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The A-List Podcast: Episode 012 with Dan Kelleher

By Team DIGO | 06/28/2017 | in

In the latest episode of “The A-List” podcast, host and DiMassimo Goldstein Chief Creative Officer Tom Christmann sits down with creative maestro Dan Kelleher, Chief Creative Officer at Deutsch. Dan has worked at many of the world’s most renowned agencies, including Saatchi & Saatchi, BBDO, Cliff Freeman & Partners, and DeVito/Verdi. His work for brands such as BMW, DIRECTV, General Mills, FedEx, and Guinness has earned some of the industry’s top awards. Bill Clinton once said that his favorite commercials were the “Cable Effects” spots for DIRECTV, which Kelleher helped bring to life. Dan was also responsible for bringing us the BMW Super Bowl ad, “Newfangled Idea,” which Ad Age ranked among the best Super Bowl ads of all time.

Tune in to hear Dan discuss how perseverance paved his path to success, what today’s creatives can learn from the “funny vs. not funny” wall, and why honesty is the key to great client relationships.

Show Notes

[0:00 – 1:35] Intro
[1:36 – 7:04] Growing up in Plainfield, New Jersey, being passionate about art and deciding that medical illustration wasn’t the right field for him
[7:05 – 11:35] The Rocky of advertising: how perseverance landed him his first job in the print production department of Ammirati & Puris
[11:36 – 20:39] Working on his portfolio, attending ad school, and learning the ropes from great bosses
[20:40 – 29:32] Getting hired in his first creative role as junior art director at DeVito/Verdi
[29:33 – 34:36] Moving to Cliff Freeman & Partners and selling his first TV spot for Staples
[34:37 – 43:44] Lessons for young creatives from the “funny vs. not funny” wall
[43:45 – 49:14] Dan and Tom discuss their time at BBDO working for Gerry Graf
[49:15 – 54:32] Working at BBDO, getting more client interaction, and filming with Burt Reynolds
[54:33 – 59:50] The importance of honesty in developing great client relationships
[59:51 – 62:24] The value of building a strong agency culture
[62:25 – 69:20] What Dan looks for in a portfolio today and his one piece of advice for young creatives
[62:21 – 70:50] Outro

“The A-List” is a podcast produced by DiMassimo Goldstein, recorded at the Gramercy Post, and sponsored by the Adhouse Advertising School, New York’s newest, smallest, and hippest ad school. You can subscribe and rate the show on iTunes or listen along on SoundCloud. For updates on upcoming episodes and guests, be sure to like the A-List Podcast on Facebook and follow host Tom Christmann on Twitter. If you want to be interviewed for an upcoming episode, contact us at AdhouseNYC.com.

The A-List Podcast: Episode 008 with Rob Schwartz

By James Nieman | 05/17/2017 | in

A-List podcast

“Everything is interesting. If you find something boring, then you’re boring”

This week on “The A-List” podcast, host and DiMassimo Goldstein Chief Creative Officer Tom Christmann is joined in the studio by Rob Schwartz, the Chief Executive Officer at TBWA\CHIAT\DAY New York. Before becoming CEO, Schwartz enjoyed a long and very successful career as a creative, winning nearly every advertising award under the sun and spearheading the creative behind some of the world’s most recognized brands such as Nissan, McDonald’s, VISA, and Thomson Reuters, among others. Rob is also the host of his own podcast titled “The Disruptor Series,” for which he interviews people who are disrupting business culture and life.

In this episode, Tom and Schwartz break down the differences and similarities between agencies in LA and New York, discuss the managerial prowess of pirates, and talk about how the position of CEO is still very much a creative role. Full episode and show notes below!

Show Notes:

[0:00 – 1:02] Intro
[1:03 – 4:12] Rob’s childhood in New York and aspirations of becoming a writer
[4:13 – 9:30] Rob’s story of tearing up his LSAT during the test
[9:31 – 11:20] Rob’s experience in a leadership training school
[11:21 – 15:50] The epiphany that ultimately launched Rob’s advertising career
[15:51 – 20:43] Becoming an ad geek historian
[20:44 – 26:50] Mentorship and the value of work ethic
[26:51 – 28:59] The fear of failure
[29:00 – 34:20] The difference between agencies in LA and New York
[34:21 – 36:27] Working with supreme talent at Team One
[36:28 – 39:20] Catching the eye of Chiat
[39:21 – 47:20] The transition from a creative to a CEO and why it’s cooler to be the pirates than the navy
[47:21 – 50:17] Rob’s advice to young creatives
[50:18 – 52:13] The future of advertising
[52:14 – 55:52] Recommended books and “The Disruptor Series”
[55:53 – 56:56] Outro

“The A-List” is a podcast produced by DiMassimo Goldstein, recorded at the Gramercy Post, and sponsored by the Adhouse Advertising School, New York’s newest, smallest, and hippest ad school. You can subscribe and rate the show on iTunes or listen along on SoundCloud. For updates on upcoming episodes and guests, be sure to like the A-List Podcast on Facebook and follow host Tom Christmann on Twitter. If you want to be interviewed for an upcoming episode, contact us at AdhouseNYC.com.

The A-list Podcast: Episode 007 with Gerry Graf

By James Nieman | 05/11/2017 | in

A-List podcast

“I try to be really clear at what I’m not good at and then think about how I can change that… it’s about just being honest with yourself”

This week on “The A-List” podcast, host and chief creative officer of DiMassimo Goldstein Tom Christmann chats with the one and only Gerry Graf, founder and chief creative officer of Barton F. Graf.

Before starting his own agency, Graf spent the better half of two decades making award-winning creative for some of the most well-respected agencies in the world, such as Goodby Silverstein and Partners, BBDO, TBWA/Chiat Day, and Saatchi among others. For his outstanding work, Business Insider would later label him “The Most Creative Man in Advertising”.

Tune in as Gerry tells Tom all about his time writing for the “SNL of Notre Dame”, hunting rats in Venice Beach, the importance of making your own opportunities and why creativity is valued more today than ever. Full episode and show notes below!

Show Notes

[0:00 – 1:42] Intro
[1:43 – 4:56] Tom and Gerry’s past at BBDO and what it was like growing up in Lexington, MA
[4:57 – 7:30] Going pre-med to Notre Dame
[7:31 – 13:07] Writing for the Keenan Revue – the SNL of Notre Dame
[13:08 – 14:23] Post Notre Dame life and hunting rats in Venice Beach for six months
[14:24 – 17:15] Hating life as a stockbroker for two years in Boston
[17:15 – 22:03] Gery’s first portfolio, getting denied from agencies, and the introduction of Ken Fitzgerald
[22:04 – 25:48] Being offered a job at Saatchi & Saatchi while on a payphone in Grand Central
[25:49 – 27:13] The walk of shame
[27:14 – 29:22] Emulating Cliff Freeman
[29:23 – 37:50] Gerry’s “pull the rug” copywriting trick and getting his big break on Snickers while at BBDO
[37:51 – 44:54] Working at Goodby and finally Reuniting with Ken Fitzgerald after over a decade
[44:55 –50:25] Making your own opportunities, asking the right questions and not giving up
[50:26 – 52:43] Selling and maintaining a good idea
[52:44 – 57: 42] Getting in the industry today and valuing creativity
[57:43 – 58:57] Outro