Tonight the annual Lotus Awards take place. Now that I’m riding solo and no longer travel with a heavy agency crew I’ll be sitting at the mavericks’ table number 3. 

I think this year’s show is going to be great since it’s no longer just a showdown between DDB and Rethink. Last year’s strong showing by TBWA was fantastic.  And this year, TAXI  will be in the mix so it should be even more exciting.

Since I opened for business just last month, I won’t be submitting any Powershifter work to the Awards this year. Nonetheless, I’ll be there cheering on the work I did with Engine Digital.

Room for improvement
Two things were utterly, completely and terminally wrong with last year's show. 1. It was on a frickin’ Wednesday! This is an advertising show for crying out loud! Picking hump day meant limping through Thursday and Friday for us folks who over indulged during the festivities. 2. There was no chocolate fountain (need I say more). 3. Engine only won a programming award! Weak.

See ya at the mavericks’ table 3! 

Update

I am happy to report that the Lotus Awards were much better this year! The whole show was produced better and felt fresh and alive again.It had a great pace and some amazing creative from all agency's too boot.

Congratulations to my buddies at Engine Digital for an amazingly strong showing with  six awards! And a thanks to Stephen Beck for the shout out at the podium for my contribution to the Engine Oil project. It did not go unnoticed!

• Engine Oil Wine - Best Interactive Microsite Business to Consumer -  Lotus Award [1st Place]
• Engine Oil WIne -Best Online Single Ad - Merit 
• Engine Oil Wine -Best Online Advertising Campaign - Merit
• Engine Oil WIne -Best Self Promotion Interactive - Lotus Award [1st Place]
• TLC - Best Website Non-Profit. - Lotus Award [1st Place]
• Vancouver Aquaiium - Best online Advertising Single - Lotus Award [1st Place]
• Western Canadian Coal - Best B2B website - Lotus Award [1st Place]
  

The awards were spread out among more agency's that ever  which I think is better for the community and the show for that matter. I would also like to thank all of those cast and crew that made Engine Oil Wine such a success. Without that volunteer army the project would not have seen the light of day.

 See you at next year's show!