X-rated agency shenanigans, 'Sexy bum' texts, silent discos, and yet another PR faux pas
Come one, come all to the hive of salacious gossip and industry buzz that is The Drum’s Vibrator. Every two weeks, resident gossip Claire Snare shares the news from the media and marketing industry that pesky press teams are dying to keep quiet...
The Drum’s gossip guru Claire Snare offers her fortnightly update featuring some hilaroius shenanigans at FCB Inferno's Viking party, how DigitiasLBi's Lost Boys bash pissed off the neighbours, Asda's very own Dom Burch enjoying his first silent disco, and yet another PR blunder.
X-Rated
I doubt there is anyone in the marketing and advertising industry who hasn’t had a sweaty-palm moment when it comes to filing their company expenses. The cold harsh light of day and a bill ending with a confusing amount of zeros can be enough to shake off that blunted feeling caused by a crippling hangover, and quicken the pulse.
But there are other occasions which aren’t so common. For example, imagine the horror of a particular FCB Inferno employee (a rather senior one at that) who ordered a porno to his room at 4am during a weekend work event, not knowing it would appear on the bill. Explain that to IPG’s finance department!
Said work event turned out to be FCB Inferno’s medieval-themed party in Kent over the weekend – which we have been reliably informed was “carnage”. Romance was in the air and we are told a total three couples were formed.
A highlight of the weekend was Frazer getting a bloody nose and being knocked off a bike in a duel with Timbo. We hear the cheer was a bit too loud!
Party Boys
Not to be outdone, DigitasLBi’s new social agency Lost Boys UK threw a great bash in Shoreditch complete with laser beams and a ‘rave’ room (pictured below). MD Nadya Powell was at the door greeting people in her face-painted finery, and DigitasLBi UK chief Anil Pillai informed us with pride that they had brought in the speakers from the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury for the occasion.
It seems the neighbourhood however wasn’t quite so elated by the effort gone to. The cleaners were determined to get an early night and had no qualms about bringing out the hoovers at 9.30 – when the party was just getting started! There were some artsy folk next door trying to very seriously view an exhibition – which looked quite posh and exclusive (champagne flutes and canapés – all that guff).
The woman who was clearly the organiser dropped her poise for a split second to point up to the Lost Boys venue and shout that they were and I quote, “fucking pissing her off”. We also couldn’t help having a chuckle about a text to a certain guest, and digital head for a brand, who apparently goes by the name of ‘sexy bum’ to his… err… chums. You know who you are sir.
Silent disco fun
Out of office messages are usually so boring and predictable – ‘Thanks for getting in touch, I’m on annual leave, I’ll respond as soon as blah, blah blah’. Well not Dominic Burch, the senior director of marketing innovation and new revenue at Asda. Here’s just one of his many classics.
“I'm out of the office today from around 11.30, and in meetings back to back until then. From 11.45 I'll be on the train down to London, so frankly your messages will be a welcome distraction...“I'm being interviewed by Evan Davis on Radio 4 this afternoon for
his programme The Bottom Line, which tops last week's highlight, dancing with Normski in a silent disco.”
Now, a word to the wise… if you’re to organise a transport strike best have a press officer fielding media queries who actually has a scoob what is going on. This week one of our journos dropped a line to the so-called press officer of the union organising the cab strike in London – something to do with Uber being a bit of a pain – only to be met with: “How did you get this number?” Errr… your name is on the press release as the person to contact… “Well what would I know about that?” Professionalism at its best.
This column was first published in The Drum's 1 October issue, guest-edited by Cindy Gallop.