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DIRECTly Shameful
It has become clear to me that shame in advertising has no home. Or maybe shameful has found a home with DIRECTV. Good TV, Better TV…I don’t think so.
I just witnessed the latest commercial from DIRECTV. If you haven’t seen it yet you’ll certainly be hearing about it sooner than later. The new commercial which aired during the NLCS Playoff game on TBS features actors David Spade and the late great comedian Chris Farley re-enacting the famous scene “fat guy in a little coat”. This of course is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie ‘Tommy Boy’ and perhaps one of Farley’s best comic expressions and memories he has left for endearing fans. Mr. Farley passed away a mere 12 years ago…he deserves more respect then this to be certain.
Come on DIRECTV are you kidding me? Is your creative team that lame that they have to resort to this…do you have so little respect for Farley…his family…and his fans to commercialize this memory.
And David Spade are things that bad that you have to sell yourself…and that of a good friend for the little cash this commercial gives you?
DIRECTV you need to fire your agency of record…and whoever is the ECD of record it’s time for you to consider a new career. Ever think about installing DIRECTV dishes?
DIRECTV you can do better. This is a perfect example of creative gone bad.
(I refuse to show the commercial…it just would reinforce the efforts of a company that I no longer care to support.)
From the Will of Albert Nobel. His Will be Done.
By now we have all heard about President Obama being awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. And whether you believe he was the appropriate nomination or not is for you to judge. Whether Alfred Nobel would agree who could tell. Perhaps the Presidents stance as a pacifist is his largest asset in his nomination.
The will of Albert Nobel designated the criteria for the Peace Prize and allocated one part of his wealth to the cause of Peace. It read as follows ”one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
If you look at the past recipients of the award you see a list of who’s who and who’s that? Presidents, national leaders, distinguish nominations and international groups of esteem all led their names to this honor. The award has been given 96 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations. See the list of all the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Norwegian Rationale…Why the President?
I have my personal opinions on how the Norwegian committee selects their recipients…their criteria and their rationale. As you may already know the Norwegians not the Swiss were granted the honor of selecting the peace nomination by Mr. Nobel “I, the undersigned, Alfred Bernhard Nobel, do hereby, after mature deliberation, declare the following to be my last Will and Testament with respect to such property as may be left by me at the time of my death…that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Norwegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not.”
What Were They Thinking?
Even though I support the President and his initiatives to rid the world of nuclear weapons I find it hard to justify awarding such an honor to an individual who represents a country that is at war. Not only at war…but also in two wars. Now grant it the President inherited this legacy…understood. But he is also Commander and Chief to a nation that supports nuclear weapons and houses some of the greatest quantities of this technology. No one doubts his vision of HOPE…he has captured the hearts of the world with this simple but poignant message. But I believe that he is somewhat embarrassed by the award. Even the President was humbled and surprised by his selection.
Hope Moves People
Perhaps after the President moves us out of war…which I do not predict will occur in his tenure then he would be a logical winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. I feel that the committee confused hope as a result. Yes…hope is a movement a way of thinking and powerful non-the-less…but words and rhetoric have not proven itself as of yet. I pray it does sooner then later.
Why Not?
So if not the President…then who you may be asking. Perhaps one of the leaders of nations that is at peace…or one of the many social justice organizations throughout the world…or better yet a religious leader. I could give names of people worth this honor who have given everything of themselves and their world to accomplish peace. We all know individuals in our small circles of life that would carry this flag.
King For A Day
If I were king for a day…I’d ask my friends in Norway to consider the following candidates. Disagree if you will…I invite your comments. Now remember the award is for those who have achieved outstanding achievements in peace.
