The Hindu Business Line : Got ideas?

Yes that's the question the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) is asking you in its call for entries for the Goafest. Their visual is centred on a human figure made from the outline of an electric wire. It has a bulb as its head and looks kinda cute. Not the most original idea, but at least they didn't use a tubelight.

The "call for entries" includes forms for creative awards and for media awards.

I think the light bulb has come on bright and strong over someone's head at the AAAI. By clubbing creative and media awards, they have hit two birds with one stone. Not only does this expand the reach and scope of the Goafest awards, but by involving the media heavies, it rakes in the moolah, dearie!

In any case, the creative awards are always sponsored by the media big guns. Now, instead of just forking out the big bucks and guzzling their own booze, the media types can have a little excitement, and maybe even have their teams coming back with the Goafest dolphins.

While on the topic, we had told you earlier that the contest for a new name and logo for this award would end in what the non-creative types would call "status quo ante." Or, in simple English, a vote for `no change.' Well, the form proves it is still called Goafest, and the statuette will remain the vertical profile of a dolphin. Now do you understand why smart people like you read this column? They stay ahead of the times.

Dolphies?

You have the Lions and Pencils and even the Oscars. What does one call the statuette presented by the AAAI at the Goafest? What about `the Dolphies?'

Like it? See, from the time we saw the AAAI form that asked, "Got ideas?" we have been asking questions in this column. The answers are expected from you.

Anyway, the Goafest will be held in Goa (no surprises here) on April 20 and 21. Send in your entries and book your tickets. It could be a lot of fun. To entertain you even more, the AAAI have posted six TVCs on YouTube. Now that's so "kewl!"

Is it true?

Colvyn Harris of JWT

Sticking to our interrogative tone this week, let's ask a few more questions.

Is it true that though the last date for sending in entries for the Abby awards organised by the Ad Club Bombay has passed, many large agencies are yet to respond?

Is it true that JWT has opted out of the awards race this year? Very strange, you would agree, when you recall that Colvyn Harris has been committed to raise the profile of JWT as a creative agency all through last year. And, JWT entered both the Abby and Goafest last year. Coming as it does after Contract has bowed out of the awards race, it removes two big agencies straight away.

Is it true that once again Balki will play the role of the runaway bride this year? Lowe has evidently not sent any entries for the Abby awards again. Is it true that, at least till the time of going to press, McCann has not sent any entries for the Abby awards though Prasoon Joshi has verbally assured the Ad Club biggies that it would participate? Is it true that large agencies like Rediffusion and R. K. Swamy BBDO have only sent in a token entry each for the Abby awards? Then would it be true that this year, like the last year, Mr Piyush Pandey and his boys and girls in black are set to rent some more shelf space in Kamla Mills Compound to store the new batch of Abby awards they will be taking back in March?

Who are the big agencies entering the Abby awards? O&M and their stable, FCB Ulka, oh my, we are counting ... and would love to know.

OOH!

The oohs and aahs are reserved for the out-of-home (OOH) segment which have made Mahim in Mumbai the cynosure of all eyes. First it was Ginger hotels which constructed a life-size cut-out of its hotel at the Mahim Reclamation and actually had people sleeping and sitting in the `rooms.'

Now, a friend tells us he saw a real pretty young thing actually trotting on a real treadmill to advertise some product. And there lies the rub! These silly men are so intent on watching the PYT as they drove by, they can't even tell us what she was promoting. The hazards of innovation!

Hutch or Vodaphone?

What do you get for $12 billion? Millions of mobile subscribers and one pug.

Everyone in brand-mad Mumbai is worried about the fate of Chika. No, we aren't referring to Kris Srikaanth who is doing very well thank you. We are concerned about the future of Chika the pug who is the hero of all the Hutch "you and I" television commercials. Will Vodaphone pull the plug on the pug? That is the billion-dollar question.

And what about the little boy who runs in front of the adorable pug? Oh, he will grow up!

Victoria welcomes comments at brandline@thehindu.co.in

Victoria

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