Defeat tastes a lot like an $80 dinner

I was in Tucson for the AAF’s NSAC District 12 competition this weekend representing the University of Northern Colorado. We didn’t win, but we had some fun anyways. We stayed at the Westin La Paloma “Resort and Spa”. This was my first time at such a swanky establishment and I learned a few things. First off, everyone who works there is entitled to be a huge douche all the time (except our bartender, she was nice). The other exception to this is when I went down to complain that the leg fell off my nightstand and I found gum in my bed sheets. They were fairly polite then, but I had to push for them to give me a bottle of wine for putting up with someone’s gum all night ( I didn’t check to see if it was stride or not, maybe I could have resold it). The next thing I learned is that just because they put out a really nice breakfast doesn’t mean it’s free. Far from it. I should have known better, but considering the student breakfast was a goddamn bagel (and only a goddamn bagel) you can imagine my delight at seeing everything from eggs to oatmeal waiting for me nearby. So I grabbed a plate and chowed down. But then I got greedy. I had to have some blueberry pancakes. So I went back and filled my plate again and just as I sat back down the check came. $21. Had I skipped the pancakes I would have been back in my room, totally oblivious to my newfound fugitive status.

On the subject of food, allow me to digress. Our cost per person for each student was $300 for the two nights (in the past it’s never been more than $100). This included all meals. They broke down the costs for each meal and our lunches were $30. Let me tell you what a $30 lunch looks like (hint: it’s not as good as a $21 breakfast). A $30 lunch consists of a turkey or chicken sandwich, tomato, no cheese, lettuce, a bit of potato or pasta salad, chips, an apple, and a cookie. A better meal was easily had at the resort “deli” for about $12. I’ll spare you the details of our $80 dinner that I would rate below a $15 special at Applebee’s.

So why am I bitching? Well what’s the point of the NSAC? Is it for students to learn about advertising and get real world experience or is it for a local ad federation to show off a bit and let a local resort make some money? And on the subject of fairness I think it’s in poor taste to allow some of the schools that are competing to also be sponsors of the event (The Art institute and University of Arizona were recognized as sponsors). Maybe I’m just a sore loser, and on that same note, if the winning team is any representation of what real clients want then maybe I’m going into the wrong industry. There were some really shiny turds there that placed above us. Of course, there were also some genuinely good ones too, hats off to BYU especially.

In the end, of course, who am I to judge? That’s what you’re here for right? I’ll post some of our ads soon and you can chime in on what you think.