As most folks know, I’m pretty active with our local Kansas City chapter of the American Advertising Federation. Not only is it a great organization when it comes to professional development, both in terms of ongoing education and networking, it also doubles as group therapy any time we get together. Client issues? Internal agency turmoil? Big wins and tough losses? We talk, laugh, celebrate and bemoan it all together. If you’re an advertising or marketing professional in KC, you really ought to be a member. </plug>

As we start to ramp up into our fall season of programs, one of the first things that’s been done is that the AAF-KC’s Art+Copy Club has issued a “Mad Men” creative challenge. Check it:

Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Hiring KC Creative Team.

Mad Men is not a show about great ads. It’s a great show about ad people. So it was no surprise that Don’s bikini ad from this season’s first episode fell flat. “So well-built, we can’t show you the second floor?” WTF, Don!

In an effort to regain the trust of their prospective client (and keep them from the evil clutches of Y&R), Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce is looking for new …creative concepts.

Assignment:
Use Don’s strategy but in a more effective creative execution.

Incentive: (because spec work sucks)
All work that doesn’t end up in Don’s wastebasket will be posted on the Art+Copy Facebook page. The three best concepts will win:

• 1st Place Two free tickets to the September 23rd Art+Copy event with Stanley Hainsworth, former Global Creative Director for Starbucks.
• 2nd Place Drinks with Mad Men and AAF-KC hunks, Kevin Fullerton and Jeremy Johnson.
• 3rd Place Bottle of bourbon and a cocktail recipe book.

Due Date:
August 17, 2010 (it’s advertising, it’s okay to be a few decades late)

Winners will be chosen as soon as we get around to it. You know how it works: the creative deadline is always rushed to give the client ample time to sit on his hands and make you wait for a decision.

Submit Your Work To:
Send a PDF to Jeremy Johnson at president@artandcopyclub.com.

Mad Men fictional ads: So poorly written, we can’t wait for you to do better.

Not being one to miss a chance to out-Don the great Don Draper, I decided to whip up four of my own concepts. Whaddya think?

[Click each thumb below to bigify/enbiggen.]