Age, youth, and passing on the baton to the next generation...

There comes a time in every creative’s life when the subject of age rears it’s ugly little head.?

It’s normally around the same time as the subject of experience (or lack of it) crops up.?

I came into Advertising when I was thirty-something.?

I became a full-time creative, a copywriter, about ten minutes later.?

Not a great one…but, eventually, a good one. Or, at least, not a bad one.

I left advertising when I was sixty-something.?

I’m now seventy-two. (Going on fifty-something).

I’m now a full-time author.?

But I suppose it’s true to say that I might have left Advertising…but it has never left me.?

It’s a bit like once a Catholic, always a Catholic.?

Or a marine.?

Anyway…

The average adult human being has around eight litres of blood running through their veins.?

I reckon that about three or four litres belonging to Advertising still run through mine.?

That’s a lot of years.?

And a lot of experience.?

(And a lot of blood).

So, here’s what I think (being an opinionated son of a bitch)

When I look around Advertising’s output these days I’m half delighted and half dismayed.?

Delighted because those producing great Advertising tend to have great talent and great experience. And on the whole, they’re no spring chickens.

And dismayed because those producing crap Advertising tend to have zero talent and all the experience of a freshly-laid egg.?

Of course, that’s easy for me to say. I’m no longer in the business.

I should probably zip the lip, piss-off somewhere nice and dark and write my books.?

I’m clearly not the one who should be passing on the baton to all those younger creatives who need all those experienced, legitimate creatives, to show them the ropes.?

I’m just an older used-to-be-pain-in-the-arse who just looks on and spouts opinions that may or may not be bloody valid.

So, long story short, it’s up to you guys.?

You, who’ve been there, done that, got the tee-shirt, ripped the tee-shirt, and used it to polish the car.

You, who remember what great Advertising used to look and feel like.?

You, who STILL know what great Advertising looks and feels like.?

You, who know what it means to pass on the baton to the next generation of creatives.?

Just like, if you were lucky, it was passed on to you.?

So, without further ado, have at it…

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You've just read an extract from my unfinished book of urban essays Ad Astra.

All my published books are available separately from those nice people at Amazon…right here.

(Urban Essays):Ad Interruptus:?https://amzn.to/3AmkfjQ

Ad Infinitum:?https://amzn.to/3pof7Uq

Ad Lib: https://amzn.to/2kd4LKf.

Ad Hoc:?https://amzn.to/2Nx8GL8

(Urban Romance)

Love & Coffee:?https://amzn.to/28IWaHq

(Humorous Science Fantasy)

Heaven Help Us:?https://amzn.to/2nkQ1Jk

Or…you can pop along to my new website at brycemain.co.uk and have a sneaky peek at them all together in the one place.

And choose one for 2023...