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Socially Conscious plete. Facebook has changed that, she says. “With Facebook you never lose contact be- cause they are taking pictures on set and sharing information.” In order to remain current, New Deal is in the middle of updating its Website and Vimeo channel, and it is becoming more active on LinkedIn. Often, Gans uses FourSquare.When at- JumpLA: One way Damon Webster will use social media sites is to let people know the studio cuts more than just :30 spots. Gans. “It’s a great way to recruit, because they get to know you and your company based on the information you put out.” People are also more likely to share over the Web, on sites such as Facebook, rather than face to face, according to Gans.“I com- municate really well on the computer as a shy person, and I find other artists are that way.You find really interesting people while you communicate in a different way. And when you get to meet them in person, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, how are you?’” Gans has hosted many international artists traveling through LA.They do lunch and have a studio tour. “You create even more of a connec- tion,” she says. Gans finds what people respond to on Twitter fascinating.“After I post something, I see what gets retweeted or what I get re- sponses from.” In the past, when artists were working long hours on big projects they disappeared for a bit only to resurface when the job was com- tending local events, she makes it a point to “check in” to see who is also there. “You see their picture and there are people who you follow; it’s kind of like a community, and you tend to see the same people on Face- book and Twitter.” As an amateur photographer, Gans uses Instagram in her spare time; it’s a photo- sharing site that boasts three million users, many of whom are visual effects artists. “They often have a camera in hand and post what they see to the site.” Because it’s another link to artists and artistry, Gans has set up a business account for New Deal, but that doesn’t mean she’ll stop using it for personal reasons. “For me it’s a hobby, so I put up photos and cool things that I see. Part of it is building my brand, as Shannon, and then there is building New Deal and its brand. I have a different per- spective, and my opinions are my own, and it’s hard because I own a company.” Sound Lounge mixes it up with social media EW YORK— The social media mavens at Sound Lounge — executive producer Gloria Pitagorsky and marketing manager Alice Kahn — are putting their marketing and promotion skills to the test with their use of social media.Applying Pitagorsky’s philosophy: to create a vibrant com- munity environment at Sound Lounge (www.soundlounge.com) for any creative endeavor, the duo has been early adopters of social media, and in particular Facebook, as a business communication and promotion tool. Highlighting the company’s roster of mixers and its high-profile projects in commercials, television and feature film is a primary focus of Sound Lounge’s Facebook page, now pushing 1,500 viewers or “Friends.” But the interactive aspect of Facebook, also allows them to post news about recent award wins, press articles and appointments, not to mention the occa- sional well wish for a special occasion or accomplishment. In addition to showcasing the company’s talent and projects, Pitagorsky and Kahn use Facebook to communicate to clients about ongoing events, such as the Monthly Book Club and the annual Girls Night event, which includes high-end fashion brands,as well as local independent designers’ wares.After a recent Whiskey,Wine & Wings client party, photos from the event were posted the next day, and attendees were able to comment on them, continuing the fun online. “We’ve been able to build a following on Facebook because of the content that we post on an ongoing basis,” explains Pitagorsky.“Everyone here at Sound Lounge really honors the creativity of our clients and our team, and we are extending that to our online presence utilizing social media.” “Facebook has given us the opportunity to reveal the people behind the company, their interests and achieve- ments,” adds Kahn,“and communicate that in an engaging way that encourages interactivity.” Alice Kahn and Gloria Pitagorsky use Facebook in a variety of ways 28 Post • May 2011 www.postmagazine.com N