It’s been eight months but who’s counting? It was only yesterday that the industry was jumping on planes, trains, and into automobiles for all sorts of prospect, pitch and client meetings. Overnight, it was over.

The US Open is one of the top NYC events each year bringing revenue in excess of $350,000,000! Although the pandemic has put a damper on the 2020 tournament (and its revenue), fans are still soaking in some exciting moments unfold while being broadcast in living rooms around the world.

Advertising, we have a problem.

The agency industry is unlike any other. People in other industries don’t provide their would-be clients with “spec work” for free. So why are agencies expected to think for free when pitching for a new account? It’s a topic that strikes a chord throughout the industry with an ongoing debate over the question of should agencies be paid to pitch? 

Although memory lane isn’t a physical street, it’s a place in everyone’s hearts once you reach a certain age.  But for some, memory lane includes reminiscing about a simpler time in history. Before the days of instantaneous uploading, 24/7 access, dings from texts, beeps from Facebook messages, endless emails and a barrage of unsolicited ones too.

As an agency search consultant for almost two decades, I hear many complaints from marketers (and agencies) about their business partners. Note the nuance here… “partners” not “partnerships.” The reality is we are in the business of relationships and relationships, whether they’re good or bad, are based on the interaction between people.