Comments on: Jeff Howe Didn’t Mean To Be An Asshole http://rockmeamadeo.com/jeff-howe-didnt-mean-to-be-an-asshole Thoughts from a Gen Y marketer Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:49:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Crowdsourcing a Discussion on Crowdsourcing: Agency Nil, Anomaly and Victors & Spoils | eyecube http://rockmeamadeo.com/jeff-howe-didnt-mean-to-be-an-asshole/comment-page-1#comment-36 Crowdsourcing a Discussion on Crowdsourcing: Agency Nil, Anomaly and Victors & Spoils | eyecube Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:34:42 +0000 http://rockmeamadeo.com/?p=153#comment-36 [...] and George  Parker sounds off on Victors & Spoils via PSFK here. Other great takes include Amadeo Plaza of Crayon on V&S and Contagious takes a look at V&S here. BBH Labs on Agency Nil here and [...] [...] and George  Parker sounds off on Victors & Spoils via PSFK here. Other great takes include Amadeo Plaza of Crayon on V&S and Contagious takes a look at V&S here. BBH Labs on Agency Nil here and [...]

]]> By: anibal http://rockmeamadeo.com/jeff-howe-didnt-mean-to-be-an-asshole/comment-page-1#comment-35 anibal Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:07:26 +0000 http://rockmeamadeo.com/?p=153#comment-35 You’re right, crowdsourcing is not new and V&S certainly did not invent it. Yet I am not sure I agree with your point of view. Let me explain why. First, you are talking about crowdsourcing not having the ability to deliver a quality product. That’s true. But let’s put things in perspective here. One of the main reasons why this industry gets so much heat and talking down is because, whether we love it or hate it, most of the work is shitty. Period. That’s the reason why everytime you go to a conference or a creative talk, the examples of great work are always about the same usual suspects. That’s why most agencies spend so much time admiring and adoring the work that a few do instead of their own. The sad truth is that most of the advertising out there sucks. Now, that's also the reason why I believe these types of initiatives are good for what we do. Change is needed and since no one has nailed the right model, there is nothing wrong with trying. I believe this industry truly masters the art of criticizing, yet it sucks when it comes to actually innovating and embracing failure, to set an example by doing and stop just preaching fancy words in paper. The art director and copywriter marriage got a lot of fire when it was first proposed but hey, it is always dark before the sun comes out. 15 years ago R/GA decided to go against the wave. Look where they are now. Look where digital is now. Second. You’re asking if V&S can legitimately call themselves a creative ad agency? Well, I don’t know about you but I do believe creative is an attitude, not a discipline. So then why are we hired? Well, the truth is that for nothing that a dozen of smart guys at an in house agency can’t do. No matter what excuses we might say. The goal is to produce great work – that works – and there is no really a size that fits at all here. Long story short, crowdsourcing might not be the answer. True. But I do respect those who have the guts to embrace failure and try something different from time to time. It is easy criticize but hard to take risks. How can they sleep at night? I guess the same way that the big agencies with inflated production and man-hours fee driven models do. In peace. It’s all relative. You’re right, crowdsourcing is not new and V&S certainly did not invent it. Yet I am not sure I agree with your point of view. Let me explain why.

First, you are talking about crowdsourcing not having the ability to deliver a quality product. That’s true. But let’s put things in perspective here. One of the main reasons why this industry gets so much heat and talking down is because, whether we love it or hate it, most of the work is shitty. Period. That’s the reason why everytime you go to a conference or a creative talk, the examples of great work are always about the same usual suspects. That’s why most agencies spend so much time admiring and adoring the work that a few do instead of their own. The sad truth is that most of the advertising out there sucks. Now, that’s also the reason why I believe these types of initiatives are good for what we do. Change is needed and since no one has nailed the right model, there is nothing wrong with trying.

I believe this industry truly masters the art of criticizing, yet it sucks when it comes to actually innovating and embracing failure, to set an example by doing and stop just preaching fancy words in paper. The art director and copywriter marriage got a lot of fire when it was first proposed but hey, it is always dark before the sun comes out. 15 years ago R/GA decided to go against the wave. Look where they are now. Look where digital is now.

Second. You’re asking if V&S can legitimately call themselves a creative ad agency? Well, I don’t know about you but I do believe creative is an attitude, not a discipline. So then why are we hired? Well, the truth is that for nothing that a dozen of smart guys at an in house agency can’t do. No matter what excuses we might say. The goal is to produce great work – that works – and there is no really a size that fits at all here.

Long story short, crowdsourcing might not be the answer. True. But I do respect those who have the guts to embrace failure and try something different from time to time. It is easy criticize but hard to take risks.

How can they sleep at night? I guess the same way that the big agencies with inflated production and man-hours fee driven models do. In peace. It’s all relative.

]]>