  Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 5007 Registered: 10-2003 |
I know we have several advertising pros on this site. I worked at several agencies and I know the "Adcraft" world is somewhat tight-knit. Anyone have any good stories or experiences in Detroit's advertising world? | ||
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone Post Number: 138 Registered: 03-2007 |
I have no personal experience...but my sister got a job working at Campbell Ewald back in the early 60's...right out of high school...her job consisted of going through all the local papers and cutting out all the ads that C/E developed and filing them away. Once she was done, she had to stay at her desk, but could knit or do anything else she wanted. I don't remember how much she made, but for the time it was a lot. She was able to buy a brand new car, take trips and vacations that most women her age couldn't afford. And believe it or not, she lost the job for being late to work all the time! But that's probably not what you were looking for :-) | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 5008 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yeah, just that. Would be sweet to hear more stories, especially ones about certain ad agencies on the Lodge that caught fire...hmmmmm | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 146 Registered: 08-2007 |
On the Lodge that caught fire? What? plz explain.. | ||
Leland_palmer Member Username: Leland_palmer Post Number: 389 Registered: 08-2004 |
Doner's building in Southfield caught fire. They ended up building an extra floor afterwards. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 148 Registered: 08-2007 |
ahhh, yeah, about ten years ago or so. The rumor about Brod boning the VP of research and knocking the candle over. Is that what you want to hear about or Sheldon's leaving his electric seat massager plugged in. | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 5010 Registered: 10-2003 |
lol...Doner and MARS both caught fire within years of each other and both have spanking new offices. How often do buildings just go up in flames? | ||
Thursdaynext Member Username: Thursdaynext Post Number: 382 Registered: 04-2006 |
August 4th, 1996. I had been working at Doner for 4 months when the building caught fire. I remember the day well; I was living with my sister at the time and she woke me up that Monday morning to say "I don't think you'll be going to work today, your building is on fire". What?••• I figured it had to be a joke, until she said come watch the news; there it was, super thick black smoke billowing out of the upper floor windows. I worked mainly out of my bosses house for months, having to pick up mail and faxes in a donated office space in the old Maccabees's building. We were eventually allowed back in the building, as long as I wore a hard hat, to retrieve any salvageable belongings. 10 years later, I never could get a straight answer as to the cause of the fire. Supposedly "electrical". Unfortunately no really good stories or experiences to speak of. Last year myself and many other senior level media people were the first in line to be let go when their major clients started dropping like flies. Basically, Doner is a sweatshop and most people who start out there would concur. The good things I remember most from being there are the handful of awesome people who knew how to make me laugh until I cried. The best thing I took away from there would be this handsome fellow I call my boyfriend. =) Oh, and then there was the couple caught shagging in a car in the parking structure one night. For the life of me I can't remember their names, but I do know that they were married...to other people. | ||
Detroitsuperfly Member Username: Detroitsuperfly Post Number: 85 Registered: 07-2005 |
Yes, I've worked for several. My experience is that ad people are worse cut throat a-holes than lawyers. The worst of the worst are at Sussman. I worked for them for a short time. I heard their reps curse at each other using words I've never heard before, screamed at the top of their lungs... the worst being the female partner. Campbell-Ewald Sussman Sykes Doner (Message edited by detroitsuperfly on October 06, 2007) (Message edited by detroitsuperfly on October 06, 2007) (Message edited by detroitsuperfly on October 06, 2007) | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 4200 Registered: 10-2004 |
quote:Maybe, he won't be screaming and referring to you as a female partner. | ||
14509glenfield Member Username: 14509glenfield Post Number: 1267 Registered: 05-2006 |
Y & R 211 W. Fort Street....Jan 1969 thru Jan 1971. Anyone from that era? Chrysler/Imperial/Plymouth stuff and staff. | ||
Thursdaynext Member Username: Thursdaynext Post Number: 383 Registered: 04-2006 |
"Maybe, he won't be screaming and referring to you as a female partner." I don't think I have to worry about that Livernois, that's not his style. He's also pretty much walked away from the business. I'm on the radio sales side now and it is a much more pleasant experience. There's no denying that I've also heard some very heated, choice words coming out of peoples offices and I've only found myself on the receiving end of a flurry F*Bombs once...once the jackass calmed down enough to realize I was not at fault, at least he had the decency to apologize. | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 5016 Registered: 10-2003 |
My sis works at Doner and likes it. Man, they have been letting people go left and right. They pay badly too from what I have heard. | ||
Thursdaynext Member Username: Thursdaynext Post Number: 384 Registered: 04-2006 |
