by Nick Coston
By now, unless you lost your internet, you’ve been overwhelmed by OOH industry peeps showing all of us they are flying to the upcoming Cannes Lion Festival in France. Why not, if I were going I too would be plastering my LinkedIn page with photos of me shopping for linen shirts, showing off my numerous pairs of shades, maybe stick my face inside an old school, circular “lifesaver” like the Captain on Gilligan’s Island and of course attach my Cannes schedule for you all to book meetings with me.
Right, meetings.
Alas, I am not going and chances are good you aren’t either.
That’s why moi, Big Nick himself, has got your back, at least 6 of your backs. Just a few moments ago while riding my cranky, filthy John Deere toddler-sized green riding mower, it hit me. Not the mower, but a fab idea that I think us less “left-behinders” can grab onto.
What if I could invite, pay for and enjoy Cannes with MY absolute, dyed in the wool, fav OOH mugs, people I love being around, chewing the fat with, downing cold bubbly as we party hop The Croissant. On me. Ok, I know it’s Croisette, which I guess is like a fancier version of the Atlantic City boardwalk, only with palm trees and without pizza slices.
Sounds like fun? I promise, no work, no selling, just hanging out with my gang, laughing and trolling the most famous promenade of the French Riviera. All while wearing outfits you would never get caught wearing on the NYC Subway or at an O’s game. If I could bring my favorite OOH rep to an OAAA Conference in Las Vegas, I can certainly bring five more of you to the south of France.
Without delay, here are the lucky-duck (duck l’orange?) invitees on my Frenchy wish list followed by a brief description why they made the cut (and you didn’t):
*Dave Battaglia, one of most successful and well-liked OOH salespeople in the country, 25 years with Clear Channel, now with Capital Outdoor. He’s the self-appointed “Guy You Adore From (now) Capital Outdoor” and one of the great cocktail hour emcees in our biz. He even came to my wedding.
*Jaime Horowitz, VP from Kalil & Company, a consistent pro at his craft, never misses walking a whole show twenty-times over, and always brings the best cigars. One of OOH’s best storytellers and a killer at karaoke. He’s the guy you want to be sitting with at 2:30am when everyone else can’t spell their name.
*Gina Stratford, VP with Next Grad, a veteran of numerous OOH shows, always with a smile and remembers everybody’s name. We have some rather nefarious “friends” in common we love to remind each other of (yes, Gina, our boy Jeremy is still alive) and she has incredible industry contacts. The party indeed likes to follow Gina wherever she goes. She would an instant CC (Cannes Classic).
*Bill Durden, VP, Durden Outdoor, who can command a room of distracted OOH peeps better than most with his engaging and smiling ways. “Get Famous or Die Try’in” Bill, bar none, one of most likeable and brand-building OOH advocates OOH can show off, he’s also one of best creative minds of any media owner. Bringing a slice of Dothan, Alabama to The Croisette would certainly liven up the joint. Just listen to Dollar Bill’s acceptance speech when winning his Gold OBIE award in 2024 at the OAAA in Carlsbad and you’ll what I’m sayin’.
*Jessica Chappell, one of OOH sharpest media minds for years, I’ve known here since we went on a client market ride in Dallas back in 2010 where I kept kicking the back of her car seat, vying for her attention. She’s got a wickedly quick wit, incredibly well-respected and is relentless at working shows. An industry star if there ever was one, she would be on my Cannes invitee list fo’ sure.
*JJ Sumner, sales exec for Lamar in Greensboro, NC, I’ve worked with JJ in his market on buys since 2014. Fun, down to earth, knows his market by heart, loves to yak it up about sports, politics and his kids. He’s the only guy I would EVER eat raw oysters within western NC too. Reps like JJ are the ones who keeps us all in business. He also knows all the killer BBQ joints including convincing our biggest client to have hot dogs for lunch at the world famous Dairi-O. Don’t be tellin’ me that JJ would not be a hoot at Cannes.
This sound like the ultimate fun bunch?
Heck yea, Pierre.
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