Party Party!

14 years might seem like an odd anniversary to commemorate like CP Proximity Barcelona does in the above video. But, the agency deftly defends its choice in an email to us, saying, “We want to feast that any fight (has its) reward, and though one stumbles often and falls, though clients get lost, though professionals (leave) an agency (for another) one, it is always necessary to (rise), look at the front and to continue forward.” Well, no argument here.

Yes, the entire video is in Spanish. But, the illustrations tell a familiar story, one of a growing staff, new clients, new offices and new challenges. As CP Proximity’s road map takes us to present day, a quote from agency president and chairman Joaquim Ramis is revealed. In English, it translates to “They say the biggest ideas are born in garages. We were born in a warehouse.” Congrats on 14 years, guys.

Create a social media strategy, launch your campaign, and track the results in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. The online event and workshop will feature speakers including The Onion‘s Baratunde Thurston (left), Facebook’s Morin Oluwole, and bitly’s Tim Devane. Register now.

Around midnight EST tomorrow, those within view of a television will watch a giant glowing ball shimmy slowly down a pole, ushering in 2012 AD (CE if you want to get weird about it). Some will cheer, some will toast, some will mumble made-up lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne,” and many will grab a significant other or stranger and engage them in a full-on lip-lock. Each of these, the last especially, is unavoidable. Why? Because it is tradition, so deal with it.

So, what better time for gay social network site Manhunt to drum up some publicity by placing the above billboard in Times Square? Located at the corner of Broadway and 47th Street, Manhunt’s billboard, which will be up through Jan. 6, was described to us in an email as “raising some eyebrows” and featuring “two sweaty guys in dog tags about to make out.” In the days since the “Zero Feet Away” campaign rolled out, it’s already greatly offended one L.A. mom, despite the fact that a similar Michael Kors billboard (depicting a woman placing her hand inside a man’s briefs) has been the subject of no such controversy. Most curiously will be how much (if any) airtime the Manhunt ad gets during the broadcast of ABC’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” where the American public will be subjected to performances by Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and (new mother?) Beyonce.

Thanks for tuning in this year, spies, and let’s look forward to these final few months as we plunge headlong into the Apocalypse. Have an awesome New Year’s Eve, click here for the actual lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne,” and watch Mariah Carey do whatever it is she does below.

Due to a shoddy economy, the extravagant holiday party is no longer a staple in many industries. But, it remains an important part of the advertising calendar. Agency one-upmanship tends to carry over from the office to the office party, where “classy” gives way to “fun” before it gives way to “debauchery.” Sure, those bastards across the street might have beaten you on that pitch. And, yeah, maybe they do have more attractive employees and nicer couches than your agency. But, did they get as tanked as your CCO did at the holiday party? Well, now you have proof.

From DraftFCB SF comes “Agency Peephole,” a kind of creepy new site that is agencies a inside look at competitors’ holiday parties. As DraftFCB puts it in the announce, “Why party alone when we can party together?” Agencies wishing to participate can do so by following a simply 3-step process:

1. Get Instragram  (only available for iPhone until next year).

2. Shoot “bad ass” party photos.

3. Tag your photos with the hashtag #agencypeephole in the comments section.

Already had your holiday party? No worries, as you can still upload a photo album to Agency Peephole’s site. Thus far, eight agencies are participating, and we expect to see a lot more join by the end of the week. So, get ready to celebrate with (or against) other agencies around the world, and, as always, party on.

We’ve been told that the surveillance footage above is legit and that New York-based agency Fearless Group did indeed get robbed by someone who looks like he deserves the title of “Grinch.” But instead of pouting about their loss, the folks at FG have used the caught-on-tape theft as the basis of their holiday party invite. Apparently, the thief made off with their physical invitations as well, though we’re not sure why the hell anyone would want to steal holiday party invites. This part makes us scratch our heads about the whole, but what the hell, it beats some of the others we’ve received.

Well, your guess is as good as ours because from what Red Tettemer + Partners’ CCO Steve Red says above, his Philly-based shop’s annual event is just an excuse to drink, dance and be merry (oh yeah, and it takes place on the 25th floor). But then again, why else would you to go an agency party, or any party for that matter? One thing we can be certain of is that RT+P has a Lady Gaga fetish as it’s followed up last year’s ode to the pop diva with a performance from a cover band called, you guessed it, Rad Bromance. Let the holiday parties commence. Now will someone get Mr. Red a Red Bull?

