Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Next on MTV: The 'SAC

Rumors are swirling this morning about AAF president James Edmund Datri's remarks to turn NSAC into a reality TV show.  Its impact on perceptions of the ad industry is debatable, but there are only two ways it could affect NSAC students:

SUPER AWESOME
  • Potential employers would see the blood, sweat, and tears students pour into the campaign and would take NSAC seriously when considering job applicants.

  • Speaking of taking NSAC seriously--the case for AIM referred to NSAC as an "exercise," and sometimes I feel like the AAF wants NSAC to exist in its own make-believe world as something "those kids" are working on.  I know NSAC is different from real industry work, but I hope the AAF would realize that NSAC participants view their campaigns in the context of real-world advertising, not just a paper assignment.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION
  • I don't know about other schools, but the University of Minnesota's NSAC team has seen its fair share of drama that I wouldn't enjoy being broadcast.

  • Teams once comprised of geeky ad kids could morph into attention-seeking actors.  Nothing could be worse for the perception of the ad industry.

Of course, selling an NSAC sponsorship as a reality TV tie-in will also attract certain sponsors and deter others.  Any brand to sign on will be bold and unafraid to try new things, which would be fun for students to work on, but not representative of real-world advertising.  Also, the past three campaigns have been targeted to Gen Y consumers, and I don't see this trend shifting if a TV element is added.

I sure wouldn't have minded having my ideas showcased on national TV for agencies around the country to see, though...

5 comments:

madjazfin said...

"Real Account Execs of Hennepin County"........hahahaha

Claire Grinton said...

no one needs to know just how the account planning baby was born during spring break of '07...

i think NSAC brings in some pretty wonderful clients as it is, but having a budget for research, software, and travel would make things pretty spectacular.

while some of the industry folks I've talked to have no idea what NSAC is all about, the ones who do and more specifically the ones who have participated really make it known to their colleagues just how much that says about you. and because they participated in NSAC, they tend to be pretty well appreciated and move up within companies rather quickly, so...I gotta say the show would be pretty damn horrific on all levels.

besides, i dont think the client would particularly enjoy seeing the other side of us. let's stick to the 20 minute presentations.

Jeff said...

I'm guessing it makes for good RTV. If you think Reality TV is good/great. I think we all get that RTV is all about drama and how to exploit it for the masses to chew and chatter on.

I see NSAC providing entrepreneurial foundations to students and to that end, the show would probably be similar to the Apprentice. Someone new to the business of entrepreneurship could gain a lot, and those already immersed, a bit here and there. Those thinking of Advertising as a career will undoubtedly form opinions about their career path.

No doubt it would rattle a lot of students who probably see the opportunity for glory and fame but perhaps minimize the emotional pitfalls.

Like everything else you have to take the good with the bad!

From what I have seen, NSAC is a fantastic student opportunity and provides the motivated and talented a way to get started on their careers. The kind of experience that will help shape a lot of young people's futures. Part of that experience is relying on ideas and talent, not budgets.

Perhaps this should be preserved!

alicia houselog said...

I don't think I like the idea. Just from my own personal experience with NSAC, I cannot imagine the pressure of having a camera on you the entire time, especially during creative brainstorms. It's hard enough to not care about making an ass out of yourself and throwing your ideas out there in front of 15-20 people, but in front of a camera crew and potentially a television audience? I think it could hold creatives back.

Not to mention, I probably wouldn't have liked showing up to a bunch of cameras on the mornings when I came in with my big ol' shades on and a gallon of apple juice... champ? The CC probably wouldn't approve of seeing me then either. (YIKES!)

So although I am certain that Chariot would make up one crazy RTV show, I am not sure it would benefit from it.

Barkeep said...

I forgot about the account planning baby...

 
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