CANNES VIA BALI FOR MEERKATS
June 26 2008, 1:05 pm | | 12 Comments
While he was in Cannes, Meerkats’ Mike Edmonds engaged in a little ‘guerrilla marketing’ to promote the upcoming PADC Festival of Ideas.
“Despite getting baled up by the odd official, I managed to spread the word about the Festival of Ideas with a couple of hundred Ad Island postcards. Good fun.”
Edmonds and co-principal Ronnie Duncan attended the Lions, then flew the rest of the agency to Bali to meet them on their way back. “We wanted them to see the work fresh, hear about what we learned at the workshops and seminars and do a workshop of our own on what it means to Meerkats,” said Edmonds.
12 Comments
What a good looking bunch of people!!
That’s a tough ask. Try and get people attending Cannes to come to the PADC Festival of Ideas in the most isolated city in the world, and on an island where you can’t get a drink after 11.30pm.
Perth creatives are all tucked up in bed by 11.30pm.
This is nothing but bullshit propaganda from Meerkats. I applaud then for their staff training trip in Bali, but getting a photo of Mike Edmonds handing out cards in Cannes for the PADC Festival of Ideas. Come on!
Bit harsh 5:33. Mike has worked as hard as anyone for the PADC over the years and continues to do so. He’s taken on the organization of the Festival of Ideas with a grand vision of making it internationally renowned, a bit like Ireland’s Shark Awards in Kinsale: while not a ‘must do at least once in a lifetime’ like Cannes, everyone’s heard of Kinsale, knows their reputation for being a great time, and would love to go given the opportunity. He might not succeed, but at least he’ll give it a damned good try. Martin Trevaskis
Sorry Martin. Kinsale is a piss up with an awards show attached. If you are talking about organising a piss up Mike would not be the person you want leading it, and Rottnest is not an ideal venue. As 1.24pm says you can’t get a drink after 11.30pm.
Sure Mike has done a lot for the club over the years but he deserted it last year when Meerkats decided not to enter any work. If MF or 303 did that the club would be finished.
Never been to Kinsale but given the choice I think it would win out over the PADC
No problems with any of this Anonymouses. We said in our submission to the PADC brand strategy review (posted on our old website) that all most people here wanted was a good piss-up but the views expressed at the AGM didn’t support that. So now some people are working to give both events (Festival of Ideas and Awards) some status. Like I’ve said before, I reckon you should get behind them and if you’re unhappy with the way the events turn out, come along to next year’s AGM and speak up for a different approach but don’t [anonymously] attack the people who are working to make them a success this year. Making the Festival of Ideas internationally known is like a Perth agency trying to win a Gold Lion – difficult, perhaps even unlikely, but at least some are having a go.
Martin Trevaskis
Onya Martin.
I applaud Mike’s blind optimism and spirit for creating and promoting an award event that has the potential to be recognised and (almost) visited.
Who knows if it’ll work, but at least he’s giving it a shot. Unlike the majority of overweight, overpaid and self proclaimed over important CD’s over there, Mike’s actually TRYING to do something that stands out. Fuck the talk and high-five the walk.
Hats off.
AWARD judging in Sydney starts September 15th. Hopefully this does not stop judges coming over for the PADC judging and festival of ideas.
Good on you Mike. Where would the PADC be without you! x
Part of me wants to believe it’s not a whole bunch of Meerkats publicity bullshit, but since their hijacking of last year’s PADC event with a ridiculous and transparent publicity stunt, I’m not too sure.