planon.com/

The QUE is another content reader with cool partnerships and a nice design.

http://plasticlogic.com/

Pocket Radar. Why? I say why not? It’s a neat way to judge speeds. Use it for outdoor sports, baseball and even for calibrating your scooter’s notoriously bad speedometer. Handheld.

http://pocketradar.com/

Computer backup software. Partnered with Seagate…for the PC.

http://www.rebit.com/

One of my favorite headphone companies. I have a pair of traditional on-the-ear headphones for most of my podcasting and leisure use…I love them.

http://www.sennheiserusa.com/home

Radio to your smartphone.

http://www.slacker.com/

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Tags: CES, ces 2010, gadgets, Jeff Cutler, Las Vegas, technology

Some photos for the cool guys at Crayon – taken at the Panasonic press event at CES.

#ces
#lasvegas
#directv

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Tags: 3-D, CES, crayon, DirecTV, Jeff Cutler, panasonic

Just a quick handfull of photos to give readers a feel for the cattle call that is a #CES press conference.

Take a look at the shots here and tell me what you think.

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Tags: CES, Jeff Cutler, Las Vegas, led, samsung

Want to watch TV from your car or other vehicle? Audiovox announced a few moments ago that their FLOTV product is already in the marketplace and will be appearing in more places over the course of 2010.

FLOTV, if youre not familiar, is live television programming in your car. Integrated into existing headrest screens, the unit features a small antenna and simple remotes.

From my perspective, the FLOTV is cool. From consumers’ standpoint – according to Auidovox reps – it’s an easier way to enjoy entertainment in the car.

Some of the numbers…

There are 20 million screens in cars ready for FLOTV

Already shipping everywhere.

Plan is to get FLOTV into cars all over the world.

PTV is the portable version of FLOTV.

Finally, during the event, Audiovox announced their RCA e-book reader, the Lexi.

But what’s better than having a random e-book reader is that Auidovox has partnered with Barnes & Noble to deliver content to Lexi owners.

That’s a big deal. And it may continue to level the e-book landscape.

What’s your take?

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Tags: audiovox, CES, Flo TV, Jeff Cutler

OnStar and Chevy paired today to make an announcement about the start of Volt production and about some functionality OnStar is offering with a new car-connected mobile app.

Maria Rohrer – Director Chevy Volt Marketing said the car is “very real and on time.”

According to Rohrer, the Volt is an extended range electric vehicle.

To that end, OnStar has introduced and is working toward integrated electical management, stats and communication from drivers to their cars.

Sounds like it’s a robot car.

Additionally, OnStar has launched an app on multiple mobile platforms that allows owners to get car info, communicate and give commands to their car, and even see diagnostic info.

During the OnStar/Volt session, a person in the audience was able to lock the car doors on their Android phone via the app.

Crazy!

What’s your take?

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Tags: CES, chevy, Jeff Cutler, Las Vegas, onstar, volt

This thing was flying around tonight’s press event at the Venetian at #ces in Las Vegas.

Not sure exactly what it is, but it totally draws a crowd.

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Tags: CES, gadget, Jeff Cutler, Las Vegas