Feb 24, 2006

Simple truths. Why people work in and stay in advertising.

We bitch, we moan, we hate this job. But let’s face it; many of us stick around for the pain. Why is that? The honest truth is that there is not one single universal reason why people put up with this shit and what’s more, it all depends on the person, the position, the department, and the company.

Here’s a variety of reasons why I think people take it up the ass every day.

1.) Entry times. Rarely will you see accounting firms, banks or the such be lenient with work hours. Advertising is notorious for having people get in late, start later and leave latest. This is later used as a way to justify people working insane hours, though, ARGH.
2.) Gossip. No matter what you say, you love gossip. There’s a reason why reality TV does so well. I know this is a judgment call but I’m making it, sue me. Who fucked who, who messed up which job, who got totally trashed last happy hour, what creative dared to submit this artwork. The list is long, disgusting and totally delicious. Dive in, the plot is thick and the water is dirty. Just remember one thing… don’t swallow…… the water.
3.) The Cruise Effect. Turnover Percentages are so ridiculous in advertising that it’s almost like living on a cruise. A couple of weeks here and there and boom, you have a new group with new drama.
4.) Our parties rock. Yeah lawyers can cut a rug after about a gallon of booze, but advertising people are designed to fuck themselves up, make a mess, confess the most outlandish shit and then be in to work the following day.
5.) NO DRUG TESTS. I have NEVER worked in an agency where I’ve been ordered to pee. I don’t smoke pot, I don’t do coke, but I sure know a shit load of people who do.
6.) Finding out about shit before it happens. One perk in advertising is being able to try out new products before they come out or know what’s coming along. Then again, marketing agencies make more and get the same perks.
7.) Goofy people. Most offices can have one or two schmucks but only advertising can have a whole department of frustrated comedians doing their best to make you bust your gut.
8.) You rarely do something illegal. Unlike your average bank or law office that surely partakes in ritualistic paper shredding, we rarely go outside the law unless it has to do with sharing some good shit.
9.) Work attire is a joke. Although I am an advocate that you should dress for the position you want, rarely will you see another industry allow its workforce to come to work in jeans, message t-shirts and funky shoes.
10.) Pretty people. This is absofuckinglutely true. I know people who work in certain departments just to get the cute guys or girls. Sounds trivial, superficial, childish and stupid and although it is, it’s also true.
11.) People who share your sick demented cum loving humor. With more dick jokes flying around than your average mechanic garage or a trucker stop, you’d be hard pressed to find person akin to your love of phallic idiocy.
12.) In creative you sometimes get paid to sit around and think of stupid shit. I’m not saying that our job isn’t sometimes a pain in the ass, I’m just saying that sometimes it’s just fucking silly, and I love it.
13.) And My lucky #13… We honestly LOVE to bitch and other places, although calmer are also extensively more dull.

Are there more reasons to stick around? Yes. There has to be, because there is no way that a measly 13-item list covers everything and every reason. So feel free to add your own. I put in my two bullshit cents, feel free to add yours.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

• Miller time start anytime after 2pm.

• I don't know of any other job where you can nearly get in a fist fight something as trivial as the background color of a brochure...advertising people surely started the first fight club.

• How many bankers, accountants, lawyers, whatever do you know that have a refrigerator dedicated soley to beer.

• How many bankers, accountants, lawyers, whatever do you know that have beer run written into their job description.

• If there were no more advertising people, the psychiatrist profession would wither and die

Anonymous said...

Its funny joker, i was thinking about this earlier today, and the only answer i could come up with was: i'm addicted to the whole thing, i guess its like crack one taste and you are hooked for life.

Yep that is it...

David Wen said...

Hilarious.

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