Monday
We’re currently in the middle of delivering some huge projects, so it’s all hands on deck. The coming week will likely be quite representative of many of our media weeks, with a dash of glamour thrown in thanks to the looming NME Awards and Nuts 10th Anniversary party.
First up is a conference call with our new NME Awards headline partner, Austin, Texas, to go through how we are amplifying their involvement. There’s an incredible amount to do now that we’re at T-minus five weeks.
I go through what we’re doing in print, on desktop, mobile and iPad, at the London NME Awards shows, on the nationwide tour, on the night of the awards, across our social channels and with our other partners. So far, I’m pleased to report that they’re very happy.
Another priority is sorting out the guest list for the Nuts 10th anniversary party next week. We’ve managed to secure Judge Jules, Tim Westwood and Pink Panda as our guest DJs, so I’m making sure that our party venue has all the tech they need.
Apparently they just turn up with a USB stick these days and expect a set-up something akin to the Large Hadron Collider with a spectrum of CDJs, laptops and monitors. I’m hoping to DJ too for a bit, but plan to play it cool – I don’t want to appear too keen.
Tuesday
The early start I planned is scuppered as my two kids Thomas (eight) and Emma (six) decide they want early morning cuddles… I’ll catch the later train, then.
Today, I’m in meetings with potential beer and spirit partners for the NME Awards. The quantity of booze we will need to keep the party going when we get to Brixton on the 26 February is quite staggering.
We’re also working closely with our Insight team to plan what new research we could commission this year. I’m very conscious that it has to avoid the "Pope is still Catholic" type research that can sometimes come out of the men’s market. So I’m asking myself what clients and agencies really want to know about young men and music fans in 2014.
After a six-week hiatus from sports, two hours of badminton this evening hurts – but luckily not as much as I thought it would.
Wednesday
I’ve decided to do the ever-so-slightly depressing 5:2 diet, and today is the second of my two 600-calorie days. Biting the diet bullet is made surprisingly more achievable thanks to the unexpected delights of carrot sticks and miso soup.
My team thinks it’s hilarious that I’m dieting as they’ve seen me saying yes to every bad food that’s passed my desk for years. In an office this size and with the combination of birthdays, PR freebies and generous colleagues, a Cadbury’s Hero or Percy Pig is never far away.
It’s time for our weekly all department NME Awards meeting. We plan the awards for about nine months, so initially these meetings are fairly laid back and quick. But we’re in the thick of it now so there’s a lot of detail to run through.
There’s good news today, as we announced the shortlist this morning and have had huge pickup from national press (print and online,) regional press, all the entertainment-focused websites, radio (including a mention just moments ago on BBC 6 music) as well as some TV.
As usual the Hero and Villain of the Year categories get the most pick-up, particularly as Russell Brand has been shortlisted in both. The even better news is that our headline partner Austin has been accredited in most of the coverage – the most important element for my sponsorship team.
I attend a briefing for the new Activision game Destiny at MEC. It’s not coming out until September, but looks set to be the release of the year. I’d best get brainstorming.
Thursday
We finally get the news we've been waiting for on a big brief for Nuts and NME – and it's very good. To make things interesting, Holly who pitched it is on holiday (skiing in Corchevel, darling) and we suddenly realise that we need to turn round a double-page promotion in 24 hours for next week’s issue of Nuts.
The editorial team pulls out all the stops and somehow we do it – but the client we need to sign it off seems to have gone off radar.
The afternoon is taken up with more calls to other NME Awards partners, as the detailed elements of every deal that were just lines in a contract in November become pressing realities.
Our fashion partner, a new label, Mossimo, wants to change the design of the awards crew T-shirts, so all parties have to sign off again. As our project managers are tied up with other campaigns, I’ve got to deal with the issue quickly.
Friday
Lunch today is with PHD’s Demi Abiola and Scott Webb (I promised Demi he’d get a mention). We meet at what is apparently his "regular" table at Riding House Café. So, the week culminates in a proper power meeting with a genuine media player – and what a legend Demi is.
We talk print and digital strategy, media tech developments and the like, covering ROI, SEO, NFC, DVDA and LOL – all sorts of bigger picture shizzle. We also discuss whether he will have a VVIP invite to the party, as opposed to mere VIP - of course you will, Demi!
Age: 41
Favourite Media: Viz – it is still funny
Biggest Inspiration: Dan Coleman (strategic business development director, IPC Advertising) – his stratelogicalness is unparalleled
Dream Job: Full time wedding DJ / lottery-winning layabout
Not a lot of people know this about me: My first sales job was selling frozen food door-to-door – "It’s the same quality as M&S, but at Sainsbury’s prices, madam. Now let me talk you through our pie range."
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