Working Days & Nights
By Beat Fritsch
By Beat FritschA well-filled event calendar was available last week. Start: Wednesday noon - end: Friday night. First we went to the studios of Viva-Swizz in Seebach, Zurich's northernmost suburb, where Managing Director Asta Baumöller held a press conference to announce the appointment of Giovanni Zamai as Head of Programming (see page 18). After the press conference, the promotion was celebrated on a small scale with salmon appetizers and fine sparkling wine. It was not possible to linger too long, as the X'02 marketing and event trade show was also taking place in Oerlikon, and thus in the immediate vicinity. There, traditionally under the auspices of Swiss Advertising SW, the industry associations Alliance of Swiss Advertising Agencies (ASW), the Swiss Direct Marketing Association (SDV) and the Association for Advertising Communication (Idée-VfW) invite guests to a drink. Be it because the Point-X of the industry associations had a new stand location; be it because other trade fair aperitifs were taking place at the same time - or be it because the diploma ceremony for marketing communication planners was not held at X'02 this year: In contrast to other years, the aperitif never really got going and noticeably fewer people found their way to Point-X than before.
Actually, the whole fair was a bit in the sign of the general decline, even if the organizers could report a marginal increase in visitor numbers. "The only thing that gets bigger every year are the distances between the booths," quipped a visitor who did not want to be named (and golf-playing owner of a dialog marketing agency). What also grows every year, at least this is the impression of other commentators, is the flood of paper in the run-up to the event. Some had the impression that the exhibition mainly benefited the printing industry. And indeed, the author of this column knows of no other trade show for which he receives so many ticket vouchers, brochures, competition announcements and invitations to visit the stand in advance. Not to mention the gimmicks, samples and "Bhaltis" distributed on site. The X'02 is an ideal hunting ground for hunters and collectors.
Christophe Guye commented on the occasion of his agency party in Zurich's Seefeld that compared to the last few years, everything seems to be going the other way around. The usually sun-drenched Street Parade took place in the rain - the garden party of the Guye Benker agency, which until then had been dogged by bad weather, was held in the brightest sunshine. Maybe it's because of Guye's new partner. Just one year ago, creative director André Benker joined the agency as a partner.
The Weltwoche advertisers are always joined by a number of industry celebrities. In addition to the exponents of the weekly magazine, namely Uli Rubner, Ivan Schultheiss, Ariane Vuagneux and Roger Köppel, one also saw Tagi advertising manager Fridolin Holdener, Tagi media editor Toni Lienhard, Tagi marketing manager Gabi Wettstein, Expo advertising manager Matthew Katumba, Bilanz marketing manager Martin Coninx or Bilanz managing director Elke Zappe. And all of them had a great time in the small but nice private park on Klausstrasse. Some - among them a certain Alex T. - according to reports until four o'clock in the morning. Only one criticism was raised. Somehow the caterer entrusted with the catering was a bit of an oddball. At times, he gave the impression that it was a matter of regret for him to hand over the food to the guests, which had certainly been prepared with a lot of love.
Once again, the legendary Plakandafest was as huge as ever. Even though there was no ski lodge feeling - last year they went beyond all dimensions and piled up tons of glacier snow next to a real curling rink in high summer - but still with a lot of wood. In keeping with the motto "Back to the Roots", the invitation was emblazoned with one of those monumental, worker-glorifying Albert Anker hams from the days when the most common political swearword was still "socialist" and not "neo-liberal". That success today again has more to do with work than with show was also symbolized by the "show block." Throughout the evening, burly and strong men performed,
how water pipes were drilled from tree trunks, wheel bearings turned or firewood split in former times. Christian Dür from Visualixevent was responsible for the "work camp" on the Geeren above Gockhausen.
The motto at the end of the week was "Excursion to Expo Land". This year, the diploma ceremony for the marketing communication planners took place in Biel. From the terrace of the restaurant "La Péniche" one could enjoy a direct view of the Arteplage. The shortlist team did not miss the preceding visit of the Expo.02, especially since they could do this with the most prominent guide. Expo advertising manager Matthew Katumba - still a little sleepy from the Guye-Benker party the day before - led us elegantly past all the queues. This meant that we were admitted to the pavilions in "no time at all" and, thanks to Katumba, were able to walk around the Bieler Arteplage in record time.
