Life on the Other Side - Chris Thompson, from Plumbing to Copywriting to Plumbing
Chris Thompson is a former Copywriter and now Project Administrator, Site Foreman and Supervisor at Melbourne Commercial Plumbing.
Interviewed by Damian Asling.
DA: Can you tell us a bit about your agency experience as a Creative?
CT: Coming into advertising I’d never heard of Clemenger. I didn’t know about the awards that drove the industry and didn’t understand the hype. And I guess being naive can play in your favour.
Starting as an “Exception to the Rule” (for those not in the know - this is a graduate program, for people who haven’t graduated) I quickly found that a friendly face can go a long way and networking amongst teams and all platforms within an agency can propel you further.
My approach to the work (Creative or not) was to put my hand up for everything, broadening my comfort zone to an all “new” kind of un-comfort zone, and it’s here where I now find comfort.
Brainstorming and problem solving is something I have always been passionate about and having the opportunity to apply my thoughts to client problems and their briefs leads to big ideas. I found joy in connecting and collaborating creatively with most of my colleagues, but it’s when you have chemistry with someone and it clicks that the ideas go sideways in a good way.
DA: What bits of agency life did you enjoy, and what bits weren't so great?
CT: There’s no doubt agency life gave me a shot and helped build me into a successful copywriter. But coming from the harshness of a worksite, there’s much to be said about the cush of an office job. The irony is that being outside for me is the essence of life, the sun (or rain on your cheeks) makes you feel alive much more than the dreaded inbox and unbelievable deadlines.
Don’t get me wrong - Agency life was a magical place, full of creativity and bright minds and a willingness to think beyond the box. But with that same stroke of genius comes cowardice and the inability to push beyond the expectation of a client.
Some of the ideas I saw in my time were massive and in the beginning you do really want to make a difference, honing in on human truths and even solving problems but the sad part is you do end up making a lot of “what a client wants” in the end, with ideas occasionally getting so diluted that you don’t even want your name on it.
DA: Changing careers at the advent of a global pandemic comes with its own unique challenges. How has Covid19 affected you professionally and creatively?
CT: A fluke but in hindsight I couldn’t have planned it better, resigning two weeks prior to any pandemic talks would make one think I had something to do with it. But I think for me there was change in the air (no pun intended) and the gravitational shift towards a better lifestyle balance was what I was chasing.
Moving back into plumbing has been frictionless, yes there’s the Covid stuff with the temp checks before you enter sites and social distancing but the creativity to problem solve still exists and if anything I’m just now better at it.
Covid 19 I think has had a positive effect on creativity overall - we’ve slowed down. Creativity exists in every industry, and it was a video I watched of John Cleese (Monty Python, Fawlty Towers) that summed it up the best for me.
Creativity for me is a state of play, it’s where you can explore your inner child and find the space to become your childish self.
At times Clems allowed me to hone in on creativity but the sad truth is you need time to achieve it.
DA: How has the transition to your new role as a Plumber been?
CT: Plumbing for me is an old skill, a path I followed back when my options were limited. It’s ironic to be back where I was in my 20s but the tradable skills of office life are undeniably valuable to the worksite.
Never was I considered academically driven, approaching things practically with a hands-first, head-later approach. So utilising both sides of my brain with every scenario makes you a jet onsite. Articulating plans and emails to builders and contract administrators is much the same as deciphering briefs and managing client expectations.
DA: What skills have overlapped, or have come in handy from your agency days?
CT: Being able to articulate yourself definitely helps create clarity in work and in life. I’ve found communication to be the most useful tool when managing projects and guiding teams.
My approach to problem solving remains the same. Rather than just seeing things vertically there’s a lateral approach now that can lead to a greater outcome. There’s been a growth in my confidence too that helps me navigate solutions by backing myself even if I’m being scrutinised in the process.
DA: What's a day in your life like now?
CT: Start at 7 am - finish at 3 pm. At the end of my day I’m physically fitter and stronger than the day before. I have time to catch up on errands, eat dinner with my wife and go surfing if I want to. And that should be enough to rattle minds.
My days used to be 9 am till whenever the deadline permitted. The anxiety of being told at 5.30pm, “you won’t be going home till late…” used to hit me hard. Now my afternoons give me the freedom, space and time to play and explore my creativity.
DA: Finally, having moved into a different industry, can you give us your perspective on what should change about the advertising industry to improve the workplace for those of us still there?
CT: The industry itself is desirable from the outside, I mean who doesn’t want to get paid to think large and have fun while working with especially creative people... but the truth is long hours, deadlines and bad clients ironically kind of kill the buzz and in turn you don’t feel very creative.
Take the current Menulog ad, the one with ya Boi Snoop Dogg in it. This is a good example of taking a crazy idea and getting it in front of a good client, the problem faced inside the agency is these ideas are often shot down internally by disgruntled CD’s who feel like pulling on ill tuned heartstrings is what will get you that infamous “Lion”.
Ideas don’t have to be overcooked, they can come hard and fast, and as long as they are welcomed they’ll be successful.
So my advice is that when you’re looking out through the big city windows from your advertising tower and wondering if creativity is the answer… remember that it is, but only if the client permits it.
The concept of the RDO would work brilliantly in the agency world, a day every two weeks - to play, be creative, take a break and find the space to bring your best work to the table.
