Feedback on our ghd work was that it’s “in contention”. However, there was also this word that’s cropped up a lot – development. Not sure if that’s an industry standard or just a thing they used in TBWA. “A development briefing” or “we’re on some development”…basically take that idea and make it better.
So me and my partner made some of our ghd work better today. We both felt quite positive about an idea we came up with and it feels slightly stronger than the work that was already apparently in contention. So we’ll see how that goes…
As far as other briefs are concerned, we’ve been waiting on a couple coming in for us. Apparently it needs client approval first. Which is a bit frustrating, ‘cos I’m dying to get my teeth into anything I can. One of them is a brand new client and will probably allow a bit more scope than the ghd stuff, so that could be nice.
So I’ve spent a bit of time on other ‘development’ things. My partner has some work that’s pretty much approved for NUS (students union), I put together a bit of copy for that which she seemed to like. It’s just cool to be in an environment where you are constantly prompted into action, no matter what the work is, it’s good to keep the juices flowing as it were. Instead of stop-starting all the time, working on my foilio alone.
intermission: pictures are a nice break, so here’s a fairly nice meeting room. Just a bit.
The pic doesn’t give a really true impression, the sun comes through that stained glass and it’s bloody lovely. Aaaaw.
What else then? The Rose Awards are on tomorrow night, as I’m sure most are aware. There’s a few from the agency going down, mostly those who are up for an award it seems. It’s been suggested that a few us should try and gatecrash. Just blag in and mooch around the back, sipping dregs of wine or something! Don’t think I will though…as much as I’d love to go to the awards and have a looksee at what was going on. Think I’ll stick to these after works drinks that are happening instead.
What’s in store tomorrow then? I’ll see if we get a new brief. Hopefully we will. I don’t want to fizzle out towards the end of the week. I’ll possibly talk a little about what my pre-conceptions of advertising were, before the placement. And how I’m seeing things now, as I’m becoming accepted as an insider.
The main focus of my 2nd day was undoubtedly presenting work to the creative directors. I’ve done presentations before, and getting crits on your portfolio is certainly a learning tool in presenting I now think. Nevertheless, this was a little more foreboding.
But, I shouldn’t have been worried, it went well. The format at this stage in presenting initial ideas to the CD’s was very relaxed and informal. Very in keeping with the ambiance of the agency. I like that. The ‘offices’, if you can call ‘em that, are pretty much open space at TBWA. The odd private room exists obviously. But people are intermingled we simply sat down round a coffee table to present.
The client was ghd by the way. I won’t go into the actual product, I’ve been told to speak to Northern Planner about the ins & Outs of disclosure whilst blogging! So I’ll hunt him down tomorrow. Anyway, it’s an existing client, with a strong tone that runs through most of the work. So we weren’t deviating from that too much. We presented four campaigns, or four slightly different ways of looking at this product anyway.
Rich & Mick seemed happy with how we’d gone about it. They seemed to like one route we’d taken, in particular. More than anything it was just reassuring to get a bit of positive feedback because there’s a big difference in working something up in two weeks for my folio, than taking two days to work up something that’s ‘live’ and then present it.
Other that that, it was a day of getting to know people a bit more. I tend to take time to open up and really be myself in group situations. But that’s a luxury I’m trying to abandon, as I might only have two weeks. It helps when there’s people sat behind you openly rambling non-particular information in daft French accents, or lauding their success in fooling the university campus canteen into believing they were a student, just to get cheap chicken curry & chips. Good stuff. There’s drinks after work on Thursday so I hope to get know people that bit more, as we all loosen up with the help of that unselfish delight we call alcohol.
Right, got my post in early so I can get some takeaway and watch the Man U match. Most of the creative department seem to be Man U fans, so though I have to bite my tongue when it comes to people claiming Ronaldo doesn’t dive, I’ve gotta watch tonight as I’m sure it’ll be the talk of the office in the morning.
I got in a little before 8:30am. Didn’t wanna be too early really on the first day, as I might rolled up with nobody there! I’ve signed some kind of non-disclosure form which I probably should re-read as I’m not 100% sure how that effects me writing this hmmm.
Anyhow, I tried to introduce myself around a bit, as you do. People seem genuinely friendly, and my initial impression is that there’s a lot of people there who love what they do. That’s where you wanna be.
My prospective partner had something she had to tidy up for an AM deadline, so I scribbled some thoughts for my Doctor Marten boot design. By 10:30am I was having my first briefing. Like I said I’m not sure what I can & can’t say, so for now I’ll just say it’s an existing client and the type of product I’ve never sat down and thought about before! All good.
We spent a few hours in this lovely thinking room…
It’s always a bit tricky being thrown into a new creative partnership I think, I’m probably at my most productive when I’m comfortable, but it was good to sit and chat with my potential partner. Get to know each other bit and try to the get the cogs turning. As it turns out, we got a few ideas out, good job too as we have to present them tomorrow at 2pm!
At this point I’ll admit I only just found out today what a ’scamp’ is! One of those aaaaah right moments. Though does anyone know where the term originates from?
Sorry if I’ve skimmed a bit today, tomorrow I’ll ask exactly what I can / can’t do! But for now, I’m knackered and I’ll be up again in about 9 hours, back on the way to work. Need to knock out a few more thoughts for the presentation.
It’s Saturday morning-ish, starting to get excited now for Monday and wondering what the first day will have in store for me.
