Imagine, an advertising agency run by a monkey.
September 12, 2007 8:32 PM Subscribe
What credentials does someone need to start up an advertising agency?
None. Pretty much every ad creative I knew in NY either freelanced or ran their own business at one point. One of them was called "A Guy, a Girl, and a Fax Machine."
posted by astruc at 8:53 PM on September 12, 2007
posted by astruc at 8:53 PM on September 12, 2007
A portfolio and some successes.
I'd say the answer depends on what that person wants their role to be. If the place is staffed with high caliber people, it might not matter as much what the principal's credentials are.
posted by ml98tu at 8:59 PM on September 12, 2007
I'd say the answer depends on what that person wants their role to be. If the place is staffed with high caliber people, it might not matter as much what the principal's credentials are.
posted by ml98tu at 8:59 PM on September 12, 2007
Paying clients. Tis all. I even know some people who started an ad agency with zero experience and no portfolio. (They now have a decent-sized firm in London.) Now that's not the route I recommend, though.
It also depends on where you want to start. If you want your first client to be Apple or Disney, you're not going to be able to do that without a lot of resources. However, if you are willing to start with Joe Sixpack's side project, you can build up from there.
posted by acoutu at 9:08 PM on September 12, 2007
It also depends on where you want to start. If you want your first client to be Apple or Disney, you're not going to be able to do that without a lot of resources. However, if you are willing to start with Joe Sixpack's side project, you can build up from there.
posted by acoutu at 9:08 PM on September 12, 2007
Are you going to be just a creative boutique? Or a full-service?
I'd agree that just an ability to do ads is all you really need if you can convince clients to pay you, but it'd be very useful to have a production artist who knows how to set up files for printers and publications (yes, you could find this freelance). If you're doing online, same goes for your Flash folks. If you're doing any print production or media, having a knowledge of the lingo and the contacts in the industry is a huge help.
Most ad agencies I know that start up are "they came from Goodby" or "They all came from Hill Holiday" or god help them, "they're all ex-Grey." The credentials in the industry, not in terms of awards, but client and agency experience, tend to give you the flexibility to pitch business and draw talent.
posted by Gucky at 9:26 PM on September 12, 2007
I'd agree that just an ability to do ads is all you really need if you can convince clients to pay you, but it'd be very useful to have a production artist who knows how to set up files for printers and publications (yes, you could find this freelance). If you're doing online, same goes for your Flash folks. If you're doing any print production or media, having a knowledge of the lingo and the contacts in the industry is a huge help.
Most ad agencies I know that start up are "they came from Goodby" or "They all came from Hill Holiday" or god help them, "they're all ex-Grey." The credentials in the industry, not in terms of awards, but client and agency experience, tend to give you the flexibility to pitch business and draw talent.
posted by Gucky at 9:26 PM on September 12, 2007
Here's an article about going freelance (in web development, but similar industry) that might help:
http://www.cameronmoll.com/archives/000643.html
#10 seems to specifically address your question.
posted by lisaici at 10:27 PM on September 12, 2007
http://www.cameronmoll.com/archives/000643.html
#10 seems to specifically address your question.
posted by lisaici at 10:27 PM on September 12, 2007
Best answer: Two buddies and me started our own agency a couple of months ago.
Our credentials: We've been in the business as employees for a couple of years, have won a couple of awards and did some freelancing before we opened shop.
We do work for other agencies and for our own clients as well.
You need contacts in the business. On agency side as well as on client side.
For example: bigger agencies that get requests from clients that they can't fulfill for some reason or other might put these clients in your direction.
Another thing that really gave us a push was that we were able to get into trade publications with the news of our newly founded agency.
Another tricky part: If you are a creative have someone you trust to take care of all the complex business stuff. Taxes, accounting, project management. There's loads of stuff that gets into the way of cranking out creative ideas if you can't delegate tasks to people with specialized knowledge.
Apart from that: best decision I ever made.
posted by ollsen at 1:28 AM on September 13, 2007
Our credentials: We've been in the business as employees for a couple of years, have won a couple of awards and did some freelancing before we opened shop.
We do work for other agencies and for our own clients as well.
You need contacts in the business. On agency side as well as on client side.
For example: bigger agencies that get requests from clients that they can't fulfill for some reason or other might put these clients in your direction.
Another thing that really gave us a push was that we were able to get into trade publications with the news of our newly founded agency.
Another tricky part: If you are a creative have someone you trust to take care of all the complex business stuff. Taxes, accounting, project management. There's loads of stuff that gets into the way of cranking out creative ideas if you can't delegate tasks to people with specialized knowledge.
Apart from that: best decision I ever made.
posted by ollsen at 1:28 AM on September 13, 2007
No credentials but a network of people that can refer you will be a big help.
If you're going to be targeting small to mid-size businesses BNI is a great place to start building.
posted by Mick at 10:21 AM on September 13, 2007
If you're going to be targeting small to mid-size businesses BNI is a great place to start building.
posted by Mick at 10:21 AM on September 13, 2007
The only difference between any creative professional and a non-professional is paying clients.
posted by bradbane at 12:09 PM on September 13, 2007
posted by bradbane at 12:09 PM on September 13, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
finding paying clients, thats the tricky part.
posted by kanemano at 8:34 PM on September 12, 2007