On the first weekday after the first weekend insertion of
a new press campaign, the account executive (the lowest form of
life on the account handling ladder) will come into work at 7am,
sweating and terrified after discovering that the version that ran
in the Sunday Times had the wrong copy and an old version of the
image they're using. When his manager comes in an hour later, the
old maxim 'a problem shared is a problem doubled' is proven. This
is particularly the case when it's discovered that the fine print
in a car ad is offering finance on a Ј30,000 model for Ј4 a month.
Hopefully
this has offered some insight into the workings of a modern advertising
agency. Please note that this is intended to be a humorous and
exaggerated representation of these workings, and is not in any
way drawn from personal experience. By the same token, any description
of tantrums, ego-trips, diva-ism and general childish behaviour
is purely fictional and bears no direct reference to any person,
alive, dead, or currently working in the industry. Honest!
As a final
note, a mantra for any who brave the choppy waters of marketing
services. At times of stress, close your eyes, breath slowly and
deeply, and tell yourself: 'It's only a job.'
