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Chief
Going in house is the move, right?
What’s the WLB at Droga like?
Stop with the unnecessary meetings. PLEASE.
So… everyone is burnt out?
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Rising Star
I never travel or get to be on set. But I like sleeping indoors and eating food. So I still do this job.
I personally hit a certain age when it all felt more like a chore and time away from family than flashy and exciting.
Chief
The shoot I can deal with. The client schmoozing, I just can’t.
If the only reason you’re in this business is the 5% of time you’re on set then maybe you’re in the wrong business? I would hate my job is 95% of it was a means to the 5%.
Being on set is just about the only fun you can still have in this business. Even when pre- and post- production schedules are grueling, I’d rather be making something than reviewing decks and sitting in Teams calls.
If you like production, hang in there. There’s still time to get involved and stay involved at a different shop.
As long as you’re happy, you’re getting paid, and you enjoy what you’re doing, I think you’re in better shape than most.
The first decade of my career went without producing any broadcast or motion work. And I made out just fine. Still found a way to love the craft of whatever I was making.
But production is fun for sure. There aren’t as many as their used to be, so we’re all working with a little less of it.
Pro
Can’t relate. I dread shoots now. 12-16 hour days, diva directors, clients steamroll good scripts (death by 1000 small cuts), budgets are getting smaller and smaller, finance has you under a microscope with expenses and it can take weeks to get your money back if you don’t have a company card, using a good track costs an arm and a leg and often falls WAYYY outside of budget… all for a 30s spot that you’re not even that proud to have made and looks nothing like it did in the first round when you were excited about it, and is probably just going to get cut down to 15s that circulate on social for a few months. Maybe this is a “me” problem or my projects suck but I haven’t shot anything fun in years across three different agencies despite a ton of effort, pushback and fighting for the creative. I’m exhausted and jaded 🤡.
Creative1, your response hits home. With no time, no budget, left field client changes that dilute an idea, but keep them happy…nothing to be excited about.
Having a paying job is all there is to feel good about these days.
It’s only a perk until you have a family lol. I’ve been actively dodging shoots and travel ever since my kids were born. In my 20’s I was dying to go on shoots and now they’re a catastrophe
Same
I haven’t been on a set in over 5 years and I’m fine with that. Happy to skip the ridiculous politicking and long hours it takes to get there.
I miss being on set too. But what I like even more is earning three times my agency salary in big tech working remotely, delivering g-slides of great ideas that leadership is too stupid to recognize and the company is too afraid to produce.
Come to think of it, one of the most successful creatives I’ve ever known—who made ads I’d kill to have in my book, but left them out of theirs because there wasn’t room–hated shoots. Dreaded them because they’d miss out on work back at the office. Told me this before they had to head to Shanghai to shoot a portion of a spot for a massively famous and good tv ad.
That right there messed with my
POV on shoots. That person made incredible work and all they wanted to do was make more of it.
Being on set and traveling for shoots isn't as glamorous and exciting as some people think. There's a lot of boring down time. There's a lot to be said for "The pay, benefits, WLB, and team are all great".
You have hear of AI, yes? The days of bloated set shoots are over. Avail yourself of such notions
You have seen AI spots yes? The days of shoots aren’t going anywhere for a while.
*cries in strategist*
Over the course of a 45-year career, from Jr. Copwriter to CD, there was nothing I hated more than being on set. Invariably, the idea I created and sold became a pathetic version of itself, thanks to dozens of people who always had a "really cool" take on how to make it "better."
I wouldn’t be at this job if I didn’t get to be on set.
Maybe you could consider switching roles
Pro
I never get to be on set or travel for shoots. Sounds like a nice perk.
i would but if its a big priority to you then it doesnt matter what everyone else does. Find a shop that will let you be on set!
I’m not in creative but haven’t been on set in maybe 15 years.
Rising Star
Get an MBA and you can travel to Cannes!