David Gerzof Richard

Help me be the voice of Xfinity Sports - Vote...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:14:46 -0500

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Help me be the voice of Xfinity Sports - Vote here: http://on.fb.me/PleaseVoteDave

David, Gerzof Richard, Founder of BIGfish, Discussing Pinterest...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:19:00 -0500

David, Gerzof Richard, Founder of BIGfish, Discussing Pinterest on FOX News

David Gerzof Richard Interviews @Veronica for Emerson...

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:28:32 -0500

David Gerzof Richard Interviews @Veronica for Emerson College’s Social Media Marketing Course

Volkswagon harnesses the power of the Force and a few dogs to...

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:05:58 -0500

Volkswagon harnesses the power of the Force and a few dogs to market vehicles…

David Gerzof Richard speaks out about SOPA on FOX

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:21:18 -0500

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

David Gerzof Richard speaks out about SOPA on FOX

Best Social Media Class Project Ever: #ProfOchoCinco + #ESM

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:41:51 -0500

Best Social Media Class Project Ever: #ProfOchoCinco + #ESM

My recent interview on Fox News in Boston.

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:33:26 -0500

My recent interview on Fox News in Boston.

Catvertising Video = Brilliant + Creative x Execution

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:36:23 -0500

Catvertising Video = Brilliant + Creative x Execution

BostInnovation Post: Emerson’s Social Media Class...

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:05:10 -0400

BostInnovation Post: Emerson’s Social Media Class (#ESM) Wants A New Professor: @Ochocinco

When it comes to pop culture social media and YouTube videos in...

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:00:29 -0400

When it comes to pop culture social media and YouTube videos in particular often imitated and spoof TV broadcasts and movies, but more frequently now we are seeing the opposite take effect. TV broadcasts are highlighting user generated content from YouTube and other platforms. In the case of Honey Badger Marketing, In January 2011 “The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger” a viral video using 2007 National Geographic documentary footage with a sassy, foul-mouthed voiceover narration provided by self-proclaimed animal lover, Randall.

The clever folks behind the pistachio campaign (a take off...

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:00:00 -0400

The clever folks behind the pistachio campaign (a take off itself of Reese’s: “how so and so eats a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup”) caught on to the pop culture phenomenon and enlisted Randall and the “Nastyass Honey Badger” for the TV ad spot below.

In this case, a Nat-Geo TV Broadcast was spoofed by a YouTube contributor, who in turn was recruited to create a spot that was broadcast back on TV. To quote Oscar Wilde: “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.”

Love this viral video response by filmmaker Casey Niestatto to...

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:32:47 -0400

Love this viral video response by filmmaker Casey Niestatto to the ridiculous ticket he received in NYC for riding his bike outside the bike lane when the bike lane was blocked by traffic.

My CBS News interview on Osama Bin Laden and Social Media...

Tue, 03 May 2011 17:58:00 -0400

My CBS News interview on Osama Bin Laden and Social Media Reporting

Chefs Gone Wild - Flying Food Short - Seven ridiculous seconds -...

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:23:38 -0400

Chefs Gone Wild - Flying Food Short - Seven ridiculous seconds - enjoy

My Latest Presentation: Integrating Social Media into Hotel...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:53:50 -0400

My Latest Presentation: Integrating Social Media into Hotel Marketing Programs

MILK is POISON to BABY OLIVER. Great video of my friend and...

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:18:21 -0500

MILK is POISON to BABY OLIVER. Great video of my friend and fellow entrepreneur James Siminoff and his work with Children’s Hospital to combat Galactosemia.

The amazing story of one man’s photo (of himself) used around...

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:03:00 -0500

The amazing story of one man’s photo (of himself) used around the world without his knowledge - Thanks to TNW for sharing

Cool Pics from the Wall Street Journal Photo Shoot with the...

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:38:00 -0500

- Images by

Cool Pics from the Wall Street Journal Photo Shoot with the social media class I teach at Emerson College

Where are @Nyquil, @Robitussin & @Ambien?

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:16:00 -0500

Image Credit: SEAN THORENSON

It is almost impossible to find major brands without a presence on Twitter nowadays. Every recognizable consumer facing brand seems to have at least one handle, if not more by now. The one type of brand you will not see on Twitter is over the counter medications like Nyquil and Ambien. Because the prevalence of over the counter drug abuse is well documented, you may think that these brands would join in to help promote correct use of their product.

Unfortunately for brands like Nyquil, pharmaceutical regulations actually require that every time they see a mention of improper use of their product, they must educate the individual on proper product use. Essentially the brand would be required to educate users for every public tweet of their products misuse.

A quick search of “Nyquil sleep” on Twitter showed 20 tweets in the last three hours, over half of which promoted improper product use. Managing responses at that rate across Twitter alone would be extremely costly in terms of time and money.

