Day 0
Red eye flights are never exciting. What is exciting is arriving in NYC at 7am on a Sunday with no plans. After a group of us dropped off our suitcases at the Roosevelt, our aimless adventure began.
The first thing that caught my eye is the chaotic streets. Anything and everything is moving. People flowed around me while I stopped to take a photo of this taxi.
Our aimless wondering lead us to an unknown pier with views known from around the world.
As we approached these familiar buildings, we found ourselves at the bottom of the tallest structure in NYC. I’m convinced it goes on forever.
A book ending to the day included a photoshoot at Times Square. To see the energy remain late in the night energized me to stay out. This energy is still with me today back in Eugene.
-Justin Hartney
Bozo the clown
Many-a-times in my past has my father referred to Bozo the Clown. Usually when he spoke of Bozo, he’d follow it up with something like “but you’re too young to ever know who he was.” Little did my pops know that through his constant speaking of Bozo, I, a millennial, could do a quick google search and find out about this clown that once swept the nation. Not only that, but this clown’s face was the subject of many promotional products-one of which was referenced during my visit to BBDO, in perhaps one of the GREATEST analogies I have ever heard.
Tom (who’s last name I hope to track down…), an executive creative director who’s been in advertising and at BBDO for quite some time, was gracious enough to give us some of his precious time to dish wisdom our way.
One thing he said that really resonated with me was that, in the advertising agency, we must be resilient and we must be able to get right back up and brush the dirt off our shoulders if something doesn’t go well. Tom alluded to the fact that we, in advertising, MUST be like the Bozo the Clown Bop Punching Bag.
-Noah Wilskey
To do anything well, you must find a healthy balance. One recurring balancing act within the creative industry (and life in general) lies between order and chaos. Brandon Thornton, Brand Strategy Director at Wieden+Kennedy NY, mentioned this on the first day of the trip. To be great at what you do, the ability to welcome both order and chaos with open arms is key. Additionally, the ability to create order out of chaos is just as imperative. There are a lot of unknown factors within advertising, making chaos inevitable. Personally, I like a little bit of chaos, as it makes things more interesting. However, walking the tight rope between these two extremes is something I will never stop working on.
- Emily Leclerc
Roberto Monticello
As I was minding my own in The Whitney, this man catches my attention and says, “You can take my picture. I’m famous - you’ll want one.”
Intrigued by this man, I Googled Roberto Monticello and found several articles on him. Roberto Monticello just so happens to be the Mayor of the Meatpacking District as well as a film producer. As mayor, Monticello hopes to turn the Meatpacking District into an official art district.
His motto is, “I fight for justice and beauty. I do not fight for ego and money.”
- Raelyn Martin
#uonyc2017
Translation
My favorite agency that I visited on this trip was translation. It was dope to see familiar faces like Jazo and Rex. That was very encouraging because, Rex is someone I used to actually see around campus and used to hoop with who is now doing his thing at Translation was very reassuring. Translation had people working at the agency that I could see myself in and that was a great experience for me because, for the most part before that agency I didn’t feel like I really could relate to any one. I could see myself working at certain places but I probably wouldn’t be happy their it would just be work strictly professional. Translation was a place where I saw myself becoming extremely passionate about the work that I would be creating. It was also cool finding out they did the Allen Iverson commercial that as a kid had me cutting my baseball socks and wearing them on my arm as a sleeve to look like Iverson.
-Isaiah Patton
Boxed
Boxed was a cool break from agency life. It gave us a chance to see how the work we do could be applied in different places other than ad agencies. What was even more cool was as soon as I walked in I was reunited with my group who together did a project on Bitty Foods who I believe could be a great partner with Boxed. We were missing one (Femka) but, just a few weeks ago we got to present our ideas to Leslie Ziegler of Bitty Foods and on this day we were all together visiting another start up. I will remember these two forever they made a great impression on me and I am sure they will do great work in this world. It was amazing to hear from the CEO of Boxed and gain insight to some of his thought process. I took away some advice for gaining venture capitalist as I have an idea for my own start up that I may pursue soon.
-Isaiah Patton
Widen and Kennedy really rolled out the red carpet for us. They were the only Agency that we all went to as a group. They were able to share insights with us from some of their best work and how it came together. Host a panel discussion with people in the agency across all disciplines throughout the agency. They even through a party for us where even though it was 100 of us gave us the chance to connect with people from our discipline on a more personal level. For me I gained a lot of knowledge from two individuals Bri and Brandon. Bri is an account planner who although does not share my discpine was had a lot of wisdom to offer. We talked about navigating the world of different agencies and the importance of getting your foot in the door. Brandon on the other hand shared his point of view with me as a strategist and he shared with me the value of having your own opinion.
-Isaiah Patton
Jordan Romania and Terrence Lewis
Originally on this trip I planned on hanging with a different group every night of the trip. However for the most part I have been unsuccesful in doing so after my night out with the producers. Every one pretty much has their own agenda and things that they wanted to do and see on the trip. I did as well. For the most part I was either with my roommates, alone or with people I would bump into traveling. On this trip I had the pleasure of being roommates with two bright individuals. I was also roommates with Justice McCree but I knew him before going on the trip. I knew Terrence a little bit but during the trip I got to see a different side of him. Terrence is a strategist and has a very bright future. I noticed even before the trip how intense Terrence is in seeking out knowledge and just trying to soak as much up as he can. He is very eager to learn and being one of the younger students on the trip I think that serves him well. I believe this trip will set him up to have a very successful Senior year. My experience with Jordan was very different! I didn’t know Jordan at all before the trip originally we had a different roommate, who decided not to come on the trip for personal reasons. So, by default Jordan was placed with us and I have to admit I was skeptical at first. Getting to know Jordan this trip was cool because he surprised me in a lot of ways he was easy going and able to adapt to situations easily. Jordan’s team ended up winning the Gander pitch after being rejected from even presenting at first. During this trip I witnessed how hard Jordan worked to help show just what his team was capable of the first half of the trip that is where he dedicated all of his time.
Me:“ What you up to Jordan.”
Jordan: “Headed to work on my pitch.”
His passion and will to win is something I really connected with. It was cool seeing his excitement after finding out his team won I was really happy for him. His passion will take him a long way. Both of these guys are people I can see myself working with in the future. I will definitely stay in touch!
- Isaiah Patton
Vulnerability
Before I speak to my thoughts on this topic, I must credit Brené Brown’s video, The Power of Vulnerability. I highly recommend taking a peek at this, but if you do not, I will address its main points. In a previous blog post, I mentioned the importance of human connection, and how far it will carry you compared to taking on life without it. Vulnerability is critical to truly connecting. According to Brown’s studies, individuals who are willing to show their vulnerability in an authentic manner, are proven time and time again to acquire the jobs which they are seeking over the people who are not. This does not mean that you should enter an interview filled with insecurity and doubt, but rather accept the idea that every single one of us has experienced these emotions. Embrace your vulnerability, instead of hiding from it. This will get you very far.
- Emily Leclerc