In my 20 years of advertising experience, I have come across many hilarious situations related to my colleagues’ offbeat or unconventional characteristics, which has amused me to no end.
I believe the ad world produces more fun than any other profession. Each individual has his or her own unique mindset and quirks. Fun is the oxygen for ad people like us. This element keeps us moving and has enabled me to put my best foot forward in every assignment.
Some years ago, I happened to come across a funny character who used to take power naps post-lunch in the office with his eyes wide open. I wouldn’t have known this fact, had I not asked him to do some job for me that day. I kept on explaining to him the brief and there was pin-drop silence.
I lost my patience and started shouting. But within a few seconds, I was brought to my knees, laughing. You will be surprised to know what he had done. He had drawn wide open eyes and pasted it inside of his spectacles in such a way that from a distance, nobody could make out that he was sleeping. I laugh to myself whenever I remember that incident.
I know of a writer who has his own ways to express ideas (humming old classic tunes) even during presentations. I could never understand this unusual behaviour, but I guess he did sing the right tune at a presentation that helped us bag the account.
In the advertising industry, we believe that creativity has no barriers, no shape. It is flexible and can be moulded the way you want it. Literally. I found a lot of unexplored talent in the creative field across agencies. In one of my previous organizations, I recollect an art person who used to pull a funny one on everyone. I had observed him for some time and gave him an assignment to study everyone properly and find the unique characteristic of each individual. On the agency’s foundation day, we all went to out to celebrate. That evening, I told the art guy to perform and show his talent. For him, the most difficult task was to imitate both his creative directors. Both were from the old school of thought. But he did it so gracefully that both the creative directors asked him to crack jokes on a daily basis. It takes art to imitate others and yet ensure no one feels offended. I found him very talented.
They say necessity is the mother of all invention. I got the chance to put it in practice one cold winter night, while burning the midnight oil at work. To bring some fun into our workplace, I took out an exotic colourful ladies’ bathrobe, which had come from one of our clients. I wore the bathrobe and walked into the creative room, anticipating laughter. To my surprise, everyone else was wearing different bathrobes to kill the cold wave as well. Well, great minds had thought alike! There was uncontrollable laughter.
Using humour in ads can also be extraordinarily effective. When done right, humour works really well. Heavy market competition, stiff deadlines and constant cribbing by clients is common at an advertising agency. However, it is for us to make work fun. What’s life without it?
Feedback:rahul@minead.com
