Food for thought: The spy who sold out
Forgiving a pretty face
Facebook to agencies: how will people share your story?
Is “The Pitch” an accurate reflection of our industry?
My name is Wes Dean, and I am an Account Coordinator. Recently, I have been inspired to speak on behalf of all Account Services people, in particular Coordinators, due to some playful barbs thrown my way by a couple nameless creative co-workers.
“You’re so busy all the time, but I still don’t understand what your job actually is.”
“Couldn’t the clients just deal directly with the creatives?”
Yes, I hope all Account people reading this just shared a collective shudder. Now, I apologize if the following recap of a day in my shoes doesn’t completely encapsulate your average day, fellow Account people, but I believe it does shed some light on our extremely important, fast-paced, and sometimes thankless job. Account Services people of the world, unite!
July 9, 2010 (Date is irrelevant – can be any day)
I wake up around 7 a.m. and roll into the shower. By the time I get out, there is a red light flashing on my phone indicating a work email from one of my Account team members. There is a pressing client request that needs to be looked after this morning–and so the day begins.
Arriving at work at 8:19 a.m., I am the 4th person to arrive in the office out of a total of approximately 150 employees. As I pour myself a cup of steaming jet fuel, I am prioritizing an extensive to-do list in my mind by instantaneously factoring deadlines, client expectations, and internal responsibilities.
Sitting down now, I have two desktops that need tidying up. The one where my computer sits, and the one on my computer screen. First, to find space to put my laptop down, I need to move laser proofs that have been placed on my desk to be signed off on. Next to those papers are bills from a film storage company placed on my desk by accounting for me to reconcile and file. Second, I need to go through my computer desktop to sort through and tidy up the countless files and assets I have sourced for co-workers and clients the previous day.
It is now around 9 a.m. and Grip employees are filing in. This is when I must send out my dozens of morning emails. Account people are always under pressure to “keep it moving,” so I take this portion of my day to ensure I have resources allocated to completing my projects, and that clients are reminded of approvals needed.
Now, instead of going into details, which is exactly what Account people are born to do, I will simply list the tasks that occur in the next few hours of the day: filing estimates, writing a creative brief, miscellaneous requests (“Wes, drop everything you’re doing. I need help.”), and of course scheduling and attending meetings and presentations.
It is now closing in on 3 p.m. and you can see the home stretch of the day has arrived, BUT WAIT! Your client has been given a free page in a national publication and wants to know if it’s possible to re-adapt an existing piece of creative for this magazine . . . but with a completely new headline and body copy paragraph . . . and material is due to the publication tomorrow. Mayhem ensues.
In the end, it all is under control. It’s 5:45 p.m. and I’m tying up a few loose ends and going over all the emails from the day (there have been 86), so I can go home in peace without fearing that I missed anything.
jgam
July 29, 2010 @ 4:06 pm
Lovely piece. Quite enjoyed it, even though I shrieked at reading it (it felt like my words/my days in the same role).
I love that people have no idea what we do. Laughable.
Anyway – great post. Thanks for writing it. When’d you find the time to write this is surely the next question coming at you from the ‘creatives’.
Sammy Holt
July 29, 2010 @ 4:12 pm
Ohhhhh missing my AC days! Well written Wes Dean, well written.
Wayne
July 29, 2010 @ 4:21 pm
Aftering reading that I’d ask for a raise!!
Martin Cinzar
July 29, 2010 @ 4:31 pm
Best fiction writing EVAR!!!. Keep it up Hamilton, this was worth the laughs on a sunny afternoon, especially the not going into details part. Most Fake Steve Jobsesque of you. never give details, just hints that there might be something to this story.
Miranda Voth
July 29, 2010 @ 5:02 pm
Okay, but what is it that you do? ;)
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July 29, 2010 @ 5:18 pm
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Shane Holmes
July 29, 2010 @ 5:36 pm
Thanks for this Wes, well done indeed.
Raz
July 29, 2010 @ 8:57 pm
You drink jet fuel! Awesome.
Caroline
July 30, 2010 @ 10:50 am
You paint a vivid picture, Wes. Well written.
I’m exhausted just reading it….better get myself a cup of jet fuel
Kate Pedchenko
August 3, 2010 @ 10:33 am
Interesting read. Really enjoyed it :)
Jacoub Bondre
August 11, 2010 @ 3:31 pm
Sorry it took me so long to comment Wes. I have 125 emails to go through today ;)
Kelly
August 16, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
You are a outstanding writer. Enjoyed this – and I agree with Wayne – you deserve a raise! Your days sound hectic, however, reading this proves you are confident in keeping all aligned, on time, and polished. Sounds like you are a star AC. Proud of you!