One phonecall and three emails later, I have arranged another meeting with Simon at Pravda, blagged two briefs off him, and enlisted my good friend Sarah to be my partner in kicking some advertising ass!
Time to get out there and get those jobs before anyone else does!
Friday 25 July 2008
Thursday 24 July 2008
Pravda
Yesterday saw me heading off to the bright shiny lights *cough* of Manchester again, this time to visit Simon Sinclair at Pravda. Having walked past the building 3 times, I eventually worked out which one number 35 was (damn all the other buildings having no numbers!) and merrily lugged my trusty portfolio up 3 flights of stairs. Only to find that Simon had been called to an important meeting, and that Jim (the other CD) was also unavailable. So waiting for someone to tend to me, I spotted my friend Neale sat in his little booth (he's been working there since February), and duly wandered over for a chat - as you do.
Not long after I was seen by Cat, who so far has spoken the most sense regarding my portfolio - hurray! Here's what she had to say:
*Thin it down for starters! Currently carrying too much around for each brief - as long as 3 main press/poster executions are in there for each brief and maybe a couple of extended pieces, then it's much easier to go through. I'd had a suspicion there was far too much in it (based on me struggling to hump it here, there, and everywhere with me!), but as yet no one had mentioned that - don't fix what ain't broken, and all that!
*Start with my second strongest work, and end with the strongest. Been told many times to start and end well, but have yet to work out what that means for the ordering of my work, based on the varied responses I've had.
*Overall she seem pretty pleased with the work gone into it and that I didn't just stick to one or two types of media, and told me that I shouldn't have any trouble becoming a copywriter with the range of different copy in there and the quality of the writing. This made me very happy : D
*Generally speaking, I just need to sift out the shit in order to raise the overall standard of my portfolio, as the tag-along pieces have been sucking the life out of the good work in there for quite some time (and by god, am I going to enjoy ripping some of them to shreds!)
*Best briefs seemed to be: Slavery, Best Beginnings and Play-Doh (again, much to my joy, being my baby and all!), with a few good strong ideas in my work for Talk and Smart Car.
*GHD and Pacamac were doing little for her, which I'd be inclined to agree with. And there was something about Milk that just wasn't clicking with her - like I'd tried to go a little too far to be different, though she liked my thinking in using unconventional benefits.
All together, a really good feedback session with a lot of advice to be working on : ) Think it may be time to kill Pacamac once and for all - hated that brief as of around May 19th (yes, I do remember the date, and yes, I am a freak), and only Alan Young really seemed to buzz off it, suggesting it was good enough to come first in the portfolio. With all due respect - no way, Jose! For now I'll hang on to Milk, as both Cat and Alan Young both didn't seem to connect with it, but a lot of people loved it. One more "Nah, sorry, I just don't get it" and it will definitely be time to consider dropping it completely.
Fingers crossed I'll be seeing Simon very soon - sent him an email earlier to request his time again and he seemed more than happy to oblige, so a call to Pravda to arrange another meeting will be happening tomorrow. Watch this space!
Not long after I was seen by Cat, who so far has spoken the most sense regarding my portfolio - hurray! Here's what she had to say:
*Thin it down for starters! Currently carrying too much around for each brief - as long as 3 main press/poster executions are in there for each brief and maybe a couple of extended pieces, then it's much easier to go through. I'd had a suspicion there was far too much in it (based on me struggling to hump it here, there, and everywhere with me!), but as yet no one had mentioned that - don't fix what ain't broken, and all that!
*Start with my second strongest work, and end with the strongest. Been told many times to start and end well, but have yet to work out what that means for the ordering of my work, based on the varied responses I've had.
*Overall she seem pretty pleased with the work gone into it and that I didn't just stick to one or two types of media, and told me that I shouldn't have any trouble becoming a copywriter with the range of different copy in there and the quality of the writing. This made me very happy : D
*Generally speaking, I just need to sift out the shit in order to raise the overall standard of my portfolio, as the tag-along pieces have been sucking the life out of the good work in there for quite some time (and by god, am I going to enjoy ripping some of them to shreds!)
*Best briefs seemed to be: Slavery, Best Beginnings and Play-Doh (again, much to my joy, being my baby and all!), with a few good strong ideas in my work for Talk and Smart Car.
*GHD and Pacamac were doing little for her, which I'd be inclined to agree with. And there was something about Milk that just wasn't clicking with her - like I'd tried to go a little too far to be different, though she liked my thinking in using unconventional benefits.
All together, a really good feedback session with a lot of advice to be working on : ) Think it may be time to kill Pacamac once and for all - hated that brief as of around May 19th (yes, I do remember the date, and yes, I am a freak), and only Alan Young really seemed to buzz off it, suggesting it was good enough to come first in the portfolio. With all due respect - no way, Jose! For now I'll hang on to Milk, as both Cat and Alan Young both didn't seem to connect with it, but a lot of people loved it. One more "Nah, sorry, I just don't get it" and it will definitely be time to consider dropping it completely.
