So there’s a lot of hoohah regarding alleged corruption inside FIFA.
We have the F.A. [the most apt initials ever to grace an organisation], British government ministers, ex-footballers, television shows and newspapers all banging on about how fucked up the FIFA organisation is … and while they are [probably] right, I find it quite amusing that all this momentum has occurred only after England had another World Cup bid fail.
They say a principal is only a principal when it costs you something … well given the allegations against FIFA have been around for years [exemplified by Andrew Jennings wonderful expose, ‘Foul’] it’s funny the British World Cup contingent didn’t feel it was an issue when they were still in the running to host the biggest competition on earth.
This situation isn’t that far removed from many agency pitches.
So many companies talk about how they’re looking for an agency that will give them great strategy and innovative ideas and then end up plumping for a firm that will give them another piece of non-descript 30″ television advertising wallpaper because they’re either cheap, willing to put up with whatever shit is thrown at them or there’s an existing relationship between the 2 firms at a very senior level.
The thing is, so many people in adland are aware of this reality and yet they choose to ignore the situation either because they need to be seen to be playing the game or they’re willing to sell their grandmother into slavery for a bit more income, regardless of the negative impact it has on their employees or they believe their strategic/creative brilliance will change the pre-determined outcome – and while that might happen, it’s sadly the exception rather than the rule which means a lot of people will spend a lot of time and effort doing something that has little chance of ever achieving the collective goal.
What a waste of time and talent.
To be honest, I quite admire the agencies that win these sorts of clients because they demonstrate a much better ability to read clients true agendas than those agencies who ignore all the signs and go with producing yet another ad campaign regardless of the problem.
Sure, I’d rather not work with companies who start relationships in such an underhand way, but if you know the risks before you play the game, then you have to shoulder some of the blame when you end up on the losing side.