Studio Thirty +

Copy it. Paste it on your site. And link it back to our new, cool kid neighborhood. This will surely entice the other 30 + ers to want to come over!!!

Here we all are. All of us over thirty, all of us looking to the Internet to fill that part of ourselves that just can’t be filled any other way except with by spying on the lives of strangers, and allowing them to spy on ours. All of us looking for a way to find other like us, and engage in a forum of sharing, caring, and snark. All of us finding “Studio 30 Plus,” and knowing we were home.

How did we all get here though? And who are the masterminds behind this place? Most importantly, what happened to them in childhood for them to eventually start a group like this, with people like us? Well, I’m glad you asked. Recently I, Libby of Libby Logic, was summoned to the lair of Jules and Jerrod, for their first ever joint interview. I’m not gong to lie, I was scared. It turned out to be so worth it.

So, Jerrod and Jules, I like what you’ve with the place. Very, er, primative. Let’s get straight to the big question. Why did you start “Studio 30 Plus”?

Jules: You want the truth? The REAL truth? In January, I got tired of hearing all about the 20sb’s awards. I thought, “Where are the awards for people in their 30s? We’re f*cking awesome writers.” So I wrote something about it on Twitter. Jerrod responded. And I coerced him into starting Studio 30 + with me. He had no choice, really.

Jerrod: I thought it would be cool to have our own place but to be honest, if Jules hadn't wrote about it on Twitter, I'm sure it would still be just a cool idea.  Jules kicked it into action. Especially with her censored swear words.

Jules, Jerrod tells me that you were the one to come up with the idea for a space for over thirty bloggers, and not just bloggers in general. Why that delineation?

Jules: There are already sites for Women Bloggers, Mommy Bloggers, 20 Year Old Bloggers. What about the More Mature (hee hee) Bloggers?

 
Jerrod: With 20 Something out there grabbing up everyone with a Mac and a point of view, the next logical step would be to create the next generation of writers.  But why only stop with the 30's?  We all have stories.

Who is the typical “Studio 30” member?

Jules: Is there a TYPICAL member? I think we have a very eclectic membership.

Jerrod: I would agree.  We have some amazing writers in our group. Some I consider friends, some I'm intimidated by and some I'm actually scared of.  THAT is awesome.

Have you ever thought of making a blogger prove they are older than 30? Say, asking them their favorite scene in “Pretty in Pink”?

Jules: Oooooh, good idea. Or asking them their favorite song from Kajagoogoo.

 
Jerrod:  Jules? Kajagoogoo?  Oh I know the reference, I was just one of the cool kids. So....

I know both of you are avid blog readers. What do you like to see in a blog, and what makes you instantly turn away?

Jules: I’m not a fan of guest writers, sorry. And if you post more than once a day, eh. For me, I like to see honesty mixed with humor mixed with a little rage every so often. Don’t just tell me what was on tv every day. I watch tv. I know what was on last night.  And if you’re overly vulgar, I’ll turn away. I don’t mind cussing or a Babeland review, but if you’re telling too much or cussing every other word with no story, I probably won’t return.

Jerrod: I look for an original voice.  I look for honesty.  There are hundreds of ways to share about how you spent your weekend.  The ones I read are the ones that go beyond face value.  The ones that aren't afraid of sharing something personal or share embarrassing things.  There is enough crap and "look at me" out there in blogland...it's just not for me.

Do either of you believe children are the future? And, as a follow up, if we teach them well we can let them lead the way?

Jules: I don’t think we have an option. I mean, kids grow up… They WILL be the future. Having said that, I’m a little scared about our future. Sarah Palin’s followers are teaching some of them. Enough said.

Jerrod:  I've always felt that heroes always come along with the strength to carry on. You should cast your fears aside, and know you can survive. So when you feel like hope is gone, just look inside you and be strong. You'll then finally see the truth that a hero lies in you...but that's just me.

Jerrod, we know Jules’ blog title “Mean Girl Garage” comes from her past mean girl exploits. What about your blog title “The Yellow Factor”? Is it because of your own dealings with mean girls?

