Boating industry chairman says he knew nothing about pro bono pitch after backlash
Vaux: Unaware of pitch
The chairman of Australia’s boating industry body has moved to distance the organisation from a pro bono pitch after a backlash from agencies objecting to being asked to work for free for an industry that claims to contribute $4bn a year to the Australian economy.
The comment thread on the news item was soon full of objections to agencies being asked to work for free, even if the organisation itself is not for profit.
Today, BIAA chairman Darren Vaux told Mumbrella that the initiative had been driven by the organisation’s Queensland organisation and he had not been aware of it.
He said: “There isn’t a pitch, certainly not from the BIAA’s point of view. The BIAA doesn’t do advertising in its own right. It’s the national body that brings the states together. The marketing operates on a state-by-state basis.”
He added: “In our dealing with other industries we respect their right to prosperity and we aren’t in the business of seeking something for nothing.”
However, Bone – a former deputy editor of AdNews – told Mumbrella that she was continuing to seek an agency to change perceptions around the industry and had already received interest from Splash Media Design and was open to more.
She said that the project was being led by Don Jones, who is CEO of the Queensland chapter of the BIAA which is known as Marine Queensland. At the time of posting Jones had not returned Mumbrella’s calls.
Meanwhile, Vaux told Mumbrella: “What was interesting for me was to see the perception by the agency group, of the boating industry. The industry isn’t super yachts, it’s tinnies. There’s different components of the boating industry, there’s the commercial sector, and there’s the recreational side.”
Let the arse covering commence.
User ID not verified.
I’m on a boat!
User ID not verified.
Poor BIAA, they are all volunteers and promote marine safety / environment as well
User ID not verified.
I posted a few facts about this issue in the comments on the previous story…..
The chairman of the BIAA talks about new plans to expand the boating industry.
http://www.charterworld.com/ne…..g-industry
Of course the chairman wants the industry to expand – he owns this marina http://www.empiremarinas.com.a…..marina.htm
Sorry Jeni – all I can say is I hope you’re not working for free
Mumbrella is harsh! Geez Tim, you have got one hell of a job on your hands.
There is no doubt that ad people can cut through the shit. Look out PR potsies!
That said, if you’re going to hire someone to spin your message you should use the lurks on the mumbrella message board before spending bucks on someone who will spin a message that will make you feel good. They’ll read it clearly and give you the short and skinny
I don’t know if I’m disgusted at the rudeness or impressed by the frankness of the comments.
User ID not verified.
the rudeness should be taken in the collective sense – there were not many comments that were rude individually but as a gang you guys smacked Jeni for six
User ID not verified.
I would like you all to apologise one by one for being nasty. Jeni has never played in this sandpit before.
User ID not verified.
But Jeni, we are exhausted by people who think that our services are free. Like boating, our industry is made up of hundreds of small businesses desperately trying to sell some work to bring the cash in to pay staff.
For us to give the work away for free is the same as your industry taking us out on a pleasure boat for free.
I run a small digital agency and our finances are as tough as the boating industry.
We work in a commercial world and money has to change hands.
User ID not verified.
I should have said patsies…my dumb
User ID not verified.
it’s odd how the advertising industry can’t express their thoughts – the comments are like a petulant kid.
I think we’re exhausted of people asking for free work.
User ID not verified.
I hate U2? That strange ‘fly’ looking fellow wants something for nothing and avoids paying tax to his native country… Why do people want something for nothing?
I wouldn’t do the work if you paid me?
User ID not verified.
they could use this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8T095mFdW8
User ID not verified.
I went for a job interview with BIAA back when I was an inexperienced, under-confident Marketing graduate who had no idea what they wanted to do with their life.
After about 15 minutes of fairly intense questioning (for a very junior position mind you) the woman who I was interviewed by began on a personal attack at me about previous job I held after I eluded to the fact that I did not enjoy my time there. This woman was a dragon – clearly an unhappy middle-aged divorcee who needed to make herself feel better. The whole process was pretty awful – it really shook my confidence and I actually left the place almost in tears.
I now work in one of the top Agencies in Sydney on a high-profile account.
After seeing the original posts and backlash- for both personal reasons and sheer-common sense as highlighted in the threads, I can honestly say i have no sympathy for you BIAA.
User ID not verified.