"I applaud the motive behind this, but you know the reality of working in this business today is very different.
At every place I’ve worked (6 ‘good’ agencies in the past 15 years) we’ve had to be extremely ‘passionate’. We regularly work anywhere between 9 and 24 hours a day, including weekends. Lunch is the rare luxury in which we get 10 minutes to think while running to the shop to grab a roll, often the only time we get to ‘nail’ an idea during the day.
During a pitch we’re expected to sleep 2 hours then go back to work, so sometimes juniors who can’t afford a taxi sleep in the office. We have zero job security. We’re either young and exploited or highly experienced and stressed about being replaced by someone younger and cheaper at any instant.
There is no such thing as a sick day, deadlines don’t change if you’re at home or in the hospital. We work on our holidays, on the way to work, on the way home, while we’re at home, while we’re with family. On top of this, we often have to put up with unreasonable, tyrannical abuse from those above us, or political mind games from the less talented around us.
I’m lucky I’m a Writer, most Art Directors my age are redundant because they can’t drive a Mac, another effort to reduce costs (and increase workloads).
This ‘fun’ is ultimately controlled by the people who run the agencies. Nobby, if you want to make this industry fun again, please use your position of power to change the industry. Don’t just lead by example, which I’m sure D5 is doing. Start a union that ensures people are paid fairly. Paid overtime or rostered days off. Let people have a life, so we can relate to the people we’re supposed to be selling to. Don’t hire ‘resource’, hire people.
I agree whole-heartedly with the comments regarding anonymous bile, it’s fucked having to deal with that on top of everything else and I don’t engage in it for my own personal health.
But if anyone is in a position to help the entire industry to feel more positive about themselves, which will hopefully reduce some of the bitterness and silly comments, it’s you.
Happy, whatever."
“An anonymous plea to David Nobay”
in response to
on Mumbrella
