http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU...

xoxoxo

Andrew--Other steps, simple: get the business, direct the business, consistency in creating, delivering, and servicing the business, grow and keep the business; ALL done with teamwork from the best people possible. Share the wealth and take care of everyone, so everyone stays together. Yes, there is a Buddy Friendly "accelerated account seminar" for anyone smart enough to take advantage of it and well-heeled enough to afford it. PS-------VOTE- BUDDY FRIENDLY FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008! Do what is best for you- VOTE FOR ME.

Good comments...totally agree with everything said. Lefton: Hard to say about our owner, he's never around and hardly interacts with creative (maybe that's all I need to know though). The most I know about him is that he's real sharp and use to play in a rock band. He must of done something right though, cuase his business just celebrated 25 years. My biggest concern, however, is that he is so afraid to step out of what we do best and into new teritory—is this a bad thing? Buddy: Not complaining, just looking for some opinions—there is no ball to be dropped where I work. The problem with our account people, is that they don't work with us. Instead of doing what's best for the client by letting us in on the loop and staying on strategy, they do every-little-thing the client requests, however far from the brand it may be—there's the ass-kissing. I suppose it would be neither account or creative driven then, but rather client driven huh? What are some more steps and do you have a Buddy Friendly accelerated account seminar I can send my entire account department to tomorrow? That would be great, thanks. Rapp: Excellent point. My CDs and a few top dawgs aside, I don't think, most of my agency is very passionate. I think as a majority, we're too passive about the work and just see it as a job...that needs to change or i'm going to seriously consider Toms remark. I agree with your ego remark too, just last week, we had an account executive all hopped up on Mountain Dew write his own headline and present the creative to the client right in front of the designer. Continuing to speak and cut him off, the AE sold his own creative to which he consulted no one. Needless to say my CD had his balls the next day and had to explain to him why his headline made no sense, but that's the type of stuff I'm talking about. What can we do better to inspire and truly work together as a team in a passionate manner? What kinda of stuff does your agencies do to get people fired up

oohhh, buddy has excellent points too. Comes back to relationships.

Marc, both are funny. Tom was more blunt but, it was an appropriate response. I can actually visualize him doing that in that order. Your's was more diplomatic. Why would you be competiting, anyway? Your clearly better looking. anDrew, I've shown AEs work from related industries and competing markets in an attempt to sell them the work. We're just as responsible too. Some account people do have the drive and the ability to recognize good work. And if they can't, they can still be motivated or inspired to sell it. Sometimes giving them some spec work ( provided the CD feels it works ) can move things in a different direction too if the AEs can work it into the plan ( if there is one to begin with).
AEs also loving glowing emails from their clients, praising free work and ideas. Other times, their confused, because it's unexpected. A deviation from the plan In my experience, it's ego's that kills it in the end. Someone want's to feel like they've had the big idea. AE's are also notorious for only being able to present work they've worked. The problem with that is deadlines and scheduling. It's usually the person that wasn't involved who's doing the complaining. Which comes from creative or account service. I try to keep everyone in the loop. Even if that means a hundred emails and chasing everyone down too. Plus, Marc and Tom are right too. Guess in depends on how good the work is and if your willing to fall on your sword.

Yeah, this whole subject is real hilarious. FFFFFFFF*ck--UUUUUUUU. ;-) LOL. Buddy Friendly, is no body’s “Ass Kissing Account Push-Over.” You creative people always complain about how the ball bounces yet most of the time you are usually the one’s who dropped it. Andrew, you ask, “What are some general steps to go from ass-kissing account to ass-kicking”.....here’s STEP ONE, having a great creative product to sell, that addresses a client’s problem (which is hard to get, because most creative isn’t that creative). Account people cannot sell a sow’s ear by representing it as a silk purse. If they do they lose the trust of the client, along with everybody’s credibility, then the account is on its way out the door. Then STEP TWO is knowing how and what to sell. Great account people can sell anything that makes sense, or looks like it has a good chance of making sense. There in lies the problem between creative and account people, getting on the same page, and “working together” to produce great work. Ever hear of Doyle Dane Bernbach (the ultimate creative shop), two of the three principles (James Edwin "Ned" Doyle and Maxwell "Mac" Dane) were account people. They seemed to make the concept I am discussing work just fine, thank you. That is how a firm moves as BOTH account driven AND creative driven, to being successful at BOTH, which is what creates great advertising. Furthermore, asses have to be kissed and cared for so they either do not get constipated or have the runs. Regular bowel movements are always preferred. Someone has to do it, many creative people can barely talk or look someone in the eye must less properly represent and sell themselves and their work, as well as a qualified third party-a great account executive. Granted many AE’s are just as bland as are many creative people and their work (which must always be kept in proper perspective by both parties). Bottomline, it always takes two to tango to the music.

Which is hilarious, me or Tom? Tom and I are very competitive you know.

That's hilarious.

It's really simple: when you look at any agency, look at who owns it. If they are not a creative, run for the hills. There are exceptions in that some creative owned agencies are owned by hacks, and some account owned agencies are owned by someone who can sell good creative. But any company big or small I've worked at that did great work - the final decisions were made by creative people. Oh how I miss having the rest of the agency fulfill my ridiculous little whims. (What do you mean you can't get Scorcese to direct my car dealership spot?)

Leave. Take the entire creative dept. and leave. Open your own shop. Don’t forget to bring the accounts, and office supplies, with you.