CONTAGIOUS IN CANNES / ADVERTISING STORYSLAM

The art of storytelling is a theme that crops up in any number of iterations during the seminars and workshops that play out during the Cannes Lions.

But as any seasoned Croisette veteran will tell you, it's the stories that are told during downtime - those late-night, beer-goggled, Gutter Bar reminiscences - that are truly golden.

That's why Contagious is teaming up with Organic, Google and The Moth to stage an event that will bring those tales to a wider audience. The Worst Day in Advertising StorySLAM will take place Thursday, June 21 from 6:30-8:30pm on the Google Beach. The format is simple: we ask people in advertising to relate their stories in response to a question that we ALL have an answer to... 'What was your worst ever day in advertising?'

We've run this event for the last couple of years during New York's Advertising Week, and figured that a beachside, sundown setting could only enhance the established format. A handful of adland's secret raconteurs will share their shame to anchor the event; once the ball is rolling, the names of audience volunteers with tales to tell will be drawn from a hat. An all-star group of judges will be critiquing everyone's tales.

Judges include our own Paul Kemp-Robertson, Conor Brady from Organic, Google Creative Lab's Ben Malbon, Cheil UK's Daniele Fiandaca, Katherine Moncrief from Deutsch and Michelle Klein from Smirnoff, plus a pair of audience members who'll be selected to tally scores.

Featured storytellers include Jennifer Frommer from Interscope, Laurie Coots from TBWA/Worldwide, Freddie Laker from SapientNitro and Wunderman's Nick Moore.

Joining them are ad legends Harvey Gabore, art director on Coca-Cola's 'Hilltop' and Howie 'Mad Mensch' Cohen and Bob Pasqualina, copywriter / art director duo from Wells, Rich, Greene. All are in town to talk about Google's Project Re:Brief but will surely wow the audience with tales from advertising's golden era.  

Did we mention that this is competitive? Contestants are judged on sticking to the format: a five-minute, story, unscripted, close to the theme with a conflict and a resolution. The triumphant storyteller will win a Gold Lion the moon on a stick profound sense of validation and a lasting place in the hearts and minds of their peers. And probably a small prize. But this event is a come-one, come-all open mic that depends on your participation.

Contagious is excited beyond all reason to be working with a wonderful set of partners on this event. Thanks to Organic for taking their 'Worst Day' idea to France; to The Moth for championing the art and craft of live storytelling; and to Google for providing nothing short of an actual beach and limitless enthusiasm for making this happen.

If you're headed to Cannes and would like to join us for a sundown tale-telling extravaganza, please RSVP ASAP. And bring your best 'Worst' story.

Thursday, June 21, 6:30-8:30
Google's Creative Sandbox
Gray D'Albion Hotel Beach
Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes