A lot of people have asked me what advertising is like. And it's hard to put into words, especially when you're trying to explain it to working professionals who have to dress like adults, keep regular hours and actually show something for their efforts at the end of the day.
I wrote this little gem almost eight years ago as a way to try to explain what working in the ad biz is like. It captures it fairly well.
So keep your hands and arms inside the basket, buckle your seat belt and enjoy the ride.
So many metaphors, so little time.
Not too long ago, 20 people boarded the Windseeker ride at California's other amusement park, Knott's Berry Farm. It takes riders up 300 feet, spins them around, takes their breath away and then lowers them safely back to the ground. All in about three minutes start to finish.
I have a big appreciation for things that take 3 minutes start to finish.
Anyway, that particular day was a little different than every other day because the riders got stuck at the top for over three hours until ride mechanics rescued them.
This is exactly what advertising is like.
At first you're whisked away to dizzying heights, and what with big production budgets, location shoots, vendor lunches, comp subscriptions and days at a time out of the office, the view is spectacular. In fact, you can't see another job you'd want for miles and miles.
You start to think it'll be like that every time, but then one day you get stuck. Fighting for the work. Fighting for the budgets to execute the work you've been fighting for. Fighting the client to get them down to one thought instead of ten in a :30 second spot.
The bad news is no one's coming to rescue you. You have to do that yourself.
It often involves getting off one ride and hopping on another. And another. And another.
It's an odd way to manage a career (pause for laughs for using the word "career"), yet it's just standard operating procedure.
Besides, when it comes to amusement, you can't beat it.
