“A lot of people on your podcast became creatives by accident.”
Someone messaged me this last week (after listening to four of them back-to-back).
I got me thinking; why do creatives become creatives?
I’d divide them into two groups.
The Lifestyle Brigade™ – attracted by the trappings. (Nothing wrong with that – it’s why most people go to work.)
And the Expressionists™ – attracted by putting a bit of themselves out into the world.
A point of view, an observation, a joke, whatever.
Like 90% of creatives, they’re likely to be introverts.
Advertising, for them, is the conduit to a wider audience.
It’s not like creating a widget in an ad factory, it’s much more personal.
Their work reflects the values they live by.
They don’t find it helpful to patronise, bullshit or lie when talking to people day to day, so they don’t do it talking to people via pixels or ink.
Dealing with humans on a regular basis, they’ve found logic, facts, humour and honesty persuade harder.
So these are the tools the reach for most often.
Nick Cohen is one of the best examples of the Expressionists™.
It’s hard to think of anyone who’s leaned harder into the ‘honest’ tool.
Nick has just written an excellent book about his fabulous experiment – Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

It’s a joy.
It made me want to get into advertising all over again.
We had a great chat about the book, the agency and honesty in advertising.
Hope you enjoy it.

MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN.
The Creative Register.

Tiny Mythic Theatre.

The Workbook.

Crunch.

Here Art Center.

DX.com.

G4.

Friends of Animals.

Yoohoo.

The Center For Children + Families.

The Economist.

Baryshnikov Dance Wear.

Roadrunner.

Hotbot.com.

Manhattan Mini Storage.

Shelter.

Unlisted Shoes.

Nick At Nite.

Blue Moon Brewery.

Haribo.

Moviefone.

Mill Creek Pond.

The Village Voice.

Smith & Wollensky.

Zebra Romances.

77-food.

Nickelodeon.

NY Islanders.

Pointed Stick Theater.

Thom McCann.

MORE NICK…

I previously did a Q&A with Nick…

Hands Up Who’s Heard Of MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN?

Nick wanted to single out a few people for special praise for their work at Mad Dogs & Englishmen:

Agatha Sohn,

Alena Sorrenson,

Alex Lange,

Alison Burrell,

Allie Smith,

Amy Alkon,

Amy Butterworth,

Amy Heller,

Amy Roy,

Andres Lafe,

Andrew Hacker,

Andrew Ure,

Andy the Intern,

Ann Mason,

Ann Meade Daniel,

Anna Gauffin,

April Finkelstein,

Ariel Lustig,

Audrey Greenfeild,

Avi Dan,

Aviram,

Barry the Intern,

Bea Leung,

Becky Brice,

Ben Rothfeld,

Beth Martin,

Bob Donegan,

Boleen,

Bonnie Chang,

Bruce Baron,

Bryan Hughes,

Buzz Davis,

Carter Blackwell,

Charles Hall,

Cheryl Crowley,

Courtney Rohas,

Craig Miller,

Dallas Itzen,

Dan Lucey,

Darren Lim,

Gina Fortunado,

Carol Holsinger,

Amy Alkon,

Sandy Bachom,

Graham Clifford,

Valerie Hope,

Sharon Caplan,

David McDuffie,

Taras Wayner,

Ty Montague,

Tina Hall,

Dave Arnold,

Marjorie Spitz,

Robin Hafitz,

Karen Ramspacker,

Gina Fortunado,

Steve Amick,

Michael Geach,

Dave Cook,

David Arnold,

David Drucker,

David Shane,

Delmus Credle,

Ed Hackemer,

Ella Reich,

Emily Reed,

Frances Webster,

Frasier,

Fred Kovey,

Gesine,

Gina Whitt,

Gisella Poley,

Grace Kim,

Guy Seese,

Hamish Chandra,

Heather Gorman,

Helen Phin,

Henry Sanchez,

Hisashi Hiyashi,

Jack Rosavear,

Jami Craig,

Janique Helson,

Janna Clark,

Jason (Tinkie Winkie),

Jeff Hale,

Jeff O’Brian,

Jeff Soinski,

Jeff Spillane,

Jenny Berry,

Jenny Lount,

Jim Jasper,

Jody Sacks,

Johnny Sunshine,

Jonathan Margulies,

Josyln Harris,
Judd Counsell,

Judd Harner,

Judith Grey,

Julie Katakura,

Julie Simpson,

Kaleo,

Karen Ramspacker,

Kathy Hoyer,

Kevin Doyle,

Kiersten DeWiest,

Kristina Lenz,

Kurt Carstenson,

Lauren Amsterdam,

Leticia Jacobs,

Linzi Britgirl,

Little Andy,

Lori Butler,

Louise Norton,

Malin,

Marge Ahnell,

Mark Sorenson,

Mary Beth Prior,

Mary Michael Pringle,

Maury the Intern,

Melanie Mustanski,

Michael Carroll,

Michael Ludwig,

Micheal Fanuele,

Michelle Bohne,

Michel Edens,

Michelle Kemp,

Michelle Moy,

Mikal Reich,

Shalom Aulander,

Scott Bailey,

Jon Soto,

Susan Tracy,

Jaime Robinson,

James Robinson,

James Dawson Hollis,

Deacon Webster,

Moonglow,

Ms Theo,

Natasha Burton,

Neil Riley,

Neil Sanders,

Nicky Hall,

Nirit,

Nora Quinn,

Oliver Baer,

Om’mas,

Oscar Thomas,

Paddy Morahan,

Paige O’Connor,

Patrick O’Neil,

Paul Charbaneau,

Paul Daligan,

Paul Levine,

Paul Venables,

Pete Carlin,

Peter Rothenberg,

Prisca Ekens,

Quentin,

Rehanna Dutta,

Robin Jaffe,

Robin Raj,

Roger Camp,

Roman Tsukerman,

Roseanne Clampett,

Ruth Shalit,

Ryan Montani,

Sanyu Refore,

Sasha the Russian Guy,

Sandra Sher,

Savita Ostendorf,

Seth Hillinger,

Shambozzi,

Sharon Ballan,

Sharon Caplan,

Shawn the intern,

Simon the Intern,

Spencer Baim,

Stella Neptune,

Stephanie Pappas,

Steve Pearson,

Susan Fine,

Suzzane Shade,

Tali Homoutal,

Tamar,
Tana,

Tennille Teague,

Terry Lee,

Thomas Kouns,

Tim Beck,

Tom Wilson,

Tonya Simon,

Travis Britton,

Trixie Ferguson,

Twain Belgrave,

Ulrika,
Vivienne Wan,
Will Elliot,

William Wayland,

Yoni Marguilus

&

Zander Reiss
.
And to anyone else I forgot; Sorry!
– NICK.