The regulations make sense in many contexts, but probably not when it comes to social media. These regulations hold brands back from properly promoting safe use of their products and reaching out to people misusing their products. The job would simply be too overwhelming. Amending regulations for certain circumstances in social media should be considered to better address over-the-counter drug misuse in real time.

Northeast Snow: Manna for Landscapers, Destroyer of Greenhouses

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 13:11:00 -0500

Our February snow removal bill was $4,600.00, nearly four times more than our total snow removal expenses for all of 2010. This extraordinary bill got me thinking: New England’s series of relentless snow dumplings has been manna from heaven for our down-economy stricken agriculturalists and landscapers, who put their equipment to use clearing our roads, lots and sidewalks. That was until I received a late-night SOS email from Will Gilson, chef of Garden at the Cellar.

The proverbial manna from heaven accumulated on the roofs of his family’s four greenhouses and, one by one, flattened them to the ground. This year’s snow fall turned out to be Shiva (the Hindu destroyer of worlds) for the Gilson’s Greenhouses. This brings me to Will’s SOS email. Will is good friend to my @EmersonCollege #ESM & #MK356 courses and numerous charities and I humbly request you read his desperate email below and think of ways you can help - this includes all the snow removal crews who have been literally shoveling money in this year. You can contact Will directly at wdgilson1@gmail.com

PLEASE READ THIS:

Dear Friends,

I apologize for the large, mass email here, but I need to contact as many people as possible quickly. As some of you may or may not know, this past thursday evening my mother, Jodie Gilson, lost all of her greenhouses under the weight of the snow that has fallen over the past month or so. Many of us have been harshly affected by the recent storms, however my complaints of little parking and sore shoveling muscles are entirely petty compared to the pain, loss and devastation that my mom is dealing with. To add insult to injury, her insurance will not cover the damages because of the type of structure and the lack of consistent heating necessary to justify continuous use of the space. This business and those greenhouses were here only source of income and the heart of her business. Anyone who knows local agriculture and especially the potted plant sector knows that the window for success in that biz is selling all you can right around mothers day weekend. Being prepared, able and strong during that time defines whether you hit or miss. The timing of this could not be more terrible…and that is why I am asking for your help now.

Many of you probably don’t know my mom, but you all know me. You know my commitment to my family (given and chosen alike), my friends and my community. As I sit here in look at the calendar and lose count of all the charitable events that I and my restaurant will be a part of in the next year, I can’t help but think that I would trade all of those and everything that I do for people I have never met, just to be able to help my mom get her life put back together. Many of you copied on this email are the organizers of many of these charities. As a chef, I donate my time, my staffs time, and product from my restaurant to help make these events beneficial for our causes. I do not in any way want to take anything away from the beneficiaries of your work, and without you and the rest of my crazy chef community, many people would go hungry and non-profits would lose momentum and purpose. To all of you I tip my hat and can only hope that in my family’s current position I can approach this challenge with the same courage that you all do every day. But, I still need your help.

Many of you own your own businesses and I’m sure can relate to the feeling or the fear of having you livelihood stripped from you while you helplessly stand there and watch. I grew up in those greenhouses. I helped build those greenhouses. Those greenhouses and my family paid with their profits and tears for me to be where I am today. Those greenhouses are gone.
All thats left is the determination and dedication (some may call it old yankee stubbornness) to pick up the pieces and rebuild. Jodie does not want to give up. She does not want to feel sad and pout. She wants her life back. And this is where your help comes in.

Some of you may know that lately I have started a new venture and have been creating pop-up restaurants and food festivals with my business partner Aaron Cohen. These events are made possible by the guests who are excited and by my friends who are always there to bail me out when my ideas are bigger than my reach. These pop-ups have gained attention, respect and buzz very quickly. We will continue to do these and make them fun, however right now my attention is on using that attention to get that audience to help.
What I am asking of any or all of you, and to help me put on an event that is going to a new charity. None of you have ever worked with this charity, but I can assure you it is legit. Whatever funds we can raise will go directly to one person…my mom. I have ideas about how we can create this event and how we can help her, but this community is stronger and more capable than me alone. I am not asking anyone here to open their pockets. I’m asking you to open your minds and your hearts and help me help someone very close to me. Whether you can suggest a means to an answer or you can put us in touch with people that can help us, anything and everything is appreciated. I hate asking for favors, but this favor is not for me and that is why I am asking for your help.

Please feel free to contact me directly. I will filter and forward all information to my mom and the other people that will be helping us conquer this. Again, I can’t thank you enough for all you do for me and for others on a daily basis. On behalf of myself and my mom, thank you for the help.

Sincerely,

Will Gilson

wdgilson1@gmail.com