Does Cannes Matter Anymore?

I’ve never been one to run from a little criticism…or even harsh criticism for that matter. I can take it – my skin is thick. So when I caught shit last year for suggesting we get rid of all the excess surrounding Cannes – the huge entourages, extravagant parties, private yachts – I let it roll off my back. And boy did I catch some flak – you would have thought I said that we should get rid of the ad industry entirely!!

Gradually, a few industry insiders began dropping hints – maybe Cannes should be scaled back; maybe Cannes isn’t as important as we used to think. People were starting to engage in the debate. Fast-forward a few months: Ad Age’s Bob Garfield just posted a story entitled, “Cannes Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” in which he asks whether there’s a point to Cannes any longer. And in his mind, there really isn’t.

Bob and I approach business differently on many fronts. However, it seems as though our view about Cannes and what’s really important in this respect is one and the same. Should we strive to produce great creative? Of course. Should we even accept an award for it? Sure. But cut through all the other crap of Cannes and every other big awards show out there and focus on creating great work that works great.

So I’ll stand behind you on this one, Bob. Even if it means suffering more backlash from the industry. I can take it, and I’m sure you can too. Ours may not be the popular opinion, but as more and more people are starting to see, it’s the right one.

LINKS
YouSleepWhenYouDie.com: It’s Do or Die Time
Ad Age: Cannes Doesn’t Matter Anymore