Depending on what dept. your sister works in really defines the pay; Doner definitely keeps it's purse strings closed tight. Media Planning at Doner is pretty much a training ground for newbies. I noticed a 2 year revolving door in that dept. The planners learn everything they possibly can in 2 years and then move on to make 30%-50% more money elsewhere their very first year. I will give them this, they did offer very good benefits which can make up for some lack of pay. I also cannot knock my old boss. She was awesome and the glue that held that dept. together. One of the reasons the group I worked in had more employees that stayed longer than most was because of her. Great gal who we were all very loyal to as she was to us. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 3023 Registered: 11-2003 |
So who's left? I know C-E is still in Warren. Brogan is still in Detroit. How about BBDO? FCB? McCann (-Erickson?) Young & Rubicam? Just curious? | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 159 Registered: 08-2007 |
Brogan is in Birmingham, jwt is in Dearborn, McCann is in B-ham, bbdo (under it's new name)is in troy | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 3025 Registered: 11-2003 |
When did Brogan move to Birmingham? | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 160 Registered: 08-2007 |
http://www.brogan.com/ they're in the Peabody Mansion on Old Woodward ave I think they moved out of the Fisher Building after Kwame took over. They lost their Archer contact with Trudi. Brogan is the group that did the Poll about youths moving out of Michigan. As you know, they are not a polling company. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 3026 Registered: 11-2003 |
I was just surprised to read it, that's all. I friend of mine who used to do the closed caption MDCH spots years ago mentioned to me that he thought at the time it was strange that they haven't moved out. I also remember reading about how Marcie Brogan would claim that they had such stong ties to the city... | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 162 Registered: 08-2007 |
Funny how that works. | ||
Catman_dude Member Username: Catman_dude Post Number: 232 Registered: 03-2006 |
One thing I can say about car TV commercials- the foreign car ones are more creative and better than Ford, GM, or Dodge commercials. Detroit ad agencies seem to be in a straitjacket creatively when it comes to car ads. But then again maybe it's Chicago or New York ad agencies ruining it for domestic brands. Which ad agencies did you work for, Patrick? | ||
Mbr Member Username: Mbr Post Number: 245 Registered: 03-2005 |
Is BBDO the latest incarnation of the former Ross Roy agency that was on Jefferson Avenue? Was the ad business in Detroit big only because of Autos? Was Detroit considered a big Advertising town back in the heyday? | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 5020 Registered: 10-2003 |
Catman, I better not say the name, but it was a larger one and it was managed very badly. Seems to me that they refused to hire anyone outside of UM or MSU. Anyways, what was the story of Ross Roy? Where on Jefferson were they located? I also know Saatchi had an office in Detroit years ago as well. | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 1346 Registered: 02-2006 |
Wow, lots of Doner folks here. I too started my career at Doner. Yes, it's a sweatshop. Yes, the pay is awful. But if you work your butt off and impress the right people, promotions come faster than at other agencies, and then you move on when the offers start rolling in. That's what I did, and about 6 of my good friends as well. I too heard the story about a knocked-over candle starting the fire. Thursdaynext, I know that story, but also cannot remember who was involved. It was during one of the old-school holiday parties in the office building, was it not? (Message edited by focusonthed on October 07, 2007) | ||
Mbr Member Username: Mbr Post Number: 246 Registered: 03-2005 |
Patrick, Ross Roy Agency was on Jefferson at Joseph Campau, sort of near the IHOP. They moved to the burbs in the '80's I believe. The building is still there but i'm not sure what goes on there. I had two friends at Doner, and everything focusonthed said is exactly what they said. | ||
Catman_dude Member Username: Catman_dude Post Number: 233 Registered: 03-2006 |
Anyone here used to work for Leo Burnett Company out in Chicago?? | ||
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess Post Number: 493 Registered: 08-2006 |
Ross Roy is part of BBDO, since some time in the mid- to late-1990s | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 170 Registered: 08-2007 |
I miss Harrys which was next to the Ross Roy building on Jefferson. A great bar where ad agency types hung out. | ||
Harpernottingham Member Username: Harpernottingham Post Number: 285 Registered: 04-2006 |
Campbell-Ewald was quite the experience. And not a good one. Some great people. But one effed-up company. 2003. I'll just leave it at that. | ||
Andysrc Member Username: Andysrc Post Number: 195 Registered: 07-2005 |
I'm another former Doner guy, and I can confirm that the pay was not quite up to par as other agencies. There were good things though. I started my career there and I learned things more quickly there than I would have at other agencies. When I was in client meetings, friends at other agencies were still mailing out packages for their boss. I'm sad to hear they've been on such a bad run lately. I had always heard the fire started upstairs somewhere, but never heard the story about the candle.. |
