Goose wrote:
> "In the ruins of ancient Pompeii, archaeologists discovered a Greek
> character pressed into the now-frozen dust of the city's streets and
> byways.  After much study, they determined that it was a logo embossed
> on the soles of prostitutes sandals, so wherever they walked, they left
> a trail of footsteps that said, "Follow me!"  Thus proving, once
> and for all, that advertising is the world's second oldest
> profession. To celebrate this discovery, I am proud to present one of
> the maddest rants about the depredations, machinations and general
> skullduggery of my chosen career ever penned to paper. Now it may seem
> somewhat contradictory that a senior executive at a major Madison
> Avenue advertising agency should be writing the preface to a book whose
> primary purpose is to show small and medium sized businesses how to
> avoid using the services of major Madison Avenue advertising agencies.
> But my fond hope is that by following his advice, your business will
> become very, very large.  Perhaps global.  Then, in gratitude for all
> the trouble, pain and lucre George's wise counsel has spared you and
> your company, you'll give your account to me. Without a review.
> Because while everything George says about the evils of ad agencies is
> absolutely and incontrovertibly true, my agency is the one exception.
> On this continent.  In this city. (This may not save my job, but it was
> worth the shot.) Having worked with George on numerous occasions in our
> equally checkered careers, I can assure you that what George doesn't
> know about the insanity and paranoia of this business isn't worth
> knowing.   And he knows something more: how to avoid becoming part of
> it. You'll find tales of crooks, fakirs, politicians, bozos and
> boozers galore.  Stories to raise your hackles and the hair on the back
> of your neck. But you'll also learn how to sort the wheat from the
> chaff.  How to cherish and nurture talent when you do find it.  And how
> to blaze your very own trail through the maze of marketing muzz muzz.
> Because, above all else, I agree with George's opinion that in the
> current rush to exploit the ever-expanding choices of new media, there
> is an increasing tendency amongst those who should know better to give
> short shrift to the actual content of their communications. Or, to
> paraphrase on old advertising homily, "Before you can begin selling
> the sizzle, you have to start off with a steak." MadScam concentrates
> on creating the highest quality, top grade, Angus beef, in the belief
> that if you do, everything else, including the sizzle, will follow. I
> couldn't agree more." -Steve Hayden. Vice Chairman. Global Creative
> Director. Ogilvy & Mather, Worldwide. Steve's Creative awards
> include: Two Gold & two Silver Cannes Lions. Eleven Clio's and The
> David Ogilvy Award for best North America Campaign of 1997and a Gold
> EFFIE in 1997. (preface for "MadScam" by George Parker. Release
> date: December 2006 )