Last year, I wrote about the Addy dominance of Tampa agency Pyper Paul + Kenney. They won 127 Tampa Addys.
This year, they only had a modest increase in performance, winning a mere 129 Addys.
Will we see more substantial improvement from PP+K next year? Let’s hope so. I still wanna know how much in entry fees this costs them.
How many entries did they submit? 129 is impressive if they entered 150. But if they entered 450, then not so much. It’s one of the flaws with ADDYS – some shops enter everything they do instead of taking the time to analyze their best work for the year and only submitting those items.
in my opinion, addys are only meaningful if they’re at the national level or a high award in a really competitive market.
PP+K is a bunch of arrogant shits for being a two-year old agency who have done nothing on the national level. However, I know for a fact that the they only had 144 Total Entries in this years show. Tampa Bay’s ad agency scene sucks at best…hence the reason anyone with even modest work could dominate. Lastly, word on the street is that they just won the national Checkers/Rally’s Drive-In Restaurant business.
Let’s face it. Local Addy shows in regional markets are typically dominated by these types of shops who seem to think there is some merit in spending thousands to grab a bunch of these hopelessly flawed awards. Fact is, with so many categories — they’re absolutely endless — the Addys make the ad biz look like a joke to other industries. It’s like a bunch of ten-year-olds getting excited about trophies at the end-of-the-year banquet. Grow up, folks. Support your local ad club by entering only your ten best pieces — don’t enter anything that doesn’t have a realistic chance at Best of Show. Forget about these ridiculous efforts to run up some kind of big number. Nobody cares and if you were really honest with yourselves, you’d admit there is no way such a vast amount of your year’s work is worthy of honors.
In case you didn’t notice, local Addys really set me off.
Why is everyone so mean about this shop? They’re obviously just a young shop trying to do the best they can…and using awards shows to generate awareness for their business. Sounds like a smart strategy to me. Why do people get so worked about them in every posting on this site that speaks about them. Are they really assholes, or are the people writing about them the assholes?
Nothing like a posting about awards shows to get people all riled up…nevertheless, something tells me InvisiClone and gina are a little more knowledgeable about PP+K then they let on…
As a USDA-certified asshole, perhaps I can answer Gina’s question.
The problem that some people — or at least me anyway — have with agencies like PP+K is that their talent seems to be eclipsed by their ego. It’s a little like Scott Baio proclaiming himself to be the world’s greatest actor.
Sweeping the Tampa ADDYs may be cause for a few high fives around the office. But it does not make you the hottest shop in the Southeast. As InvisiClone points out, Tampa is not exactly a shining citadel of creativity.
After taking a fresh look at their website, it’s clear they do some nice work. But there’s very little that’s truly exceptional — and much that is either uninspired or rips off other, more praiseworthy work. (Exhibit A: The Circle K campaign that is a direct lift from the classic J&B “_ingle _ells” ad.)
All of which goes to prove two exceedingly obvious points: A) Award shows are meaningless wankfests, and B) Advertising is rife with overweening preeners and poseurs who think if you say something loudly and often enough it automatically makes it true.
At least that’s one asshole’s opinion.
45k. That’s how much they spent to enter the local Addys. 45 thousand dollars. And there are people at their shop making 23k/year.
45K? You are a moron Truther. Let me do the math…50 dollars an entry divided by 45K dollars spent equals 900 entries. Wow…you are a doucebag. And wow…maybe it’s you at their agency, with a grudge because you are making 23K because you are a friggin janitor. Clean up the garbage that is your existence Truther…I mean moron.
lafong,
if you consider the surprisingly large number of hollywood hotties that scott baio has banged over the years, it could be argued he is indeed a formidable actor.
if pp+k submitted 140 entries (as one post claimed) at $50 per entry (as another post claimed), the grand total is $7000. Factor in the man hours, postage and potential tickets to the show (provided they don’t have free admission in tampa), and it’s gotta be in the neighborhood of $10,000. the agency may actually be keeping the local addy show in business.
wonder how many of the $23k employees would have preferred to receive a bonus of a few hundred bucks instead of a meaningless statuette.
