“We have a perception that we are not hot, and that perception keeps us from being hot…We have to get a couple of [big] wins, and that perception will go away.” -Pat Fallon speaking to the WSJ
Marc Babej thinks the standard for “hot” should be rooted in the only thing that really matters about advertising: its ability to generate sales and/or justify margins.
Even though there’s way too much emphasis placed on awards shows, there is one that addresses Marc’s concerns–The Effies. Interestingly, many Effie winners also regualrly win One Show pencils, Lions and the like. This fact suggests that creativity does indeed drive sales.
As to Mr. Fallon’s assertion, I’m glad to see the man is humble after all these years of stupefying success. Yet, his worry that his shop is no longer “hot” seems laughable to me. If Fallon’s not hot, the rest of us must live in an igloo of our making.