We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Sherman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.
Michael, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
You might expect someone like me, a wide-eyed college graduate in 1991 who landed smack in the center of his chosen field – broadcast production, to be living the highlife of unbridled creativity! While that was the intent, broadcasting proved uninspiring… dark, monitor-filled rooms, ancient equipment, taped programming, etc.
Fast forward 33 years – 30 of them leading internal and/or external communications outreach, mainly at some of the nation’s largest and most respected financial institutions – and I’ve found my way. Today, I harness the broad expertise used to shape corporate reputations and cultures to create compelling ways to share my passion for flying a large collection of showkites – https://kitesup.org/2019/08/06/kite-flying-is-my-other-passion/
My YouTube channel, https://youtube.com/michaelksherman, is a source of joy and inspiration for everyone, with an up-close, often serene look at some of the world’s largest kites and the people who fly them. Here you’ll find nearly 700 videos capturing the kiteflying experience. Increasingly, the signature style of these and other kiting and kite festival productions are prompting a growing side gig – developing, promoting, flying in, and capturing many awe-inspiring family-oriented festivals.
And just a link away at https://kitesup.org is where it all comes together. Here, my best creative work integrates into a widely read blog, as I muse on all things kiting and connect with a shared passion through the KitesUp! brand. The site is a destination for enthusiasts with insight from renowned kite builders and professional kitefliers on showkite design inspiration, flying gear, techniques, and practices.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a career communications professional, who over the last 10 years, developed an affinity for flying large showkites and capturing and posting those experiences, like no other, for the world to see. I’ve since become president of the Wisconsin Kiters Club and fly in kite festivals across the Midwest year-round.
Over time, I’ve refined and enhanced my overall production quality. In recent years, I’ve built viewership and an online presence and prominence within the global kiting community.
Through my online presence and personal outreach, I now market my kiteflying and video production services — https://kitesup.org/take-their-breath-away/ — to help festival organizers drive event participation and attendance.
“KitesUp!” apparel available through my online store – https://michael-k-sherman.creator-spring.com/ – celebrates the world’s healthiest addiction, because after all, life is more exciting with kiting!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Skills that rise closest to the surface in enabling my success involved learning how to fly large showkites, shooting & editing footage, and engaging in social media effectively to reach and inspire viewers and customers.
My blog at https://kitesup.org captures the ins and outs of showkite flying – where to buy the kites and gear, techniques for anchoring, and how to safely secure different kinds of kites. At the size of a school bus, showkites, like a Wookie, will pull your arms out of your sockets. They must be safely staked down, whether flown in a grassy field, or on a sandy beach or frozen lakebed.
Shooting and editing take time and patience and can be easily learned with a smartphone and any one of a variety of software packages, such as YouTube, Adobe Premier, or Microsoft Clipchamp, among others.
Social media these days is a function of everyday life. To harness it effectively, start by assessing your proficiency in strategy design, app usage, and content creation, and consider your budget and ability/capacity to engage with people who are interacting with your content.
My content creation all starts with finding the most effective way to influence others. That begins with the framing of each shot, the movement of the subject matter across the screen and the ability to blend images together in a mesmerizing way to capture a viewer’s attention – to make the ordinary extraordinary. And when you’re capturing showkites, there’s nothing ordinary about it. From the production work comes still images. They capture the heart and mind and inspire engagement. The camera, editing and design software, and social media platforms all contribute to shaping the end product and experiences that attract viewers.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My kite displays and festival productions help businesses and communities thrive.
Chambers of commerce, tourism bureaus, parks departments and departments of natural resources eager for new ways to contribute to their community’s quality of life and economic prosperity make some of the best clients. They understand the impact of video and how it can contribute to and enhance their current outreach and bolster their ability to operate as economic engines for the regions they serve.
Additionally, businesses often hold signature events. These can be ideal opportunities to create captivating experiences for their workforces and customers. One such occasion included creating a memorable display for 6,600 customers and 12,000 staff at global software company, Epic, during their week-long User Group Meeting in Verona, Wisconsin.
As my global reach expands, I’m most proud of those productions highlighting experiences at some of the nation’s largest kite festivals. These include:
• Color the Wind Kite Festival, Clear Lake, Iowa – Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACR0P3B7P0k&t=8
Embed Code: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/ACR0P3B7P0k?si=cIL34KDQH1WCagFx” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe>
• Kites On Ice, Buffalo, MN
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQu2-V_AiSI&t=358s
Embed Code: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/VQu2-V_AiSI?si=_8LB1Pult-uj2d4A” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe>
• The Okoboji Winter Games Kite Festival, Okoboji, Iowa
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbTRCUIGT_E
Embed code: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbTRCUIGT_E?si=wsouCYgKqSCMc35_” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe>
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kitesup.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelksherman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelksherman
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelksherman/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelksherman
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/michaelksherman
- Other: https://michael-k-sherman.creator-spring.com/ https://kitesup.org/2019/08/06/kite-flying-is-my-other-passion/ Addicted to Kiting Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/678705313733454
Image Credits
Michael K. Sherman
