The X Factor: Diary of an anonymous AE

Sean X Cummings
Media Planning & Buying Posted on June 10, 2008
  • Previous
  • 1 of 3
  • Sign in for single page

I know a lot of people who work in client-facing roles at various agencies, and I hear some interesting stories. But the biggest horror story is how commonplace the lack of thought often is on the client end, and what their AE goes through when clients make these crazy requests. There are some clients that believe the agency is in a service role, and that is technically true. But this is a very small, connected industry, and how you treat people affects the level of dedication and work that you get out of your agency team.

I was out recently with four AEs from different agencies for drinks after work -- all cute by the way! -- and I asked them if they would keep a diary for a week. One of them agreed to do it. I agreed that it would be kept strictly confidential, as in "Deep Throat" confidential, as in they would make sure I could never have children if it ever got out, and I would have to hire them if they got fired.

So this is a typical week in the life of an anonymous AE:

Monday, 10:00 a.m.
So, I came into work today to a wonderful Monday morning disaster. You've got to love Mondays. No, this was not a "the client wants their logo bigger" kind of day. The client wanted me to fly out to their headquarters because they were giving a presentation to their senior leadership, and they wanted me to be there to answer any questions. I thought, great, this is a terrific opportunity for me to show the senior leadership of the client -- who I don't usually get to be in front of -- a behind-the-scenes person who helps produce all the great work. Now, you probably think this sounds like a great opportunity, so what's the disaster? Ahhh… the client wanted me there for something that was completely unrelated to anything we had even done for them. This was not her presenting our work, this was her having to do a presentation to her senior management on "social media." You may still think this sounds like a great opportunity until you realize that the PR group within the company has its own agency that supposedly handles social media, and the internal marketing team at the client is trying to carve out some space. Oh well, I am about to lose two days of my life for something that has nothing to do with my job. It's not yet a disaster, but it is definitely a disaster in waiting.

Monday, 4:05 p.m.
Coordinating with an incompetent assistant on the client side regarding travel arrangements for tomorrow night.

Tuesday, 10:12 a.m.
Showed up at work and I already have a panicked message from the client on my voicemail. Why won't they realize that it's easier to contact with me via email? We all have BlackBerrys. I can even answer her if I'm in another meeting. Who checks their voicemail anymore? All I get are annoying sales calls on mine anyway.

Next page >>

More articles from Media Planning & Buying

 

Comments

Brad Hampton
Brad Hampton June 18, 2008 at 6:13 PM

That was a great chronicle of a week I've lived over and over! One thing to mention is that when the client's incompetent employee finally gets fired (it happens!), the agency and AE they were working with are often thrown out with the bathwater for a "fresh start."

We don't do gimme's, or freebie's, or favors for clients, and we bill for our time - plus rush charges. If your client doesn't respect you, your skills and your time, they're not a long-term client.

By the way, your "Deep Throat" mentioned being able to blackberry from a meeting. If someone is texting another client when they're meeting with me... Well it doesn't happen twice.

Jon Wegman
Jon Wegman June 10, 2008 at 2:28 PM

This is the worst article I have ever read for the following reasons.

1. "They were all cute - by the way"
In what way is that applicable - if not sexist - to anything else contained in this "diary"

2. This is a rant of an underpaid young proffesional, probably going to sleep every night wondering if everyone in her agency is as stupid as she thinks they are.

3. The conclusions at the end of the article are in no way related to the "diary" of this person.

I can't believe I just read this.

Anne Simons
Anne Simons June 10, 2008 at 2:26 PM

There are real issues that need to be addressed between agencies and clients but the complaints in this article are trivialities.

For example, travel arrangements are (or should be) specified in the agency contract. Typically, agency personnel are expected to abide by the same guidelines as their client counterparts unless different arrangements are negotiated at the time of engagement. If they're not specified in the contract, shame on the agency.

And whose idea was it for the account executive to attend a presentation to answer questions on something the account executive isn't familiar with?

I echo Megan's question: Where was the supervisor while this was going on?

I've been agency and client side so I know that there are times that clients treat agencies badly (and vice versa.) But the poor treatment in this instance was entirely self-inflicted and will merely serve to reinforce the stereotype of account executives as empty-headed 'suits.'

Anon Ymous
Anon Ymous June 10, 2008 at 11:37 AM

What a POS resource.

I'm sorry that your client - to you - is stupid. That you don't get to fly business class (boo hoo). That you have to commute an hour (!) to the client's office. That you're not strong enough to delineate your agency's value proposition (if you even have one.)

But I did notice that you managed to get hammered on the client's dime. So much for integrity of thought.

This article is a microcosm of why working with an agency is fraught with peril - people who are, essentially, thankless.

Here's a suggestion... go work in a Burger King for about six months. Then come back and tell us all about how "horrible, stupid and thankless" your clients are.

Anony Mous
Anony Mous June 10, 2008 at 9:53 AM

Millennials!

Seriously, next time do this experiment with the best account person you can find, not just the hot young girl who doesn't want to work for her salary.