In our series Creative Under Quarantine, we’re asking agency and other creative execs to document their lives in isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic—the sweet and the horrible, the funny and the mundane.
Danni Venne is exec VP-group creative director and lead producer at global sonic branding studio Man Made Music, where she’s produced audio branding and music for clients such as AT&T, IMAX, HBO and Allstate. In our series' latest installment, she discusses how during the coronavirus pandemic she’s had to navigate making tunes out of her Park Slope, Brooklyn apartment—all while raising and home-schooling two girls, Fiona and Cece, as a single parent. She identifies as trans-feminine and queer.
If you have a quarantine story to tell, get in touch with Ad Age’s Creativity Editor Ann-Christine Diaz at [email protected].
Sunday (Easter)
8:00 AM Cece is out of her bedroom at exactly 8 a.m. because that's when I told her she could come look for hidden Easter eggs. This year, I told the girls they'd be "helping the Easter Bunny" by ordering candy from a local candy store. They also put the candy into Easter eggs to further "help the Easter Bunny.” Fiona knows what's up with tooth fairies, Santa and Easter Bunnies. Cece still believes (I think). I've hidden the candy throughout the house and sleepily watch them climb over and under everything in a mad rush. I've told them that the Easter Bunny never hides things in the drawers in my room so they should never look in there. Never-ever.
8:30 AM I am making Cuban-style roast pork for Easter lunch. I made a deal with my elderly landlords (who are Cuban) that if I roast the pork, they would make rice and beans. I don't know what they do with the can of black beans but goddamn it tastes good. Terry (the wife) agrees but gives me a funny look about me making the roast pork. I'm something of a mystery to her.
1:00 PM A careful exchange of food is made outside of my landlords’ door. As expected, their rice and beans are outstanding. It's the closest thing they can have to an Easter dinner with someone else right now. I'm nervous my pork roast isn't up to snuff.
4:00 PM Someone who is close to me suggested that a slightly campy, over-the-top creative photo shoot would be a cute Easter activity for us all. The girls and I get on as much makeup, face paint and bright colors as we can. They have made fake trees and flowers and we arrange house plants and fur rugs to create our own Easter tableau. I take a lot of photos with a timer, but in many you can see the stress in my face. There were some gems and those will be cherished. We must remember to make beautiful things daily—now more than ever.