Mad Men – why I never went into advertising

I’ve just finished watching the entire series of Mad Men - my lockdown viewing. I’m not sure why I missed this the first time round, I do remember one of my brothers exhorting me to watch it.

Apart from the odd moment of churlishly wondering if Jon Hamm had any say in those many, many scenes with Donald Draper ravishing beautiful women, I was transfixed by the series, how cleverly it moved along through the timeline. The latter years struck a real chord with my early childhood memories, and those final shots of the Coke ‘Hilltop’ ad evoked a tear.

The series also caused me to contemplate why I never went into advertising, despite working in comms throughout my career. It takes a certain character to work in this sector and although Mad Men wasn’t ‘real’, it presented a fascinating view of the industry – the sexism, the money, the schmoozing, the destructive tendencies, the alcohol!

While I was working for a production company in Reading, I produced a party political broadcast for the Conservative Party. The Tory agency back then was WCRS and I was called into their London offices to meet founding partner Robin Wight. I was young, naïve and totally taken aback by the fact that the agency had a bar in the basement. In fact, I think the whole of the basement was a bar. I remember staring at Wight’s flamboyant bow tie for longer than was strictly necessary. On the train home all I could think of was that bar and that tie, and the fact that I finally knew the reason why advertising budgets were so huge, and where all the client’s money went. (Give WCRS their due, they created the 118 118 concept and Carling Black Label’s Dambusters ad – who remembers my party political broadcast, apart from me?). 

Watching Mad Men reminded why advertising wasn’t ever going to be for me. Making people want something. Making them think they need something. Making them think their life is less because they don’t have something. I’m sure people far more qualified then me can explain the psychology behind advertising better.

When I ‘fell’ into PR in 2009 it was like coming home. PR took all the best parts of my abilities: researching, writing, storytelling, persuasion and building trusting relationships to create the perfect role. I even found I had a penchant for crisis management, calm head in a storm and all that.

I’ve often referred to advertising as ‘sharp end’, maybe that makes what I do seems soft by comparison. I don’t tell clients what they might want to hear, I tell them what they need to hear. I don’t promise the moon, but I shoot for the stars. Corny, sorry!

I’m going to miss the diversion of Mad Men, and if I’m being truthful, the many hours spent staring at Jon Hamm and wondering just why he is so damn good looking.

Recommendations for a new show to watch please….