Death By Hoarding

The maiden Hoarding Display design by ODD - Shooting Fish Communications.
Definitely not an easy feat. Of course I am not talking about the design— I am referring to the installation!

In case you have no idea what I am rambling about, a hoarding display is a gimongous* piece of installation that blocks shoppers from unsightly renovation debris and stuff. Get it?  
[*Gimongous = kick ass huge! Gi from Giant, Mon from Monster and Gous from err… Gous!]

Inhaling too much soap water can give you a high... yet soap water is so necessary to remove those unsightly bubbles. o.O

12 a.m in the morning. Installation starts. Problem arises.
Contractor that fabricated the hoarding did not follow the blue print.
Door positions are shifted.
Stickers need to be reprinted.
GOD DAMN IT!

But nothing can stop Johnny and his minion from completing the job. Heh.

Here's the design, on paper.

Lesson 1: Never assume that things is going to be smooth sailing during installation.
Lession 2: Always always plan your pieces properly when sending to print. You are quite screwed if you get it wrong.
Lesson 3: To design a 13.2 meter by 3 meter long hoarding display or banner in Adobe Illustrator, always work in reduced size proportionately.

After some huffing and panting, not to mention lots of ladder climbing, the work is complete (pardon the lousy photo).

Mission accomplished. I (Johnny) is happy.

Nothing is possible without the help of my minion.

Rest, we shall have, finally.











 

To Pitch Or Not To Bitch?

There is this age-old discussion about pitching, tendering, Gebiz and what not.

So you are hungry— for new projects, new clients and all. Along comes a client that is impressed with your previous work, but still wanted to see what you can do.

You got the brief. You are required to participate in a cost and creative pitch— all for free. AND MANDATORY!

What is this?
Free work?

My question is, why should we provide free creative proposals to clients and not being paid for it?

Client’s on the other hand, will argue that they need to see the creative capability of the agency before awarding a S$100,000 project.

Granted and understood.

Then start paying for the proposals… sheesh. Don’t be such a stingepot. [Stingepot = a stingy pot, new English according to Johnny]

Every creative work requires man hours, dedication, wrecking of brain cells and many other you know not that happens in the agency. These good people deserves to be paid for their effort, even if their proposals were not shortlisted and awarded.

Several years back, Johnny attended a seminar by the IPOS (Intellectual Property of Singapore) about protecting patents and intellectual rights. One of the speakers said something about “Say NO to free pitches!”. Everyone applauded and all. However, till date, statutory boards are still demanding for free creative proposals as a mandatory requirement to qualify for selection. Oh… and Hear Ye… Hear Ye… some even demanded for a minimum of 2 creative proposal!

Preposterous!

Woe to us creative agencies and a greater woe for young and struggling ones.

Johnny is definitely bitching about this and refuse to comply with this ‘Free Pitch”. How about you?