Advertising Ease

Back in the good old days, I worked as an art director for

a small mom-and-pop advertising shop. And occasionally

I would deliver a storyboard or another piece of artwork

to the boss of that esteemed establishment who would

scrutinize it carefully, rub his chin and smile. Hanch, he

would say, you have done it again. You’ve made a silk

purse out of a sow’s ear. That seemed a funny thing to

say for my offering was to be included in a client pre-

sentation which was coined in the business as, “a dog

and pony show.” That was a widely-used, circusy cliche

in the advertising business which relied heavily upon

the glitzy show and tell aspects of the game. (P.T. Bar-

num was a master of that type of promotional hype.)

Anyway, my boss being exceedingly complimentary of

my work, invited me to join him at his members only,

private club for lunch that day. And, being a strapping

young professional endowed with a substantial appetite,

I was more than happy to accommodate. Seated by the

maitre ď, and followed post haste by our waiter with

specials of the day, it was time to place our order. And

after considering the hoity-toity culinary selections, I

was tantalized by the simplicity of the smoked boneless

ham with cheese scones. I figured, if the chef could make

something outstanding from a sow’s hind end as I had

done earlier with her ear, I would more than likely be

pleasantly satisfied with my meal as my boss happened

to be that day with me.

Chris Hanch 5-25-19

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