I just came across Creative Director George Tannenbaum’s blog Ad Aged and there are some interesting thoughts there. Like this, The Advertiser’s Bill of Rights. Of course, it’s not exactly written from an advertiser’s point of view, or let’s just say a client would never write it like this:
1. You have the right to be spared the expense and time in having us attend endless meetings with people who can only say no. You have the right to have us present only to top decision-makers and take direction, in person, only from them.
2. You have the right to hear the word “no.” No is harder to say than yes and more important. It is not necessarily what you want to hear. But it’s often what you need to hear. In other words, and perhaps more precisely, we will be unfailingly, unflinchingly honest with you.
3. You have the right to disavow anything cheap. Cheap brands do cheap work. You are not a cheap brand, we will spare you from the temptation of cheap by simply refusing to comply.
There’s more. It’s worth a read.
It takes balls, proverbial or otherwise, to live by Number 2. And in my experience said nut sack is sorely lacking in this business. Because, “honestly” we need to keep our kids in private school, our club memberships, etc. Did I say, “we”? Silly me. Because, “honestly” the agency partners need to keep their kids in private school, their club memberships, etc.
The writing tone is not my cup of tea, but otherwise it is right on.
I wrote it like you’d write a bill of rights, so it’s a bit off stylistically. But why shouldn’t we make these promises to our clients? I suppose it’s because agencies, like clients, prefer to sell a parity product–or, more often, a parody product.