I Am The Greatest
I would have to throw in a vote for Muhammad Ali. What a fighter? Are you nuts Cloonan? I think not. Here is a man that is known throughout the world. A man who turned his back on the US government during the Vietnam War and chose to let his religious belief guide his decision. Controversial? Absolutely. But think about it. Here is a man that has moved millions and inspired tens of millions. Remember Zaire? Well you should. A nation of the poor, abused and neglected by a ruthless dictator found honor, hope, pride and a reason to succeed following Ali and his less then popular antics. Not to mention his iconic world image and his continued support around the world for those disadvantaged and those in need. Remember the Atlanta Olympics…Ali lighting the torch? It moved many. Why? Because of what he stands for and who he is.
Pick an Entertainer.
What are you serious? Yes…I am. There are many who work effortlessly today to make a difference. Look to Audrey Hepburn. Bono. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Sting. John Lennon. They all have put their lives and stardom to use to move social causes and support others larger then themselves. Disagree with me if you will…but I contend they are just as worthy as the President.
The King Of Peace
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. “The pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He was the pioneer of satyagraha—resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon ahimsa or total non-violence—which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.”
I mean really it’s Gandhi…give the guy the node every year for the award. People what on earth were you thinking…the man has never won the nomination. Now that is absurd.
10,000,000 SEK’s Wahoooeee! Obama’s Fortune
Not only does the President have good fortune…but he actually is rewarded with fortune. So… I took out my trusty iPod and plugged in 10 million Swedish Krona and thumbed into my currency converter to discover that the President will receive roughly over 1.4 Million US dollars for the award. What could this money do for an organization…hmmm not much really. For an individual? Slightly more of course. For the President…he certainly won’t need it…he’ll be fine after his tenure with books and speaking tours.
So does he keep the money? I suspect he won’t. It would make for great movement to his cause if he donates it to a charity supporting his beliefs; not to mention the political value he’d gain. I know this…if you drop 1.4 million to a researcher of a major healthcare provider you could without a doubt shorten the life cycle of a disease by years. Some things in life are worth more then cash. But only time will tell.
It’s Up to You
So my friends…I ask you…if not President Obama…then who would you nominate?
On September 24th, people around the globe raised a glass to Sir Arthur Guinness in celebration of 250 years of a brand that has truly captured many of us and withstood the test of time. In 1759 Arthur Guiness signed a 9,000 year brewery lease for an annual rent of only 45 pounds.
Since then Guinness has become one of the most recognized brands in the history of advertising. It’s clever use of humor fits the roots of it’s Irish brethren and the passionate following and promise of a drink that has been adored globally for 250 years.
The Art of Guinness
Over the years Guinness commissioned the work of many artists to deliver some of the most unique consumer advertising seen in modern times, artists such as H.M. Bateman and Edward Ardizzone.
Credit the boys at S.H Benson. In 1928 the advertising agency S. H. Benson won the Guinness advertising account. And soon to be famous Artisit John Gilroy had his opportunity to produce some of his most memorable work. Gilroy’s first known Guinness poster was produced in 1930. And with all great ads … don’t forget to give credit to the copywriters … like Ronald Barton and Robert Bevan.
The Genius of John Gilroy
But it’s the true genius of John Gilroy with his famous illustrations of zoo animals that has entertained us all and has become the memorable face for many on his famed Guinness posters.
His use of bright, lively colors blending perfectly with Guinness’ tasty palette (in more ways than one) of browns and tans gave both the everyday man and sophisticated clientelle a clean, consice message and recognition that screamed Guinness.
Clean composition and fun exploding type took you on a virtual warner brothers like experience in each and every poster. Gilroy produced more than 100 press advertisements and nearly 50 poster designs for Guinness over 35 years. His illustrantions, including a lion, toucan, gnu and kangaroo, appeared, with their long-suffering zookeeper and the famous iron worker.
Slainte’
So to you Mr. Gilroy … let us raise our glass …’Thank you Guinness for continually being bold, brave and lively in your campaigns. As they say in Ireland…Slainte
Exhibiting the Brand
If you have an opportunity you should attend the exibit at ‘The Museum of Brands‘ in Notting Hill London, England before October 25th. The very best of Guinness advertising from posters to TV commercials to drink trays and beer mats are being featured.
