Mike Greer Lecture

Today (14th April 10) we had a lecture by Mike Greer. Mike Greer is a copywriter who has done work for Love, The chase, Mccann Erikson and Amaze. Mike studied design in Blackburn for 4 years. When feeling that he wasnt good at graphics Mike moved onto advertising before eventually moving onto copywriting.

Most of Mikes lecture was dedicated to the hard hitting facts of what happens when you leave University. Mike expressed that there are 150 other courses of design being studied up and down the UK explaining that realistically there are too many people for too little jobs. Mike expressed it is about YOU getting YOURSELF a job and believes there will always be someone out there who is working harder than you. This means it is extremely important to work hard and to keep on going. Mike also explained the importance of building relationships with people in industry and believes motivated people will succeed.

When contacting agencies Mike says most creatives are receptive to students getting in contact. Mike recomended that you should get in touch with agencies and ask for briefs. Answering these briefs will show that you can work to industry standards and believes working in a live environment makes you take design seriously. Mike says work placements are VITAL for getting a job.

Mike also says you need to make yourself invaluable in work placements whether it be working on the rubbish stuff people don't want to work on. You should be prepared to do the rubbish stuff to do the good stuff. When it comes to graduation Mike believes that agencies dont look for the finished article in graduates. It is said that agencies like somebody they can nurture, and people who are keen and eager.

Mike's suggested gameplan is that you should make a list of 5/6 agencies you would like to work, get briefs off them and go back to show your work. Having regularity, keeness, and lots of commitment is extremly important. Mike says you should never dismiss any avenue. The less avenues you begin with results in less chance of you getting a job. Mike explained each place is different and it is important to see where you fit in and where is right for you.

When it comes to freelance Mike says it is a bad idea to be doing freelance straight after you graduate as he believes that you dont have enough experience. Mike explained how he enjoys freelance because it is nice to go to lots of different places. Coming back to Mike being a copywriter by trade, Mike feels that copywriting is becoming a dying art he feels that the industry is becoming more and more visual.