Texas Advertising Graduate Council visits New York City

Continuing with past tradition, the Advertising Graduate Council (AGC) recently embarked on an agency field trip to one of the most bustling places in the world - New York City. Thirty-eight members of the Advertising Graduate Council (AGC) traveled to New York City to experience first-hand the advertising atmosphere of the Big Apple. Leaving behind the warm Austin weather, students eagerly explored life in the city that never sleeps.

The trip, which consisted of thirteen agency tours, provided students with a mixture of fun, networking, and advertising insight. The agencies toured reflected a variety of sizes, philosophies, and specialties, and included: BBH, TBWA/Chiat/Day, BBDO, Lowe, Burson Marstellar, Euro RSCG Life, Deutsch, Concept Farm, Publicis, OMD, Ad Council, DCA Advertising and DiMassimo Carr Brand Advocates.

Mary Williams, a second year graduate student in Texas Creative talks about her first impression, "It was exciting to visit the busiest city on Earth. It was my first trip to NYC and I was constantly amazed at the landmarks, the size of the city, the number of people, the depth of diversity, and the general craziness going on at all times."

During the tours, students were able to view each agency's reel, participate in panel discussions, address industry and agency-specific questions and interact with creatives, account planners and account executives. Whether students were soon-to-be graduates looking for specific employment information or first-year students simply wanting a taste of the agency world, the tours provided a unique and valuable look into the core of each agency.

Mike Hyde, a second year graduate student in Texas Creative, as well Internship coordinator for the Texas Advertising, talked about his agency experience, "The agencies were the real value that I got out of the trip. I went into each agency with a certain level of expectation and in almost each case my perception of those agencies was completely changed, some for the better and, unfortunately, some for the worse. It was important for me to get a better understanding of these agencies because when I go to look for jobs, I will know which agencies to go after and which ones to approach with caution. On top of that, just making contact with people in the business has given me a leg up when I go to look for jobs. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend that all graduate students go on the trip at least once."

Stephanie Scaggs commented, "Touring the different agencies was really eye-opening. I was able to observe the various corporate cultures and get a feel for how each agency approached the creative process. Most importantly I was able to interact with people who are truly passionate about their work."

Of course, the trip wasn't all business. After spending the day with industry professionals, students gathered for group dinners at restaurants such as Med Cafe and John's Italian Restaurant. Students were able to unwind and reflect upon the different agency visits. In addition, several students took advantage of New York City's extensive shopping scene, theater district, and endless tourist opportunities. A few AGC students even made a television appearance at the Today show's famous studio window at Rockefeller Plaza.

Overall, the trip was an incredible success. Students were able to enjoy a mix of entertainment and education and return to Austin with a better sense of the New York City advertising climate. Katherine Franklin surmises: "I encourage all advertising graduate students to become involved in the AGC and go on a trip like this. It is a great way to bond with other ad grads and fine-tune your career path at the same time. The experience was invaluable."

11/29/2004