Swine / Media Flu and other stories

So if anything came out of last nights grad catch up (besides a Friday-at-work hangover) it has driven me to write on this blog. I have to say it has not been a great track record of blogging so far, but that is set to change - someone just needs to make the first move.

So come on you swines and blog!

Swine flu has generated some pearlers around my office - I phoned the swine flu hotline, but all I heard was crackling. How do you know if you have swine flu? you come out in rashers. There are so many jokes flying around, its like an epidemic. While the media is going nuts over pork, it seems that these so-called pandemics are losing credibility becuase of the hysteria. Is it just another way for pharmaceutical companies to make money from human suffering? Credit crunch. Times are hard.

In any case, I am suffering from a severe case of wine flu. After an interesting chat with Jeremy Johnston at Sugar Advertising about life as an indie agency, we proceeded to do what we do best. Drink wine. And the rest is history.

Anyway, tune in next week for a new post. I nominate Arielle.

AIM takes gold at Caples!

The John Caples International Awards are like the Oscars of Direct and Interatcive Marketing.
Big ups to AIM for taking the grand prize (and several others too) for their work on The Warehouse's Valentines Day Love Conspiracy Campaign.

http://www.dmnews.com/Maxwell-Sackheim-Award-Best-in-Show/article/128962/
http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/hazel-phillips/aim-proximity-wins-big-caples

Client confidentiality, Jenna! I will not disclose the details of the super-secret job I’m working on.

On another note it looks like all of us in the advertising industry may be doomed if products like this become the norm:

These babies (pun intended) will sell themselves!

We must be working on different aspects of the same project… ZooMovies? But animals fornicating… I am intrigued! Where are you going with that one?

AIM is great. The hersheys kisses at reception are better. Anyone keen for after work drinkies one night, catch up?

I am now officially a blogger.

3rd week already! Time to reflect on the previous two weeks:

1. Recession! Good timing or bad timing for our entry into the advertising industry? I’m going to be optimistic and say good timing because considering what’s happening in the world (including the advertising world) we are very fortunate to be where we are right now.

2. If you go to the Zoo to take photos (yes for work) you are almost guaranteed to come back with photos of animals doing it like they do on the discovery channel. Actually no that’s not true - boredom ensures they are doing it wrong and with the same sex. Stupid lions.

3. There is such a thing as a free lunch.

4. I thought photo shoots took place on tropical islands and my job as the new guy would be something lowly like making cocktails for the lingerie models and occasionally coming up with witty one liners to keep them entertained. Where the hell did the dudes come from and why were we in a warehouse?

5. There are too many acronyms in advertising.

Anyway I can happily say it has been a great two weeks and I’m thoroughly enjoying it so far.

First Week Down

So, a week down and what have we experienced so far?

Our first two days we had a whirlwind induction of all eight agencies, getting to know our fellow grads and our minds like giant sponges soaking up all information and tips thrown at us. Many of us had moved from over the country the weekend before and as well as getting to know our agencies and each other we are getting to know the city (the shopping), our new flats and the humidity!

My first day at the agency I was asked to complete mood boards for creatives, finishing the client newsletter and opening new jobs. Getting used to the office, meeting new faces and remembering names, errands and birthday celebrations! Work drinks and ultimately missing indoor netball...woops. 'Start as you wish to begin!' 

The following day consisted of my original presentation to the managing staff, more job openings, internal WHIPS, job briefs, finishing mood boards and watching, listening and learning! I discovered more of our clients and their products as well as the Paddington below work and its beer! 

Friday.... and I was to find the busiest day of the week! Walking into the office and the ladies in the office went to so much effort in decorating the reception in red balloons, Lindauer, lollies and roses! A big external WHIP, meetings, errands, job openings, plus the reveal of our grad NBR article. The best of all, billboards were installed around Auckland of Highlanders and Stags (keep an eye out!) - brilliant billboards which the team were so proud of, and should be! The Speights Coast to Coast event went smoothly and so did our wicked Speights press ads.

The whole of this weekend I have spent recovering and preparing for another hectic, exhilarating, challenging, busy and absolutely WICKED week ahead! Bring it on! Wa hoo!

How was everyone else's week?

First Bit of Publicity

Be amazing. No pressure.

http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/hazel-phillips/meet-your-future-competition

Why we are REALLY in the biz.

An oldie but still a goodie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaoIsPZAgck

Does anyone remember the link to that piece of film on digital that Dean Taylor showed us at Saatchis?

Why we're in the biz

Superbowl 2009 Ads:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/admeter/2009admeter.htm?loc=interstitialskip

And my fave ad at the moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdcE0AKi_JU

Ok back to work :p

day one, done and dusted!

Thanks to Dean and the guys at CAANZ for giving us a fantastic introduction to the industry, I dont think my first day would have been as stress-free without it! I would have liked to stay for a few more vinos last night but there will be other times! Hope everyone enjoyed their first day in the big, bad - no, what was that word... "brutal" world of advertising, and keep posting your stories. See you soon!

The calm before the storm...

I have to say the last two days have been rather enjoyable. Rule of thumb, an intro to agency life is always going to be made sweeter with chocolate bikkies and coffee. Much appreciated. Hmm... but is it a case of small things amusing small minds? Juries out...

Informative sessions coupled with sweet surroundings, i cant think of a better intro to the industry...

My only concearn is if we can live up to the hype, and is the coffee and confectionary just the calm before the storm?

Only time will tell.

Peace.

Hmm

Haha good job Emma, was gonna be the first poster but sat there for about 5 min at a loss for what to say. Clever Dean, how'd you know the promise of booze would encourage lazy bloggers?

My first week: office premises are sweet.
Behind my desk: volleyball court.
To my left: the kitchen/bar complete with pool table and big flatscreen TV ($1 drinks woop woop).
Diagonally to my left: the ping pong table and the media library stocked with magazines
To my right: a big fat bean bag for you to plop down next to me and have a chat :)

Everyone is very, very lovely. I don't hesitate to ask for claification on any issues I'm unclear about because everyone's ready to lend a hand, and people have been coming up to me just to introduce themselves and welcome me to the company.

It also helped that the first week I started included a long weekend....heh.

See you all Monday :)

Arielle

My day has also been rather insightful, i have learnt early that procrastination is the root of all evil.

Evil as booze is o so much sweeter when its free....