Judgment Day

On Saturday I had the privilege of assisting three out-of-town judges for this year’s ADDY Awards. AdFed Suncoast is the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation, and our club processed approximately 300 student and professional entries from Southwest Florida. This is the first step in a three-tiered competition to recognize the best advertising creative in the United States.

Having served as last year’s club president and ADDY chair, I am intimately familiar with the amount of volunteer work required to accomplish this task. That’s why I have steered clear of the ADDY committee as much as possible this year, but when our current ADDY chair, Lindsey Nickel de la O, asked for help with judging this weekend, I was happy to lend a hand.

I have to say I’m glad I did for two reasons. It was a pleasure to meet our judges; a couple of ADDY veterans from Birmingham and Knoxville, and a first-timer from Gainesville. Other than an air travel issue that was beyond our control, they were pleased with our club’s organization and hospitality.

And they were impressed with the quality of work coming out of our region which is the second reason why I’m glad I was there. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to view all the entries. The creative thinking and production quality coming from Ringling College of Art and Design students continues to amaze me. Likewise the professional entries displayed a level of talent that, at times, transcends assumptions about small market advertising agencies.

Whether you’re in the business or just an admirer of commercial art, I would encourage you to attend the AdFed Suncoast ADDY Awards on February 22, 2014. Dubbed the ADDY Underground, the theme of the show is intended to thumb our noses at The American Advertising Awards, which is the American Advertising Federation’s attempt to rebrand the ADDYs.

It’s an inside joke that will hopefully translate into a fun night that breaks the mold of formal awards shows. Expect food trucks, graffiti, and bouncy boxing at the abandoned movie theatre in the parking lot of the Westfield Sarasota Square Mall.

Leave the tux at home and come prepared for a fight. You have to enter to win. And you had better kick some ass if you want to go the distance!

Until next week,

Matthew Anderson, President
Milestone Marketing Associates, Inc.