I’ve had my usual lazy morning watching footy focus, now listening to the Man u vs Chelsea game and having a brew. But I won’t be having a full-on lazy weekend unfortunately; I’ve got family coming over to help lay some bamboo flooring in my kitchen and to celebrate their respective birthday and wedding anniversary.
Anyway…probably good to get rid of some nervous energy before I start the placement at TBWA. I’ve decided I’ll keep a diary of my experience. I’ll post every day about what I’ve been up to: the briefs, the people, my feedback…the whole sch-bang! In this way, if I only end up there for two weeks and then get the boot, I’ll have something to look back at and maybe learn from, or something else to show along with my folio.
I’m looking forward to meeting my prospective partner and getting some briefs served up! I’ve got some emergency work tucked away just in case, that I can take with me…namely the Doctor Martens brief from Love. Got a pretty good copy idea to work up. So, until Monday…It’ll probably be a late post!!!
I went along to TBWA Manchester this afternoon to meet Mick Foden and Richard Sharp. I’m not gonna write a shitload of bumph about it, because I’m too damn excited!!
Yes they are looking for a copywriter
Yes they liked my portfolio
Yes they loved the cross stunt
Result – A two week trial, date to be confirmed. If I impress, then there is a job there. Needless to say, I’m gonna be working my nuts off and doing everything possible to make the most of this chance.
For some reason I’m a little more nervous for this one than usual. I know there’s a position going, that must be why. Though I’m trying to convince myself that at best I’ll get a placement with the chance to impress them, so I’m not too disappointed if I just get sent packing.
Anyway…not as scary as the scary gnome freak reported in papers not so long back. Easily the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Watch it again and again…
A little birdy told me there may be a copywriter role at TBWA. So last night, a daring raid was made on the TBWA Manchester office, based in the old church on Wilmslow Road. FULL STORY LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
If the TBWA folk are reading this, I’ll work for much less than I’ve already seen quoted for the job, for a trial period of 3 months – no messing. Then, if you deem me worthy, you can throw me a few more scraps.
Blimey I’m excited! Heres the full story:
I need to get this CD noticed by two creative directors at TBWA in Manchester. Busy people as we all know. And there’s always plenty of wannabe’s vying for their attention.
Disruption -it’s the TBWA ethos, so I make it mine. There’s loads of different ways I can approach them in the hope to get noticed. For a second I considered dressing as a Priest and going down with my book. But, then an idea arrived, and behold, it was good:
Of course, there were a few complications in making the stunt work. First off was transporting the blighter! One person turned me down on the grounds that sticking a massive cross in someone’s front garden, has slight KKK connotations. My trusty brother came through in the end though, agreeing to put the near 8ft beast in his Polo VW.
So, the cross was built. The headline was written (white paint as it stood out better than red). Now we just had to get to Didsbury with a giant cross in the back of the car at 4am without getting pulled over by the fuzz!
TBWA at approximately 4:43am early April brrrrrrrr
Next dilemma. Do they have security? Where do we stick the thing? A little ‘reccy’ was carried out on monday, but I didn’t know which was the main entrance that staff went in! So at 4:30am last night we were creeping round an old church, unsure if there was a security guard watching us on the camera trying to figure out the best spot. It was between the reception entrance and the staff car park. We opted for reception entrance as were assumed everyone would go in this way. . .It was also cold.
Carrying the cross, me on one end my brother in front.
So finally, we placed the cross, grabbed some goodbye snaps and legged it! Here’s me and my helpful brother with the offending item.
I look less sinister in reality, honest.
My brother. Note the better quality of my photo by the way. Even with camera phone.
Afterwards, I went home and tried unsuccesfully to sleep. It was all quite exciting. I got to work for 8am and have been dying to find out some news since then. I feared some drunken tramp might have sabotaged it or some other evil may have befell it … but Northern Planner put my fears to rest when it appeared on his blog.
The good news is that Richard Sharp (CD) emailed me and I have since spoken to him to arrange a meeting. Mission accomplished. But now, next week, the real challenge will be in trying to convince two CD’s of a top agency that I’m worth a punt.
Shame some of the protesters didn’t manage to get through and grab the flame or put it out. The amount of police and Chinese officials around the thing was unreal. Shame we can’t have the same attitude towards protecting people as we do towards protecting the stupid flame and our own image.
Here’s the Google ad I’d made, was gonna wait til I got a few together, but I’m now thinking something more serious, hard-hitting and more to do with the olympics is in order. So I’ll just pop this one up in honour of the protesters today, they got some good coverage for their cause at least.
(click to biggerize and zoom again for smallprint sorry)
Ok, I’ve now got some work for 2 of the 3 briefs that Love gave me. I’ve gone through a few different ideas for these, I’m hoping I’ve settled on the right thoughts! Given I’m mostly still working independently though, sometimes it’s easy to get lost in one of those thoughts. Aaah, you know what I mean. All part of the learning process I guess.
1st brief:Match.com
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(click to biggerize … might want to zoom in too)
Sorry the jpegs I sent myself aren’t perfect, you might have to squint a little!
2nd brief: Guilt Free Crisps (No fat)
This one I found most taxing to be honest. It’s a made up brief, for a crisp that is fat free. I went through several different concepts. And I’m unsure I’ve gone with the right one. Comments welcome on both campaigns.