FACE REALITY
So you are embarking on a site relaunch. Your investing a year of resources and big dollars to elevate your business communications and marketing efforts. If you think about it no matter what you do or how good you are at anticipating designing and relaunching a website you will never be ahead of the game. The moment you launch your site you will be behind. Face reality.
THE SCENERIO
You are a multi-billion dollar corporation. You have just made an large investment to re-design your website. We’re talking about thousands of pages of content and thousands of hours to get it right. So you have taken the plunge and are ready to hold on for a great ride.
WEB CYCLE
When you are heavy into the discovery and strategy phase of the project you are typically going to burn about three to four months of your engagement. Let’s assume your project build cylce is twelve months and each phase consumes approx. a third of the process (discovery/strategize, architect/build, release/evolve.).
So in reality once you do your strategy and your discovery (the heavy business strategy and goals of the project) it will be another eight to nine months before you see it implemented and live for John Q Public.
WEB YEAR = DOG YEAR
If it takes a year to build from concept to completion the moment the site launches it will be out of date. All of your strategy and discovery took place eight months earlier. And believe me when I say that one web year is like one dog year. So most likely you are behind in technology, ideas and new best practices. Something else has replaced YouTube, facebook or Twitter as the next best thing. SEO will be different, rich media will be differnet, social media, mobile all different. UGH.
So what now. Do you scrap your investment? Do you pray that you were wise enough to build in scalability and content that stood the test of time? Or do you simply run home crying and praying you won’t lose your job for all the effort you made an entire organization endear for a whole year!
Before you order tickets to the border and plan your escape…relax. It’s not about the technology remember. It’s about the content. So since you are a man of wisdom …a women to be reckoned with…you already factored this in. RIght? You did…didn’t you?
THINK BIG
Keeping up with technology has always been near impossible. Anticipating marketing trends and business plans is what you our others on your team get the big bucks for…so sports fans…do me a favor and don’t forget when you are in the critical stage of discovery and strategy. Think Big. Think about the content and the tends of your industry one year from now. Don’t allow your limited view of marketing today effect your view of tomorrow. What is important now may not be twelve months from now and you have to have the guts to admit that.
The tendency in building a website is to only see the now…to only face your organizations current problems and not predict or anticipate the future trends and insights.
I urge you to be bold. To be a rogue. To let your mind get above the now and think…think…innovate.
It took me approximately two dog minutes to write this blog. Wow…I’m slow.
Thanks AdAge.com
Advertising Age pointed out a unique blog that many creatives may enjoy visiting in their recent posting of ‘Creativity Top 5′.
Visit – adage.com/tvspots/article?article_id=136856
My College Prof Said Steal It
What my Gene Poor was trying to tell us is that all ideas stem from other things in life. So take something…build on it…and create. If you are anything like me you make it a standard to doodle up ideas on the nearest napkin while consuming an adult beverage or your not so fine dining experience. There’s still something still wonderful about the pen and paper. I prefer your standard cocktail napkin to do my dirty work. If it has a drink or coffee stain on it…even better. What most of my clients may not know…but many may suspect is that for nearly 25 years I’ve been producing ideas on some of America’s most unique napkins. Many a Art Director that has crossed my path has had a napkin sketch of mine taped to their monitors sharing my ideas with them on the project at hand.
stealourideas
Kudos to Art Director Jon Kubik and Copywriter Adam Noel for taking it a step further and sharing their new blog for all to see…hand-draw ad ideas to steal.
Visit – http://stealourideas.tumblr.com/
Image courtesy of Advertising Age and Stealourideas
One thing about working for a world-class organization is opportunity…opportunity to explore new ideas and innovations…opportunities to evaluate partners and best practices from some of the best organizations in digital today. Which brings me to this weeks Advertising Age Digital 2009 Conference that took place at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.