45k includes “hush money,” Doink.
Doink is a better word than Douce, I don’t even think Douce is a word. I know douche is a word, but even if you called me that, Doink would still be a better pick.
You should’ve used doink, that would mean you were funny instead of fat.
I stand corrected, HighJive. Anyone with the chops to squire a succession of silicon-enhanced starlets must endowed with enormous, uh, talent.
I was also remiss in neglecting Master Baio’s Emmy-worthy performance on a very special episode of “Charles In Charge” entitled “Buddy Gets Herpes.”
Fact: Agency spent $13K last year (and $10K this year).
Fact: The $13K spent last year on a stupid award show generated about 4 local newspaper articles, one AdWeek article and tripled the number of listings on google about the agency.
Fact: Agency acquired two new retainer based national accounts where the Client admittedly said they found out about the agency through the award shows and these articles.
Fact: Everyone in the agency has been rewarded for their work and contribution, or they would not stay. No one makes $23K. There’s no arrogance at the agency…it’s humble pie all day long bangin’ ads. There’s nothing sexy about what we do…just like every other agency that busts their asses to do something great for their Clients.
Fact: Agency agrees the web site is dated and the work does not accurately reflect a fast-moving creative agency. All the work on the site is from their first year in business. Check back in two weeks for the new site and see the evolution.
Fact: For the third consecutive year the agency has won Tampa Bay’s “Best Place to Work.” Culture and Employees will always come first. This is a team effort. We are doing whatever we are doing together.
Fact: No one at the agency thinks that we are all that…the whole “they are arrogant shits” thing comes from mean spirited agency business owners in the Tampa Bay market that our pissed that in their thirty years of business they’ve not done what this agency has done in two years. It’s called ENVY. And we ignore it…because we have all of their employees resumes in our hopper waiting for the next available seat.
Fact: Y’all need to get a life.
LOL.
Wups, I meant:
FACT: L.O.L.
Is there a site where the ADDY winners’ work is posted? I’d like to judge for myself.
Gee, do you think karma133 works at PP+K?
To be fair, he (or she) does make a number of very valid points.
While I still think award shows are nothing more than industry circle jerks, they can help fledging agencies make a name for themselves.
And while the quality of PP+K’s creative is debatable, there’s no denying that they have shrewdly parlayed their victories into a string of account wins. So shows how much I know.
But the perception that PP+K is copping a major league attitude cannot be blamed solely on “mean spirited agency business owners in the Tampa Bay market.” The people who work there may be as humble and lovable as Shoeshine Boy, but you wouldn’t know that from the swaggering “bad boy” self image the agency perpetuates.
Judging from the portfolio currently on display on their website, I’d say that such arrogance is largely unearned. But since they are apparently in the process of updating their site, it’s only fair to reserve judgement until their new work is up.
Speaking of judging, who were the ADDY judges this year? Karma133, do you know?
1) There is no web site where the actual ADDYs winners work is posted. However, the list of winners can viewed online at http://www.tbaf.org/uploads/WinnersByEntrant.pdf
2) PP+K won 62 of the 78 Gold ADDYs handed out at this years local event, 9 out of 12 of the “Best of Catergory” awards and the “Best of Show” award. While this is all grand at the local level…the true test will be at the regional and national levels. My bet is that this two year old agency will smoke regionals this year…and hopefully will pull a few national ADDYs. A national ADDY is the only truly meaningful award in this process. They won National ADDYs last year.
3) Moving away from the ADDY discussion that everyone seems to be focused on…stay tuned for “One Show”, “Clio”, and “OBBIE” announcements from this agency. We’re not sure if anyone in Tampa even know’s what these are.
