Advertising Week: coverage on our new site

The sixth annual Advertising Week begins today in New York, and we'll be covering the festivities as they happen, all week long, on a new brand-site, RealTimeAdvertisingWeek.com. We'll be posting news, videos, photos and lots more. Also follow the new site on Twitter.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on September 21, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Advertising Week, Nudd

Ad icons brutalized in new 'AdEaters' trailer

If you harbor violent impulses toward the Energizer bunny, the Verizon guy or the Geico gecko, then you'll enjoy this movie-trailer-style spot for the New York City premiere of "Night of the AdEaters," which isn't a movie at all but an evening-length party, hosted in cities worldwide, that includes a screening of some of the world's most creative commercials. (See the trailer in HD here.) The first AdEaters event was held in France in 1981; it's coming to NYC for the first time on Friday, Sept. 25, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., as the last hurrah of Advertising Week. The ads themselves, handpicked by AdEaters founder Jean Marie Boursicot from his own vast personal archive, are said to be "amazing, intriguing, shocking, and funny," and hail from 60 countries "representing the vitality, creativity, passion and trends present in the world of advertising from around the globe." Boursicot is contemptuous of repetition and familiarity—thus, the disdain for the bunny, the test man and the lizard. And judging by the other characters in the trailer, we're more likely to see ads from Burger King than McDonald's in the show.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on August 13, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (4)
Filed under Advertising Week, Nudd

The Big Ad Gig offers hope to the desperate

Competing for a job in advertising is cutthroat, so why not make some entertainment out of it? Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Ogilvy in New York, Proximity Atmosphere and Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness have teamed up to hold an American Idol-like competition during Advertising Week in September, emceed by New York Times ad columnist Stuart Elliott. The Big Ad Gig challenges creatives to make YouTube videos about why they deserve the job. Eight finalists get to come to Advertising Week and work on an Ad Council brief. They'll present their campaign ideas during the live event. One winning campaign will get to run across Microsoft properties. Four winners get "30 days of briefs, branding and Benjamins" at the participating agencies. The organizers are being a little tightlipped on the last B, however. They wouldn't tell me what the freelance gigs pay beyond saying it's "entry-level" pay for copywriters and art directors. Also, beware Crispin-philes: Winners will be assigned to shops via a lottery system.

—Posted by Brian Morrissey

See also:
Job seeker is willing to sing his own praises
What wouldn't people do for a job at CP+B?

Published on August 11, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Filed under Advertising Week, Job hunting, Morrissey

Attend our cut-rate advertising conference!

We had quite a show planned, but times are tough, so we've had to cut some corners. Our program still begins with the Cavalcade of Commercial Characters. Unfortunately, all we could afford were two Mr. Peanut costumes—one chunky, one smooth. Vote for your favorite! We're also having a Brown-Bag Breakfast, because, as we learned from Brandweek, with the recession looming, "bringing your own" is back in fashion. As for the seminars, Bob Greenberg is the only panelist who has agreed to appear. It's not the Bob Greenberg from R/GA, but our Bob played bass in the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which is more than you can say for anyone on the CMO Council.  (It was either Bob or Steve Hall. What kind of choice is that?) We'll skip dinner and cut right to the booze 'n schmooze, because, sadly, everyone who works here at the conference is getting sacked after the show. So, in addition to your attendance fee, we'd appreciate a small donation as you leave. Canned goods or old clothing would be just fine, thanks.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on September 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Advertising Week, Gianatasio

Facebook to rock out for Advertising Week

Less than a year ago, fresh-faced Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg came to New York to declare that his social network was about to change the face of media and advertising. Since then, Facebook has continued to grow but has clearly had some stumbles in developing an advertising system. (See Beacon.) But Facebook seems determined to be a big player on Madison Avenue. It's signed on as "gold-tier partner" for Advertising Week next week, along with Web giants Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and AOL. That means a series of earnest workshops and the honor of getting ad people drunk at the week's closing party. This is a big responsibility. Whom has Facebook turned to for the entertainment? Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Huh? I decided to ask a reporter friend who works for a music magazine for his take. "I don't know why Ziggy is playing at Advertising Week. I'm sure there's a hacky sack circle out there that's really jonesing for his mellow tunes." Maybe Facebook should have friended Hootie.

—Posted by Brian Morrissey

Published on September 18, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Filed under Advertising Week, Facebook, Morrissey, Social networks