Please Be Interesting: Jay Powell
It's a different world. And we’re a different Crispin.
Meet some of our humans making things happen behind the scenes. We asked them a few questions, with one requirement… to please keep it interesting.
Name, Title?
Jay Powell, SVP influencer and creator marketing
How do you explain what you do to your family/friends?
I’ve tried to explain what I do to my mom – many times - but I’ve come to terms with her just thinking ‘I do stuff on the TikTok and Facebook.’ My friends get it. They’re always asking how much we pay certain influencers and creators. I tell them they don’t really want to know that answer.
How do you start your day?
Somehow, I’ve become one of those annoying morning people. I pop out of bed at 5:30 am (no alarm clock needed) and head straight to the gym. I tend to arrive a minute or two before they open the doors at NYSC, which gives me just enough time to chat with my fellow morning gym goers – who all happen to be 70- to 80-year-olds. And yet I’m still the least in shape. The next hour or so is dedicated to my dog – feed, play, walk, cuddle, etc. Then, I eat some yogurt and fruit while I turn on the Today Show and begin scrolling away on TikTok and YouTube.
What’s on your desk right now?
A Café Cluny pen (stolen), yellow notebook with illegible notes, a wireless mouse and keyboard with my laptop. I like a clean and clear space.
What would you be doing if you didn’t work in the creative industry?
Open a queer country western bar with line dancing and live music nights or start an animal rescue on a farm in the Poconos.
What's a piece of work that really stood out to you in the last year?
We didn’t win a Cannes Lion, but we did win over both grooms and (most?) guests so I’m going with the roast speech I gave at my best friend’s wedding. People laughed, people cried, people laughed so hard they cried. It was in collaboration with two other friends (the four of us go way back) and we were determined to deliver a memorable speech (the good kind of memorable) that was seamlessly integrated and compelling. Some say we revolutionized the wedding speech.
What film, TV show or piece of online content do you love that no one else seems to like?
Logan Lisle (DocTock) and his straight-faced delivery of his quintessential dad jokes. I can’t get enough…I truly cackle watching him. Been told I need to stop sharing his videos from multiple people, multiple times. But I still do.
What’s your biggest hot take?
They say money can’t buy you happiness, but I think it helps. When I first moved to NYC, I was sooo broke. I’d be stressed about paying my bills and sadness occasionally overshadowed the excitement of living here. So to some extent, and in some situations, having some cash money on hand can indeed help fight the blues. This is my ultimate hot take. Take it or leave it.
