So, this is the first blog post about the Flackenhacks 2008.
I would love to have won the ‘Wank 2.0: User-generated twat’ award but sadly had to give way to Richard Bailey who wasn’t present to collect his. I had my speech ready and everything (can’t repeat it here – remember what happened to Russell Brand).
In Richard’s defence, I do have to say that I admire his forward-thinking approach to teaching students about PR. Having met one of Porter Novelli’s excellent graduates tonight, I think we need high-calibre people open to all forms of communication and he’s one of the people trying to make that happen.
Anyway, the night started off promisingly: I couldn’t find the club, but fortunately a fellow Flackenhacker was equally lost and we found the (cut-off due to roadworks) street together.
After that it was plain sailing. At the front desk we had all the stickers arranged in alphabetical order, but we quickly found out it’s difficult finding people alphabetically when the stickers are across two tables. I managed to mask my hopeless ineptitude at locating stickers by pretending to ‘do a shuffle’ until/unless someone else managed to find them for me.
From then on the evening progressed well: awards were announced, prizes were given. As I say, I was prepared to accept the – I repeat – ‘Wank 2.0: User-generated twat’ award but obviously I wasn’t twatty enough to have done so. Must try harder.
Highlights for me were meeting:
- Really great people staffing the front desk. Say what you like about PR, it does employ people who can damn well sort things out.
- Other people who found themselves astonished to be affiliated to PR (myself included – I mean, what is it all about? I mean, really?), and yet had incredibly important things to offer.*
- Great people who are pointing towards where PR should be, such as Tiger Two Tiger.*
- Stephen Waddington, a fellow PR blogger, with whom I agreed.
- Some journalists.
* Today, I read/saw on Shel Holz’s blog, an excellent video on The Most Dangerous Idea in PR. Part of it discusses how PR will soon start subsuming advertising, creative and digital. My take on this, having been initially employed as a copywriter and then social media thingy within PR: yes, but you’ve got to start making space for them.
So, all in all a fantastic evening, thank you to Peter who made sure everything ran smoothly. See you next year!
Thanks. All I can say about the ‘award’ is that I’m honoured to have been shortlisted among such a strong and excellent field. Keep up the good work.
Glad to see that our very own Nick Scargill made such a fine impression on you Brendo!
Interesting logo.