Beat Fritsch
Actually, the whole fair was a bit in the sign of the general decline, even if the organizers could report a marginal increase in visitor numbers. "The only thing that gets bigger every year are the distances between the booths," quipped a visitor who did not want to be named (and golf-playing owner of a dialog marketing agency). What also grows every year, at least this is the impression of other commentators, is the flood of paper in the run-up to the event. Some had the impression that the exhibition mainly benefited the printing industry. And indeed, the author of this column knows of no other trade show for which he receives so many ticket vouchers, brochures, competition announcements and invitations to visit the stand in advance. Not to mention the gimmicks, samples and "Bhaltis" distributed on site. The X'02 is an ideal hunting ground for hunters and collectors.
Christophe Guye commented on the occasion of his agency party in Zurich's Seefeld that compared to the last few years, everything seems to be going the other way around. The usually sun-drenched Street Parade took place in the rain - the garden party of the Guye Benker agency, which until then had been dogged by bad weather, was held in the brightest sunshine. Maybe it's because of Guye's new partner. Just one year ago, creative director André Benker joined the agency as a partner.
The Weltwoche advertisers are always joined by a number of industry celebrities. In addition to the exponents of the weekly magazine, namely Uli Rubner, Ivan Schultheiss, Ariane Vuagneux and Roger Köppel, one also saw Tagi advertising manager Fridolin Holdener, Tagi media editor Toni Lienhard, Tagi marketing manager Gabi Wettstein, Expo advertising manager Matthew Katumba, Bilanz marketing manager Martin Coninx or Bilanz managing director Elke Zappe. And all of them had a great time in the small but nice private park on Klausstrasse. Some - among them a certain Alex T. - according to reports until four o'clock in the morning. Only one criticism was raised. Somehow the caterer entrusted with the catering was a bit of an oddball. At times, he gave the impression that it was a matter of regret for him to hand over the food to the guests, which had certainly been prepared with a lot of love.
Once again, the legendary Plakandafest was as huge as ever. Even though there was no ski lodge feeling - last year they went beyond all dimensions and piled up tons of glacier snow next to a real curling rink in high summer - but still with a lot of wood. In keeping with the motto "Back to the Roots", the invitation was emblazoned with one of those monumental, worker-glorifying Albert Anker hams from the days when the most common political swearword was still "socialist" and not "neo-liberal". That success today again has more to do with work than with show was also symbolized by the "show block." Throughout the evening, burly and strong men performed,
how water pipes were drilled from tree trunks, wheel bearings turned or firewood split in former times. Christian Dür from Visualixevent was responsible for the "work camp" on the Geeren above Gockhausen.
The motto at the end of the week was "Excursion to Expo Land". This year, the diploma ceremony for the marketing communication planners took place in Biel. From the terrace of the restaurant "La Péniche" one could enjoy a direct view of the Arteplage. The shortlist team did not miss the preceding visit of the Expo.02, especially since they could do this with the most prominent guide. Expo advertising manager Matthew Katumba - still a little sleepy from the Guye-Benker party the day before - led us elegantly past all the queues. This meant that we were admitted to the pavilions in "no time at all" and, thanks to Katumba, were able to walk around the Bieler Arteplage in record time.
Beat Fritsch
at work. This is what it looks like when other partygoers have long been in the land of budget dreams: First a flying visit to Viva-Swizz, then off to the aperitif of the communications associations at X'02 (page 20). Then on to Guye Benker (page 21), the Poster Festival, and the graduation ceremony for marketing communications planners at Expo.02 (page 22).
We locate those who meet on the communications scene at the various events and functions wherever there is something going on in the industry. Do you already have something exciting to report? Pick up the phone (01
296 97 98) or into the keyboard ([email protected]). For event tips as well as further shortlist images: www. werbewoche.ch
