My favoritest ACD in the entire universe directed me to Form’s website (which I adore) - I especially love the “making of our homepage“. But what caught my attention was not the very nice design of the site, but the self-promo for their work on the book Sex: How To Do Everything. I’m going to pick one up as soon as it’s out. Always can use some pointers. I’m sure this will be the last time Seth ever sends me a link.
I’ve had a handful of interviews lately with different agencies around the country. It’s a lot like dating men. Here’s what I’ve discovered about them:
WTF. Duran Duran hung out at Leo Burnett sometime in the recent past? Why can’t this happen here? The most interesting person that’s been in our shop lately is the lady with one eye from the Chinese takeout joint around the corner. And John Taylor! I’d still do him.
I’m not in the office today. I decided to work from home since there are a total of 5 people planning on being there anyway. However, one of the agencies that we work with has decided they need new graphics on the landing page of a client’s site by EOD. I laughed, then there were tears, then I told them to go to hell.
Me: Love to help, but it’s a little late notice guys. I think half the designers are drunk or stoned by now anyway.
Them: You’ve always helped us out of jams in the past. We don’t care if there’s a rush charge.
Me: That’s not the point. We need advance time to plan on staffing. Unless you want me to do it myself and in that case I take cash only. And it won’t look good.
Them: We’ll call our other agency.
Me: They’re closed today.
Them: Oh shit.
We’re refreshing our agency’s site for the 8 kazillionth time. It’s never going to be finished. One minute you see our managing director peering over the shoulder of a designer making “suggestions” (which means you make the change or you’re out of a job) and the next the ECD telling the designer to change it back. All I know is our site looks way too boring for the work we do. Love Cheval de Troie’s customizable site. Typical Parisian interactive goodness.
Finally ready to make the move I’ve been talking about forever after having a long, drawn out discussion with our ECD yesterday afternoon (where he made it clear I’m underpaid, overworked and need a tan). Problem is, getting hired somewhere takes a looonnnngg time. Agencies don’t post my position for some reason - you just have to put yourself out there. So I’ve been trying to think of a creative way to market myself other than just a resume. I mean, I can’t ask one of our designers to do a flash piece for me without attracting some sort of attention around the office. So if you see a resume come through your shop for an ambiguous job, with a boring but lucrative resume, for a girl who was client side until 2 years ago, it’s me. I wouldn’t recommend calling me back. You’ll need an HR person just to monitor my behavior.
Ugh. Just got a call from an AE at an agency that farms stuff out to us.
AE: Can you do 14 expandables with video by Monday?
Me: No.
AE: Why? Oh..and we need them sent to the ad serving firm by Thursday.
Me: Do you need us to do the video production?
AE: Yes. We have a couple of talent choices ready.
Me: Do you have a script?
AE: We thought you could do that.
I love this gerbil-filled holiday message from AKQA London. Check out Cheese and Biscuits live on Monday during office hours (GMT). Our agency talked for months about doing a holiday card. Did we do anything? No. We’re so anti-holiday this year - the lamest party on the face of the planet (no nudity! no clowns!) and no bonus from our Scroogey managing director. WTF.
(via Scamp)
I’m working too much the past few weeks. I actually woke myself up this morning by talking in my sleep - and I was saying “$23 cost per lead with permission based marketing.” Thank god no one was around to hear me - I’d probably be sent off to Promises for a work rehab stint. Other signs I need to turn it off:
After this week, I’m taking off for a couple of days. Maybe.
If your agency is anything like our agency, you probably use IM all the time because you’re too lazy to get off your ass and walk 5 feet. Or, you want to talk about the jackass you sit across from and don’t want anyone to hear. We mainly use AIM (or Adium) and I’m totally loving the piece of crap AIM Tunes on the latest 6.5 version. Because now I can see and hear all the music other people listen to (creatives listening to Jordin Sparks? Really?) and make fun of them.
We all know this is going to happen. Everyone in the interactive ad biz is going to make sure all their clients buy off on all this crap before the bubble bursts. I just hope all my 2008 SOWs get signed soon.
(via Make the logo bigger)
