In 1986, Fallon McElligott was the darling of the ad world, and it was right in my home town of Minneapolis. (Actually, I was born in Saint Paul.)
On the left: A charity-parody direct-response mailer I sent to some 400 people in the industry, with a reply coupon addressed to "Save the Agency." It got me lots of interviews in Minneapolis, Chicago and New York.
...and on the right, a form rejection letter (#1).An "autographed" book, Pen of Midas, "by Tom McElligott." Sent to Mr. McElligott.
"Pen of Midas, or How I Found the Copywriter who Saved My Agency."
Page 2 is a door marked Fallon McElligott, Inc.Page 3. Not actually a book, but a lavatory diorama.
The toilet roll reads: for a good copywriter, call...
Form rejection letter (#2).The same week, the agency wins the coveted Lee account.
The next week, a box arrives at the agency, addressed to Mr. McElligott.
When the box is opened......balloons begin to inflate.
Eventually, they burst through the tracing-paper jeans and explode......powered by a hidden pump.
By finding and turning off the switch, one can keep the balloons from exploding. Inside with the pump......I included a cheeky note...
...and
a reply card. This one worked. I got an interview, anyway. (At the time
they had six writers, and hundreds of applicants a day.)
Entries in the Spy Magazine/Absolut Vodka ad contest, May 1988. I did the artwork as well as the copy.
"Absolut Beginner" took a third prize."Absolut Tango" took a second prize.
That summer, I suddenly became interested in Japan. So I taught myself some Japanese, quit my job, and went there.I worked in Tokyo as a copywriter from 1988 to 1991. Most of the work I did was for Hakuhodo, the second-biggest agency in Japan.
Then back to Minneapolis, and a few years later, Southern California.