Comments on: So what does “’hands on help from’ experienced people” actually mean? http://bobsbigblueblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/so-what-does-%e2%80%9c%e2%80%99hands-on-help-from-experienced-people%e2%80%9d-actually-mean/ You've reached Bob's Big Blue Blog. Here you will find all of the news and views you can use or abuse related to the advertising industry. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:05:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Christian Valaitis http://bobsbigblueblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/so-what-does-%e2%80%9c%e2%80%99hands-on-help-from-experienced-people%e2%80%9d-actually-mean/#comment-232 Christian Valaitis Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:32:53 +0000 http://bobsbigblueblog.wordpress.com/?p=77#comment-232 Aren't advertising's halcyon days inexorably linked to the fact that agencies once were PRIVATE and not PUBLIC concerns? I operate (with extreme naivety) in a fog over how the BUSINESS of advertising works, having spent 20+ years on the creative side. Yet within my current condition of curmudgeon-dry (just made that word up) I keep wondering if things weren't better in the DAYS OF YORE? The problem is most everything seems as if it was better in the rear-view mirror. I've recently re-jiggered from my once perq-laden, title-heavy, lofty status. I now do work on a shoestring and a prayer. I miss the PAY CHECK (and the First Class airline seat) but that's about all. This NEW WORLD ORDER is kind of a back-to-basics approach, not as detached and distant as it formerly was. My hunch is you feel the same? It's a much healthier CLIENT/AGENCY/CONSUMER vortex. It's much easier to create, shape, direct work when one is "HANDS ON." In my previous life my judgments weren't shaped solely by the ON-HAND data, but often by the metrics of previous projects, which was expedient but unprofessional. For a refresher course on advertising (as it should be) I went on YouTube and watched Leo Burnett's farewell speech. Never had the pleasure to work for him, or around him, but when I watch him I'm struck by how antithetical he his to the caricature of those in his profession. Could he even get HIRED today? Could his ethos thrive in today's environs? Can an ethically driven, work-centric agency make it in 2008 and beyond? I'm skeptically curious? Christian V. Aren’t advertising’s halcyon days inexorably linked to the fact that agencies once were PRIVATE and not PUBLIC concerns?

I operate (with extreme naivety) in a fog over how the BUSINESS of advertising works, having spent 20+ years on the creative side. Yet within my current condition of curmudgeon-dry (just made that word up) I keep wondering if things weren’t better in the DAYS OF YORE? The problem is most everything seems as if it was better in the rear-view mirror.

I’ve recently re-jiggered from my once perq-laden, title-heavy, lofty status. I now do work on a shoestring and a prayer. I miss the PAY CHECK (and the First Class airline seat) but that’s about all. This NEW WORLD ORDER is kind of a back-to-basics approach, not as detached and distant as it formerly was. My hunch is you feel the same? It’s a much healthier CLIENT/AGENCY/CONSUMER vortex. It’s much easier to create, shape, direct work when one is “HANDS ON.” In my previous life my judgments weren’t shaped solely by the ON-HAND data, but often by the metrics of previous projects, which was expedient but unprofessional.

For a refresher course on advertising (as it should be) I went on YouTube and watched
Leo Burnett’s farewell speech. Never had the pleasure to work for him, or around him, but when I watch him I’m struck by how antithetical he his to the caricature of those in his profession.

Could he even get HIRED today?

Could his ethos thrive in today’s environs?

Can an ethically driven, work-centric agency make it in 2008 and beyond?

I’m skeptically curious?

Christian V.

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