After the shit show that was the club’s 2,500 word email reaction to my review of last year’s awards, I’ve decided to mix it up a bit this year and do the review slightly differently. Including releasing it before the actual awards.
Let me start by saying what an absolutely magnificent venue it was this year at the Adelaide Oval. I mean, the venues are always the best, but this one really was the bestest. And I don’t mean that to be in any way disrespectful to previous venues because they were also the best, but wow, Adelaide Oval, am I right?
And don’t even get me started on the food, because can. not. stop. thinking about it. And thankfully I don’t have to, because I smuggled some out in my pockets and will be rationing it like someone stranded in the Andes who doesn’t want to eat my fellow passengers like in that film Alive where the plane crashed and they ate the people who died. I’ll be just sneaking a tiny morsel every few days to keep the dream alive. Those chefs, should probably have their own reality TV Show. Chefs of Adelaide Oval Who Are Amazing I would call it. Mouth watering. Delicious. Every mouthful just a delight to the senses.
Then there was the crowd. Have you ever seen a better looking crowd? No, wait, that sounds a bit objectify-ey, so no, just a great crowd. Smart. Funny. Talented. Wow. It really was an honour to be in the presence of such greatness all round. Just really, really great people. Big (consensual) group hug.
Of course, props must go to the host of the night also. I’m not sure if I’m even allowed to say who it was but thank fuck it wasn’t Dan and I. Who needs more old white males like we have for the past 7,000 years, yeah? Finally, a refreshing change and kudos to the club for being more inclusive. I know I was a little bit critical that the club who promotes using local talent didn’t use local talent, but I was wrong. I usually am. And this was no exception. Masterstroke decision to have someone this good, and someone this not male. Genius. I won’t even feel bad or like I’m letting down the industry next time I use a non-local photographer or director or sound studio, because just like Stuart Wagstaff said before most of you were born, “when only the best will do”. Or have I not got that right? We use local, they don’t? Not quite sure what the rules are there, sorry. But whatever they are, I’m sure they’re right and good and fair and reasonable.
(Just please don’t report me for subliminally promoting a brand of durries. Smoking is bad. And we would never dream of promoting them even though many of us actually did for so many years but let’s not talk about that.)
How about that judging panel too, led so well by the chairperson of judges. As usual, a Ted Talk level speech that has inspired me to be better, not just as a creative person, but as a human being. Cannot believe how lucky we are to have so many talented people who chose all the best work as winners to help out with our award show. It almost brings a tear to my eye. #Grateful #Blessed
First big award for the night was of course the watering can, and cannot say enough how well deserved this was. As it always is. Because let’s be honest, other than the year I was awarded this, something the club no doubt now regrets and rightly so, it’s always, without fail, been given to a true shining light of the industry. I mean, some people who have slugged their guts out for decades might feel a bit hard done by for overshooting their window of opportunity and not having received it, but tonight’s decision was flawless again as always. So well deserved.
Same with the Rita Siouw Design Award. You could literally offer me a million dollars or an actual AADC Award to come up with a better winner and I’d still be going home as broke and empty handed as everyone else was hungover. Massive shoutout to that winner as well.
The Gold Chair is always awarded to a piece of work that no one could ever question as being the best piece of work produced in South Australia, and possibly the world, and this year was no exception. I was truly humbled just to be in the same room as the people who created that campaign. Incredible stuff. Truth be told, I’m really not even worthy to write about it now. Which is just as well considering it hasn’t actually been won yet so I can’t. We’ll no doubt see this cream it on the world stage like previous winners that have gone on to do that.
We all know the client is always right, we’re so lucky to have them, even the shit ones, so there’s no question their choice, the Client’s Choice Award was also well deserved. Well done agency that did that one. And the clients who chose it. Bravo.
Now I know last year it sounded like I was critical of the Master’s Chair winner, and that’s because I’m an asshole, but I really wasn’t intending to be critical. In an effort to have an opinion, I mis-spoke when what I really meant was my personal opinions are always exactly the same as the judges and if I’d been choosing the winner that’s exactly the winner I would have chosen which is what happened this year. And no amount of persuasive conversation could convince me otherwise. A decision truly beyond any sort of shadow of a doubt even if there were shadows or doubts which, I will hasten to add, there were not.
Looking back at the night that hasn’t happened yet, I can see that a great cross section of creative organisations won, that as is always the case, represents the diversity of our fine and inclusive industry in South Australia. I know sometimes it seems like a handful of agencies and design houses are over represented, almost like they have bigger award entry budgets and do super fancy entries that judges really like, but nope, this year, as always, it was well balanced across all agencies and creative places in general and I think we can all agree it’s fist bumps all round.
And last, but in no way ever least, the committee who absolutely selflessly sacrifice their own time to put this night on. How there isn’t an award category for best awards committee is beyond me and look, I’d suggest it but it might come across as a criticism and as the positive, supportive team player that I am, those days are well and truly behind me let me assure you. So to each and every one of you, I know this might sound a bit over the top, but I salute you. And not one of those Hitler salutes, more like the ones they were handing out at Lizzy’s funeral. I genuinely don’t know where we’d be without you on a Thursday night, other than maybe late night shopping at Elizabeth City Centre for most of us. And Burnside Village for the people who actually won awards.
Already cannot wait for next year.
