John Drake

Great Work

Copy: "I saw a photographer before photography was invented. I saw Rembrandt. I saw his brush strokes shaping me. I saw the beginning of a new era. I saw Baroque, I saw Impressionism, I saw Realism. I saw Europe. I saw the world. I saw Brazil. I saw a museum flourish. I saw the dream of a man become the biggest museum in Latin America. But, after seeing all that, there’s one thing I haven’t seen yet: you. Come. I wish to see you."

Copy: "I saw paint turn into Impressionism. I saw Renoir painting me. I saw the disappointed banker who ordered me. I saw his disregard while throwing me into a dusty room. I saw years go by. I saw Europe finally acknowledge my value. I saw Brazil embrace me. I saw a new home. I saw that same home turn into the country’s most visited museum. But, having seen all that, there’s one thing I haven’t seen yet: you. Come. I wish to see you."

Copy: "I saw the failure of a genius. I saw the final years of Vincent Van Gogh. I saw Frenchmen underestimating me. I saw a master die in poverty. I saw a remorseful Europe. I saw millionaires shouting my name at auctions. I saw a new home. I saw adults teaching, I saw children learn. I saw a young building become Brazil’s most visited museum. But, having seen all this, there’s one thing I haven’t seen yet: you. Come. I wish to see you."

Over the years there have been countless ads for art museums--but they often seem to miss something. Mostly after seeing such work I've been left with the feeling like the soul of art and the stirring of emotions didn't quite make it in for whatever reason.

But today the Sao Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) and DDB Brazil have created some wonderfulness. Makes you think... and the ad becomes the art. Just great. Made my morning.

Found on Ads of the World.

What Type of Account Person Are You?

There's a great story from Peter Bregman over at HBR which identifies a core component of human behavior regarding how we act when we're paid to do something versus when we simply do a favor or go the extra mile. From this story comes the insight that every day each of us ask ourselves "Am I the type of person who..." in response to situations that come across our lives. 

Am I the type of person who sends thank you notes?

Am I the type of person who turns off my colleagues' office lights when I'm last to leave?

Am I the type of person who says, "actually, no, my meal wasn't ok" to the waiter?

We don't necessarily know we're doing it, but indeed, every day we are put into situations with other people where we make judgement calls about ourselves...Bregman writes that 'people tend to think of themselves as stories and when you interact with someone you're playing a role in their story' as well as your own.

I like to correlate most things back to advertising. One dimensional? Some say so. Anyway, reading this piece made me specifically think about Account Management.

While job descriptions are abound the great account person approaches every day differently, ready to respond to whatever situation needs leadership. Could be client requests, creative team guidance, strategic development, accounting matters, you name it. 

When it gets right down to it, great account people make the difference. They're the only ones in the agency who truly touch every part of an account. And it's a job chalked full of person-to-person interactions. Therefore...

Am I the type of account person who...

-Stops and thinks about every assignment and brainstorms solutions before getting other departments involved?

-Crafts a brief to be so concise, clear and insightful that I could write good ideas from it?

-Treats the traffic manager with as much respect as the Creative Director?

-Believes it's up to me to proactively lead everyone: from the CEO on down.

-Strives to measure ROI for all efforts without client prompting?

-Studies great creative work from around the world and thrives to be involved in its creation?

-Voluntarily contributes content to the web?

-Checks fear at the door?

-Smiles (even though I might be totally freaking out inside)?

I doubt whether any of the above statements are included in job descriptions at most agencies or that account teams are measured against any of them. But do your best to be that type of account person. The difference is felt agency-wide and makes the job a whole helluvalot more fun. Anyway... Stuff to ponder. 

Who Will Play the Halftime Show in 2020?

[ Earlier this week I was exchanging some thoughts with Allen Jones, a great friend and a great thinker. The subject was the Super Bowl:  the ads, the game and then the halftime show by The Who. It prompted a reminder of an older post about our musical choices for Super Bowl halftime shows... Seems like an appropriate week to revisit that thought for a bit... ]

The Who put on a terrific, electric show last Sunday. And while I really liked the fact that The Who provided the halftime entertainment, I wasn't surprised that they were chosen to do so because the band runs consistent with performers of recent years: Last year it was Springsteen. The year before, Tom Petty. Before that was Prince, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Janet Jackson, Shania Twain and U2.

What's interesting is ever since the birth of online music, whenever we need an entertainer for the masses, we still reach back to performers who were popular before digital music arrived.

It's an interesting thing to ponder...

Over the course of modern music history, we have had GIANTS. People who, no matter what your individual favorite performer was at the time, everyone can agree is great: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Madonna and all the aforementioned Super Bowl performers. Giants who defined their times. 

But today, with the splintering of music such as it is, we have very few giants. We have people who are great in their genre, but very few entertainers who critics and mass amounts of consumers alike both get behind and champion.

Perhaps because of this, when it comes time to choose a performer for a TV event that draws 106 million American viewers we find ourselves looking back into the past to find someone that most people will enjoy. There's only so long that can go on.

So, while we're becoming a society that champions individual preference, we're resigning the notion to draw together for common likes. We're becoming more ingrained and defined by our own clubs. Which is good. But if we can't come together and unite around common things, are we creating a watered down culture that is undefinable for future generations when they look back? Elvis defines the 50s. Hendrix the 60s. And so on. Who will be the key musicians to define '10-'19? Things to ponder, I suppose.

The interesting thing for society is that mega stars, for the most part, unite us. We can all appreciate The Beatles, Elton John and Prince. But we don't collectively unify around today's leading artists as much as we did entertainers like these. Which makes me wonder, when it comes time to entertain 135 million Americans in 2020, who we gonna choose to do it?

Great Work: The Power of Being Visual

For the second time in recent months I've been shown some fantastic work in the area of transportation safety. In both cases the work was done in Europe.

The first piece of work is new (initially I found it here) and presents seat belt safety in a very unique, emotional way. The spot has become globally popular, featured throughout the web.

The second piece of work is not new, but it was new to me. Another unique and emotional spot. Makes you think hard about why a speed limit is set at a certain number.

Seeing these, of course, then reminded me of the much passed around moonwalking bear:

All great stuff. Again, all out of the UK.

I think it's worth noting that the transportation safety creative coming out of the US doesn't seem to have received the same traction as the work coming out of the UK.

Why?

One possible reason could be in all the European adverts above consumers are being shown something while in the US it seems consumers are often being told something.

When we're shown something visually we're more likely to remember it. Neurology refers to this as the pictorial superiority effect, and, as Alex reminds us in this great video, we are 62% more likely to recall ideas that are presented to us visually. 

We "tell" a lot in the US. Watch TV tonight and you'll see what I mean.

I think we should all try a little more showing and a little less telling over here... Might make things a little more engaging and a lot more impactful.