Anant's blog: Of Goafest, of inclusiveness and of being fair

Marketers, media, advertising agencies, media agencies.

Broadly, these four constituents make up our little world.

These four have different levels of clout, power, income and influence in different parts of the world.

In the UK, for example, advertising and media agencies are big advertisers in Campaign (UK). In India, their spends are zip.

For advertising and media audience targeted events in India, the event owners turn to media houses and marketers for sponsorship. Advertising and media agencies invest nothing in ‘neutral’ events; the only instances when they spend money is on their own parties and events.

So, for the Goafest, we look to the large media houses and large brands for sponsorship.

Which is fine.

What is not fine is the fact that Goafest, in its wisdom, does not offer media houses and marketing organizations the same benefit of a special price for the under 30s. This is available only to the advertising agencies and media agencies.

So media houses and brands who choose to sponsor the Goafest, and who want to send a large contingent to protect and maximize their investments, will have to pay Rs. 9,000 for their under 30 delegates while their under 30 colleagues from their advertising and media agencies pay Rs. 4,500.

There’s something not quite right here.

And it CAN be changed, quickly, without changing any laws and without needing any general body meeting.

Please. Be inclusive, Be fair.