Jules: I NEVER made anyone pee their pants. I’d like that stated for the record. And I never said my title was from PAST exploits. Ongoing.

Jerrod: At first it was in reference to Coldplay's song "Yellow" as Chris Martin to this day doesn't have a clue what the song means and it's arguably their biggest hit to date. I found it amazing that things can have the biggest impact and not have a clear direction or meaning.  The Yellow Factor.   Then I hit a writer's block and decided to turn the blog to strictly humor, using the yellow factor as the pee on a snowball... failing miserably. I lost my word.  My outlook.  I fixed it, stuck my ugly mug at the top and now I'm back without a clear direction and meaning.  I still find it difficult to knock out post after post with any consistency... but I'm okay with that.

Jules, your blog may best be known for it’s famous Internet singing, Barbie posing “Out of Tune Idol” series. Have you always liked bad singing? Or were you inspired by one bad singer in particular? And why no Nickelback?

Jules: I really believe that singing badly is a talent given to me by my parents. I thank them for that. I also thank them for having me in the 70s when parents didn’t play with their children a lot. This gave me a lot of time to play alone, with my Barbies, thus creating an imagination. Also, during the 70s, my parents took disco lessons and my father still plays air guitar. I give them a lot of credit. My mom in the 70s took a lot of diet pills and drank Dt. Rite, guaranteeing that she wouldn’t have time to play with us. Ahhhh, I miss the 70s….. Oh. Nickelback. Right. I really have issues with what I like to refer to as “whiny boy bands.” My sister listens to them a lot. It saddens me that I tried so hard to teach her “well.”

 
Jerrod: Jules also likes Three Doors Down. (now playing in an ARMY spot in a theater near you)

What, in your minds, is the most offensive thing on the Internet today?

Jules: Fox News.

Jerrod: Lady GaGa.  Being a gimmick sided with a bit of shock value has nothing to do with talent or creativity...No matter what MTV tries to shove into your brain.

What is the most liberating?

Jules: The blogs I love. And NPR. And ‘The Daily Show.’

Jerrod: Blogs of course.  When you start to get to know the people behind the blogs, it's amazing at times to see what they come up with and what they are experiencing on a daily basis. 

 If you could tell people about one site (other than your own blogs) what would it be?

Jules: Can it be other people’s blogs? No. I better not do that… I’ll hurt feelings. I’ll go with www.etsy.com

 
Jerrod: Awkward Family Photos

What is the best thing that has come from blogging, and being a part of an Internet community?

Jules: Meeting some REALLY good friends. People who don’t blog don’t really understand that. But I’m super close with some of my blogging friends.

 
Jerrod:  Your own voice.  Even if you are the only listener, you have an outlet to be as freeing and as liberating as you want.  You add an Internet community to that and you form a bond with others that just makes your voice that much stronger.

The worst?

Jules: Feeling the pressure to keep up your blog? I don’t know. I haven’t had any horror stories. Yet.

 
Jerrod: Expectation.

Jerrod, really, what the hell happened to your leg? Does the story involve a bear trap?

Jules: I think it involves sex……

 
Jerrod:  Well, when she wants you to jump from the dresser to the bed and stick the landi....  achilles tendon surgery.  No way I could pull the former off.

Jules, does Jerrod still owe you 20 bucks?

Jules: Yes. Yes, he does. Pay up. Although, I can’t remember why……..

 
Jerrod :  I know Jules, I know.  For you, pimpin' ain't easy. 

With that, the interview was over, as Jules and Jerrod began to take out their implements of battle over the 20 dollar debt. A bag was placed over my head, and I was led out, with visions of Lady Gaga and bad 80’s new wave hairdos dancing in my head.

Later, as I was sitting at my computer, trying to make sense of it all, wondering what the hell that Coldplay song was about really, and if disco lessons are still available, I found myself aimlessly wandering the Internet. I learned that Dicks.com is not the site for the sporting goods store. And then I went to my happy place, Studio Thirty Plus, and smiled.

Thanks, Jerrod and Jules. It’s nice to know Twitter created something besides a pyramid scheme and a soon to be short lived William Shatner sitcom.