In the News

This year, The One Club elected ten new members to the Board. The new faces are a virtual Who's Who in advertising: Andy Azula from The Martin Agency, Roger Camp from Hal Riney and Partners, Glenn Cole from 72andSunny, David Droga from Droga5, Linus Karlsson from Mother, Nick Law from R/GA, David Lubars from BBDO, Ari Merkin from Toy, Steve Mykolyn from Taxi and Nancy Vonk from Ogilvy in Toronto. We asked them to tell us about themselves, and here's a sampling from the David Lubars interview.

One Club Board Members: How did you first become interested in advertising?

David Lubars, BBDO: When I was seven or eight, I'd go to work with my father on school holidays. He'd sit me on the floor with markers and a pad. It seemed like such a cool way to make a living. People smoked in offices back then and I remember once walking by someone's office and smelling a weird type of cigarette smoke I didn't recognize. This was at Doyle Dane in 1968, I think. Years later it occurred to me what it was. It was a different industry back then.

One Club Board Members: Which advertising creative do you look up to?

David Lubars, BBDO: Early on there were people like Jon Goward, Mark Deschenes, Tom Monahan, Ernie Schenck, Penny Kapasous, Steve Rabosky, my father. People working at the highest level of freshness, masters of their craft, but who also somehow found time to teach. It's impossible to express the gratitude I feel. There was Lee Clow, too. I was very young when I worked for him so we didn't have too much conversation. I absorbed a lot by watching him, though. Chiat/ Day had open seating and I didn't sit too far away from him. He had a booming voice so I learned a lot by eavesdropping. I'd listen to him dissect problems. Of course, you can't learn how to create from anyone, that's innate. But I liked how he could put his head in a place that would allow inspiration to come through.

One Club Board Members: What are some of your favorite ads?

David Lubars, BBDO: Probably the same as everyone else's favorite ads: the Bernbach VW work. You could take those exact ads-some are fifty years old-and run them now. They're the definition of timelessness. They capture a human somethingness that works across generations. Like good art, I suppose.

One Club Board Members: What campaign that you've worked on are you proudest of?

David Lubars, BBDO: I've been lucky enough to have been part of a few things that helped nudge the industry in a different direction. It would be one of those.

One Club Board Members: In these difficult times, what are clients seeking from agencies?

David Lubars, BBDO: I would say that this recession is unlike any other, except perhaps what happened in the 1930s. And now, as then, the newspapers are reporting suicides due to insolvency and bankruptcy. But it is precisely in the most trying times that opportunities arise. When a client has less money, you have to be innovative. The problem is that if this investment freeze continues, it will make the crisis last longer.

One Club Board Members: What's the best piece of advice you've ever gotten?

David Lubars, BBDO: I like the advice Warren Zevon gave when he knew he was dying: "Enjoy every sandwich."

One Club Board Members: What do you like to do in your spare time?

David Lubars, BBDO: Lately, my teenage kids and I have been recording tracks on Garage Band. Incredibly fun.

One Club Board Members: What does becoming a One Club Board member mean to you?

David Lubars, BBDO: Helping The One Club in any way is meaningful to me. Because the power of what The One Club does can't be underestimated-their efforts in making sure only the best, purest work is recognized puts the entire industry in context.

Read more at www.oneclub.org/oc/magazine

Reprinted with Permission