Filed under: Comment
So a while back … when I was still trying to make WPP/Y&R good … I received an email from a guy representing the Asia Brand Summit.
To be honest, I’d never heard of the organisation – but because I am more of a social leper than a butterfly, that meant nothing.
Anyway I read the email and saw – very excitingly – I was being invited to speak at their 17th annual conference which was going to be held in Mumbai.
However as I read on, I saw they’d made a huuuuuuge mistake.
You see after all the background of the organisation and abit about the upcoming conference, I saw this …
“The committee are pleased to announce that you have been chosen as the recipient of the individual Brand Leadership award”
Now to be honest, this wasn’t the first time I had received an email that was meant for another Robert Campbell [ie: one of the founders of Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe [RKYR] that was bought out by Y&R] but it was the first time it was for something other than house inspections or external meetings.
So I wrote back explaining the situation and went home.
Next day there was an email from the same guy … however instead of apologising for their mistake, they insisted it was me they wanted to award.
Now I’d like to pretend that I’m all nonchalant about it – but I’m not – I’m well happy.
Lets face it, I’m an obnoxious, opinionated bugger – hell, even clients call me that – so to even get invited to lunch is a big thing for me, let alone to be given an award.
From work I did at WPP/Y&R.
WPP/Y&R!!!
Brand Leadership!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Robert Campbell!!!
Brand Leadership!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
WPP/Y&R!!!
Robert Campbell!!!
Brand Leadership!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
To be honest, I’m still sure it’s some massive mistake … however even if it ends up being as big a misunderstanding as when Michael Jackson thought he was getting the ‘Artist Of The Millennium’s award when in reality the host, Britney Spears, was just calling him HER artist of the millennium … I’m going to go and I’m going to enjoy myself.
Saying that, if it ends up being some sick ‘Andy joke’ then the guy is dead.
Making poor George die of embarrassment at some ad function is one thing, getting his friend and colleague to fly to India under the guise of an award is something entirely different.
Yes … I know it’s the sort of practical joke I’d love to get away with but like most people, the joke wears pretty thin when you’re the victim, ha!
[It doesn’t help that for the past few months, he’s been sending me daily emails asking if I’m more or less nervous about this event than my first day at Google. He’s a shit, a shit I tell you!]
Anyway what I’m trying to say is that I’m in Delhi and Mumbai next week so in the unlikely event anyone from there [1] reads this blog and [2] wants to catch up … then drop me a note and as long as I’m not being held by Indian Police for trying to get into the country under false pretences, I’ll hopefully be able to meet up.
Oh and before I go … for the first time ever in Asia, PSFK are holding a conference in Singapore on Oct 10th.
If it’s anything like their previous conferences it should be fantastic – however as I’m speaking at this one – it might be abit dodgy.
On the bright side, Charles and a bunch of other mates are also presenting … and given I know how clever and entertaining they are … I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone in the region who cares about the commercial power of creativity to buy a ticket and have a toptastic day.
Right, lets see whether the next 7 days are going to be fun or humiliating beyond belief!
26 Comments so far
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ha, awesome.
are you going to tell them you’re the wrong guy during your acceptance speech when it’s all too late?
congrats anyways… i guess. have fun!
Comment by Age September 19, 2008 @ 8:26 amNo anti George post today Robert.
Did you chicken out? π
Have fun and if it does all turn out to be an Andy prank, you cannot charge the costs back to us.
Comment by George September 19, 2008 @ 8:38 amAfter all the grief you’ve given me I hope Andy has pulled off the joke of the century. π
Well done, hope you rant yourself red on the podium.
Comment by Pete September 19, 2008 @ 9:06 amDespite your skill in underplaying your ability and success I am not in the least surprised to read of your accolade and I congratulate you and your team on achieving this recognition in such a relatively small period of time.
There is a possibility that I may be in Singapore during your PSFK presentation so I will be in attendance clapping wildly as you talk about the vision and ingenuity of the Virgin brand.
