Yeah, the time change didn’t work in our favor,  but yes kids, we are here and broadcasting as well as we can. After flight delays and getting our badge just in the nick of time last night before the Austin Convention Center shut down, we hit up the JWT party at Lustre Pearl. Following a brief encounter down the street with a very cordial Alex Jones, who was doing his usual ranting and raving fresh off a protest downtown, we ventured down Driskill and encountered the homely spot, Lustre Pearl, where JWT played host to the band, Walk Off the Earth (below). Gotye cover aside, we were not so enthused with the multi-instrumental act, which sounded like a jam-band version of Arcade Fire, if that’s possible.

Nevertheless, talking shit with industry heads and all the JWT top brass including Jeff Benjamin, Mauro Cavelletti and Perry Fair, the last of whom is promoting the agency’s pop-up shop, Walter, was fine enough. Besides, don’t tell me you wouldn’t dance like an idiot in a sea of fog to Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” if you didn’t just retain a major client. We will be hitting up Draftfcb, Crowdtap and Barbarian events tonight and will promptly be in bed my midnight. But we’ll talk to you beforehand with some panel thoughts.

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Consider this a first for us as AgencySpy as we, along with party sponsor New York Festivals, are throwing a cocktail soiree in January because…well, why not? The action will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at the Empire Room, located on the ground floor of, you guessed it, the ol’ Empire State Building. Come drink and mingle with yours truly as well as our co-host, New York Festivals president Michael O’Rourke, whose organization is being kind enough to provide the first 50 drinks. The party gets started at the usual happy hour time of 6:30, so come imbibe, chat it up and help kick off 2013 with us. Feel free to RSVP here and if you’re interested in learning more about New York Festivals and its global ad competition celebrating the “world’s best advertising,” go here.

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Advertising Week in New York is almost upon us, and as per usual, we here at the Spy are throwing a little happy hour soiree to kick off the festivities (well, at least we hope it’ll be festive). On Monday, Oct. 1 at 6:30pm, would you care to join us at Public House in NYC to chat, talk smack, talk off the record, schmooze, say hi or just plain imbibe? Yours truly will be making the rounds and playing social butterfly, so please stop by if you have the time. It wouldn’t be the same without you, after all. You can RSVP here and check out further event info here. See you soon!

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Before end of day yesterday, we were receiving a handful of tips including this, verbatim: “LBi NY: A cross-dressing midget stripper inviting employees to the company party tonight with glitter sprinkles…Instagram hashtag #LBiNSFW.” Obviously, we were rather puzzled, amused and intrigued all at the same time, especially since there were multiple tips pertaining to this “company party.”

Well, truth be told, from the images we’ve received the morning after, this was not your average agency soiree. We’re hearing that the LBi’s Atlanta office will be throwing their own XXX-themed bash, which is aptly titled “NSFW,” early next week. And while it appears the Twitter page for NSFW is down, we did, as mentioned, get some pics (and yes, there was such a stripper), which you can view after the jump. Since we’re still scratching our heads, could someone in the know please explain who came up with this idea and why?

continued…

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Ohhh, yes, boys and girls. It’s that time of year again–the time when Chicago’s ad, marketing, and video production community gathers together in a large parking lot over beer, cocktails and shared love of the game.

This year, Optimus’ senior designer Mark Butchko created this wonderful series of posters commemorating the 17th edition of the event. There will be sunglasses! There will be beach balls! And, of course, there will be Modelo!

Gaze upon them, and get hyped. I’ll see you there.

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In a statment, Ogilvy North America chairman/CEO John Seifert says, ““In his leadership at AMV BBDO, Adam has earned the title of the most creatively awarded account man by championing partnerships across disciplines to help his clients win significant awards and deliver extraordinary results. Adam will fill an important leadership role in New York, as the leader and champion of our Advertising business. Adam has a superb track record of delivering strong strategic thinking and sparkling creative solutions across a wide range of clients.We’reexcited about the leadership and innovation he will bring to our business and clients.”

Prior to his gig at AMV BBDO, Tucker spent time at Fallon and helped build up the agency’s London office after spending six years at its Minnesota hub.

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We really haven’t done much of a party report in a while, but we had to say it was a gas at New York-based shop Woods Witt Dealy & Sons’ annual Cinco de Mayo bash. You might know WWD&S as the agency responsible for the Wrath of Cannes festival that takes place here in NYC during the actual Cannes Li0ns event (which we’ve yet to attend, but are always there in spirit).

Though yours truly was somewhat preoccupied with the Heat-Knicks playoff game unfolding on the flat screen in the agency’s studio/rec room and playing lone Miami supporter in the process, WWD&S was dishing out margaritas on tap while a mariachi band serenaded the attendees. The coup de grace, though, were the pinatas that blindfolded staffers were hitting with a stick and was eventually broken, filling the floor with candy and mini-bottles of booze. Thankfully, Dionysus was smiling down on me as one hard smack sent a projectile initially thought to be a Three Musketeers bar right in the shoulder. But alas, it was a bottle of Jose Cuervo. Yes, a nice cap to the evening and as for Wrath of Cannes, while no Tony Hawk appearance is expected this year, the party will take place in Manhattan instead of Coney Island. Pardon me while I take my jacket to the dry cleaners.

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Ok, so it’s not so formal but it’s that time of the year for another AgencySpy party. We figured we’d throw a little reminder your way and if you’re in the happy hour mood this evening and in NYC, head our way. It’s quick and painless as it’s only from 6:30-8:30 and in Times Square at a joint called Tonic. We just want to say hi and promise to make any sort of speech short and…yeah, we’ll let you decide. Here is the RSVP link if you’re interested.

