The Boys Are Back In Town
It’s the top of the week and it’s nice to have Michael and Steve back here at IQ HQ with the rest of the team after their 10 day absence. As we convened for the debriefing from the trip, it kind of had the feeling of when the whole crew in Oceans 12 (13) is reassembling after a long absence. Or perhaps more akin to the A Team considering the ramshackle cast of characters found around here.
Their trip to the UK was a fast and furious affair spent mostly in London, but not without a trip to the posh and quaint little town of Guildford. The guys were going on about their celebrity status while there due to the unabashed wielding of their iPhones. Apparently the stares they got were a sight to behold.
The purpose of the trip of course was for IQ leadership to make the rounds with all of our friends and clients in the UK. First on the list was a meet up with Kate Dinsdale of BBC Five Live for dinner and drinks to catch up with her since her visit here way back in March of 2006 with the BBC Radio Manchester delegation. And speaking of BBC Radio Manchester, Managing Editor Mr. John “I Hate London” Ryan, met the boys in town at Tiger Tiger to attend the Radio Academy’s annual general meeting. After that it was out for drinks and a slap-up Mexican meal at Pacifico.
Of course the trip wouldn’t have been complete without meeting Mark Hall, UK and Ireland representative for IQ Beats and busy production man at Heart 106.2 in London. We wish we could have seen Mark’s face when the boys handed him a shiny, new iPhone. He’d probably like to see it too, but alas… It never happened.
Nor could have any trip to the UK been complete without buckets of Magners Irish Cider… The new favorite beverage of both Michael and Steve. Michael’s mate Les was celebrating a milestone birthday while the boys were in town and their newfound beverage came in handy for celebrating… Very handy indeed.
Both Steve and Michael had and interesting and enjoyable chat with Ben Newby from BBC Radio 1. As IQ Beats has not yet done any work for Radio 1, it’s always insightful to hear another producer’s take on imaging. Surely we’ll soon be pitching yet again for another chance at having some of our stuff on the Beeb, but none of us our holding our breath about cracking into that elite club.
It’s good to have the guys back, albeit brief for Michael as he’s immediately off to Chicago to resume business on a meeting from last month. Hopefully the luxurious Embassy Suites in the scenic Deerfield area of Chicago treats him right. And with Embassy Suites being the top-notch destination hotel that it is, it’s no wonder they’ve developed this very thoughtful service.
