Imagerati?

07/2006

Screeching to a stop in his sacred scarlet sportscar, he leaned out the window. “Are you really a digerati?”

I didn’t know whether to slap him or kiss him.

Digerati. Like literati. Or, the fashionable, glitterati. Disappointed, I had to admit, I am no digerati. He begged to differ and made some good points about me and technology. Maybe I am a digerati and I just don’t know it yet. Stranger things have happened.

In regards to media, yes, my image has appeared (with my consent) in Crate&Barrel, page 62, upper left corner. Yes, my image has appeared (with my consent) in glossy magazines.

But late one lonely evening, I was considering a new investment for clients – the Chi Lounge when, while watching the promotional video, I was stunned. About half-way through the piece, the founder appeared on camera with a subtle (and flirty) image on his sleeve. Pause. Rewind. Pause.

Shocked, I flew to California to have a little heart to heart with the company founder about copyright laws regarding the use of my image, etc. I once hauled a young mother (who thought using my image on a birthday cake would be fun) before a judge, so I wasn’t about to let this guy get away.

With more persuasion than I can believe, he actually talked me into trying the Chi Lounge for myself, as if taking a spin might loosen my grip on international copyright laws. I have to admit, after the soothing experience, I was more relaxed than usual. Maybe the birthday cake wasn’t so bad. Perhaps jail time was too stiff a sentence (just kidding!).

After Diet Cokes, the doctor and I reached an agreement that, looking back, was probably too generous on my part. We agreed his shirt was in good taste. We also agreed he must never wear it again without properly negotiating fees – even when he’s on camera and freshly showered. Like he said, you can’t pull the wool over my eye!

All I know is this: after the Chi Lounge experience, I felt renewed and curious; as though I could be anything and anyone – a glitterati, a literati…even a digerati.