Most advertising agencies aim to please their clients, but some requests go beyond the call of duty. The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service providing marketing, advertising, creative and
web professionals on a project basis, recently surveyed more than 200 executives and account managers with the nation's 1,000 largest advertising firms for their most unusual client requests. Those
surveyed were asked: "What is the strangest request you have heard of an agency receiving from a client?" Here are some of their responses:
* "The client invited himself over to my parents' house
for Thanksgiving dinner and ended up staying the entire four-day weekend."
* "I was asked to help a client's son with his homework assignments."
* "We were asked to provide scientific proof
that our advertising campaign would be successful."
* "The client requested that we design the interior of his corporate jet."
* "I was asked to 'decorate' a client's office with tissue paper
for her birthday."
* "I was once asked to dress up as a koala bear for a trade show."
* "My firm was asked to plan a birthday party for our client's daughter."
* "We were asked to create
and transport a 7-foot replica of a client's product (a bottle) for a press junket."
* "I was urged to cast a family member in a commercial."
* "Our firm was asked to host a client's wedding
reception."