As one would expect there were insights, observations, talk of new trends, panel discussions, back-to-back presentations, and some memorable moments worth noting. And out of all of this professed wisdom there reined one or two particularly exceptional moments of truth often not heard into today’s conferences.
Out of this came some clear winners and clear losers. Being frank has sometimes got me in trouble…but I always am speaking openly and truthfully which is what this blog will do today…if you are going to charge people to listen to what you have to say… you best be prepared to hear differences of opinion. So instead of pointing fingers let’s concentrate on pointing thumbs ☺
Thumbs seem to be the texting method of the Y generation…so it’s appropriate to give a thumbs up…thumbs down or nothing but thumbs review for this year’s conference presentations.
But before I do that I have to say that the folks at Advertising Age hosted a great forum. I personally want to thank them for the agenda they set, the speakers they lined up and their hospitality. A special thanks to Jonah Bloom, editor and mc of Ad Age…this is one Brit worth knowing…a straight talking…action oriented chap.
Two Thumbs Up to…
The clear winner of the show was Simon Clift of Unilever…without a doubt the best presentation I have seen in the last twenty years of business. His candor, truth and honest insights to brand, corporate responsibility, passions from human wellness and a products effect on global social influences was refreshing and candid. Most people bury the truth. He hit truth between the eyes. After spending my career in business and advertising … I like most of you am use to hearing corporations dodge and hide the ills their organizations put on society. Mr. Clift I commend you…not that this is what you want to hear…I’m just glad that you are at the helm…many companies hopefully will follow your lead. Instead of ousting Greenpeace for their protest on destroying trees to gather palm oil for Dove…he invited them in for tea and now is partnering with them to do the right thing for us all.
http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=135866
Thanks to Evidently…the organization that worked with Simon to produce his presentation. It’s quite remarkable what preparation, practice and attention to detail brings to an audience. It’s good to know we matter enough. Special kudos to Marisa…I thank you…you are a truly gifted person despite the fact that you are a Blue Jays fan 
To the David from Hershey’s who had the insight to call it like he saw it in-front of the large crowd to wake up our friends at Blockbuster for their inability to see what they didn’t want to see.
A future changing thumbs up to GOGII you are going to single handed change the way we text and gather data on brands for years to come…quite simply brilliant. We better all learn of a good carpel tunnel doc because this new idea is going to revolutionize mobile advertising and brand knowledge for us all.
More Thumbs up…
To Keith Lee for hands down getting it! His genius to develop incredible user experiences and motivation models for his products are amazing. He shared with us all from learning’s that help engage the avid World of Warcraft following. Wow…would I love to spend a couple days in their shop to learn the magic of human behavior.
To Damon Wayans for his cool lid…yeah I’m the guy you were sitting next too who saved you from crushing your sunglasses…and I’m the guy that didn’t get a by-line in the group photo on Advertising Age Digital. No worries…I’ve always admired your work. You’re a class act.
For the producers of the TV hit Heroes…primarily because my boys like the show. Your integrated approach to multiple mediums should wake up a few broadcasters.
To UNICEF and P&G’s Lucas Watson Global Team Leader, Digital Business Strategy for their vaccination campaign, which is saving lives and entrusting a brand. If you purchase a package of pampers and selected products P&G will vaccinate a child
Joe Rospars, founding partner of Blue State Digital…the man behind President Obama’s new media marketing efforts and truly an email maven and campaign strategist We appreciated your direct approach to results and your being real attitude. It’s no wonder one and six subscribers voted for President Obama. The solution to getting it done…”How can you make someone act NOW”. By converting the top 15% of his audience he helped the USA make a change in history both for one-man…one nation and the future of online marketing. I hope to work with you soon.
Even More Thumbs Up…Wahooeeeee!!
Thumbs up to Fredrik Caristro, CEO and ECD of Great works America and his team for an Absolut idea that took a social media risk by taking custom musical machines that proved art still can be integrate advertising and engage a world with one of a kind concepts to interest and drive the senses of passion.
www.absolut.com/absolutmachines/
Thanks PJ Pereira, Chief Creative Director & Co-founder, Pereira & O’Dell…. for reinforcing Simon and others belief that the next revolution to follow this recession will a Creative Revolution….an opinion I share. He summed it up well by commenting we all well need to learn how to organize chaos.