Comment by Lee Hill September 19, 2008 @ 10:28 amrob, i just have to say “you rock spatchcock!”.. well done! i think you should totally be the ‘wrong rob campbell’. in fact,expect a speech about the outstanding achievements of RKCR over the last couple of years and it’s an honour to be recognised for them..
and when you’re at PSFK, give charles a kiss for me. he needs it π
Comment by lauren September 19, 2008 @ 10:39 amIf I pretend to be RKCR ‘Rob Campbell’ the audience will be happy because I’m 100% certain that’s who they’re expecting … it’ll be far more effective [in buggering up minds] if I simply be myself and rant alot π
Alternatively, I could say I’m this guy …
http://www.physiol.ox.ac.uk/~raac/
… or this one …
http://www.robcampbell.com/
… or even this one …
http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~campber/index.html
[How scary is his photo? Mind you, he’d probably say the same about mine!]
And Lauren, you want to be careful in offering kisses to people having a bit of a shitty time because Andy will start complaining he has a headache every 2 mins.
But don’t worry, it might not be a kiss, but I’ll certainly give Charles very big [manly] hug.
Comment by Rob September 19, 2008 @ 10:56 amCongratulations,
I just checked the profile of speakers , Must say your’s is one of the interesting* ones!Ha!
Lighten the place up with a nice talk
Comment by bhaskar September 19, 2008 @ 11:37 amGiven they are still saying I work at Y&R, I am getting increasingly worried they have the wrong guy. Mind you, at least the conference is actually happening – that’s already better than what I was thinking was going to happen π
Comment by Rob September 19, 2008 @ 11:53 amYou understand WPP will class that award as their property. You’ll be arrested for theft the second you pick it up. On a positive note you’ll have another country to cross off on your “prison cells of the World” list. Always a silver lining.
Comment by Bazza September 19, 2008 @ 1:13 pmRock On. First receive the ward and then say let the audience know about the mistake. π Ha. Am in Kolkata at the mo. Let me know your schedule, will fly down to Mumbai accordingly. Pure Darjeeling Tea on me. π
Comment by pooR\ September 19, 2008 @ 1:46 pmI know how you feel Robert.
I’m to collect the Bavarian garden association’s award for best kept shed.
Comment by Marcus September 19, 2008 @ 2:18 pmCongrats on the brand life time achievement award.
So when are u moving to Boca Raton?
Comment by Nick Rothstein September 19, 2008 @ 2:37 pmWell played. No one could mistake you for the other Campbell, your didn’t model your ears on Dumbo.
Comment by northern September 19, 2008 @ 3:35 pmI’m still waiting for my Best Pot of Tea In The North award.
Well done I hope!
Comment by Rob Mortimer September 19, 2008 @ 4:17 pm“I would like to thank no one for making this possible. It is all down to me because I am brilliant. Infact I am surprised it took you so long to recognise my brilliance but that’s OK because you little people aren’t as intellectually advanced as me.”
Marcus Brown.
Comment by Rob September 19, 2008 @ 4:21 pmBest Shed Conference August 21st, 2008.
More like bland readership.
Comment by John September 19, 2008 @ 4:33 pmStop talking about the people on this blog John!
And I should point out Marcus’ script writer is Andy Boucher π
Comment by Rob September 19, 2008 @ 4:42 pmI only hope that after my award the garden center will employ me. That’s my dream.
Comment by Marcus September 19, 2008 @ 4:43 pmI can feel the comradery growing. Oh, it will be something special indeed!
Comment by Nick Rothstein September 19, 2008 @ 4:59 pmPerhaps they’ll get you to sing in their adverts Marcus.
Comment by John September 19, 2008 @ 5:12 pmFuck off Dodds.
Comment by Marcus September 19, 2008 @ 5:16 pmmarcus, doddsy, get a room! your lovin’ is fogging up the windows..
Comment by lauren September 19, 2008 @ 5:20 pmLets restart iPOD Singing … but to ADVERTS!!!
Comment by Rob September 19, 2008 @ 5:38 pmDodds has to go first. I’ll pay him if he does – there’s a sack of horse shit in the corner of the shed he can have. You know, for his roses.
Comment by Marcus September 19, 2008 @ 5:40 pmCome on Doddsy, show us what keeps the ladies at bay. [I might need to rephrase that!]
Comment by Rob September 19, 2008 @ 5:47 pmAh, I can imagine Rob being pulled of the stage by a furiously Sir Martin who engages the whole audience in a fist fight which will cause both to end up in jail. Well at least you could say, you saved the world, Rob.
Comment by Seb September 19, 2008 @ 7:09 pm