Probably not viable at all

I just finished interviewing for a new art director. Well, I didn't just finish. But I'm done.

We found a good one, and we're all pretty excited. More on that later.

But along with the exhilaration of finding someone who you think is going to come in and really add something to the company comes the total buzz-kill of having to say "no" to a lot of other talented people. Some of them are looking for a job and some are looking for another job. But if you thought enough of someone to bring them in for an interview, you usually hate like hell to turn them down.

So if I win the lottery, I'm going to buy a building in (naturally) a cool part of town and put together a creative commune. Open to art directors, copywriters, web designers, graphic designers, producers, etc. and etc. Nobody gets turned down as long as there's room. Do your freelance thing, partner, pitch, team up -- whatever.

And prospective clients could wander in more or less like foremen who stop at the 7-11 to shop for day laborers. They'd step in the door and call out something like: " I need a copywriter who can write and produce radio, two art directors and a web designer! $85 an hour. Cash!"

Well, maybe not that last part, but the sort of "creative commune" idea is appealing. It would take all those talented people who ought to be working somewhere and put them together.

All I have to do is win the lottery first.