From the moment we got off the plane at JFK we were on the run.
For seven days forty-six of us rushed from one side of Manhattan island to the other; many times literally running down the avenues. We visited agencies like DraftFCB, mcgarrybowen, Naked, Translation, AdCouncil, McCannErickson, Grey, AKQA, and Droga5. At Ad Week we were able to listen to some of the greatest minds in the industry today. In addition we got to attend the myspace opening concert and see The Far East Movement, Natasha Bedingfield and B.O.B. and we enjoyed seeing some of the sights of the great city of New York, eating excellent food, and waiting in the lottery line for Wicked.
Ad Week 2011 was a huge success. Although worn out and tired at the end of the week, we all came back a little different. We all were impacted and changed by the industry greats and by the chance to visit so many great Ad agencies. We asked a few adlabbers to share their pictures and thoughts about the trip, enjoy.
Robbie Rane:
Easily my favorite event was the presentation by CP+B. First, it was great to get tips from some of the most creative minds in the biz, as someone who aspires to be a creative in this business it was the most valuable and exciting of the ad week events. Most of all was the portion by Rob Riley on finding new talent. He spent the majority of his time talking about the amazing minds that have come out of an unexpected place (Provo, Utah). It was motivating to see what those who have come before me have done, and what I am hopefully capable of. The #1 best part was looking over at Jeff during the presentation. He was deservingly smiling ear to ear, I have seen more than many the sacrifices he has made for me and my peers. A moment of validation was well earned, and it was special for me to share in that joy for a few moments.
Taylor Carver:
Who takes 46 people to New York City, provides them with access to some of the greatest minds in advertising, takes them to the Amp’d Up concert where they can crowd surf with Far East Movement and have B.o.B throw water of them while wearing the coolest sweater which we all secretly want now, organizes over 9 agency visits including in this mix Droga5 and the man himself, David Droga (who we’re still waiting to receive his promised first ad to ideababy.org but we digress..), shows them the best street vendors to eat from while enjoying the sunset in Central Park, places them in The Apple Store at the exact moment that the world finds out that the creative innovator Steve Jobs has passed away, launches a LARPing in front of the Colbert Report complete with hobbits, swords and shields, AND teaches them that when Jeff Sheets says he’s going to walk fast they’re going to have to sprint to keep up?
Just a little student run advertising agency in Provo, Utah that we like to call
The BYUadlab.*Special thanks to Jeff Sheets for all he’s done to make the BYUadlab everything it is today and Angela de la Cruz for always knowing where we needed to be during #aw8.
And finally, from the mind of Robert George
Apprehensive. Apprehensive would have best describe my mindset as we set off for NYC. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Yes, I was excited for Adweek, but I was more preoccupied with how I would react to the city itself than anything. Would I take to the ad industry lifestyle? Could I ever see myself living there? Could I make it in New York? What if I got a weird rash? What kind of cream would I use? Here’s a biggie: Could I leave everything I’ve ever known and make my own exodus to the east to take up residence 3,000 miles from everyone and everything I’ve ever known to follow my dreams? What the hell are dreams anyways? Would I gravitate to the culture or would it chew me up and spit me out down the drain where I would be eaten by the mythical alligators of the NYC sewer system? Pressing questions, I know, and the list went on.#
I will not bore you with the minutiae. Just know that after having experienced only a small taste of NYC that I have never been more confident/excited/eager/energized/optimistic about my future in the ad industry. I know I can do it. Apprehensive is the last word I would use to describe my mindset.(Remaining questions mostly revolve around the purported existence of legendary monsters who would have/eat me for dinner and who also happened to be living in the greater New York area, hence my apprehension. I am more than willing to discuss my insights with interested parties, FYI.)
