Andy Awards Main | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

The week has progressed nicely. Do I know more about doing advertising? Am I smarter?

The days go up and down. One minute you think you’ve got it. The next minute you’re a student again. But that’s advertising. A place where strategy, subjectivity and a small creative spark make a little door for the completely unexpected to walk in.

In general, the work is very smart. You get the sense that all of us are really hunkering down and solving our clients’ business problems, that the problems, not simply the potential for award, is generating said spark. It’s good to see brands are sticking with what’s worked from last year. Whether it’s Skittles or Sony or Guinness for example, there is equity in the things they’ve created. And apparently the stuff is working or else why do them again.

But you can’t be boring and repetitive. Who knew the simple celebration of color or good things coming to those who wait or the notion of candy as existential metaphor could have so many legs? But they do. And then there are brands like JC Penney and Absolut who have evolved. Or just flat-out started over again. Pulling up their flag and replanting it in a more opportune space. For the work and for business.

Andrew Keller
Executive Creative Director, Crispin, Porter & Bogusky

Today was tough day. Mentally. It was a mixture of judging and a couple of meetings disguised as breakfast and lunch. Starting with the judging, we managed to get through a chunk of the TV and all of the print and outdoor. There is some really nice stuff in there. I can’t wait for the discussions.

Lunch was really fun, but the last thing I expected was to be handed an assignment after I sat down. It was a very interesting topic put forward by Tourism New South Whales. Just kidding - Wales. They wanted to discuss how Sydney compares to other major cities in the world, our perception of Sydney in regards to attracting the brightest talent, and so on. Mark Waites brought up an interesting point. He believes there are about five major cities in the world people want to experience to some degree. Three are pretty locked, while the other two change from time to time. Think Moscow, Sao Paulo, Barcelona, etc. The locked cities, in his opinion, are New York, London, and Monrovia. Or did he say Paris? I can’t remember. Actually, I am pretty certain he said Monrovia because I got very excited being born there and all.

On the other side of the room, David Droga and Susan Credle almost got into a fisticuffs about the youthful embrace of the Sydney business market and their success rate. I’m not sure who won, but it was fun to watch two Americans convinced they have Australia figured out.

After that work out, David Nobay took us to his old watering hole across from Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney until our night’s big event.

To thanks us for our hard work and enlightenment about this great city of theirs, Tourism NSW sponsored a private tour of the Sydney Opera House followed by cocktails. It was amazing. We actually got the opportunity to sit and play, that?s right, play with the orchestra during their rehearsal. And let’s just say, “We killed it.” It sounded pretty professional with the exception of Thirasak Tanapatanakul (AKA Guy), and probably me. We were on the percussion and he kept throwing me off beat. Which eventually threw everyone else off. Thank you Guy. Nicely done.

Annnnways, we have been getting the royal treatment here and I have no idea how the Ad Club is pulling this off. Sydney is pretty dope. Well, onward to day three. Peace.

Feh Tarty
Wieden & Kennedy, London

1) Sydney Opera House
2) Andy McKeon, Bulldozer
3) Conducting a ragtag concerto
4) Mark Tutssel, Leo Burnett Worldwide; David Droga, Droga5

Andy Awards Main | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

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