IDEAS AND UNDIES

Warning: The language used for this post is not for the 'saint'-hearted.

Ideas are like underwear. They are the closest thing to us. Maybe that’s why ideas come from a ‘brief’. The client gives us a brief. We masturbate mentally and derive ideas. And when we present, they fuck it up sometimes. At times when the ‘brief’ lies with you for too long, they wonder what you are doing with it. So all in all, there is not much of a difference between ideas and undies. We are all possessive about it and we feel ashamed if we don’t have a good one.

So when you get this thing called a brief, we put on all coloured thinking caps which De Bono invented, and put in our best minds to win the pitch. Then you get the plan created, PPTs and set designs galore, logistics and costs as well maybe – you are all set.

You go and present to him. At the end of the presentation you receive accolades. ‘Very nice presentation’. clap clap.' comments the Client, and that sets you soaring. Hold on though. As we know. Ideas are like Undies – and good ones are liked by all. But does he have the balls to pay what its costs? Everyone wants an orgasm, but cannot afford it. So then he slyly asks for your PPT which you send across hoping for some kind of revertal. He wants to know the costs as well – and you send that too. Then he scrutinizes the dozen other costs he has collected from your competition. Compares apples and oranges, lemons and melons. ‘Arre this guy has cost Rs. 600 for a promoter, and this other guy Rs. 559’ Well of course he cannot differentiate between an A and a B grade. They cannot differentiate because they do not know. So the scrutiny happens. Like the 3 blind men. I did not say Idiots, ok? And well, they like the costing of the other guy better, irrespective of what he has to offer. Then you want to go 'slap, slap'..

You get a regret mail from them, if you are goodlucky. If you are badlucky, you will suddenly, one fine day see your idea hanging from  a hoarding ad, or in the eventfaqs news section. Your head spins. ‘Haila, what happened re’? asks your colleague. And you pout. The client took your idea and gave it to the cheaper guy. Without your permission or knowledge. He stripped you. Because you did not have protection. Ideas cannot be copyrighted. So they say. And of course, there is nothing like ‘creative fees’ in this industry. So you feel bad and sulk…or maybe wanna go thrash them. But then…its just a brief.

So unless this issue of “idea capturing” is seriously taken up, that is, if we want to, the event industry is bound to suffer – the insecurity and unhealthy competition will continue. So will the issue of kickbacks , as mentioned in the earlier post. Like Ad agencies take idea capturing more seriously. Duniya hilaa ke rakh dete hain. But then what about the Event Industry then. Don't we want to be the Mummies and Daddies and  ask them to behave?  Maybe setup a system to let this not happen. As an Industry make some norms, get united..maybe decide on some rules which become norms...Ideas anyone? Your idea is going to help them boost their commerce. So why not bite the pie a bit? Else it is like them stealing your undies under your nose. But I ask, if you do not use someone else’s undies, why use someone else’s ideas?

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