The Sacred Sacrament
Everyone remembers their first. Nervous and fumbling, looking back on it you're surprised you were even invited upstairs. Heart pulsating, you try to look confident, like you’ve done it before. And then it happens, the one thing you were hoping wouldn’t, letting out a slight moan...there is mess everywhere and you scramble for tissues to clean it up…
What will your rep think, you can’t believe you have spilt a glass of wine and it’s your first Friday lunch.
When I first started, the Friday lunch was the one thing that kept you afloat. The one thing that made all the account queries, material instruction and invoicing worthwhile. It was the one time that you could walk into the office half cut and feel privileged to work in this beautiful industry. You get to eat and drink like a king for a few hours, dulling the painful reality that your entree costs more than you would earn in a week.
Having questioned the careless spending habits of publishers last week, we must clarify that this is not one of them. We are of the firm belief that it’s an essential, a reward for hard work, a thankyou for a booking or a chance to get to know your rep so you can ask them more than what they have planned for the weekend.
Whatever it’s for, we believe that there is a right and wrong way to do it, a code that was carved by the madmen of the 60’s and handed down from generation to generation. This direction to degustation has been the one constant through the ages in an industry that changes daily.
Below are what we believe to be the 10 rules of engagement for the sacred Friday lunch:
1. Quality of company: a free lunch is great but sitting opposite someone that boring can be as awkward as a new episode of ‘Hey Hey its Saturday’. Be careful WHO and WHAT you say yes to.
2. There is no such thing as a free lunch: If it’s not a thank you for a booking its a ‘butter you up’ so tread carefully... many good campaigns have been lost to slick haired Jedi mind tricking reps who have the ability to let guilt get in the way of your better judgement.
3. Never ask for a lunch: Never! Unless it’s at the pub with a rep that you have had minimum 1 years experience with and have at least 3 inside jokes. If you think it’s acceptable, trust us when we say... Your rep hates you!
4. Back to the office: We don’t care if there were stripper’s pouring you “Cristal” while you played midget throwing. The second you step back in the office you silently walk to your desk and say nothing. No matter how fantastic it was, never admit it. Lunches are either “awful” or “yeah it was ok”. It will only make the office martyr angry and draw attention to the fact that you’re absolutely legless.
5. Talking Shop: Weekday breakfasts are suitable for talking business. Friday lunches are sacred and left for banter only, which is why we stress the importance of rule number 1.
6. Follow up email: Thank them!
7. Envy: If you’re one of the lucky few members of your team to be invited, do not be surprised when you hear that everyone was bitching about you while you were away... its expected.
You may have noticed that there are only seven thus far. Being the people’s blog we thought it only fair that we get your perspective and contribution. Comment below and let us know what we’ve missed, the final ten will be published in the next issue of AdNews!
Everyone remembers their first. Nervous and fumbling, looking back on it you're surprised you were even invited upstairs. Heart pulsating, you try to look confident, like you’ve done it before. And then it happens, the one thing you were hoping wouldn’t, letting out a slight moan...there is mess everywhere and you scramble for tissues to clean it up…
What will your rep think, you can’t believe you have spilt a glass of wine and it’s your first Friday lunch.
When we first started, the Friday lunch was the one thing that kept you afloat. The one thing that made all the account queries, material instruction and invoicing worthwhile. It was the one time that you could walk into the office half cut and feel privileged to work in this beautiful industry. You get to eat and drink like a king for a few hours, dulling the painful reality that your entree costs more than you would earn in a week.
Having questioned the careless spending habits of publishers last week, we must clarify that this is not one of them. We are of the firm belief that it’s an essential, a reward for hard work, a thankyou for a booking or a chance to get to know your rep so you can ask them more than what they have planned for the weekend.
Whatever it’s for, we believe there is a right and wrong way to do it, a code that was carved by the madmen of the 60’s and handed down from generation to generation. This direction to degustation has been the one constant through the ages in an industry that changes daily.
Below are what we believe to be the 10 rules of engagement for the sacred Friday lunch:
1. Quality of company: a free lunch is great but sitting opposite someone boring can be as awkward as a new episode of ‘Hey Hey its Saturday’. Be careful WHO and WHAT you say yes to.
2. There is no such thing as a free lunch: If it’s not a "thank you for a booking", its a "butter you up" so tread carefully... many good campaigns have been lost to slick haired Jedi mind tricking reps who have the ability to let guilt get in the way of your better judgement.
3. Never ask for a lunch: Never! Unless it’s at the pub with a rep that you have had a minimum 1 years experience with and have at least 3 inside jokes. If you think it’s acceptable, trust us when we say... Your rep hates you!
4. Back to the office: We don’t care if there were stripper’s pouring you Cristal while you played midget throwing. The second you step back in the office you silently walk to your desk and say nothing. No matter how fantastic it was, never admit it. Lunches are either “awful” or “yeah it was ok”. It will only make the office martyr angry and draw attention to the fact that you’re absolutely legless.
5. Talking Shop: Weekday breakfasts are suitable for talking business. Friday lunches are sacred and left for banter only, which is why we stress the importance of rule number 1.
6. Follow up email: Thank them!
7. Envy: If you’re one of the lucky few members of your team to be invited, do not be surprised when you hear that everyone was bitching about you while you were away... it's expected.
You may have noticed that there are only seven thus far. Being the people’s blog we thought it only fair that we get your perspective and contribution. Comment below and let us know what we’ve missed, the final ten will be published in the next blog.
