Opinion: My ONEderful Night with Fabio

Opinion: My ONEderful Night with Fabio

Blake Moran of the University of Alabama re-caps his night at The One Show

 

As a small town Alabama boy, you might not be surprised to learn that The 2012 One Show at

New York’s Lincoln Center was my first red carpet event. At my high school prom, our limousine driver rolled out a short, slightly-stained red carpet for our arrival and our parents played paparazzi as we departed in a stretch Ford Excursion. While I would like to pretend that I’ve often strutted in front of a ‘step-and-repeat’ while media shouted my name, this is not the case. But on this exciting Thursday evening in New York City, as I posed for a picture with my classmates and Kevin Roddy, former BBH CCO and the man behind those racy AXE commercials, I finally felt I’d “arrived.”

 

Six students from The University of Alabama, including myself, were part of a mini-course that included a trip to New York City where we could experience the heart of the industry firsthand. After a week of agency tours, shopping, more agency tours, more shopping, eating, sight-seeing, additional eating and even more shopping, my night at The One Show gave me the opportunity to cut loose and rub elbows with some of the industry’s finest. I constantly circled the room during the cocktail hour, bouncing from one bar to the other with my eyes peeled for anyone with whom I could talk shop.

 

Then it happened.

 

Fabio, that chiseled romance novel poster God and host of the night’s festivities, caught me in his stare. I don’t know if it was him or the vodka, but I felt like we were buds. Let’s just say this man is a professional. He worked me from the moment he saw me. He was cordial during our photo op, and sealed the deal with a slight nod to me as I turned and walked away. Moments later, the crowd funneled into the theater as show time approached (did I mention that I sat on the same row as Jerry Della Femina? This seems like a good place to name drop).

 

Soon, Gold, silver and bronze pencils were being presented and there was some amazing work. “Amazing” might be overused but it’s a fucking One Show pencil, and all the superlatives work.

The Martin Agency’s winning campaign for Wal-Mart made me feel at home. K-Swiss was named Client of the Year and my inner redneck tried its best not to holler when a man ran on stage to accept the award while simultaneously flipping off the crowd.

 

At The One Show after party at NYC’s Bowery Hotel, everyone was loose from the vodka and so were the conversations. That’s when I realized how welcoming the advertising industry is to up-and-comers like me. Here, a young, aspiring copywriter can chat up the new president of The Art Directors club and his assistant (who just happens to be a fellow Alabama grad!) and stalk a creative idol from TBWA/Chiat/Day in 30 minutes or less. I became wildly confident, and I unpacked my “y’alls” and stopped trying to hide my country twang. To my surprise, it became my strongest selling point. What the hell is an Alabama boy doing in NYC at The One Show?

 

He’s doin’ just fine, thank you, ma’am.

 

Blake Moran (@realblakemoran)

Non-Traditional Alabama Boy

University of Alabama Alum