Art Director Gives Client The Finger During Entire Length Of Conference Call.
AUSTIN— GSD&M art director Jeremy Boyd demonstrated his displeasure about copy changes on a Southwest Airline ad by giving the client the finger during a conference call. The call took place last week when Southwest client requested a conference call to "go over some issues." Minutes into the conversation, Jeremy began flipping off the telephone to let everyone in the room know he was upset. "Fucking client doesn’t know a good ad from his ass," he said after the conference call ended and the account person hung up the phone several times to make sure the client wasn’t still listening. "This is bullshit, man. Fuck those copy changes," he further explained. Witnesses said in addition to his rude gestures, Mr. Boyd also "rolled his eyes several times and shook his head back and forth in disgust."


Rubin Postaer Management Set To Attend Week-Long Retreat In Barbados To Discuss Cost-Cutting Measures At Agency.
SANTA MONICA— A dozen or so senior level department heads will spend a week at an off-site retreat in Barbados to brainstorm ideas on how to lower operating costs at the agency. Much like most agencies, RPA is looking for ways to pinch pennies during the recession. "We figured it’d be a good idea to get out of the agency and clear our heads so we can figure out ways to save money," said Larry Postaer. "The fact is, we may be looking at layoffs. Which is something we’ll be discussing during our Marlin fishing outing or the Golf Tournament we’ve scheduled for the end of the retreat," he added. Mr. Postaer went on to say, "There’s simply has to be ways for our employees to tighten their belts a bit."


Study Shows Focus Groups Conducted Outside "Traditional Focus Group Setting" Yield Equally Inane Results.
NEW YORK— A trend by agency planners to conduct focus groups "where consumers live and use the products" and not "encumbered by traditional focus group settings" has been discovered to yield the same inane responses. "We firmly believe that by immersing ourselves in consumers lives and going out into their environments to do research, we get more honest results," said one unidentified agency planner. But a recent study shows that no matter where or how you ask consumers for their opinions, you tend to get the same stupid answers. The study performed in a college dorm setting revealed that consumers prefer "bright colors and shiny objects" in ads. The same study was performed in a typical focus group setting and yielded nearly identical results.


Former CDs Steve Rabosky, Dick Sittig Taking Credit For TBWA/C/D Energizer Win.
PLAYA DEL REY— Former TBWA/Chiat/Day creative directors Steve Rabosky and Dick Sittig are speaking out about their ex-agency’s Energizer win. "When I created the Energizer Bunny, I knew it would be something that would have the kind of longevity it has had. For Chiat/Day to retain the business just proves how strong my initial work on the account was," said Rabosky in a phone interview. Upon hearing of the Chiat/Day victory, Sittig said, "When I created the Energizer Bunny, all by myself and without anyone’s input whatsoever, I knew it would be tough for another agency to steal the account away. The two former creative directors, who both claim to be the originators of the campaign have yet to be contacted by TBWA Chiat/Day to thank them for helping keep the account.