Mixed Media: Is the GoaFest only about booze and the beach?

Unless care is taken to leakproof the creative Abby and get some really hot speakers, GoaFest 2010 will be yet another 'paid holiday' for adlanders, writes Pradyuman Maheshwari.

e4m by Pradyuman Maheshwari
Published: Feb 23, 2010 7:14 AM  | 4 min read
Mixed Media: Is the GoaFest only about booze and the beach?

Okay, I know that the suggestion made in the headline is going to raise quite a few brows. And ruffle many feathers. And hurt some sensitive souls.

First off, I am personally of the belief that events or forums like GoaFest are good for our industry. However, and this may be read in large, block letters: not in the way it is conducted until now. Yes, GoaFest isn’t serving the objectives to be a well-rounded celebration of advertising. An exercise in futility? That may seem too harsh, but if it continues in the way it is, it may soon be dismissed as that by the very people who ‘own’ it.

So, why am I saying all of this right now? Because the announcement for GoaFest 2010 was made last Friday. One had expected organisers Advertising Agencies Association of India and the Advertising Club Bombay would’ve changed gears, kicked butt, and come up with an all-new GoaFest.

Remember, the officebearers of these two associations we are talking of comprise India’s top advertising, marketing and ad sales gurus. People, who build brands, shape the fortunes of many corporates. Men and women, who are cool, grounded and love thinking out of the box.

I have been speaking to a fair number of ‘stakeholders’ since the last year, and while many want it to continue it was, that call for the status quo was more because of the fun element. “It’s a three-day working holiday,” said one. “And please don’t deprive us of that,” he hastened to add, realising what I was trying to get at. The CEO of one of India’s largest media conglomerates was very candid when s/he told me why his/her company wasn’t putting monies on GoaFest. “There’s no point doing it. I am answerable to my shareholders and I can’t be sponsoring something that’s fun and frolic and very little business.”

The CMO of an organisation that plans to continue with his sponsorship this year too was forthright. “I know it’s not achieving much for my brands, but there’s too much at stake in keeping the big advertising boys unhappy.”

Hmmm. So, what ails GoaFest?

1. Quality of speakers: We’ve seen over the last few years that whenever there’s a good speaker on board, people chuck the beer and get to the sessions. Since everyone knows that India is a huge growth area with most international ad shops and corporates having a presence here, I don’t see any reason why we can’t plan speakers well in advance

2. The Creative Abby: For the last two years, the results are being leaked. Lowe has been absent from the awards for a while, thereby rendering it incomplete. While the people who were responsible for the leaks over the last two years have gone scotfree (or at least no one seems to have been held responsible and owned moral responsibility), don’t be too surprised if it’s leaked this year too, and to the same business daily

3. Just for fun?: The organising committee appears to be working overtime to ensure the fun element. Nothing wrong with it, but it appears that the concentration is more on the fun element – the introduction of the swimming pool this year – than the value add for delegates

4. Lack of planning: Industry bodies have a sound organisational model, but with officebearers holding more than active day jobs, it’s critical that GoaFest has a permanent CEO or a commissioner a la Lalit Modi with IPL. The CEO then looks ahead and plans multiple events if need be

5. Goa weather: April is possibly one of the worst months to be in Goa. Hot, humid and horribly muggy. Surely not the best time to be outdoors.

Of all of the above, I would think if the content at the festival and integrity of the awards could be in place, a lot of the rest will fall into place. The Abby judging ought to take place in Goa on the day of the results or the previous evening. Adopt the Cannes Lions model, I’m sure it’ll work. As for the speakers, the need is to have an impressive line-up of international ad and marketing professionals and Indian corporate captains. Get them to speak at the various sessions or conduct special workshops.

GoaFest is too good a property for Indian adland to squander. The issue is does anyone care?

(The views expressed here are my own. Post your comments below or mail them at mixedmedia@exchange4media.com or tweet them at @pmahesh.)

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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur

The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:15 PM  | 1 min read
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With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.

The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.

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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out

The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:07 PM  | 1 min read
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Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."

The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."

COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.

Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.

He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 11:48 AM  | 1 min read
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e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.

According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.

As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.

A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.

Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.

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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall

The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 10:54 AM  | 1 min read
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Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.

“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.

“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."

"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:39 PM  | 1 min read

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:38 PM  | 1 min read

KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias

Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 24, 2023 3:35 PM  | 1 min read
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KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.

Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy

Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.

Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."

Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."

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