A Dinner Saves The Day
Don, Megan, Ken, the Heinz client and his wife have what seems like an uncomfortable dinner at the Tower Suite in the Time-Life building. The agency is scheduled to present new creative work the next day and this dinner is designed to help ease the tensions of prior meetings. Don and Ken sense that something is wrong when the client passes on after dinner entertainment and they learn the client was in town a few days before. Alarm bells start to ring in Don’s mind but it is Megan who gets the message in the ladies room. The client’s wife tells Megan that “I hope we can still be friends” and she picks up on its implications immediately. Megan discretely whispers to Don that the agency is being fired.
Megan and Don jump into action and pair up to present the new campaign idea right then and there. They charm the client and his wife with the story of how the idea came about and sell it with warmth and smiles. The client likes the idea and, perhaps more importantly, the client's wife really loves it. Ken is a little slow to pick up on what is happening but he eventually gets in the flow and suggests they go downstairs and see the work. Voila!. Sold. That's a dessert they will savor for quite some time.
The Tower Suite at the Time-Life Building was the perfect setting for this dinner. SCDP has its offices there and the Tower Suite has an air of exclusivity, specialness and views that would impress any client. In the afternoon the same space was open as a private luncheon venue called The Hemisphere Club. I was entertained there day and night by folks from Time Inc. and was convinced to recommend some great Time Inc. magazine buys over wonderful dinners and great company. Time Inc. was the best there was at entertaining, selling and delivering great print programs. In 1972 I joined DKG advertising as a partner and experienced business life in the Time-Life building every day. Our offices were on the 28th floor of the Time-Life Building. It was an impressive place to come to work every day and we used the clubs and facilities extensively for business and client entertainment. It was a magical time. Seeing this episode made me feel like I was right there at the table with all of them.
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