Looks like a great place to work. (Hopefully, there's work.)

If you don't know that Minneapolis is a great ad town, 27 agencies in the area have banded together to remind you. Last summer, the agencies launched a web site, MinneADpolis. It's designed to showcase Minneapolis agencies and talent. You also get a look at the city and culture, which is a great lure for new talent. I think it's noteworthy, allowing visitors to see much of the work coming out of the area.

To be honest, I'm a bit jealous. I'd love other cities to adopt the concept, especially Detroit. Being the poster child for the nation's recession, I think the world needs to see that our Van Dyke and Woodward Avenues have a history just as rich as Madison Avenue. Detroit advertising still matters. (I'll step off my soapbox now.) If other sites like MinneADpolis exist, please share the info with the rest of us.

MinneADpolis' one shortcoming is that it's light with career opportunities. Still, it sells the city well enough that you expect the careers section to improve in time.

So if you are looking for opportunities, what do you do with a site like this? For now, bookmark it, if only to check out the work. If you don't know the Minneapolis area, you now have a directory of agencies to monitor. You also have a growing list of names to contact. It's like I said in my blog entry, "Do you want an opinion...," cast that big net and reach out. You just might be the person they are looking for. Remember, I said, "Most advertising jobs aren't advertised." (Read them both if you are new to this site.)

Agencies in Detroit, Boston, Miami, Dallas, Des Moines, LA... wherever, take note. This could be the model for your next recruiting tool.

MinneADpolis.com

Going Pinocchio with your portfolio.

Months ago, an old co-worker Dina* announced she was starting a freelance business on LinkedIn, so I took a look at her website. Her work samples page displayed an old ad where she credited herself as creative director.

She wasn't.

Then I saw another ad where she said she was the copywriter.

She wasn't.

I was.

It's not my best work. In fact, I would never consider putting it in my book. I do remember her working on these projects. She just "exaggerated" about her contribution.

I also knew a senior art director we'll call... "Hack"* who asked a mid-level AD (Jeff*) if he could borrow Jeff's portfolio for an interview. Since they did work for the same client, it wouldn't make a difference, according to Hack's logic. (Note: For you youngsters, this was during the Stone Age when we only had physical portfolios.)


You might get away with a little puffery on your pieces and on your resume, but if you go completely Pinocchio and lie about "your work," it will come back and bite you in the ass eventually. Six degrees of separation is very prevalent in this business. I may not know you, but there's a good chance I know someone who knows you. Or, I know someone who knows someone who knows you. It's not too hard to find out how much credit you actually deserve if your work sends up red flags.

During interviews, I know some people get a kick out of "watching your nose grow" as you explain how you singlehandedly created the campaign in your book. You'll leave the interview, thinking that you got away with the exaggeration. Then you'll spend weeks wondering why they never called back. Others may let your nose grow and break it off by exposing you during the interview. The only good thing about the latter is that you definitely know why you didn't get the job.

Getting busted for claiming work that isn't yours during an interview is a common horror story. Once you're caught, there's really no redeeming yourself. If you really need to showcase the work, be upfront about your contribution. 

But if you honestly feel your best work isn't good enough to get the job, then be really honest with yourself: Maybe you should consider another line of work.

I didn't call out Dina about her site. If she needs to promote other's lesser work as some of her best, I look at this as a donation to charity.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent and guilty parties.

Image courtesy of stock.xchng.

Guinness World Ad: Bring it to Life

D'yaaaaaam.

Guinness launches its most ambitious ad yet. In a parallel with the way a pint of Guinness is created, the ad shows a group of men bringing "a world to life."

Taking on the extreme challenge of creating this epic ad, Director Johnny Green recruited an elite team including Oscar winning set designer Grant Major and Oscar nominated Director of Photography Wally Pfisher.


Multicultural agencies... relatively speaking, you have never –– no not once ever had a budget. You are working with crumbs. You are asked to spin gold from less than twine. That is all –– make it work, I have faith in you. You've done more with even less.


… Continue

What's That Comida Kraft Ad Doing on My Huffington Post?

I like the Huffington Post. I like Epicurious.com. I navigate the web in both Spanish and English depending upon what I'm seeking or what experience I'm looking to have. It's contextual. So I suppose the Spanish-language Comida Kraft ad that popped up on my Huffington Post page was a result of my online behavior. Even when you know you're being cyber-stalked, it's always a little startling when the stalker finds you.

Invictus Trailer

The poem "Invictus" holds a special place in my heart, This movie may do the same. Morgan Freeman accepts the hefty responsibility of portraying South African President Nelson Mandela in what looks to be a deep film. Matt Damon flanks Freeman as a star Rugby player. As I learn more about the film I'll be sure to update this post. Big shout to Kenji for putting it on my radar. - Buie