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This has all the makings of a Friday item. L.A.-based integrated agency Big Picture Group, which seems to have a focus on interactive and broadcast efforts for TV shows, decided to take their weekly Friday free staff lunch benefit one step forward. BPG staffers seem to have an appetite for pizza (like most of us do) and today starting at 12:30 PST, eight local pizzerias will be vying for guaranteed Friday business over the next 12 weeks. Lordy, believe it or not, the agency, which has selected staffers to play judge and jury, sent out an RFP and it reads as follows:

“Once a week, we break for lunch to enjoy the best pizza in town. No debate – the best. Does this get your competitive juices (and tomato sauce) flowing? We hope so.

We’d like to invite you to respond to our “Request for Pizza.” Winner gets our business.

Design Requirements
Pies can be round, square, thick or thin. You’re the artist. We’re just the guys and gals with smiles on our faces. One large pie of your choosing is all it takes to show your stuff.

Technical and Infrastructure Requirements
No “virtual” pizzas accepted. No virtual ovens, virtual Parmesan shakers, or virtual pizza cutters. All tasters will be real live, real hungry people.

Assumptions and Agreements
After a taste test showcasing local pizza shops, our employees will vote on their favorite. We’ll let you know by the Monday following “Taste Test Friday” if your pie took the prize.

Basis for Award of Contract
Winner to be determined by:
•       Yummm-factor
•       Presentation, ingredients, authenticity
•       Intangibles

Anticipated Selection Schedule
“Taste Test Friday” will take place on March 30, 2012 at 12:30pm.  The winning shop will be rewarded our business once a week for 3 months.

Delivery is to begin the following “Pizza Friday” with bpg guaranteeing the purchase of 5 (or 6) large pies for 12 consecutive weeks.”

Now, as New Yorkers, we know how people here can be pretty snobbish about our pizza and we don’t really see SoCal as a choice destination for the delicious dish (doesn’t everyone just hit up In-N-Out over there?). But perhaps, we’re missing something and now, we’ll know where to go on our next visit to the West Coast. Damn, is it lunchtime yet?

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of Minneapolis agency Carmichael Lynch, which began blowing out the candles last Friday with what looks like a St. Patrick’s Day-themed party that included, you know, the usual mix of fire-breathing and martinis. We’ve been told that the shindig, which took place in a Minneapolis restaurant called Solera and included 500 guests, some of whom participated in CL’s takeoff of The Gong Show called The O’Gong Show, is just the start of a year-long celebration that will include digital efforts, guerilla marketing and events.

Guess staying in business for half-a-century, despite major client shifts and the usual agency ups and downs, merits such a lengthy bash . We’re more intrigued, though, by the then-and-now shot of the original CL crew, striking a pose in 1962 and 2012. From l-r: Lee Lynch (co-founder), Sue Crolick, Jack Carmichael (co-founder) and Dave VanGieson.

You can check out a slideshow of some historical Carmichael Lynch images including notable ads from the past here.

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SXSW Interactive 2012 went out with a bang this year, as Tumblr and the Barbarian Group took over one of Austin’s most famous indoor/outdoor venue, Mohawk.

Aside from holding claim to maybe the best venue in Austin, the Barbarians were able to bring SXSW Interactive’s most-impressive musical lineup to the show, with the bill including the likes of Japandroids, Kool Keith, Bear in Heaven, Matthew Dear, and Wavves (pictured above). While advertising industry concertgoers schmoozed in the upstairs VIP era, the standing area near the stage was at a constant level of intensity, featuring relentless moshing and body-passing, especially during Wavves’ set.

Outside, the waiting line snaked around the block. But, a lucky few had access to the R/GA Shuttle, a double-decker bus that carted around R/GA employees and their clients throughout the course of the conference. Why wait in an hour-long line when you can peer over the fence from the comfort of a party bus?

The “Robotrip” party (I don’t know what’s up with the name, either) served as the perfect transition from SXSW Interactive to the Music portion of the festival. Sure, you could’ve celebrated across town at GSD&M’s “Industry Party,” or you could’ve rocked out with some Barbarians and a ton of non-industry, non-badge-holding music fans dancing feverishly to their favorite bands. To be frank, I’m happy I picked the latter. Now, on to Music!

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During today’s SXSW Interactive, we not only caught Jimmy Fallon as we mentioned before, but hit up Draftfcb’s event at the same venue as last year, the Molotov off of 6th street in Austin. Once again, the rooftop desk played host to the agency’s annual soiree, which brought in a majority of Chicago hub folks mixed in with some network folks for good measure.

Above, you can see us with Bruce Fougere, SVP, director of innovation at DFCB Chi who joined from the Martin Agency (where he spent four years as VP/CD) a few months back. We can’t complain about rooftop decks and 80-degree weather, as well as conversation about the background and digital landscape as we know it. We will try to reveal more once the week progresses, and here’s a couple of other snapshots from the two-level building below. The main purpose of the Draftfcb party was to promote “White Space,” which promoted “open minds,” “open bar” and “open air.” Here’s DJ Trentino, who served as DJ for the three-hour event.

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“The Great Sell Out,” presented by the Sound Lounge and the Upright Citizens Brigade, pits advertisers and improv comedians against each other in a battle for a cool grand. To enter, competitors must create a commercial for a fake Sound Lounge-brand product, which can be anything from soda to abandoned animals to inflatable tablet computers. The satirical spots must be either :30 or :60 in length, and anyone with a funny enough idea is encouraged to enter.

Should you choose to compete, submit your commercial to sellout@soundlounge.com by this coming Wednesday. The public will then have an opportunity to vote on their favorites, and the top 5 will be shown on March 22 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Manhattan’s East Village. Hey, if your ad’s good enough, you might even get a job out of it.

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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.

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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.

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