Know-How Exchange : Just for Fun

I love that show too!

Overall, I think clients have gotten smarter in terms of understanding some key marketing concepts. On the other hand, I think they are also less likely to take risks than they appear to have been at that time. For example, I think today they would want additional data on placing beer at endcaps before allowing an agency to run with that idea.

Dear Jeff

I’m sure that I’ll come back with more as I let this one brew a little, but my gut reaction is “Political Correctness” where advertisers feel that they can’t do anything in case they offend anyone.

Anyone remember “You’re never alone with a Strand”? A total disaster, but what a laugh looking back at the cigarette industry portray a typical smoker as a lonesome loser!

My proposed magazine (Along the lines of What Car, What Camera, and What Computer etc) was to be “What Jihad”

It was stifled at birth – no publisher would even contemplate it, even as a spoof.

Steve
(Address and telephone number withheld, for obvious reasons and not the real stevea – I’m just using his log on, so don’t come looking for him, he isn’t responsible. Yours sincerely Salman Rushdie)

It is the same.

Now don't get me wrong, the blatant chovenistic approach to women in the hallway (or in the boardroom) has changed. Women are many times the smarter and more intuitive professional in the room. But when you get right down to it, the attitude to win and do a great job is the same.

Ego's abound. Creatives always think they are right, and so do us account management types. Ultimately the client is right. Even when the clients choose a campaign based on the background color (purple always wins) for the outdoor board.

What is changing though, due to the close proximity of "talking" with the consumer through digital media is the fact that "the consumer is always right".

The best ad agencies and ad folks know the consumer gets the vote and ultimately every decision should be based on consumer behavior, preference and action at the cash register.

For the agency office setting you see in the MadMen TV show - well let's just say, the smoking in the hallways, executive washrooms, and "secertarial pool" are gone. BUT (that is a big but), the types of people working in agencies and the industry has not changed much. It does not matter your gender (the women are in on it too) back stabbing, down talking, name calling, clawing or sleeping your way to the top and doing just about anything to get a client is alive and well. From the show, using your fathers death in a plane crash to subvertently force the airline client opportunity to be secured. compared to the whole Wal Mart CMO debacle last year. Look it up if you are not familiar - they couldn't write anything better in the TV show.

Realize while the wolf whistles and remarks in the hallway are not as blatant as the show - the atmosphere and attitude are the same.

Okay - that's enough for now.

P.S. I too love the show, for the reason of seeing how much really hasn't changed. And being able to have a topic of discussion around which colleagues can discuss the behavior as "issues in the agency" and set a positive example for equality in the workforce focused on a great advetising product - not just a great time.