It’s schweet & sad… You’ve got a week to vote for the best band on Advertising Week’s “Battle of the Bands” (see AdvertisingWeek or visit YouTube “Battle of Ad Bands” channel). The assortment of videos, featuring modern Mad Men (and woman), in the past week have seen about 200-500 views per video. Perhaps mostly from fellow agency pals.
Maybe YouTube Business Blog’s pandering “We Salute You” blog post will fetch them another dozen views…
- It’s schweet because some of these bands rawk. Check out Low NY in “Ta-Ra-Ra-Ra” (Kink’s “You Really Got Me”). Or the gritty coolness of Spark’s “The Tape Delay.”
- But it’s sad because one can’t help think of the many talented people who resorted to advertising to make a living, but dream to express their artistic creativity in higher forms than USA Today spreads.
Just watch PHD’s “Say What,” and you get mixed feelings. On one hand, you’re thinking “how cool, this agency has such soul!” But you’re simultaneously transported back to that sad happy hour in 1992 when you were interning at Earl Palmer Brown, and the chief creative guy answered your question, “what’s the best advice you can give me to succeed in advertising.”
And he looks at you, pauses to sip his Jack Daniels, and you can see in his eyes as he instantly releases his dream of being a great painter… like a helium balloon.” Then he says with great conviction, “choose another career… I’m serious.”
Is this a celebration of the fact that we can have it all: lucrative advertising careers and the pursuit of our artistic passions? Or is this a tragic collection of would-be artists who sadly missed the fame bus for lack of talent or timing?