CLICK HERE TO HEAR SWATCHES OF MY INTERVIEW WITH ALEX BOGUSKY
Back in November of 2007, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alex Bogusky at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. I was El Presidente of the Atlanta Ad Club, and Alex was booked to talk with us. Rather than have a lecture, I wanted to interview him like James Lipton interviews megastars on “Inside The Actors Studio.” Alex liked the idea and was terrific. We packed the house with over 350 people, by far the largest AAC event in recent history, and Alex generously shared his wisdom and insights. It was an inspiring evening and afterward Alex bolted to catch a private plane and fly to Seattle. The agency was pitching Microsoft the next day. They did and they won. Just another day for CP+B.
The communications world was jolted recently when Alex Bogusky, creative Wunderkind of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, announced he was leaving the ad world to pursue other interests.
He wants to do more do-gooder types of things– helping people and what have you. He had received his money from selling to MDC and decided he’d had enough of the adworld. His ex- agency still handles Burger King and Domino’s Pizza and Alex was becoming more vocal about touchy subjects like advertising to children and selling foods that are hardly healthy. He took his ball and left the playground. Good for him; it’s admirable to want to help others, and everyone is curious to see what he does next.
In an industry where there are few interesting people, few visionaries/iconoclasts/leaders, Alex Bogusky stood out. He was controversial at times, but always sincere and passionate. The work, love it or hate it, changed many of the rules of how people communicated with people.
Best wishes, Alex, you were a great guest and voice for our industry.
OK. You interviewed a captain of the ad industry and slyly emptied his brain of his secret insights. Less than three years later he quits the business. Who else have you interviewed? Ken Griffy Jr.? Helen Thomas? John Madden? Brett Favre?
You’re on to me. My interviews are early warnings of impending retirement. Who should I talk to next? Tony Hayward? LeBron? Hmmm…
Talk with Sarah Palin, okay?
Good thought. Maybe I should sit that Levi down and give him a good talking to while I’m at it!