4) Comments to LaFong: First, the “Bad Boy” image is something that journalists have developed…this is not coming from the agency. Second, the new work that will go up in a couple weeks will change your position on the agency’s creative abilities. Third, you must not be in the ad business as all of the hottest shops in advertising have built their business from the ground up through award shows: CP+B, Weiden, Fallon, Chiat, Martin, Richards, Strawberry Frog, Mother, Butler, Shine Stern, Venerables…and on and on. This process is the only process that works nowadays because it fosters teamwork from within the agencies creative ranks to outdo the agency competition and garner recognition. And lastly, the judges at this years Tampa Bay’s local ADDY event were…well…unknown. However, they judged the show well.
Memo to Karma133:
As it happens, I am in advertising. Hard to believe, I know. (I have a difficult time believing it myself.)
You, on the other hand, must not be a proofreader. If you look back at my previous post, you will see that I acknowledged that award shows are a way for “fledging agencies make a name for themselves.”
(Although why the agencies you cited continue to enter one show after another long after they have established their reputations is another story altogether.)
I will say this: If the pursuit of shiny trinkets “is the only process the works nowadays” because that is the only way to motivate creatives “to outdo the agency competition,” well, that’s a pretty sad commentary on our industry. Whatever happened to good work being its own reward?
Speaking of work, I do look forward to seeing PP+K’s new site. If their work has improved substantially, I will be more than happy to admit it.
But enough of such trivialities. Tell me, Karma133, what are your thoughts on Scott Baio?
LaFong:
The response you give is the same response every person who cannot do brilliant creative gives. In fact, it’s not even a response…it’s an excuse for not having talent.
The results of research from the recent international advertising festival in Cannes:
The study examined 200 of the most honored TV commercials from 36 competitions held around the world. The conclusion speaks for itself: 86 percent, or 172 of the 200, “were associated with marketplace success.”
Jeez, Karma1334, that’s harsh. And unnecessary.
I don’t think LaFong was disputing the value of awards early in an agency’s (or creative’s) career. His question was, why do they continue the snakes and ladders awards game AFTER they’ve achieved success? Ego?
As for your stats, I have no doubt they’re true. But what about all the brilliant work that isn’t entered in award shows? I bet it’s successful, too. Their creators just don’t need a wet kiss every time they do their job well. That’s why they get a paycheck.
BTW, this is comng from a multple Cannes, One Show, CA, AD Club, Clio-winner. I just don’t feel the need to get a hummer every time I do good work anymore, that’s all.
You hit the nail right on the head, Cannes. That was my point exactly. Apparently, Karma133 is not one for subtleties.
Or logic, for that matter.
I fail to see how striving for excellence without being spurred on by the pursuit of glittering baubles automatically precludes me from having talent. (Not that I ever claimed to have any.)
I welcome a spirited debate, Karma133. I just wish you would read my posts more carefully before you comment.
And your silence on the pressing issue of Scott Baio’s talents as a thespian is deafening.
A few things, Karma133
Fact: The agencies you listed (CPB, Chiat, Mother etc) built their businesses on great work, not awards. Awards were a byproduct in their cases. I used to work at Chiat and I assure you, we were not judged on how many awards we won, but rather whether or not we moved the needle for our clients. Same was true back then.
Fact: Clients don’t care about awards unless they’re already clients.
Fact: Awards don’t make the creative. I’ve won every one you’ve told us to “stay tuned for” and more… and with the exception of a few additonal head hunter calls, nothing changed. I wasn’t better because of them. I still paid for my drinks.
Fact: Awards are not nearly as important to a new agency today (or creatives for that matter) as they used to be. In the past, award shows were the only way everyone could see great work. It’s how they’d single out great creatives and great agencies. But in the last decade and counting, the internet has replaced the award show. Sites such as this and other blogs/message boards, adcritic, agency websites etc etc etc… that’s where all the work/agencies/creatives are showcased these days. I’d argue it’s more important to dominate Adcritic than the national addys.
Fact: The addys can be bought. I used to work at Eisner, I’d know.
Fact: Award shows can ruin people/agencies (again, I used to work at Eisner, I’d know). Please don’t let your folks fall into that trap.
