Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

July 2, 2008

Do Crayons Qualify as Social Media?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:58 am

A Drawing Can Launch a 1000 Words!

Crayons



A restaurant covers their tables with white butcher paper, and in a small juice glass on each table, they keep a bunch of well-used crayons. Most people might assume that those crayons are there to keep children behaving, but more than that actually happens.

It happens while folks are waiting for the their meal.

Even when no child is at the table, someone will reach for a crayon to draw on the paper tablecloth. The drawing might be an illustration of something the crayon-artist is saying, or it might be a simple doodle made while listening. Sometimes it’s more than one person using the crayons. Two or three people might get involved in making one drawing.

The people talk about the drawing.

A picture is worth 1000 words . . . crayons lead to conversations.

Ever had a kid draw you a picture, make you a card, or share crayons while you drew at the same table? Those experiences connect. Kids “get” the relationship side of crayons.

What do you think? Do crayons qualify as low-tech social media?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Get your best voice in the conversation.


Filed under Marketing, Successful Blog |



C'mon. Let's talk!

48 Comments to “Do Crayons Qualify as Social Media?”

  1. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 am
    Beth Kanter said

    15 years ago I used to teach “introduction to the Internet workshops” for arts people - so the icebreaker was to draw a picture of the Internet and then discuss it with someone else

    Here’s some of the drawing
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/sets/435706/

    So, yes, crayons are social media .. definitely.

  2. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Beth!
    Cool link. Thanks for dropping that in here. I agree with you. You made crayons social media!

  3. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 am
    Toby said

    Liz and Beth - you are so creative. Crayons get my yes! vote too. Maybe we should buy a box of crayons and color/draw a ’social media relation’ for Liz. Thanks for reminding me of happy memories.

  4. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 am
    Doyle Slayton said

    I’m going to say “yes”… I like where you are going with this! A couple of months ago, I did a short interview with Dan Roam, author of “The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems With Pictures”. http://tinyurl.com/62hw9e He talks a lot about how visuals play a big role in improving communication… along with our ability to understand new concepts.

    Doyle Slayton
    Sales and Leadership Strategist
    http://www.SalesBlogcast.com

  5. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 am
    Karen Putz aka Deaf Mom said

    Not only are crayons social media, but they’re a great way for restaurants to keep you around longer to order a few more drinks and perhaps dessert. :)

    I remember basing my restaurant choices all around the crayons when my kids were younger!

  6. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 am
    Lissa Boles said

    Were you looking over my shoulder a few weeks ago when I did pretty much EXACTLY what you’re talking about over lunch with a client (to preview the central themes of a new learning module)!?

    By the end of lunch, we’d scribed all over that butcher block paper - supercharged with excitement and anticipation. My client so enjoyed the process he took it back to the office with him.

    But I never would have thought of it as social media…

    Lissa

  7. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Toby!
    Social media shows up everywhere. This is proof that it’s not a new thing. :)

  8. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Yeah, Karen,
    I guess you could call that social media marketing. The restaurant got your kids to participate. :)

  9. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Lissa!
    Maybe the next time you want to explain social media you’ll do that . . . and then draw the analogy later. :)

  10. July 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 am
    Whitney said

    I think there’s lots of opportunities to increase “luddite” social media. I think having coffee and donuts at conferences encourages social interaction, as do white board, markers- anything that helps facilitate communication and is participatory. Mark Blevis and Bob Goyetche did this also by placing couches at the front of the room at Podcasters Across Borders- this simple act signals “family” “hang out” relax” “meet & greet” more than any parlor game.

    I think we just have to be willing to think “fun and Participatory” when looking at ways to facilitate face to face conversations- and something like crayons works beautifully- now if we can only bring that to the next conference…… Hmmmmm…..

  11. July 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    #4 Hi Doyle!
    Welcome!
    Graphic conversation — drawing out what folks are saying — does lead to better communication. Does that make it social media? Where is the line?