Fingers crossed I'll be seeing Simon very soon - sent him an email earlier to request his time again and he seemed more than happy to oblige, so a call to Pravda to arrange another meeting will be happening tomorrow. Watch this space!
Tuesday 22 July 2008
Baby steps
As of last Friday, I am officially a fully fledged advertising baby! Obviously Friday was graduation, and the final door closed on all things uni. Of course, with it being held in Preston at the Guild Hall, everyone got soaked in the crap weather. Plus those capes are stupid and fall off small people's shoulders (i.e. my shoulders) - you think they'd make teeny-tiny versions for the midgets! And then I got cracked on the head with a mortarboard as they all came crashing down. But other than that, it was a really good day! : )
Now I just need to bag myself a job! Heading to an agency in Manchester tomorrow, so fingers crossed it goes well!
Now I just need to bag myself a job! Heading to an agency in Manchester tomorrow, so fingers crossed it goes well!
Tuesday 15 July 2008
frank
No, not my ex-tutor Frank! Today I had an interview at frank the agency in Wilmslow. On a bit of a whim, I'd applied for the role of Trainee Account Executive a few weeks ago having found it on one of my many trails through the job sites recently. I'd had an email to say that they'd received my application and would be in touch shortly. Much to my surprise, I received another email last week (while I was on holiday - typical!) asking me to go in for an interview. I know, shocking stuff!
So today was the day. My first interview since... *thinking back to my "youth" now* ...well, since my uni interview in 2005! Not one for nerves (I do have the gift of the gab after all), I merrily trotted along to the train station and made my way there. Never having been to Wilmslow before (and being blonde), I got a little lost. Then once I found my way again, I walked straight past Camelia House where frank resides! Though I blame my Google map for that. Luckily I was half an hour early anyway, so I had a little while to acquaint myself with their many awards certificates on the wall as I comfied myself on the couch with the latest Campaign. This was my attempt to look professional, whilst my tiny little legs dangled just off the edge of my seat - not quite the look I was going for, but one cannot help one's midget features!
Then a little before time, I was beckoned into the boardroom, where Mike Smirthwaite and Carl Edwards sat. (Here they are):
Thankfully it was all very laidback - they were both such nice chaps, and the whole thing went surprisingly better than I'd ever thought it would! Even the tough questions like: "Would you say that advertising has a positive impact on our society and the economy?" I managed to answer without sounding like a complete div (or at least I hope so), and I'd like to think that they thought I had something about me and could possibly be good for the job. After finding out a little more about it, I realised what a big deal it would be to bag a job like that, and everything involved in it. Whoever lands the job will have to gen up on their London Eye account with the help of the current Account Director, in order to have any clue what's going on when heading down to London to consult with the client. It also means having the guts to handle the client's needs and write briefs for the creative team in line with these needs so that they can produce the work required. And then having the balls to say to them "No, no, no! That isn't right for the client, I can't go to them with that!" and have them bin it. To then pitch the final work to the client and hope you needn't suffer their wrath this time around! All in all, a very important job indeed. Admittedly, the prospect of it scared me a little, and it isn't the hands-on creative approach I'd love to go into advertising with. But it could be such an amazing opportunity if I were short-listed for the job and was offered it. Hmmmm. *Ponders a little*
At the moment I have a couple of weeks to be thinking about it, as some of their candidates are on holiday, so I have a chance to be weighing up my options should they come back to me with a positive answer. In the meantime, I do have a trip to another agency planned for next week to get some more professional feedback on my book. And as Mike and Carl said to me after seeing my book (I took it along just for the chance for more views on it, though it wasn't necessary for the interview), they asked why on earth I'd applied for the position when I have the capabilities of an advertising creative. I guess my answer would have to be - I just want to get into advertising! I don't see the harm in trying every route that interests me. Some people have tried to deter me from the life of an advertising "suit", but it is something that appeals to my anally retentive organised bossy side, so I'm willing to persue it until I'm proved that it isn't the route for me.
Anyway, enough of my rambling about what may or may not be! At the moment I'm feeling pretty good about the state of my life (though if you'd asked me 24 hours ago, I would've said the complete opposite!) It can be very discouraging having no money and no partner with whom to make the process of entering the crazy world of advertising a little easier. But I've realised that even if I can't afford to take on any placements at the moment, it's really important that I get my lazy ass out there and start making some contacts now and getting some feedback.
