10 minutes with Calvin Soh

Each week Campaign Brief Asia sits down with a prominent creative talent from our region and gets to know them better. This week in this regular “10 Minutes With” column is Calvin Soh – Vice-Chairman, Chief Creative Officer-Asia, Publicis.

What did you do before getting into advertising?

I came out from my military service and my dad wanted to mortgage the house to send me to Australia to get a degree. I declined and worked as a telemarketeer, camera salesman, lifeguard and fast food chef.

How did you first get into advertising as a career?

I tried getting a job as a journalist but without a degree in Singapore, it was impossible. So it was stock broking or advertising then.

Who gave you your first big break?

Ogilvy. Wrote in to be a writer but again, no degree so they stuck me in traffic. Within two years I was account manager and employee of the year.

What is your career highlight to date?

While in FallonNY/Mnpls, presenting to the senior boards of Citibank, United, EDS etcwho didn’t care if I had a degree or not.

Nominate the two best ads/campaigns that you have created?

Easy. My father’s obituary ads. Everything I am and learned was in there.

Is there an ad that makes you green with envy?

The Bernbach ads from the 60s. I’ll be proud if I could do them now.

Do you have a ‘worst mistake’ or a most embarrassing moment in your advertising career to date?

Inmy first year as traffic and as a suit, I was working 24/7 and had apager (remember that?) constantly going off. I was going to office injeans and bermudas. My dad was a civil servant all his life andcouldn’t understand it. He thought I was an illegal horse racingbookie. So he called my boss to make sure I was working there.

Is there a person you have enjoyed working with the most?

A very talented, inspiring, witty art director in my second job at Y&R. I married her.

Who is the most interesting, or most inspiring, or funniest person you have ever met or worked with?

It’s a cliché but honestly, my children Dylan and Ava make me laugh the most. Them and Fox News.

What’s your favourite leisure activity/hobbies outside of advertising?

My furniture, my art projects, my liver.

Favourite holiday destination?

Wherever I can take take the family.

Favourite hotels?

Anyone with the automated bum cleaner/dryer combo.

Tell me something about yourself that not many people would know.

Iwas born short and blossomed very late. So I had a Dudley Moore/WoodyAllen childhood. I had to be funny to avoid being beaten up. On top ofthat, I inherited the family heirloom – a large bulbous nose like abarge transporting sand illegally to Singapore. So to be moreattractive, I picked up the Saxaphone and played it for over a decade.It was a wasted decade.

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