Here, there and everywhere

That's where me and Sarah have been this week (OK, so still only in the north, but us lasses don't get out much!)

So the search for our next placement started on Monday after having had a week of rest after finishing at Pravda. The week started with a trip to see Paul Burns (senior copywriter) at TBWA\Manchester. As me and Sarah only started working together just before Pravda, we took along our separate portfolios and a file of our work from Pravda, hoping for a little advice on how best we might put it all together. Brilliantly timed, we'd received a PDF of a leaflet for VivaLaDiva which had been accepted just before we left Pravda, so that was bunged in last minute too. Ended up just being our work from placement that Paul took a look at, and I think we were more than a little surprised at how well received it was! Obviously he gave a few pointers on how to better certain aspects of what we'd done at Pravda, but for now he said he didn't need to see our portfolios as he could see from our placement pieces how well we work together, and he complimented us on our confidence and banter (usually in the form of girly rambling!). So we were set a current live brief for Nissan and will be heading back to see him again next week.

Tuesday was a slightly busier day, with an early morning road trip to Brahm in Leeds, where we saw Paul Nichols (creative director). For those who aren't familar with them (as we weren't to start with) they do some of the regional work for brands such as Kelloggs and Warburtons. Again, another good book crit with most of our work well received, and a good idea of where to take it from here and mould it into one portfolio. Although Brahm don't ever take on junior teams, he was more than happy to have us come in for placement and to have us work alongside the seniors. Unfortunately we had to decline the offer, as the commute was over 2 hours each way for us, and no expenses paid. But as always, any contact is a good one to have!

Loving the visitors' passes we had to wear - VIP!

Then the afternoon saw us heading back to Manchester to Andrew Alty (creative director) at AND Partners. Similarly to Pravda, AND Partners is another up-and-coming agency who already have a rather impressive track record for winning pitches and awards, with some of their clients including CAT and Vimto. Hoping to build on their modest 14 staff in the next couple of years, we hoped we could possibly bring something to the table that would interest them. We spent a good hour-and-a-half with Andy, again giving us some really vauable advice on how best to construct our joint book, as well as which Pravda scamps he thought were worth showing to others. Left with a much better idea of where we were headed (quite literally - it's in the middle of nowhere!) and set off home for a day off.

Thursday saw our last crit of the week at Corporate Culture in Liverpool with Peter Henshaw (creative director) and Alan Mockler (head of copy). Dabbling more in design and creativity, they've done a lot of work for the NHS and Recycle Now (you know the ones - the cartoon-style ads where things are made of cans and the like). Had a really nice vibe about the place, and was great to finally be shown the work that they do, and not just showing our own. They seemed to really like us, but it was clear from the start that it would be another that'd be too difficult for us without having cars to reach it. So left there feeling a bit bummed out (pardon the expression) as we'd really have loved an opportunity to work there.

But not to fear, as Andrew Alty at AND Partners got in touch to say how keen he was to get us in for placement as soon as possible, so at the moment we've provisionally accepted his offer to start on the 6th October! But over the next week we have a few more book crits to go to, as well as heading back to TBWA to see Paul again. So we'll just have to see what happens!

Full-flavour behaviour

A bit of a blast from the not so distant past here. Not quite sure why, but me and Sarah were discussing this old spot for Nescafe the other day. Probably because of the funky afro and all. Good times, good times!

Pastures new

A bit of a mixed bag today, though overall feeling pretty happy with our present situation.

Well we finally had some decent time to chat with Simon over the last 2 days about our work and prospects, etc. Whilst he said he'd been impressed with how well we'd been working and very pleased at the pieces of ours which have been accepted by clients, the downside was that we discovered the placement role is just that - unfortunately there was to be no chance of something more permanent as all slots are filled in that capacity. And though we were told we'd be more than welcome to stay for one more week, the vote was unanimous that after having just polished up some final ideas for a client, it was time to cut loose now and end on a high note.

The 5 weeks we've spent at Pravda have done us wonders though! It's mainly been great to get that first experience of agency life, rather than hearing it second hand from people who are already out there doing it. To make it all the more pleasurable, we've had such a laugh doing it - a great bunch of jokers there who we were sad to leave behind (though we'll more than likely be back before they know it!), as well as the much needed breaks playing table football and ping pong! And who knows, we may well be back to work there again someday, but for now it's time to move on.

And move on we shall! We've had some exciting developments today, so we're off to another Manchester agency next week for a book crit, as well as awaiting a date to go to another in Leeds as well. Basically throwing ourselves at any contacts we have now in search of any help and advice, and hopefully our next placement.

Watch this space!

Long time no speak

Not been particularly forthcoming with the placement info - busy, busy and all that!

Again me and Sarah have returned for another week, this one being the beginning of our fifth at Pravda. Things are still going well and having some really good responses to the work we've done on two briefs in particular. Fingers crossed for some more production-related good news, but we'll see.

Still pretty much in the dark as to what'll become of us - both Simon and Jim were off last Friday and today - hence why we were back in at 9am this morning as there'd been no one there to tell us not to : ) Hopefully we'll get chance soon to have a proper talk with one or both of them and work out where our fate lies - something more permanent at Pravda, or back to the dole queue?

Keep you posted once we have some answers!

One small step for man...

...One giant leap for junior creatives!

Last week the creative department had the mammoth task of creating ads for one of Pravda's clients to encompass a whole range of their products. This resulted in hundreds of ads being put forward by all, with many rejected (of course!)

Upon Simon's return from the client pitch on Friday, one of mine and Sarah's largely whittled down batch made it's way back to us for amendments. And today we were told that it had been approved by the client and will be going into production very soon! Whoopage!

OK, so it's not earth shifting stuff. But after 3 weeks at Pravda, we're having something made, and this is one of many "firsts" to come for us. Hopefully those firsts will turn into the norm for us once we build our experience, but for now we're just happy to have achieved this one.