ten alternative advertising tips

surrounded by good company and a few cocktails, we congregated in our own section of a plush, art deco lounge in the flatiron district last night. Meanwhile, R/GA senior copywriter jenna livingston led us in a two-hour alternative advertising workshop, complete with creative brief and thorough q&a session. the highlight of the night was hearing ideas from attendees themselves, who came up with some of the most ingenious and hilarious non-traditional campaigns (or should I say “antics”) that very well could be the beginnings of the next big viral ad campaign. unfortunately, that’s all i’m able to share. you really had to be there! but as a quick recap, here are ten great tips jenna shared last night: 

1. if you want to work for a certain agency, include work in your book that would appeal to them. make ads with similar clients you would like to work on.
2. contact creative directors whose work you admire. Creativity and AgencySpy are great places to learn about industry news and agency happenings.
3. do side projects, like Starbucks Spelling, that can be added to your book to make you stand out.
4. ideas that can be done inexpensively or free are a major plus for attracting agencies looking to hire creative talent.
5. in interactive, the idea should always come first. then figure out what the technology is (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc).
6. bounce ideas off of other people. working alone is good, but can only get you so far. you never know when something someone says could spark a whole new idea and lead to an even better direction.
7. you should try to add new work to your book every six months.
8. ask for help. offer to pay other ad people to help you improve your work. giving a junior designer a couple of bucks to make your work look good will make you more desirable. same goes for asking writers to help out.
9. go on artistic dates. take time out of your week to see a movie, go to a museum, people watch, and get some inspiration.
10. many people have great ideas but never make them happen. go for it! you have nothing to lose.

for those of you who attended last night and have other key points you’d like to share, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. and don’t forget to sign up for next month’s speed-date networking event!

by
kendria smith

talking shop with jenna livingston

we’re very excited for our october workshop led by R/GA’s stellar senior copywriter and Webby honoree jenna livingston. as she prepares to share her knowledge about the world of alternative advertising this wednesday, here’s a little background on the woman behind the words:

CL: what do you love most about working in advertising as a copywriter?

JL: i love going on production and seeing many months of hard work come to life. casting is really fun too. i like making things from start to finish. it’s like giving birth. I think.

CL: if you weren’t a copywriter, what’s your career plan b?

JL: i’d do something with kids. their imaginations are limitless and you have to be creative with them. you always have to be thinking of different ways to make them laugh and keep them entertained.

CL: where do you get inspiration for your more unconventional campaign ideas?

JL: i look for holes in culture and try to fix problems that have yet to be solved. like with Starbucks Spelling, for example. it’s a user-generated Tumblr i created that collects horribly misspelled names on Starbucks cups. before that people were just uploading photos of their misspelled cup. i created a central place where everyone can share their cup, and laugh at other misspellings.

CL: what are some of your favorite websites? who are you following these days?

JL: i like sites where i can learn something. Business Insider, Huffington Post, and Fast Company are all good. The New York Times is great when i have some quiet time. but usually, i get my news from Twitter. i enjoy following comedians and other writers and people with a good sense of humor.

CL: do you have a favorite app?

JL: swackett is currently my favorite app. it’s an unusual, unexpected way to get the weather. and it tells you what you should wear for the day. saves me 20 minutes. i also like Dark Sky. it tells you exactly when it’s going to rain and when it will stop.

CL: what’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

JL: only put in your book what you love.

by
kendria smith

for more info and to sign up for jenna’s alternative advertising workshop, visit The Copy Lab.

jenna explains it all: advice for advertising creatives

jenna livingston

jenna livingston, award-winning senior copywriter at R/GA and purveyor of creative prowess and recreational mayhem (did you miss out on “Gosling Easter?” Google it!), took some time out on wednesday night to celebrate our official launch.

in typical fashion, jenna charmed our guests with her warmth, ease and sense of humor as she shared the story of her career and some insightful tips for creatives—check  them out below and sign up now to secure your spot in her october 24^th alternative advertising workshop, where you’ll get a glimpse of her eclectic portfolio and the inner workings of an experiential campaign. sign up now and bring your burning questions: www.thecopylabnyc.com/Events

jenna’s ten tips:

1. 10% on your 401k.
2. try not to burn bridges. you don’t know where people will end up and your enemy could end up being your boss.
3. the more people you know, the more chances you have of hearing about job opportunities and or even getting some freelance work.
4. go to ad parties and make friends with reps and have them take you out. you’ll network, meet important people and maybe even find a boyfriend or girlfriend.
5. find a mentor or two you like and respect. someone you feel comfortable showing work to and can give you advice on how to better your book.
6. go on job interviews in other cities even if you aren’t interested. you’ll meet people and keep in touch until you are ready to move, and they move somewhere you want to work
7. try people out – it’s ok to pay people to do work for you. from writing copy to making an app, you’ll get a feel for if you like working with someone and get something good out of it for your work.
8. do side projects. always keep your book fresh – especially if the work you’re doing at your agency isn’t portfolio-worthy. always good to have something in your back pocket.
9. keep in touch with people. build relationships.
10. join The Copy Lab. network. build your book. build your skills. build your career!

by
kendria smith

for more information on our membership and events, visit The Copy Lab.