We recently had the chance to connect with Dennis Gelbaum and have shared our conversation below.
Dennis, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I recently had the opportunity to design (with Valerie, my wife…) our “empty” room. It is the smallest room in the house – challenge – yet it gets the most sunshine throughout the day. It’s very bright. I headed the research part of the process.
1. Paint – do we paint the entire room or just one wall. We opted one wall. Next – color. My favorite color is purple so that’s where we started. I shared almost 20 varieties of purple and without any coaching, Valerie picked my favorite. Mystical Grape by Benjamin Moore.
2. Painting – I was so looking forward to painting but after buying the paint, brushes, tape, pans, rags, sheets…Valerie took over. I got to paint one little section during the second coat application. Valerie did everything else and she did a great fantastic job.
3. Furniture and furnishings. Val wanted a love seat recliner so off we went to La-Z-Boy. Success. Then end tables – found exactly what we were looking for at NFM. Then a lamp – off to Lamps Plus and found the most unique colorful lamp. Perfection.
4. The rug . Val wanted a colorful Nourison Prismatic rug. She found the one she loved. I agreed.
5. The TV-I did considerable research and ended up selecting a 50” ROKU.
6. The artwork – we went back and forth on this one. Should it be one of my photographs, a black and white rendering, an original piece, something abstract? I found the perfect piece with the right accent colors. Fits in perfectly.
7. What to do with the one wall left? I found a great solution – a wall mounted wine rack from Litfad. Only problem, 8-10 weeks for delivery.
We (including Jaxson, our 5 year old Havanese) love our new Media Room.
I know I’m going to start another project soon…
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an international award-winning Creative Director, Producer, Director, Author, and Inventor.
When I get the choice to sit it out or dance – I dance. (Lee Ann Womack)
Those who tell stories, rule the world (Plato)
“I like to think of myself as a marketing and brand mixologist. My experience has taught me that to engage and influence a brand’s target audience, the path to success requires blending equal parts art, science, creativity, and strategic thinking. I take my award winning creative and production skills, marry them with unique multi-media distribution strategies to help companies create impact.
With an emphasis on brand performance and inbound/outbound digital marketing strategies, I know how to digitally promote a business. I motivate, inspire, and change how people talk, act, think and feel about brands. I create and implement extraordinary ideas (marketing campaigns and interactive and immersive live experiences) to connect brands to consumers and consumers to brands through their shared passions and interests.”
I have directed over two hundred national commercials (launching many new products) winning awards including the Cannes Lion, Clios, Art Director’s Club/NY, Advertising Club of Detroit, Mobius, Effies. I have worked with Fortune 250 clients and the biggest music artists and venues on the planet.
“My favorite projects include co-writing/producing a visually stunning commercial for Alize Bleu, creating/selling/producing/directing ‘Get Fit With Alyson’ – supporting the launch of the Nintendo Wii/Wii Fit, creating a mobile campaign for a jeans company – looking for the “best ass”, introducing a cosmetics company by creating a credit card that looked like a mirror – looking for the “most beautiful face”, inventing “FaceLift” – a cleansing pad for men, producing a multimedia campaign introducing Jesse Jeans – “they fit so good they oughta be outlawed”, writing, producing fundraising films for Worldfund, directing a multimedia campaign for Special Olympics to help erase the ‘R’ word and directing a multimedia campaign for Bazooka Bubble Gum, (co-directed the music video that has millions of views).
Other career highlights include inventing the Buddy Lite Illuminated Safety Leash (the top selling pet product at Sharper Image) and publishing a novel, “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” and “Something About Going Home” and collection of original thoughts and poetry with illustrations by Christina Qualiana. I was featured in ’50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading”, by Danielle Hampson & Don McCauley.
My most recent projects include completing “Going Home”, a collection of poems and thoughts and photographs provided by artists from Pixabay and FreePix, writing and producing “A Different Kind Of Love, a pop ballad/love song and “The Mona Lisa Conspiracy “, a feature film screenplay.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Our “bonds” are so complex and so fragile. It’s hard to imagine any bond being stronger than “trust”. The healing power of a friendship or any kind of relationship built on trust is so powerful. Betrayal, dishonesty, infidelity, and unreliability can shatter trust.
Restoring trust requires, patience, effort and the willingness to get beyond the pain.
I’ve had two business partners, who kidnapped my trust and willingness to believe in their promises. I was blindsided and left me feeling so empty.
But I recovered and now I look back and wish they had my life. Taking all into consideration, I’m happy now.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
I was ready to quit college. (American University). I hated it. The classes. Bring away from home. The loneliness. I was so alone and lonely. But I had no options. So I met with my Advisor to inform I’m if my choice to drop out. He listened to me. I vented. I confessed. I went on and on.
He asked me why I was “here”. I told him it hadn’t been my first choice (UCLA was) and I ended up here because a few of my friends enrolled and I get accepted.
He then asked me “what do you like?” I was taken aback. No one had ever asked me that. I didn’t know what he was really asking but I laid it out there. “I love TV, movies, the theater, books, posts, music, art, and…” He interrupted me, looking at my folio. “So you’re not taking one class that interests you..did you know we have a TV studio,,radio stations, a newspaper, a Floridian – and more in our media communications department…
and that was that. I changed my major, my classes and found my new self.
His name is Ron Sutton and the fifteen minutes we spent together changed my life.
Ten years later I established the NAVARAC FILM SCHOLARSHIP and donated $20,000 for students to use to finish their projects. I was awarded tge Distinguished Alumni Award for my generosity.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I am who I am. What you see is what you get. I do what I say I’ll do. I want what I want. I love and appreciate who I am and what I got. I don’t hide my emotions. I don’t tolerate bullshit. I expect you to respect me and I’ll respect you. I’m always first when it comes to trusting or believing in someone or something. If you want my help, ask me. If you want my trust, trust me. But don’t ever f*** me I never forget
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Dennis’s life was filled with accomplishments and imperfections. He often talked about his mistakes and missteps. He believed that to live was to make mistakes and to be conscious of one’s regrets was proof of having truly seen life, not just pass through it. Dennis pursued wisdom through experience. He leaves us with one last memory, “I have lived the life I wanted to live and I have no misgivings of the choices I made”. When asked to name something that has had the greatest impact on his life, without hesitation, Dennis answered, “the rear- view mirror.”
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.dennisgelbaum.com/
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/dennisgelbaum3153
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dennisjg3153?si=0n8N1rLzF-phLCe5
- Other: Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/1N2ma1UezAfjgek7IDix4E?si=nqLL1OEZQGKaj-D0Rmgnzw