To Benjamin Palmer of the barbarian group for recognizing with a calm cool delivery that …yeah we did this thing…and that thing did some things that …yeah were good. You would have made comedian Steven Wright proud. It was a nice reminder to those who get caught up in themselves… creative without the chest beating. Refreshing too be so comfortable with your works. Yeah well it worked.
Thumbs up to being on the client side once again for this great organization I work for and the kids we try to help everyday…passion still means something. If you care to join me in a few incredible global health initiatives stay tuned to next year…you may see Cincinnati Children’s on that stage talking about saving a few lives.
To my new friends…Jonah, Marisa, Bob, Louis, Lisette, Allison, Joe, Sheryl and the others who I hope to work with over the next year initiating some new projects to directly help kids and their families get healthy.
Nothing But All Thumbs Awards goes to…
Twitter. If you weren’t on twitter you felt like a twit! Ugh. I was twitted out just hearing the word twitter two million fourteen hundred thousand times in only two days.
Agencies that still don’t get it. And believe you me…many of them really don’t get it. Which is a shock…my suggestion to you is retire. Prepare to see many fall in the next year that can’t recognize or react to this changing world.
Blockbuster… for ignoring what you have… and ignoring your consumer audience segments…it’s more than soccer moms. Being close-minded will get you a one-way ticket out of business. Pay attention to your other audiences like the eighty Netflix fans in the audience who were trying to get you to recognize them as a segment. With that said I give you credit for standing up there and taking it in the gut. Now stand back up and get to work.
Thumbs down to…
All of those who had their heads down in the conference texting and checking emails non-stop…yes…you were at a digital conference hearing about twitter and every other trend…but professional courtesy and respect for those speaking and those sitting around you still has a place in this world. Or at least it should. Rude is rude. Trust me your not that important.
Arrogance and the inability to change award goes to the group of journalists on the panel that refuse to grow and learn. Insisting that having a Peabody award carries more relevance then changing …pay attention and get over your selves…perhaps it’s time to understand that everyone in this world is worth reading and listening too.
The staff at the Met for not being ready when audience members showed up to attend the conference …remember you had people coming from all over the globe to attend your facility. Pride and preparation still can go a long way.
The AV staff that was hired to support the folks at Ad Age need to get it together and pay back the good folks at Ad Age for all the mistakes you made and all the discomfort you put the speakers and audience through. I’ve been in your seats before…it doesn’t have to be so difficult.
And finally, two thumbs down to the NYC cop who pulled over the young middle eastern cab driver who was driving me to the conference and gave him two tickets / four points against his license for a left hand turn that a hundred thousand people make every day in New York. Especially when Abdul and I were having a great conversation about how NYC is the place to live because people don’t see color. No kidding the timing was epic and ridiculous.
And finally to the clear winner of the conference…YOU.
Ultimately all of the innovations and creative prowess shared will eventually hit an experience nearest you. Hopefully I may be a part of a few of those…I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
And at the insane speed things are moving today…sooner than later no doubt.
The views expressed in this blog are solely my views and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of my employer.
Despite your political affiliation…one thing can not be denied…the candidates are pulling out all the stops (and all the coin) by utilizing leading edge web strategies and technologies to get us out to vote. Our political parties have grown up and left little a stone unturned in their use of web marketing. This will make for an incredible case study for business and future peers who pursue our line of work coming out of college. We’ve seen masterful email campaigns, email blasts, online advertising, use of blogs, social networking, ORM, google maps, online videos, digital forms, fund raising, etc. I urge you to pay attention to the tactics, the strategies and the technologies being utilized…oh yeah and of course I urge you to get out and vote. Stay tuned…it will be fun to see how the victor celebrates online.
