But Wait! There’s More! (maybe)
But Wait! There’s More! (maybe) is the story of how the great and glamorous American Advertising Magic Show became a $500 billion global business, doomed itself in an ocean of corporate funny money and now struggles amid mounting chaos to be born anew in the Internet-driven media revolution of the 21st Century. The authors, both veterans of Adland’s Golden Age, describe and illuminate this important business evolution through the colorful history of the creation, growth and destruction of the world’s seventh largest advertising agency from its amusing on-the-cuff founding through the mega-agency pig-out of the last 20 years.. But Wait!, populated with a wide swath of habitués of the advertising and corporate world, tells through a fast moving narrative and a series of contemporary Conversations in famous and not-so famous restaurants what went well (great advertising), what went wrong (business judgment), and what went (advertising competence); addresses a major business upheaval that is profoundly affecting business, government and the core nature of mass communication; makes clear the need for a new business model, and explores eight possibilities (some good, some not). There are also “Lessons for the Model Ad Agency CEO” should any survive. Conclusion: Madison Avenue can be great again. (maybe)
So Buy IT!
You can order a copy of But Wait! There’s More! (maybe) at these fine online bookstores:
ISBN (TP): 978-1-4363-3092-3 ISBN (HB): 978-1-4363-3093-0
A vivid picture of the cliff that advertising is currently careening toward, Blindfolded. With ear plugs in. And what we can do about it. Maybe. A bigger picture of where advertising and media are going. From a couple of guys who have seen it all.
Jeff Goodby, Co-Chairman, Goodby. Silverstein & Partners (San Francisco), Advertising Age’s “Agency of the Year” for 2007
Don Creamer had an outstanding career building his agency business into the seventh biggest in the world. I am sure anyone interested in the advertising business will profit from reading this accurate and informative book.
Thomas Murphy, former CEO, Cap Cities/ABC (New York)
“But Wait! There’s More! (maybe)”…an insightful, important and personal chronicle of what many experienced over the past fifty years of this sometimes great, sometimes crazy but always exciting advertising agency business. An important read for anyone interested in the business.
Ed Eskandarian, Chairman, Arnold Worldwide (Boston)
Everything’s changed. Another world. Copy isn’t important. What I find funny is no longer interesting to people. It’s all what do you know about the Internet. Most important people in my agency are a 23-year old Filipino girl and a 19-year old former gas station attendant. They talk digital.
Jerry Della Femina, Chairman/CEO, Della Femina Rothschild Jery Partners (New York)
A seismic shift happening with a new generation of creative, marketing and business consultants comfortable in any medium. But silo-mentality barons in the holding companies are still trying to defend their turf causing further disarray.
Peter Scott, CEO, the Engine Group (London)