(Feb. 10, 2010) “If I Were an Auditor” – a song parody of “If I Were a Carpenter” – is the first ‘music video’ about accounting performed in the virtual world of Second Life.
Making its worldwide debut in the FEI Financial Reporting Blog on Feb. 10, 2010 (in time for Valentine’s Day), “If I Were an Auditor” tells the story the story of two auditors (would-be auditors) who view their relationship through the lens of certain accounting and auditing-related concepts. The idea for the video and song parody lyrics were developed by Edith Orenstein, author of the FEI Financial Reporting Blog.
The Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA), creator of CPA Island in Second Life, served as Producer of “If I Were an Auditor.” MACPA is a leading force in using new technologies for delivering continuing education programs and networking opportunities to CPAs. MACPA’s innovative CEO, Tom Hood was named to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 2009, and is a former chair of the CPA State Executives Association.
The MACPA Production team, including staff and interns, provided the cast members of “If I Were an Auditor” with ‘basic training’ in use of Second Life (e.g., creating an avatar, outfitting the avatar, walking, sitting, standing). Filming of the Second Life production took place at MACPA’s headquarters in Towson, MD, with an ensemble cast of bloggers participating online in Second Life from various locations in the U.S. and Canada.
With MACPA lined up as Producer of “If I Were an Auditor,” Orenstein signed on Steven Zelin, “The Singing CPA,” as Musical Co-Director. Zelin, a CPA and professional singer-songwriter, was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal in April, 2008 (“Why Tax Day Makes Mr. Zelin Want to Sing”). As musical co-director, Zelin performs on “If I Were an Auditor,” advised on improvements to the song, and arranged the audio recording session at Rob Taube Words and Music in Brooklyn, NY.
An eclectic ensemble cast, “The MACPA Players & Blogger Friends,” was then formed, featuring A-list bloggers and MACPA staff. (Additional bloggers had scheduling conflicts precluding them from participating in the production, but provided moral support to their colleagues in their ‘acting’ debut.)
Here is the list of cast and crew:
PRODUCER: Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) http://www.macpa.org
- CEO: Tom Hood
- MACPA Second Life Production Team for “If I Were an Auditor” –Megan Gratz, Editor; Mike Tobias, Video Production; Andrew Hood, Set Designer; Thomas Hood, Avatar Training
MUSICAL C0-DIRECTORS:
- Steven Zelin, “The Singing CPA” www.singingcpa.com
- Edith Orenstein, FEI Financial Reporting Blog www.financialexecutives.blogspot.com; www.financialexecutives.org
Lead actors (avatars):
- Dee Day, Conference Manager, MACPA, in the role of ‘The Bride’; www.macpa.com
- Mark Jankowski, Co-Founder and President, Shapiro Negotiations Institute, in the role of ‘The Groom’
Full Cast: The “MACPA Players and Blogger Friends”
- Dave Albrecht, Concordia College, author of blog: The Summa
- Dee Day, Conference Manager, MACPA, in the role of ‘The Bride’
- Colleen Cunningham, Global Managing Director, Finance and Accounting, Resources Global Professionals, Resources Global Finance and Accounting Blog
- Michelle Golden, Golden Practices Blog
- Edith Orenstein, FEI Financial Reporting Blog
- Gail Perry, Managing Editor, Accounting Web
- Tom Selling, author of The Accounting Onion
- Bill Sheridan, CPA Success (MACPA)
- Darla Sycamore, IFRS News and Views
- Mark Jankowski, Co-Founder and President, Shapiro Negotiations Institute
- Steven Zelin, “The Singing CPA“
Lyrics
If I were an auditor, and you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway? Would you hold or trade me?
If an auditor were my trade, would you still find me?
Or would you always second guess me, like everybody following behind me?
Save our love through loneliness,
Save our love through sorrow,
Would you give me sale treatment,
Or tell me I was borrowed?
If I worked for an audit firm, would you still love me?
Answer me babe, ‘Yes I would,” you wouldn’t put the lawyers above me
If I worked a million hours, in audit, tax, or advising
Would our love grow every day, or only be amortizing?
So I can document today, you mean what you say, in the story you tell.
I need evidence today, to rely on what you say, before wedding bells.
If I were an auditor, and you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway? Would you hold or trade me?
Would you marry a CPA? You can count on me, baby.
Debit and credit – David Albrecht
this article was very well written, great .. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for a great post and interesting comments. I found this post while looking for some music.