Commentary

Just An Online Minute... ANDY > Tiger

International ANDY Awards, Times Center, New York
April 7, 2010

Smack dab in spring break tourist central, on probably the most beauteous night yet this year, the Advertising Club-sponsored International ANDY Awards warmed up the chilled Times Center, dumping into its belly the easily bruised egos, the Technicolor daydreams, and the adver-spys of the NYC advertising industry.  Frothy beverages were thrown with reckless abandon down the throats of those guests attempting to erase the burn of storyboards nixed, while others huddled in snark-sprayed cliques, tickling each others' ears with the seeds of competition.  Check your sweaty seat for a butt print, and come with me -- I'll show you what went down...

First of all, location was not the only difference this year.  They went the ole crowdsourcing route - letting the "community" (which I'll assume is the advertising community, not just anyone at the YMCA) choose the jury - the group who essentially selects the final honorees.  Crowdsourcing is dangerous business, but the "fresh mix of talent" ANDY's Co-Chairman, Ty Montague spoke of was welcome in a world where no doubt the loudest and most self-promoted keep getting the switch with which to rule the rest of the workhorses. 

New categories like ERM (Earned Media), PMLB (Best Program to Make People's Lives Better), and RESET, an award for innovative thinking, were also introduced.

I take back my Times Center bashing.  I forgot how awesome the orange walls were.  And, since the guests weren't crammed into a tiny room together -- nay! They were spread throughout the first floor -- it was a clean and comfortable set-up, if not a little toasty, but I think I was the only one sweating like a guilty trollop at church camp.

To the right of the entrance, mounted in a Boy Scout PSA poster contest fashion, were the student entries to the competition.  I was confused by the Scrabble print entries and I'm not embarrassed to admit it.  Milling about near the print stuff was Mike Chapman, Editor in Chief at Adweek; JWT's Director of Communications, Kenneth Hein; and PR Manager at JWT, Erin Donahue.  Nearby, sipping on the mango margarita (or something close to that) I found Lakpa Sherpa, marketing and sales dude for Luerzer's Archive ,and his pal Sid Lama of the International Institute of Learning, which is a more difficult way to say "school."

Putting out the vibe with his sparse beard was AgencySpy's Matt Van Hoven, who was later joined by the mutton-chop-adorned, fedora-topped Kirin Aditham.  Both writers' vibes seemed to have a good rate of magnetism as, one by one, advertising heavy hitters like R/GA's Nick Law and Gerry Graf, CCO of Saatchi & Saatchi NY gravitated to the spy-namic duo.  Every time I hear that agency name I want to start my own agency and name it Sasquatch & Sasquatch.  Can someone get on that logo for me? They have to be b-boy Sasquatches.

Down the stairs that I didn't fall, I saw HUSH Studios' weirdos-in-residence Tim Nolan and David Schwarz.  Tim would like you to know he was wearing a sweater from Cardigan NY, and it truly was delightfully soft.  Heading back up the stairs (I considered last night exercise for those of you keeping score at home), I eyeballed a striking tattoo in progress.  Its canvas was the arm of Carolyn Hill, and the artist behind it was Carolyn's husband.  And Carolyn's husband is so blissfully talented at tattoo and illustration that the dude is booked up for life --AND he wields his needle privately (hello, no sharing of the profits with a parlor).

I almost forgot to tell you about the food, can you believe that?  It was the cutest food ever.  Popcorn shrimp served in adorable red-striped popcorn boxes filled with crisp green lettuce, mini mini burgers plopped onto garlicky crostinis for easy mouth-popping, and mac and cheese (yes yes yes!) lined one station, while at another were bite-sized apps with a Chinese flair, all served in little lime/Kelly green take-away containers.  These splashes of color poking through the hot pink candles and the orange walls played well with my camera.

The award show kicked off with Ty Montague explaining that his raspy throat situation was due to a fun bought of laryngitis and that the only thing helping was the half jar of steroids he took.  Laughter, questioning glances.   What followed was commercial after crafty commercial in their entirety, and they were rightly honored.  I found myself giggling obnoxiously more than once and wondering why I, the TVaholic, hadn't seen 89.45% of those shown.  What channel am I supposed to be watching to see these?

The lethal two-hour open-bar reception was fabulous as always, the food was a cute surprise, and the Times Center was a perfect bright and sassy host for the event.  You can find a roundup of the winners on the ANDY Awards site.

Photos are up on Flickr!

Send those invitations to your events and parties to kelly@mediapost.com

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