So, yeah! ...I'm gonna go and do that... right now... before I change my mind... : )
So today was the day. My first interview since... *thinking back to my "youth" now* ...well, since my uni interview in 2005! Not one for nerves (I do have the gift of the gab after all), I merrily trotted along to the train station and made my way there. Never having been to Wilmslow before (and being blonde), I got a little lost. Then once I found my way again, I walked straight past Camelia House where frank resides! Though I blame my Google map for that. Luckily I was half an hour early anyway, so I had a little while to acquaint myself with their many awards certificates on the wall as I comfied myself on the couch with the latest Campaign. This was my attempt to look professional, whilst my tiny little legs dangled just off the edge of my seat - not quite the look I was going for, but one cannot help one's midget features!
Then a little before time, I was beckoned into the boardroom, where Mike Smirthwaite and Carl Edwards sat. (Here they are):
Thankfully it was all very laidback - they were both such nice chaps, and the whole thing went surprisingly better than I'd ever thought it would! Even the tough questions like: "Would you say that advertising has a positive impact on our society and the economy?" I managed to answer without sounding like a complete div (or at least I hope so), and I'd like to think that they thought I had something about me and could possibly be good for the job. After finding out a little more about it, I realised what a big deal it would be to bag a job like that, and everything involved in it. Whoever lands the job will have to gen up on their London Eye account with the help of the current Account Director, in order to have any clue what's going on when heading down to London to consult with the client. It also means having the guts to handle the client's needs and write briefs for the creative team in line with these needs so that they can produce the work required. And then having the balls to say to them "No, no, no! That isn't right for the client, I can't go to them with that!" and have them bin it. To then pitch the final work to the client and hope you needn't suffer their wrath this time around! All in all, a very important job indeed. Admittedly, the prospect of it scared me a little, and it isn't the hands-on creative approach I'd love to go into advertising with. But it could be such an amazing opportunity if I were short-listed for the job and was offered it. Hmmmm. *Ponders a little*
At the moment I have a couple of weeks to be thinking about it, as some of their candidates are on holiday, so I have a chance to be weighing up my options should they come back to me with a positive answer. In the meantime, I do have a trip to another agency planned for next week to get some more professional feedback on my book. And as Mike and Carl said to me after seeing my book (I took it along just for the chance for more views on it, though it wasn't necessary for the interview), they asked why on earth I'd applied for the position when I have the capabilities of an advertising creative. I guess my answer would have to be - I just want to get into advertising! I don't see the harm in trying every route that interests me. Some people have tried to deter me from the life of an advertising "suit", but it is something that appeals to my anally retentive organised bossy side, so I'm willing to persue it until I'm proved that it isn't the route for me.
Anyway, enough of my rambling about what may or may not be! At the moment I'm feeling pretty good about the state of my life (though if you'd asked me 24 hours ago, I would've said the complete opposite!) It can be very discouraging having no money and no partner with whom to make the process of entering the crazy world of advertising a little easier. But I've realised that even if I can't afford to take on any placements at the moment, it's really important that I get my lazy ass out there and start making some contacts now and getting some feedback.
So, yeah! ...I'm gonna go and do that... right now... before I change my mind... : )
Friday 4 July 2008
Licky licky?
Still no sign of the latest controversial ad making a reappearance on our screens. But when I saw that the Starburst Choozers ad was back on TV for summer, it did make me wonder why it has yet to be pulled from prime-time viewing. Don't get me wrong, I find it appalling that supposedly "modern day" parents have such negative views on what is merely a little lighthearted entertainment from Heinz. But surely a policeman licking a bloke's face is more homosexual than a quick peck on the lips between a gay couple?
See what you think (and watch the policeman's expression - naughty naughty!)
See what you think (and watch the policeman's expression - naughty naughty!)
Thursday 3 July 2008
Exceedingly Crap Advertising
Why? Why do this? Why kill Mr. Kipling's much loved strapline? And in such a monstrous way?
OK, so it's not the end of the world, but this ad just smacks of 2006 to me - the jittery "happy happy!" joviality of it is very wartime England, and has been done to death (pardon the pun). Which I'm fine with. When it makes for good advertising that is.
Death by tray it shall be!
Here are a couple of Lego re-enactments of Eddie Izzard's stand up. Star Wars canteen is my personal favourite, though I hadn't realised that there was someone out there who's put together these hilarious little scenes for so many of his sketches! Yet more comedy that has me struggling to keep my pants dry! (No, I do not have bladder problems, thank you very much!)
Wednesday 2 July 2008
More, more, more!
I tell you what, you guys certainly get your money's worth out of me! Purely because I know how much you all love my blog, I've set up a new section for photography which you can find in the sidebar to the right (or you can see it at http://deviant-monkey-pics.blogspot.com/)
So go ahead, be amazed by my talent! : P
So go ahead, be amazed by my talent! : P
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