We all know how important storytelling is – the ability to weave a compelling tale that lures in consumers has always been considered a coveted talent among agencies far and wide.  We decided to celebrate the art of storytelling — and its impact on the ad industry — in an unorthodox yet hilariously inspiring way.

Along with our friends at the much-admired Contagious, we sponsored the first-ever annual storytelling contest to determine which industry luminaries could tell the best “worst day in advertising” story.  Hosted by The Moth – a renowned non-profit firm dedicated to the art of storytelling (you may have heard them on National Public Radio or attended their StorySLAM events in NYC), our StorySLAM event featured the following contestants:

• Gerry Graf, founder of Barton F. Graf 9000
• Anne Bologna, GM at Cramer-Krasselt
• Ernest Lupinacci, Founder and CCO at Ernest Industries
• Susan Credle, CCO at Leo Burnett
• Julie Bowman, Founder, Giant Noodle
• Shane Ginsberg, VP of Corporate Development, Organic

Click above to see video highlights from the event, which was held on September 30, the last night of Advertising Week at BB King’s Blues Club.  We played to a packed audience, which laughed uproariously at the funny tales of woe at the hands of our often unforgiving industry.

At the end of the evening, the judges gave first prize to our very own Shane (no, this wasn’t rigged) who happily walked away with an iPad.  Our judges included Contagious Editor Nick Parish; Eric Silver, CCO of Amalgamated; David Bentley, MD of AKQA; Joyce King-Thomas, former CCO of McCann Erickson; and, Conor Brady, CCO of Organic.

We plan to hold another StorySLAM next year. But in the meantime, we want to hear YOUR STORIES. Do you have a good “worst day in advertising” story?  Heck, everyone does!  Please send your stories to mybeststory@organic.com and it could appear on Threeminds.

-Gail Scibelli