Romanian mutterings.

I got back from Romania yesterday. I was planning to blog while I was over there but I was either too busy, or too tired. So here's a little review of what we got up to (I was joined by Doug E. Fresh).

We were picked up by our host, and Romanian planning guru, Costin - lovely guy, terrible driver.

Following the white knuckle ride from the airport, we were installed in a mammoth hotel, which felt more like an airport. Apparently it's one of the biggest in the world, and possibly one of the emptiest.

 

I was in room 811,999 - just a mile down the hallway from the elevator.

 

After staying up late furiously trying to think of something to present, we slept, and then prepared to speak at the conference on 'sales promotion' that Costin was organizing. Not knowing a lot about sales promotion lent a certain nervous quality to the mood in the morning. I coped the only way I could, which was to focus, while quietly muttering to myself "everybody loves you, nobody doubts you".

 

Moments before we went on Doug was so riddled with fear that he faked the worst smile you're ever likely to see. No one was fooled, but it didn't seem worth saying anything, time was running out.

 

So on we went. I talked a bit about crack cocaine.

 

Then Doug accused the audience of being on drugs, while I stood as still as possible, staring at the conference lights, quietly muttering "everybody loves you, nobody hates you".

 

Following our talk it was time for a panel session where we took questions from the audience. I spent most of the time drinking fizzy water and muttering to myself, while Doug talked about econometrics.

 

As soon it was over we immediately returned to our rooms and set about avoiding the preparation that was required for the next day, which was a workshop we were supposed to be running, on a subject that had so far not been explained to us.

For inspiration I stared out of the window, at the bog just outside, and muttered to myself "this is what you've been waiting for, don't mess this up".

 

Come the morning, following another late night, we were pleased to see that the workshop seemed to have been billed as something we actually knew a little about. Doug was so pleased that I think I heard him muttering to himself.

 

Buoyed by the sign, we felt confident that our list of notes that we'd spent hours preparing would now lead to a sure success - they were extensive, inspirational, and bulletproof.

Unfortunately 'Colman's gags' did not prove to be that funny. Tearing up the agenda was just seen as a pointless stunt that merely sent the group into a state of confused reflection. And everyone was happy with exactly where their seats already were.

We moved on to the section entitled 'get to know each other'.

 

I'm not totally sure we gave them what they wanted, but questions were asked (good ones), and answers were given (possibly not so good). Then we ran out of time.

It was nice that we managed to fill the session, and even better than we got meet some of the really cool people who make up the backbone of the fledgling industry in Romania. We even got to meet the supposedly 'most important woman in Romanian advertising' (according to Ben), Bogdana.

 

Then the local media turned up, demanding some answers to a number of difficult questions, like 'what is Twitter for?', I avoided the question.

 

After this the only thing we could think to do was go to the gym and cycle as hard as possible for as short a time as possible while muttering "this is the one, this is the time, it's my time, work it!" It cleared the cobwebs.

Our work done, we went out to drink beer with a small, but select, crowd of Romania's finest. I don't have pictures of most of them (hopefully Doug has), but they looked after us wonderfully. We ate terrible food, got a tour of where Costin's dog likes to pee, and then got taken to a party on the terrace of the People's Palace - the world's second biggest building, which was pretty amazing.

It was a great night. Doug went a bit rock and roll at the end, but I let it go - we all need to unwind sometimes.

We then slept a little and got an early flight, which almost crashed, but it didn't, and that's what matters I guess.

Good people, Romanians, good people.

Comments

[Ben]

I think Doug carried you.

[Paul H. Colman]

Naturally.

[doug]

That's exactly what happened.

(Thanks, BTW - that'll be a cut and paste job for W2O then)

Lovely.

[Lebowski]

I like how they spelt Colman on the workshop sheet.

[Bogdana]

Look, cut it out with this 'most important woman in advertising thing' :). It's giving me a bad name over here. 'supposedly' is about right 'cos only ben thinks that and that's because he knows no other girls here who work in advertising and are this tall :)
and BTW, you forgot to demonstrate the kitkat thing

[Paul H. Colman]

Lebowski, thank God, where have you been?

And yes, the name spelling was a source of great contention (and part of the failed 'Colman's gags' section.

Bogdana, embrace it. I would have loved to have shown you the Kitkat thing, but it's still a top secret Wieden's technique at the moment, maybe next time.

[Marcus]

These are exciting times.

[Costin Radu]

Paul,

I will need to know exactly what you meant by terrible driver. Otherwise, I will bring my dog to London and make him bite for the first time.

[Paul H. Colman]

Costin, do you remember trying to park, for 15mins?

By the way, Doug and I are missing Romania.

Ps. Say hi to the dog.

[andrea n]

15 minutes to park is normal!

Where did John disappear though? I think I was briefly introduced to you people, he mentioned having worked for Cheetham Bell JWT in Manchester but I didn't get the chance to find out more!

Also the "evil plot" phone camera picture: http://i28.tinypic.com/25rp7gw.jpg

[Paul H. Colman]

Really? Maybe I should have been impressed - the space was quite small.

John, AKA El Griffo, likes to be in bed early.

[Lebowski]

Sorry. i only raise myself to comment on posts when its really important these days.

i voinţă a voi a face better de la acum on

(you know what that means, right?)