Seriously? We thought we’d never have to say this again. Really, we did. After Agency.com’s Subway video debacle, we hoped an important lesson was learned by ad agencies in the business. Apparently not so we’ll say it again:
“Attention ad agencies. Don’t DON’T. DO NOT DO THIS. Do not create a video where you publicly masturbate, backslap and attempt to hipify yourself with viral goodness in front of the industry all in the name of cool factor and winning new business.”
And do not ever compare your work (before it’s even had a chance) to classics by telling us “It’s right up there (in my opinion) with ‘Truth in Advertising’ and ‘When I grow up I want to be in advertising.’ Doing so just sets you up for failure.
Which you have done remarkably well here, Draftfcb, with this ridiculous video entitled Client Abuse. It might have been mildly funny when you showed it at Draftfcb Healthcare’s 2009 FACE Awards but, much like the Subway video made Agency.com look like a bunch of hipsters having a fist bump circle jerk, this video just makes you look like a bunch of spineless wimps in search of a direct to consumer drug account.
We all know clients can be abusive assholes but a good agency knows how to deal with difficult clients. It doesn’t curl up in the fetal position. It doesn’t bend over and say pack my fudge. And it doesn’t create some whiny-ass “disease” so pansies without a backbone can blame a medical issue for their lack of client management skills.
Certainly dealing with some clients can be a challenge but to admit it publicly in a stupid video that indirectly bites the hand which feeds, is, shall we say, unsmart.
The witty (witty-less?) witticisms are endless here. “Stop making me change my briefs.” “I get compliments on these puppies all the time.” “Stop pinching my budget.” “He stuck his ideas into my ads.”
Oh please.
Agencies Against Client Abuse? More like Agencies Against Good Client Management.
But it all makes perfect sense. This is the agency which , as you may recall, created the ever so classless Fucking Lions ad.
