A big event at Ian’s hit the agency hard this weekend as we all descended to the green and pleasant land of Wyck in Hampshire for a Saturday night party.
We were greeted by stunning summers evening, a marque, Harry the flare barman, a sloping dance floor of death and Fabric DJ, and our ace designer Krystal selling her soul with some mean 80′s classics.
The 1980′s themed event resulted in some appalling costume efforts, none more so that Ian’s highlighted hair, pink tee-shirt and linen suit combo. Coupled with eye liner, and a foundation clad face it couldn’t have been more upsetting.
As we danced the night away drinking Cosmo’s and Smurfs (blue Curacao, Vodka, Sloe gin, and Prosecco) it dawned on me that this would make a pretty good blog. All of us enjoying the evening, with different interpretations of an era - beapart in reality.
It has also spurred me on to sort out a Flickr widget (see below right) – so you can share and view the agencies photos and especially party evenings like this one with us.
I hope you find the pictures suitable upsetting.
The latest instalment of Hive Poly’s (motto - Velle est posse) strategy training sessions discussed leadership, project management and the joys of singing songs. All via a case study covering Ernest Shackleton and his 1915 ill-fated Antarctic expedition
We reviewed all aspects of the trip, planning, disaster management and eventual rescue. It’s a great way to review the elements of leadership, how plans must remain flexible, and team culture, alongside a solid direction really helps when you get yourself trapped in ice. Shackleton proved a great example of entrepreneurship, self-promotion and of obsessive dedication.
I found the ad Shackleton use in the The Times to recruit for this expedition – showing also the value of a sense of humour when asking people to take part in difficult adventures. I love the honesty of ‘safe return doubtful’.
It was a sunny Thursday evening. It was Soho. It was Hive’s copywriters – me and Debbie – enjoying a nice pint of non-premium, non-Belgian beer at the Coach & Horses. It was bribery with two of (supposedly) the most expensive pints in the country. It was Leffe. It was an impromptu photo shoot, with direction from Nigel. It was a misquote. It was probably the most pointless news story of all time. Cheers, Evening Standard.
I have been reading the views on the campaigns that accompanied the three future PMs this election. It seemed for the first time that the channel choice was dominated by non-ad comms as much as any other. Twitter seems alive, as did the online presence of each party that had stepped up light- years ahead of the last elections piss-poor efforts.
After the clear lack of differentiation between the parties none of the campaigns managed either enough love for Dave or enough hate for Gordon. I think one could consider that the £25 million spent by the Conservatives needed to be a little more effective. It makes me wonder whether during the next election the parties will move further away from the likes of Euro RSCG, M&C Saatchi and Saatchi & Saatchi after what must be a sound case against the broadcast style campaigns driving true differentiation.
Given the lay of the land should we expect money to be shifted to TV debates and teetering marginals, following the usual shift from broadcast to targeted we are seeing across all communications landscapes? I think we can.
