OH DEAR MR. DRAPER, THINGS HAVE CHANGED…
It’s very nice that Mad Men, the much awarded TV series for those of you who have no TV set at home, has made our profession a tad sexier to the untrained eye. But much has changed since the suave Don Draper strode up and down Madison Avenue – it’s just not the same industry.
So beware, if you crave the glamour and the limited working hours then think again. To help prove our point we invented a time machine and welcomed Don to SHA. In his own words – this is how his day went.
If you crave the glamour and the limited working hours then think again.
When I arrived at SHA., Draper (whatever) was greeted by a less than sky scraping building. Three floors low, but at least it had a pool table. I liked the imperious name, just my thing. Shock number one, the whole office only has one typewriter and not a pool of secretaries! Anyway time for a smoke; get those lungs working. No I’m not going downstairs. What do you mean it’s the law? Cigarettes can kill you? Who told you that? Back upstairs fast.
After showering in hair tonic and splashing some tobacco scented after shave on my handsome jaw line, I spied the unisex teams to my left. Strange agency, not just account men. They must all be down at the bar. Female Account Directors? When did that happen? ‘Whatever next’, I muttered under my breath, as the female Creative Head sat next to me.
Still this is where I rule, the client presentation, surely nothing’s changed here, the client left paralyzed by my creative insights. What do you mean you don’t get it; you’re not supposed to! What other three options? What’s a digital footprint? Yes I’m a social media type of guy I think. Disgraceful. I stand up, close my notepad and leave the room. Nobody notices. Philistines.
I don’t recognize anything here in the 21st century; it’s far too complicated, and depressingly sober. Right that’s it, I’ve had enough. I grab my hat and coat and make for the bar. I jump in a cab and tell him “To the 1960s my man and put your foot down”, to which the cab driver replied, “Is that towards Gateshead or Hexham.”
To the 1960s my man and put your foot down
SHA is a strategic advertising agency, creating brand strategy, advertising, design for print and content for web and social. If you want to know more, get in touch with nigelh@sha-agency.com or visit our contacts page.
The opinions in this article are that of the author alone and in no way, reflect the opinions or viewpoint of the agency. Unless of course we happen to agree with those opinions completely, in which case they might, but otherwise they don’t.
