• by Kelly Samardak , September 22, 2008

OMMA Awards Reception, Marriott Marquis, New York
September 18, 2008

Like A Tribe Called Quest, OMMA was on award tour. I didn't see Q-Tip, but I used them. What I did see were a bunch of people gussied up, drooling over sushi, some hoping to win and others there to show support. What better way to wrap up what was also the first day of OMMA Global New York than with a big acrylic oblong purple and orange OMMA Award? It's every little creative director's dream. Raise the curtains!

I ran over to the OMMA Awards straight from the OMMA Global New York Kickoff Cocktail Reception in the Expo Hall, where I had proudly joined the marketing/media nerd ranks in "Rock Band" glory. Ah, yes, nothing lets out photog stress buds like banging on a fake drum kit in the middle of "Business Development (a-hem, sales) Managers/Directors/Executives."

The first thing I noticed as I headed over was that some people really got dressed up for this. This was my first OMMA Awards so I had no idea how seriously people took it, how irreverent the OMMA crew would be (if you've ever read it, you'll know they're an irreverent bunch), and most importantly, how things would be run.

It's always a little odd to photog a MediaPost event like this -- like I just got adopted and they forgot to invite me to the family reunion. Ahead of time Marketing, Sales, and Production are planning their faces off, but I'm never in those tete a tetes. So, OMMA Award attendee - your theme surprise was just as surprising to me, which made for a quirky night.

"You're going to be running around a lot," said Ken Fadner, publisher of OMMA and Media magazines and online publications galore for MediaPost, without an ounce of "but you can debate that." It was sealed; I would be running around a lot. Ken continued, "I hope you're wearing comfortable shoes," and he looked at my feet with me. My feet were wrapped up in my all-nonsense Steve Madden patent leather strappy wedges. Oh yes, they're as awesome as they sound. I could raise quite a ruckus in these things. But run around in them? Yeah...

The award show was airline-themed minus the extra charges for baggage (you know you've got some), with our executive sales staff, marketing staff, and some extras dressed like sassy flight attendants, armed with trays stacked with OMMA Awards and champagne. The guests, who had just guzzled from the open bar and copious helpings of meat, risotto (were those scallops?), and fresh to your face sushi slabs and rolls, were arranged in coach class and first class -- and we, the flight attendants and I, were to zip up and down the aisles gracefully handing out the awards to the deserved winners with a quickness. Since three new categories had been added to the show, the last thing we wanted to hear were complaints of torturous length. 

So what happened, you ask? Well, if you want the rundown of the award winners and best in show, you can find them over here. In a nutshell, you really need to know this: Those awards were big and heavy, guests dug the food (I forgot to eat!) people really, REALLY like being photographed with acrylic (we could have shaved "OMMA" into baby sheep and people would have been just as happy... ooo... ideas for next year!), winners and losers were either laughing with/at or completely offended by Maureen Langan, the emcee of the show, who one guest described as the poor man's Kathy Griffin.

I think it's important to call out the Member's Choice award winners.   Winning for Integrated Online Campaigns was Avenue A | Razorfish - Westin Hotels & Resorts, for Online Advertising Creativity there was a tie between Avenue A | Razorfish/Euro RSCG Worldwide - Nabisco/Ritz, "Open for Fun" and Element79 for Gatorade's "Ball Girl", and for Web Site Excellence, BabyCenter won with babycenter.com.    Big thanks to voters like you, who took the time to honor who you thought really kicked some online media, marketing, and advertising butt. 

Oh yeah, and I twisted my ankle so hardcore while running around to snap pictures, even getting one on the way down. But get this, the show wrapped in less than an hour and a half, despite a few top secret hiccups. With that I would like to officially welcome you to Advertising Week or, "my road to the rubber room" -- where, just for you, I will be hitting at least three parties a night, snapping away, and taking notes. So drink your Crystal Light Energy and keep your eyes right here, every day (but don't slack on your day job!)

Invite kelly@mediapost.comto your super awesome October events!

Relive the excitement and sushi in the Flickr photos!

Follow me to the depths of Manhattan on Twitter (are you sure?)