Boycotting ADCNJs Annual Awards Show
I am a huge promoter of volunteering and giving back to different causes especially when it is a cause that I personally enjoy. For the past two years I have been volunteering my services for the Art Directors Club of New Jersey’ s Annual Awards Show. This year I will not be assisting in the setup of the awards show specifically because of the committee unfortunately voting for the host this year to be the same as last year, who was an offensive comedian.
This comedian “Sarge” of course mocks things as his job, but for him to stand up there and flat out mock everything that our design field holds true is offensive. All things were mocked, from what the awards themselves looked like to the award ladies (who were students) that handed them out to the winners were practically called prostitutes for the nice dresses they were wearing.
This evening was to be an elegant night of honoring great design work that all should be proud of. Instead being mocked for our awards show being the equivalent of a mother posting finger paint art of a 3 year old on their refrigerator according to Sarge. Shouldn’t the host of an awards show portray a great designer or advertiser? Not someone who make their living by putting down others accomplishments to make them look better. If only there was a change of venue or even the host was someone new this year then perhaps the Art Directors Club would have had a chance to improve upon last year. As many on the committee board had strongly opposed this idea of having Sarge back for another year it was still passed. I feel mainly because one of his friend is a higher-up board member he has come back this year despite the opposition to him.
I had been hoping for another elegant evening as had been the year before in 2009 when Debra Rizzi of Rizco Design hosted and coordinated the event. It was held at the Stonehouse at Stirling Ridge, a modern atmosphere restaurant which even had a great design to the building to compliment the event. It was what I feel all award shows should be, yet the disappointment of an offensive comedian, old and tired looking venue and a lack of respect for the art that we create is certainly why my services will not be helping set up this year’s event.
If Sarge is what ADCNJ feels is a good representation of who should be hosting their awards and being mocked for our careers and hard design work they need to take a look and figure out why they are even having an awards show in the first place if you knock down our accomplishments.