Atmosphere Proximity launches The Big Ad Gig
In conjunction with The New York Times, The Advertising Council and Advertising Week 2009, this
Inaugural Event aims to Award Four Contestants, Jobs at Top Advertising Agencies around the Country
8/11/2009
The Big Ad Gig (http://www.thebigadgig.com), a first ever event will be held at The New York Times Building on Thursday, September 24 in conjunction with Advertising Week 09. The premise of the event takes a page from the American Idol format: A panel of Creative Directors, CEOs and marketing leaders from Atmosphere Proximity, Ogilvy, Crispin, Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness, the Ad Council and Microsoft Advertising, will be judging presentations from eight contestants, all vying for the chance to work a 30-day paid freelance gig at one of these top ad agencies. The New York Times advertising columnist Stuart Elliot will be moderating this event.
At the end of this summer-long contest, a final eight aspiring advertising creatives will be selected, and will compete for jobs at the country’s top agencies. Judges will offer jobs at their ad shops to the top contestants based on their portfolio, a video submission and, ultimately, their ability to present their pitch from an Ad Council brief live in front of an audience during Advertising Week.
One winning campaign will be produced on behalf of the Ad Council and run across multiple screens and donated inventory from Microsoft Advertising's media properties including gaming, online and mobile.
"The Big Ad Gig's focus is on awarding upcoming and deserving talent with top ad gigs at leading agencies. One of our initial ideas with this event was to find partners to help discover and award jobs to future ad stars, and we are thrilled with the caliber of judges, agencies and marketing outlets that have enthusiastically embraced our idea," said Andreas Combuechen, chairman, CEO and chief creative officer, Atmosphere Proximity.
"The Times is pleased to collaborate with top advertising agencies for this exciting event," said Denise Warren, chief advertising officer, The New York Times Media Group and general manager, NYTimes.com. "The Big Ad Gig event is just one way we can help foster promising creative talent."
"This is a wonderful opportunity to engage our industry’s best and brightest new talent in developing creative that makes a real difference," said Priscilla Natkins, executive vice president and director of client services at the Ad Council. "Our hope is that this contest will instill a lifelong commitment to using the power of advertising to creative positive social change."
"We are delighted to be part of The Big Ad Gig," said Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide creative director, Ogilvy & Mather, "Participating in this program allows us to support the industry’s growth as well as young talent."
"I hope to be known as the Paula Abdul of advertising after this," Rob Reilly Partner/Co-executive creative director, Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
"It's a pleasure to work on an innovative project such as this," said Spots And Content executive producer Steven J. Levy.
"We are excited to help foster a new generation of advertising talent, and look forward to bringing the winning concept to life across all of Microsoft’s multi-screen media properties, such as mobile, online and gaming," said Charles Johnson, general manager of mobile media, for Microsoft Advertising.
"Talent is the lifeblood of our industry and we need constant transfusions of fresh creative ideas, and fresh young creative people to keep it flowing," said Helayne Spivak, executive vice president and chief creative officer, of Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness.
"Kudos to The Times and all the Big Gig supporters . . . We’re delighted to welcome this initiative into the mix for Advertising Week 2009," stated Advertising Week Executive Director Matt Scheckner
To learn more about this exciting event, please log on to visit www.thebigadgig.com Atmosphere Proximity is a full service digital marketing company whose core focus is building brand preference through the digital channel. Atmosphere is a member of the Omnicom Group of Companies. Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) For press inquiries, please contact Michelle Parks McCourt at (212) 827- 2446, or email: michelle@atmosphereproximity.com
At the end of this summer-long contest, a final eight aspiring advertising creatives will be selected, and will compete for jobs at the country’s top agencies. Judges will offer jobs at their ad shops to the top contestants based on their portfolio, a video submission and, ultimately, their ability to present their pitch from an Ad Council brief live in front of an audience during Advertising Week.
One winning campaign will be produced on behalf of the Ad Council and run across multiple screens and donated inventory from Microsoft Advertising's media properties including gaming, online and mobile.
"The Big Ad Gig's focus is on awarding upcoming and deserving talent with top ad gigs at leading agencies. One of our initial ideas with this event was to find partners to help discover and award jobs to future ad stars, and we are thrilled with the caliber of judges, agencies and marketing outlets that have enthusiastically embraced our idea," said Andreas Combuechen, chairman, CEO and chief creative officer, Atmosphere Proximity.
"The Times is pleased to collaborate with top advertising agencies for this exciting event," said Denise Warren, chief advertising officer, The New York Times Media Group and general manager, NYTimes.com. "The Big Ad Gig event is just one way we can help foster promising creative talent."
"This is a wonderful opportunity to engage our industry’s best and brightest new talent in developing creative that makes a real difference," said Priscilla Natkins, executive vice president and director of client services at the Ad Council. "Our hope is that this contest will instill a lifelong commitment to using the power of advertising to creative positive social change."
"We are delighted to be part of The Big Ad Gig," said Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide creative director, Ogilvy & Mather, "Participating in this program allows us to support the industry’s growth as well as young talent."
"I hope to be known as the Paula Abdul of advertising after this," Rob Reilly Partner/Co-executive creative director, Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
"It's a pleasure to work on an innovative project such as this," said Spots And Content executive producer Steven J. Levy.
"We are excited to help foster a new generation of advertising talent, and look forward to bringing the winning concept to life across all of Microsoft’s multi-screen media properties, such as mobile, online and gaming," said Charles Johnson, general manager of mobile media, for Microsoft Advertising.
"Talent is the lifeblood of our industry and we need constant transfusions of fresh creative ideas, and fresh young creative people to keep it flowing," said Helayne Spivak, executive vice president and chief creative officer, of Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness.
"Kudos to The Times and all the Big Gig supporters . . . We’re delighted to welcome this initiative into the mix for Advertising Week 2009," stated Advertising Week Executive Director Matt Scheckner
To learn more about this exciting event, please log on to visit www.thebigadgig.com Atmosphere Proximity is a full service digital marketing company whose core focus is building brand preference through the digital channel. Atmosphere is a member of the Omnicom Group of Companies. Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) For press inquiries, please contact Michelle Parks McCourt at (212) 827- 2446, or email: michelle@atmosphereproximity.com
