NORTHERN PLANNER

I’ve worked on quite a few briefs with account handlers recently. I think we both found it useful since they got to do something different, and I got some input from the client perspective. I think I get on well with suits since I was one, but what’s it like for other people?

When you’re learning to be a planner, there’s plenty of guidance for stimulating creatives but not for working with suits. It’s a shame because they have a big say in the decisions that count and they can also help you get your thinking through the client. Being a former account handler, I really appreciate them doing contact reports and organising things too.

In the end, dealing with suits isn’t any different to dealing with creatives. Russell Davies says that in both cases, planners are always an optional extra, you have to make yourself the guy they want it the room. I’ll have a think about what those things actually are (might be useful for creatives too).