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Totally agree. Know what my side hobby is? Trying to be a good husband and enjoying myself. Seeing friends and watching goddamn Netflix.
And I don't know why there's anything wrong with that ugh
I feel this SO hard. Everyone expects designers to want to do calligraphy/photography/painting in their spare time, but I just see it as 'what additional creative hobbies do you have that we can one day exploit for a pitch?' because if your CD gets wind of your creative hobby, they will find a way to use it.
Agencies depend on creatives not being able to separate their work from themselves. They want the work to feel so much like a part of our souls that we’ll accept less than we deserve to make the agency more money.
Ain’t nobody got time for that
Justine = monster
“Oh, you’re a writer! What kinds of things do you like to write in your spare time?”
“Oh, you’re a hiring manager! What kinds of things do you like to manage in your spare time?"
Agency: what are your hobbies?
Me: you work me 16 hours a day and weekends.
Agency: you should make time to have hobbies.
Me:
This is a common thing for you? Never happened to me. People in your office are like, “Hey, why don’t you have a podcast? Where’s a video of your improv night?"
My thing is why do I need to show them off? The whole point is doing something for myself. Happy to talk about them, don’t have it in my book
Because in advertising your work life needs to be all about work and your personal life needs to be all about work.
Do what you want. Or do nothing. It’s nobody’s business
Also hobbies don’t have to be creative to be rewarding it could be movies, music, hiking, bike riding, working out, etc. I spend so much time in front of a screen, when I have free time I try as much as possible to be outside, walking the dog, getting fresh air, people watching, getting some perspective, letting my brain rest and recover and think of other things. What you do with your time is your own business and if it’s binge watching Netflix, that’s great too!
For sure you’re books got to get you in the door, but if your not a miserable person who has life experiences and can talk about more than ads, you’ll be more likely to be hired. Maybe I’ve been doing this long enough that a reputation for being nice to work with and pleasant person carries a fair amount of weight.
As a creative you should have some hobbie or passion besides making ads, take some time to think what you really like and show your skills. I think its really good for you not for them to have stuff like that
My version of hobby or passion is just watching TV & drinking beer. That’s my side hustle. Sitting still half asleep, detoxing from a day of decision making & thinking of creative solutions
I think this is part of the reason why I never do them. Bc I know it’s just another extension of work—work that already takes up 60+ hours a week. I can’t put naturally fun creative outlets in my book. So instead it’s “here’s work I get paid to do” and “here’s work I do for free.”
I’m working on two side projects that are going to change the world... They take up all of my free time and are truly my life’s passion. I’m investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in them, struggling to make sure they turn out according to my vision, and they pretty much take up my nights and weekends. But even if they don’t, I’m okay with it, because they’re going to be my legacy and will definitely outlive any of the shit I create for hire in the ad business.
Yes, I’m talking about my kids.
And they are teaching me more about existence, priorities, and the human condition than any amount of singer-songwriting I do; or paintings I make; or calligraphy I do.
And that wisdom... that’s what lives behind the the value I create for the agency and its clients.
@cd4 would be awesome to make a "side projects" tab in parents books and just link to an insta about their kiddos. Love everything you said and I don't even have kids yet.
Who’s shaming you? You do what you want...
AD1 above would be exhibit A
This thread makes me all kinds of sad
I don't give a fuck about any other tab in your portfolio besides the work. I never look.
You’re in the minority for that
My CD has been going on for years about people needing to do stuff on the side. But he’s the only one on the team that doesn’t have a creative hobby.
Just do what you want and don’t let anyone shame you for it.
I worked at WK. Saw two of my friends get hired there as well. Never had anyone ask me about side projects. But for real, if people bring that up, tell them to mind their damn business. Advertising takes up enough of your life, they don’t get to own your passions outside of work too.
Freeing yourself of the pressure to always be doing something productive is the most liberating thing.
I’m still working on that, though...
Between the office and the bar, where would I have time for anything else?
I guess the bars a personal project, nearly polished off that blue Johnny walker 🤤
Hobbies make people more well rounded but that’s way different than side projects. I actually want to see some personality/interests/passion/hobbies in your bio or about me - it shows you’re multi dimensional, interesting, have life experience...and interests OTHER than work.
@acd3 must be nice to work at a 9-5 agency then. What are your hobbies?
We literally get reviewed on if we came up with any side projects. Raises/promos are based on it :/
I once worked at an agency where one of our review criteria was awards won. That agency won one award maybe every 3-5 years. Everyone was super happy.