  12. July 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Whitney,
    So the point really is . . . what gets us to the heart of a great conversation. Yeah.

  13. July 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 am
    Barbara LIng said

    Our local Macaroni’s Grill does that - my kids love drawing their current interests and playing games. I generally let them hog the crayons.

    Remembers me of my college days when I’d use the napkins at bars to figure out Advanced Calculus problems. :)

    What’s really fun is when my kids will help one another ‘fix’ their drawing or show them a new way to get the right picture. Crayons can also lead to co-operation as well.

    Enjoy,

    Barbara

  14. July 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 am
    SpaceAgeSage said

    My skills with drawing are limited to stick figures and trees without leaves, so I would have to pass on this! I can weave better images with the spoken and written word, usually with metaphor. Otherwise I can say a lot with hand gestures and by mimicking different voices.

    On the other side, yes, sometimes I need others to literally “draw me a picture” so I can get it, especially tech stuff.

  15. July 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 am
    Sue Ashby said

    The number of times I have been to those restaurants where they have crayons and a few moments doodling engenders a conversation where you can get a point over to a client or supplier. Alternatively you can discuss an issue with a co worker and because of the uninhibited nature of the enviroment serious solution and new strategies emerge that are problem solvers. Taking people out of their regular zone opens doors that otherwise might never have been opened.

  16. July 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Barbara!
    Conversation, collaboration, co-operation — sounds social. :)

  17. July 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
    Lance said

    Yes, they sure do! Having children, we regularly end up with crayons at our table when we go out to eat. Usually everyone has a crayon and is drawing something, and it becomes a fun way to interact.

  18. July 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Sage,
    I’m all stick figures and boxes, but I don’t let that stop me. I like crayons because they get ideas out of my head to where I can see them.

  19. July 2nd, 2008 at 9:49 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Sue!
    Welcome!
    There sure is something non-threatening about a box of crayons and a paper we know folks are going to spill and mess on anyway. What great location for a hard meeting.

  20. July 2nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Lance!
    I remember those dinners with my son when he was little. Yeah. :)

  21. July 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
    Steve said

    One of my many jobs while in college was as a busser at a fine dining Italian resturant. They did the same thing, white paper and crayons on all the tables. We had a lot of fun going over what the patrons created. It was great to watch young,old and even the formal, business types come in and have fun like little kids making pictures and coloring.

    Thank you for refreshing those memories.

  22. July 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Steve!
    I hadn’t really thought about how much fun it would be to go through the drawings. Someone should publish a book of the best ones across the country. That’d be fun!

    Thanks for sharing your memory.

  23. July 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
    Mother Earth said

    totally cool thoughts - we have traditional drawings we do, my daughter and I at least, sortof like leaving our mark - we were here!!

    We trace the knife, fork and spoon and then color and fill them in with expert shading, even sometimes using the template of the utensil - this fork goes here

    it’s always great fun –

    plus crayons have that smell, that indescribable reliable smell

    can’t really duplicate smell on the internet can we ??

  24. July 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 pm
    Glenda Watson Hyatt said

    Our wedding reception, ten years next month, was outside. We covered the tables in newsprint and placed a box of crayons on each. I guess we used social media before it was invented!

  25. July 3rd, 2008 at 5:28 am
    @Stephen said

    Great observation Liz, I suppose one could say that social media goes back to those cave paintings in France.

    >>SpaceAgeSage, don’t worry about your drawing skills, check out Dan Roam’s book “The Back of the Napkin” (I have a short review - click my name)

  26. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thanks Mother Earth!
    Crayons do bring people together around a table in so many wonderful ways. I guess you’ll just have to keep the real ones around for the scent. :)

  27. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:04 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Glenda!
    How lovely your wedding must have been! That sounds like a first-rate celebration. :)

  28. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:05 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    @Stephen,
    Great point. We’ve been using social media since we first began trying to communicate. :)

  29. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 am
    paul merrill said

    Happy birthday, Liz!