Fact: HighJive said it all. It’s not what you do onscreen that matters nearly as who you do offscreen. Which makes Baio the real world Pacino.
such anger.
such jealousy.
such irrational pettiness.
i’m referring to all the insults aimed at scott baio. i mean, he’s clearly the pp+k of acting.
Helfman: How hard is it to win an award, working at Chiat, with a gazillion dollar production budget, on a brand name everyone in the world knows about. You are exactly right, not that hard…and obviously, not that big of a deal for you.
Now here’s a real challenge…try winning a Pencil/Lion/RMA/OBBIE, working at a no-name start-up agency, on a local brand, with 20 cents for a budget…and then tell me about how an award means nothing to you.
Results? If Chiat/Day was evaluated on results, then how did they hang on to Nissan during the hard times? Why did they lose Taco Bell with record sales? Why did Jack-In-The-Box leave with Dick after Chiat brought them back from the dead? Please don’t give me the “measured on results” crap. Chiat produced tons of work that didn’t do shit…just like every other agency. No agency in the world should take credit for success, or accountability for failure with any Clients business as there are too many factors that play into a brands success or failure. No agency in the world has the ability to make sure some retail associate getting paid minimum wage cares enough to make sure the bathroom is clean so that the consumer leave feeling good about returning to the brand.
The bottom line: Winning awards makes the business entertaining. And isn’t that the business we’re in…entertaining consumers minds so they can have fun?
Karma133. I agree…obviously advertising isn’t everything. There are lots of factors that enter the buying process. But advertising is something, A very big something. Which can and should have results. If you truly believe that advertising has absolutely no accountability, and that we’re (ad agencies) only here to entertain and win awards, and that there aren’t a million factors that go into whether or not a client stays with an agency, I won’t try and convince you otherwise (just don’t let your clients hear that). Every agency and every employee needs a mission, and if your mission is to win awards, or set records for most Tellys, or whatever, then I hope it comes true. You’re ahead of most people who don’t even have goals. But I will say from experience, you’re playing with fire.
Not that you care who I am, but here’s a few details which may at least add a tiny bit of credibility to my advice based on experience.
First, (and since you asked) I did start an agency. Just celebrated our 1-year anniversary. It’s called Exit 10 and we’re in Baltimore. We started as 3, now we’re 15 and somehow we achieve success as a newbie despite not entering award shows (for now). It can be done. And yes, on projects with budgets less than bus fare.
Second, I worked at a firm called Eisner, also in Baltimore. We won awards on every continent in every show, and did to the Addys in Baltimore what PP+K did to them in Tampa (people used to actually boo us because of how many we won). It’s all the firm cared about (its creative image) and grew very fast because of it. But doing award winning ads, tons of them, doesn’t guarantee you anything. And Eisner eventually went done in flames (you can read all about it on this site) despite enough international awards to make you blush. The lesson here…you can only sleep with the hot prom queen so many times before her shallowness leaves you empty. I hope PP+K can learn from Eisner’s mistakes.
And lastly, I ask everyone else reading to please forgive me while I promote myself, but Karma133 did offer me a challenge.
I’ve been out of Chiat for almost a decade, but here’s a link to the last time I was in the One Show (2 years ago). It’s a TV spot I did while I was working at a place you never heard of for a client you never heard of and our budget was $8,000 (that’s 8, as in eight, as in less than 10K for a TV spot). I think you’ll agree that qualifies as “20 cents”.
http://www.oneclub.org/os/os/showcase/?year=2005&id=2112
And the much bigger joy for me was not the merit, but the fact that my client continues to tell me how many people mention the commercial when they come in.
Results, Karma133, are why we should be doing great work. We didn’t even enter the One Show that year. The production company did. In fact, we didn’t even hear about it until the One Show called me looking for key frames and a script for the annual. For us, awards are a byproduct for work desined to get results, not win them. And yes, they do mean something to me (awards). But probably something much different than they mean to you.
I really do wish you the best of luck. And I really am sincere when I tell you to please be caredul with the value you put on awards.