Ten things I don’t want to hear at Cannes Lions 2010.

It’s the end of the second day at the Cannes Lions 2009. The evening rains have done their bit to contribute to a festival that is already proving to be quite damp in other respects.

Attendance seems to be thin. (Some are saying it’s down by 40%, but the festival organizers obviously won’t confirm or comment on it.) The quality of entries leave a lot to be desired. And the speakers, in a variety of different accents, seem to be parrotting the same platitudes we’ve been hearing for the last several years. So here, in no particular order are some things I wouldn’t want to pay 2,600 Euros to sit through next year.

1.    ”It’s not about advertising, it’s about engagement.”
2.    ”Print’s days are numbered.”
3.    ”You don’t want to advertise, you want to have a conversation.”
4.    ”It’s about having a great narrative, a great story.”
5.    ”Advertising is no longer a one-way process. The consumer can now talk back to you.”
6.    ”You have to let go when it comes to the controls for your brand online. Consumers will take it anyway.”
7.    ”Online banner and display advertising is a broken model.”
8.    ”The next big breakthrough will be centered around mobile devices.”
9.    ”Social media is not a fad, it’s here to stay.”
10.    ”Consumers are ’always on’.”

Asif Ansari is partner and creative director at The Duffy Agency. He loves writing, technology and beer.

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Comments

[Stefan]

Those quotes seem very last year. I'm surprised the conversations are moving forward.

[Mike]

I fully agree! Sometimes I feel like hearing the same speaches as one year ago.
It's better to hear the real big fishes. Was looking for some cannes coverages and found interesting interview with Andrea Stillacci from Grey Paris here:
http://attitude.adforum.com/liveincannes/2009/06/23/andrea-stillacci/

[Mike Berard]

Is there an echo in here? ;)

[bindu m]

So true