If you weren’t there, here’s a taste of what you missed:

So who do you think our next House Guest should be? Let us know in the comments.

And for the record, just because I hate it doesn’t mean I haven’t said it once or twice. I have. I’m not proud of it and had the heartburn to prove it.

So instead of settling for “good enough,” we press on and fight for something better. (Dial M for masochism)

The question is: why?

There’s apparently no real financial incentive for the agency since an awful lot of creatively average (or worse) agencies make buckets of money. Look no further than the AdAge’s 100 largest agencies in the country. A spotty showing of greatness to say the least.

If that’s not it, perhaps highly creative work is more memorable? Tell that to the Mentos guys. Or the Whisk “Ring around the collar” guys. Or Subway’s $5 foot long guys. Hammer someone’s brain enough and it’ll leave a mark.

Doesn’t make it right.

Here’s the deal: If you just slap a message out there, you’re not marketing or building a brand, you’re getting a task off your plate. It’s the equivalent of getting up in the morning, throwing on a hat and some sweats and going to work. Sure, it covers all the bits that need it but are you really going to impress?

If we don’t put time and energy and care into crafting interesting messages, why should we expect anyone out there to care? What better way to show consumers that your client really does appreciate their business and respects their time than by rewarding their attention with a compelling idea and execution.

And this gets to the crux of the answer to “why?”

If, as creative agencies and people, we really want to make a difference in our client’s brands, our industry and our companies, we need to constantly fight for something better.

A better strategy. A better idea. A better execution. A better typeface. A better director. A better…whatever. Because the ball can be dropped at any point along the way and suddenly what you’ve worked towards becomes remarkably average.

And average doesn’t make a difference.

That’s the ultimate reason why we willfully subject ourselves to the conflict, agony and meeting awkwardness that so often comes with pushing for a higher standard.

Ok, that and also because advertising would completely suck if we didn’t.

Jerks.

Like any good sport, I laughed along—then immediately began plotting my own “Disproportionate Retaliation” with the fiery hatred of a thousand Texas summers. I got my chance, at last, when Zack made the mistake of going on a summer vacation.

I enlisted the help (dubiousness) of the brilliant Kelsey Hency and we set out to create…The Zackyard, just north of Traitor Island.

What’s that thing you always say, William? Oh yeah—

PWNT.

Zack’s office before the wrath:

The Zackyard – Complete with plants, grass & Milwaukee’s Best. There’s even a gnome in there somewhere.

William’s lair before the tropic thunder.

Traitor Island – A beach oasis featuring golden sands, calm waters and a flock of seagulls.

It was a great time. Great for all of the people here at the agency. A chance to stop for a moment and take a breath. Say thank you to all of our wonderful clients who trust us to help them grow their businesses. A chance for me to deliver a well deserved pat on the back to all our hard working creative problem solvers. And well deserved it was. The agency in every discipline continues to surprise and impress even its toughest critic. Me.

Over the course of the past several months this agency has received accolades for a very diverse collection of problem solving creative ideas. Serious accolades for television and print, multiple awards for interactive (including Best of Show), awards for success in events & promotion and even a couple of awards for what essentially is a pro bono account that we didn’t just do work for — we created the entire Eat Out For A Change movement ourselves. Want more? Well we certainly didn’t cure cancer, but we did the best we could.

Impressive.

Want to know what’s even more impressive? The real success lies in the performance this work has helped to make happen for our clients.

Now, clients are modest, and a little sensitive about broadcasting their particular results here on the interwebs. So I will be a little guarded in telling you that the approach we have here at Firehouse is working.

However by working I mean:
-Driving a guest count increase of more than +10% vs. previous trend
-Reversing a sales trend to positive that had seen 12 consecutive quarters of declining sales
-Setting a monthly sales record – for a multi-billion dollar company – four different times over a 15 month span
-Helping to increase a company’s 2009 system wide sales by +4%
-Driving a YOY +55% sales increase in a featured menu item
-Driving a +31% sales increase in features products in a brand’s emerging markets
-Delivering a +8% YOY same store sales increase – and that was for a client’s QSR partner

The people of this agency are committed. They are focused. They are making a difference.

And I am happy for them, and their accomplishments. Forgive me for taking an indulgent moment to let them know how proud I am to call myself the president of this agency.

Cheers,
Mark

Not for making music.

Here’s our story in pictures:

Early on, we made a pact to eat only red meat for the rest of the trip. This seemed like a right manly idea at the time. The consequences however, would be most unfortunate for one of us.

First thing Saturday morning, we made our way to our boat for a little fishing…

They tell me that, as the boat did have an actual motor,
my constant “vvvvvvvvvvvrrrrrrrrr” sound effects were superfluous

2 minutes later, Silver catches a fish (which may or may not have been embiggened in Photoshop).

4 minutes later, I start to catch something else. Thankfully, knowing my general intolerance for red meat, I plained for such an eventuality and brought my tiny pink buddy aboard. The day was saved.

Fast forward another few minutes and the day was in fact not saved nor was my pride…

I think news of this event had reached all of Firehouse some 30 seconds later. (Thanks, jerks)
For the record: I made it (barely)

After a long day in the sun, the only proper way to finish the evening is with a sugary, fruity boat drink (indefinite article used to protect the guilty):

When boat drinks come together with the great outdoors, things happen. For example: New and creative (albeit not all that effective) pest-control methods are explored…

…talents are revealed…

Not only can Zack juggle, he can juggle while wearing a delightfully-ironic t-shirt.
“Coke is it,” indeed, sir!

…man’s deep connection to fire is explored anew…

Perhaps too much lighter fluid? Maybe.

…flash lights turn into light sabers (of course)…

…eyebrows are torched…

…and light itself becomes a form of artistic expression.

We were trying to spell “association” but ran out of flashlight batteries. Honest

That night, we heard what sounded like a sasquatch arguing with a chainsaw while riding a 12-horse-power riding lawnmower echoing from the canyon walls. Come daybreak, it was discovered that this creature was the source of the ungodly cacophony:

The silver-back couchsquatch’s legendary growl (some might call it a “snore”) is most terrifying
to those unaccustomed to it’s siren’s call.

I think, based upon all the evidence collected over the course of a fantastical weekend, I can confidently say that team building is far more effective when boat drinks and fire are substituted for PowerPoint slides and stale pastries.

Of course, PowerPoint slides, no matter how poorly-formated, won’t cost you an eyebrow. Then again, eyebrows grow back, so given the choice, I’ll take my chances with fire any day.

]]> http://thefurnace.firehouseagency.com/2010/06/08/team-building-trip/feed/ 0 http://thefurnace.firehouseagency.com/2010/05/28/firehouse-celebrates-a-graduation/ http://thefurnace.firehouseagency.com/2010/05/28/firehouse-celebrates-a-graduation/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 14:45:04 +0000 Doug http://thefurnace.firehouseagency.com/?p=1517 Congratulations Jan Norton — a part of our extended Firehouse family. Jan graduated with Honors from Tarrant County College on May 18, with a degree of Associate of Applied Science in Mental Health Social Work and Chemical Dependency Counselor.

We met Jan back in December of 2008 through the KLTY Christmas Wish program. Jan has battled serious health issues and financial setbacks, all while working on a social degree so that she could share her life’s experience and make a difference in the lives of others.

Jan did not stop — she persevered through it all and graduated with Honors. We are so proud of Jan and her tremendous accomplishment, and pleased that we could play a small part.