New York Confessionals: A case of déjà vu for Chris Kyme at the New York Festivals judging
Chris Kyme (pictured on right), the CEO of KymeChow Hong Kong, has just arrived in New York for the New York Festivals judging. Before he starts his first 13 hour day of judging here’s his first blog on the experience.
So the lift (sorry, elevator..this is America) doors opened and I stepped forward into the plush surroundings that played host to the opening reception drinky thingy and immediately felt very at home and very welcome and experienced a warm gush of familiarity despite there being a room of unfamiliar faces.
Not least because of those which were familiar – Michael O’Rourke, Jimmy Smith and Michael Demetriades, the hosts, and their wonderfully welcoming team of organisers, but also because somehow this is a show with which I have some historical affinity.
Not just because this is my second year as an invited Grand Jury member, but because I and New York Festivals seem to go back a long way. I have judged at this show. I have on and off entered and won awards at this show. I’ve even stood on stage with a bit of blag and a microphone and impersonated an MC for this show, when it presented itself for a split second in the heart of Shanghai, interviewing and somewhat confusing various guest presenters. So me and this show go back a bit. I might even say in my second year of being on this jury that I feel like part of the family. Whatever. It’s great to be back here in the heart of Mad Men and some even madder women and mingling once again with some rather good fellow judges with whom I relish sharing the company of over the coming week or so.
So what is New York Festivals? What’s its place in our world? And where are we going for dinner? I’ll see if I can get to the bottom of that a bit and maybe unearth the odd bit of controversy.
So as I was standing there last night getting acquainted with my first all-important martini and with a few old friendly faces, just how far back I do go back was brought home to me with ego-shattering clarity whilst sharing a long overdue natter with two very special blasts from my past.
Jeffery Gamble (pictured with Chris above), he of Chief Creative Officer title of DDB Hong Kong, and rather celebrated award-winning blokey these days, who proudly acclaimed “Chris gave me my first job” Gulp! Er, keep it a bit quieter there Jeffrey, I’m trying to look, you know, a bit less of a dinosaur, hence my tight jeans.
And then the lovely Polly Chu, she of an equally established reputation in her role as head Cannes-conquering creative honcho at JWT Beijing, and with whom I shared an office many eons ago at Leo Burnett Hong Kong, who chipped in with “All of the English jokes I know today I learned from Chris. He was always cracking jokes. Not only that, he taught me how to shotgun a beer!” Uttered with earshot of my missus who raised an eyebrow. Yes Polly, great to know that I contributed to your, you know, creative development. It’s a great legacy I am leaving behind.
I’m looking forward to contributing a bit more of that over the coming week.