The Future of NHQ

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS is very busy right now. Thank you for all your interest.

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THE PAST
NHQ recently produced a live event – WITHOUT WAX: 14 Years of Derek Erdman in Chicago.
Many people attended, and it was quite a success. Thanks!

THE PRESENT
Events are very much at the core of our company. Live experiences of the cultural kind are exactly what led us to starting an Internet company. Many of the challenges that producers and promoters of events face are known to us as well. Many of them will be mediated by the Internet. Many already are. Using the Internet the right way saves production money–on promotion and marketing, especially. This is no secret.

For most of 2010, we here at NHQ have been working on two major projects, sort of behind the scenes: One is very related to events, websites, and social promotion for producer organizations. The other is an Internet video which we hope will take the medium to a new level, by incorporating some edgy tech…

THE SOFTWARE
Depending what you know about the Internet, you may or not understand the role of software in the making of it all. If you do, you know we are in an early age of something… If you don’t care about software, but care about how the Internet can help you and your company promote shows and events, well then we’ve got what you need (coming soon). We’re developing software designed to turn the challenges of the Internet into benefits, for the types of people who already use the web socially, but don’t want to spend valuable creative and productive time tending to a website. This software is being built with the help of a grant from the Arts Work Fund. The flagship users of the software will be the recipients of that award: 500 CLOWN, a Chicago based, inter/national performance group (and friends of NHQ).

MAN V. CANDY MACHINE in-progress. Click to view fullscreen (it’s prettier that way)!

THE VIDEO
The video is a 15 minute narrative duel between a man and machine. It’s more than a video, friends. It will also be that which is come to be known as an “app”-lication. It will be doing more than your average video. But like all elements of an event–lights, sounds, design–it’s best for the audience if their attention is not overdrawn by any one effect. We are working on a seamless design which incorporates entertainment and interactivity, without the activity becoming too game-like. It’s easier than it sounds, because we are not making a game. We just want to allow the viewer some exploration, without sending them off the course. Speaking of course: it’s still the story. You’ll have to watch the video for that.

THE FUTURE
Our company is undergoing a metamorphosis. We will emerge soon with the products of the year, a new website, new business. All of the incredibly skilled people who have worked or are currently working with us on our current projects will be named and credited in due time. They know who they are, and we are humbled they agreed to collaborate with us.

We have parted ways with a couple of associates, for now. We wish the best of luck to Gretta and Julia, both of whom persevere their respective crafts. We hope to exploit and promote their good work again in future NHQ productions. Thanks for everything, ladies!

We would like to wish a good voyage to Derek Erdman. West Coast be on the look out. Thanks to all the following for helping make WITHOUT WAX possible:

High Concept Laboratories
Printers’ Row Wine Shop
Odd Obsession DJs
Julia Miller
Sarah Miller
Matt Gawryk
Aaron Brown
Christian Doll
Griffin Sharps
Aaron Wickenden