"Glad my name isn't on it." Topic

I was requested to create a snazzy, graphics-intensive, one-page informational flyer to keep people informed about a long-term project that has been going on (far too long). It was supposed to be a quick-hitter to grab people's attention and let them know what has happened and what the future next steps will be.

I produced what was requested of me. What came back after being reviewed by a series of 4 supervisors up the chain of command was a 3-page, text-heavy memo devoid of any graphics other than the project letterhead and a "Before & After" photo which no longer has any relavence because the pertinent text was removed.

I pointed out to my supervisor what I was tasked to do and what was returned to me is not the same thing. He understands, but since the head honcho said OK, we are now going to run with it. Fortunately, my supervisor has my back on this one.

Just make sure he does not use your back for storing knives

That's funny…I didn't see you working in the same building as me…

Yeah, that's to me on more than one occasion except I never had a supervisor to back me up. It was usually the one paying the bills that did that.

As a wonderful counterpoint, this past Friday I was given an assignment by my wife's former employers to "sketch" out four ad concepts. I turned those around, but played with the idea mentally off and on. This Monday, I sent my idea for an ad up to them and they jumped right on it. I have e-mails saying that they were really happy with my concept, and that it was better than what they'd been kicking around before. This morning, I fired off a revised version and it was declared "perfect." Of course, now it has to survive the tweaking of the head of the department, but we have less than 48 hours to get it in, so that'll keep things to a minimum.

Its really, really nice to work with competent people.

Wyatt

Am I right in guessing that the management intervention in the flyer is typical of their intervention in the rest of the project?

Am I right in guessing that the management intervention in the flyer is typical of their intervention in the rest of the project?

Oh, so right on that one, Lentulus. It was supposed to be a 18-month to 24-month project. It has now dragged on for 5 years.

Are they billing the project out by the hour?

Welcome to my life. :-)

I am a writer in an ad agency. We are briefed, do our stuff, create work, present, and then usually everybody – BUT EVERYBODY – involved insists on putting their grubby thumbprint on it until it is unrecognisable.

Everybody thinks they can write better than the writer, art direct better than the art director, design better than the designer.

I really wonder why some of these guys bother to hire an agency at all and then essentially do their own ads.

On the other hand, there are a minority of clients who treat us with respect, who give clear briefs, who approve good work and can say exactly why they find other work unsuitable, and just generally work with us as equals rather than as minions.

Guess which ones get the best work and are the ones you are happy to work late or go the extra mile for?

Sounds far too familiar.
Watch out for the reverse – your work gets produced with someone else's name on it.

All I can say is, get all your instructions and subsequent developments in writing and keep copies – but you don't need me to tell you that, do you?!

[Watch out for the reverse – your work gets produced with someone else's name on it.]

Oh yeah, that is the other great !@#$-off in advertising. Happens all the time.

I once had a CD who totally !@#$ed all over a campaign I had created. He gave me the bolloxing of my life over it. I think he was trying to browbeat me into resigning. He had tried and failed to get the work canned after the client had bought it, in favour of a campaign of his own which was basically a bunch of punny knob-gags.

I had to put up with a 2 hour tirade of being told it was garbage, that I had no talent and that I had no business being in the agency. I'd been hired by the former CD, not him.

When the campaign started winning awards and being noticed by the trade press I found his name all over it. Ahead of mine, and not just as CD but as writer.

I am glad to say that another writer ended up decking that guy at the MADC awards later that year over a similar issue. Sorry I missed that.

Not the only example of it happening to me, just the nastiest. It is 'accepted' in my current network that the regional CD's name goes onto every award entry somewhere, even if he's never seen it. He has a very high score in the rankings…