    Thanks for what you do in the world of social media…

  30. July 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
    Chris Cree said

    I tell my clients that social media simply involves user generated content & sharing. By that definition paper table cloths with crayons certainly fit. So does stuff like talk radio.

    My social media niche happens to be the Internet and my specialty is blogs. But social media is way bigger than that.

    And we’re having dinner with some new friends at Macaroni Grill tonight so I’ll draw on the table in honor of your birthday, Liz!

  31. July 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Chris!
    I agree that social media is way bigger than what we think of on the internet.

    Have a great dinner tonight! Tell that Gorgeous wife hello! Thanks for everything you’ve done for the years gone past.

  32. July 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Thanks, Paul, for the birthday wishes!

  33. July 3rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
    Daniel said

    I think Greg Verdino would think so!

  34. July 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Dan,
    Maybe I’ll ask him. :)

  35. July 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
    Daniel said

    Then again, there’s always Leo Burnett and that darn pencil!

  36. July 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
    Glenda Watson Hyatt said

    Still thinking about this post. Would that make cave man drawings [the spelling of that h-word has just escaped me] social media? Or art? Or even today’s tagging and graffiti by gangs? Hmm.

    Anyway, I also came back to wish Liz a very happy birthday! Thanks for being who you are?

  37. July 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
    Janice C Cartier said

    I love Leo Burnett’s black pencil.

    Making marks is innate…connecting, passing on a story, is eternal. Crayon, charcoal embers, or text…we are drawn to do it. No pun intended. :)

  38. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
    Mark Salinas said

    Yes…mental, interpersonal connectivity. Ideas, thoughts… Good post!

  39. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Daniel!
    Greg said he agreed with you. Had I only been here earlier. I would have checked out the Leo connection as well!

  40. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Glenda!
    We make each other think. That’s one of the best things about the blogosphere!

    Thanks for the b-day wishes!

  41. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Mark!
    That interconnectivity is important. How we value and use it is even moreso.

  42. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Janice,
    Leo Burnett’s pencils is sharing stories. Yeah. I can’t wait until I can do something that fluently on my blog. :)

  43. July 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
    Amy Lenzo said

    This is so cool!

    If you’ve ever seen or been part of a World Café you know that besides the fun of it while it’s happening, collective doodling on the butcher block covering the tables is a big part of the conversational “harvest” and a great trigger for remembering what was said…

    DEFINITELY social media. :-)

  44. July 5th, 2008 at 11:53 am
    Judy Peterson said

    I’m so enjoying your fresh point of view. Nor could I ever pass up a post about crayons. The joy of my childhood was a fresh box of crayons with the promise of all of those enchanting colors and names. Reading with or drawing with a child is an experience to be cherished. Read “The Little Prince” Definitely “social Media”.

  45. July 5th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Judy!
    That new box of crayons feeling is still something stunning and worthy of a pause to enjoy. :)

  46. July 6th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
    Amber Naslund said

    Hey Liz - absolutely, they do. I live in Chicago and the famous Gino’s East pizza place allows patrons to write on the walls. Literally. It’s this amazing collection of mini messages. Some are the standard Bob Loves Shelly stuff, but there’s also some really witty, inspirational or hilarious things on there.

    I think it’s important that social mediaphiles like us remember that we’re just exploring the new tools for an age old art: conversation and connection.

    Thanks for a great post!

  47. July 11th, 2008 at 9:27 am
    Full Circle Associates » Do Crayons Qualify as Social Media? said

    [...] Strauss asked, Do Crayons Qualify as Social Media? . Absolutely-fricken-YES! If social media are the tools and affordances that allow us to [...]

  48. March 20th, 2009 at 1:44 am
    video conferencing setup said

    I enjoyed reading your post; I am running a small website on video conferencing I am a beginner in this business. I don’t know much about it but I am searching around for material that can increase my knowledge

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

C'mon Let's Talk!