Yeah, it’s quite a bit lagged and it took some time to get images so if you please, we’d like to shake off the last remnants of Advertising Week by giving you a couple of images from our AgencySpy party from October 5 (when everyone started freaking out around 8pm when they found out Steve Jobs passed away). We forgot to officially say thanks to the hundreds who attended the soiree and for putting up with my barely heard speech. It’s really hard to tell people to just shut up. Anyways, above you see former and current AgencySpy, Strike! Media owner Kelly Flint and EVB co-founder Daniel Stein (I only wish I sported my fedora for a hat-off that night).  Below, there are a few RAPP folks including former Firstborn-er and Freedom fighter Craig Elimeliah.  Again, our dearest thanks. You can see the rest of the pics here, which come to us courtesy of photog Brian Schutza.

 

 

 

It’s that time of the year and AgencySpy is ringing in the Advertising Week–ok, the middle of Advertising Week–with our hopefully annual soiree. This time, the venue shifts from Hell’s Kitchen to the Empire State Building, where we’ll be schmoozing, networking and boozing on October 5 right at the bottom floor of the iconic skyscraper at the Empire Room. We have no agenda except for people in the industry and across the media landscape to have a good time. As an added bonus, it’ll be quick and painless as it’s only from 6:30-8:30 so you have the whole rest of the night to get your shenanigans out of the way. Come one, come all. Here’s the link for details and to RSVP.

 

Here we have a 90-second rundown of what happens when you celebrate the new floor space at Brooklyn shop HUGE. Yes, the standard beer cups, chit-chat and awkward dancing are all in effect, but there’s one notable element you don’t see too often at an agency shindig: rollerskating. Well, guess there are worse ways to make use of an open floor. The video, shot and edited by HUGE ACD Matt Lawrence, aka Matt Lament (don’t ask) feels like some Williamsburg recruitment effort but at the same time takes us back to the days of 6th grade when were busting ass on the rink every Friday night–minus all the irony of course.

This year saw two centennials celebrated in the ad industry. June 23 marked what would have been the 100th birthday of David Ogilvy, with the agency that he co-founded, Ogilvy and Mather, honoring the Mad Man with an online video contest and a lavish ceremony at the Cannes Lions Festival.

And now, in case you slept on it, DDB Worldwide remembered Bill Bernbach‘ s 100th over the weekend. The agency co-founder/co-namesake was notable for taking a very hands-on approach to DDB as its CEO, with notable campaigns including Volkswagen’s “Think Small” series of print ads (1963′s “Snow Plow” spot for the automaker is above) and Life Cereal’s “Mikey” TV spots. In contrast to Ogilvy’s fancy party, DDB chose to instead just look at examples of Bernbach’s most celebrated work (pictured below). Oh, and Don Draper raised a glass to Bernbach’s memory as well.

In a statement regarding the centennial celebration, DDB U.K. chief client officer Nick Fox says, “When he co-founded DDB, Bernbach started a legacy – an agency that had the gumption to do things differently, with an honest approach that cut to the quick. DDB Worldwide was founded on the power of creativity, the ability to see things in a way others didn’t. The agency took the notion that social stance was no longer important but intelligence – appealing to customers not by what they did or didn’t have, but by who they were as individuals.”

For those interested in learning more about advertising’s “golden age” where personalities like Ogilvy and Bernbach made a name for themselves, you can pick up the recently published Andrew Cracknell book The Real Mad Men. Until then, have the humility to admit that if you got a creative brief that said, “Sell Hitler’s car to America,” you would not hold a candle to Bernbach’s work.

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While Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza music festival drew record attendance numbers this past weekend (with 270,000 strong over three days), the Windy City’s advertising scene was busy celebrating on its own, from big account wins to parties in the downtown streets.

In another edition of its spectacular “Creative Salons,” the folks at Energy BBDO welcomed Chicago-based commercial director Joe Sedelmaier (pictured below), the man behind the lens of iconic 80s spots including Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” and FedEx’s “Fast-Talking Man.” In front of Energy BBDO’s crowded lobby in the Wrigley Building on Thursday, the retired director played his reel and held an hour-long Q+A session, emphasizing the importance of casting when it comes to TV spots and how it’s a director’s responsibility to ensure that a spot that might not read well on paper becomes comic gold on the small screen. Energy BBDO’s employees were understandably in high spirits after winning half of SJ Johnson’s business the week before, with one employee confirming that the agency is in the midst of a rigorous hiring spree.

On Friday, thousands from the industry gathered on Grand Avenue in River North for the 15th installment of the Optimus Block Party. Considered by many to be Chicago’s go-to agency for post-production work, Optimus welcomed party-goers to their offices with jump rope contests, dancing, free alcohol and food as well as a live performance from National Air Guitar champion and Chicagoan, Nordic Thunder. For a nice wrap-up of the Chicago Ad Scene, view the Chicago Tribune‘s story from today here. A special thanks goes out to Energy BBDO and Optimus for making this a memorable weekend, Lollapalooza or not.