FN-FORUM: Advertising Bastards

date posted 10th January 2006 21:31

I was pulled into the boardroom the other day and told that profit ratio of
the creative earnings for the company I work for was 1.3 and that we should
be getting 2.0 - basically they said they are expecting £290,000 profit and
are only getting £210,000.

I was then told that may work is below the standard that the company expects
from me and that they are giving me a month to improve otherwise my booty is
out the door. I was told I have no clue about marketing and that basically
my work is a load of rubbish. Turns out my senior designer who I work with
on the same brand has been told the same thing about his work and they don't
believe his portfolio which he showed them at his interview was really his
work now.

Working in the graphic design trade for 4 years now I had worked for three
years as the graphics and marketing manager for an architectural practice
and then after three years wanted to treat my architectural bunions and get
experience in the advertising sector. Not withstanding, during the four
years I have also freelanced as well - always having a job to do and clients
always impressed with my work and coming back with repeat business whislt
referring friends back at the same time. Notwithstanding, I have never let
anything interfere with my current employment, always putting it first and
working all hours of the day and night to get things done and to the
standard that I feel should be achieved. As I have only been working in
advertising for a year - I have been keen to learn and have never been
afraid to ask questions and keen to get opinions on my work so I can learn
and improve in the industry that I work in. I have now been told by the
creative director to stop asking him questions and only present the final
product to him. If I have any questions or want to know if I'm heading in
the right direction to go ask someone else. Fair is fair, however,
previously I have been told that all should do a series of scamps first and
then present them to the director and the suggested idea which you feel is
right to follow so that he is sure they are heading in the right direction.
OK???

So, I sit at my desk today, do some shite sticker to advertise on a rugby
crossbar - make sure I everything is adhering ot brand guidelines for the
advert, do a series of options then narrow it down to two, print it out and
ask one of the guys if they have a couple of minutes to spare - to have a
look for their opinion - it's a shite sticker for god sakes - easy peasy -
and he says - fine - no - I agree with you - fine but has the creative
director had a look at it because you really need to discuss your scamps and
ideas with him prior to proceeding to the final stage. I'm standing there
thinking - well I've been told not to - notwithstanding - not saying
anything because I'm specifically been told in that meeting not to say
anthing which has been told within those four walls about not seeing the
creative director until I have a final outcome which he can just sign off
and that's it. SO WHAT DO I DO?????

I've got to the point I'm being screwed here because my work IS GOOD.
yeah - I may not have the advertising experience as the others who have
worked there for eight years or more but I am learning and I'm asking
questions because I'm learning and trying to improve myself - but my work is
good - if it wasn't I wouldn't be getting my repeat business out of
freelancing.

To sum up both the senior designer and myself are so pissed off as they have
basically given us a months notice without being blantantly honest to us. I
take it this is normal for the advertising trade????!! How do people get
away with this??
OK business is business but I have always believed in what goes around comes
around. I've got to the point now that I am seriously considering setting
up permanently on my own such that a. I can offer a hell of a better service
to my clients - b. there's no bullshit involved. It appears there are too
many people in advertising that are bullshitters and clients are appearing
to suffer from this or are going elsewhere because they are not wanting to
pay the extortionate fees for a ferkin crap service.

There. I feel better. I needed to get that out.

Laura


----- Original Message -----
From: "Graeme J Sweeney" [EMAIL REMOVED]
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 7:19 AM
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM: problem booking form


>
> On Fri, 16 Dec 2005, Graham Blakelock wrote:
>
> > Been listening in for a while now. I have a small problem I was
> > wondering if someone could help me with.
>
>
>
> > $message = "Name: ". $_POST["name"] ."\r\n".
> > "Organisation: ". $_POST["organisation"] ."\r\n".
> > "Date/Date of Purchase: ". $_POST["date"] ."\r\n"
> > "Number of Guests: ". $_POST["guests"] ."\r\n".
> > "Telephone: ". $_POST["telephone"] ."\r\n".
> > "Address: ". $_POST["address"] ."\r\n".
> > "Email: ". $_POST["email"] ."\r\n"."\r\n".
>
> Shouldn't the last bit read
>
> "Email: ". $_POST["email"] ."\r\n"."\r\n";
>
> i.e. terminated with a semi colon?
>
> --
> Graeme -
> Outlook Express user? - http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/oe-quotefix/
> http://wiki.workalone.co.uk/index.php?page=RulesForPosting
>
> --
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> Call 0870 870 4414 or visit www.prosperity4.com
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> To advertise here: http://www.freelancers.net/advertising.html
>
>