If the Indian Premier League can happen in South Africa or the UAE, why can’t Goafest take place in Mumbai? Point, and the wise folk at the Adveritsing Agencies Association of India and The Advertising Club, have chosen to organise the 2024 edition of Goafest and the Abby Awards in Mumbai, from May 29 to 31. The venue: Westin Powai, the same place that plays host FICCI-Frames. And was earlier called Renaissance.
The reason, as per a communique issued: the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The decision, conscious and collective as it has been described, is to host the 17th edition of the festival on the same dates that it was scheduled to happen in Goa. It may be noted Goafest will continue to be held in Goa in future, and this, as of now, is just a one-off.
First let’s read the statements. Later, do read our two-bit.
Said Prasanth Kumar, President of the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and CEO of GroupM, South Asia in a communqiue: “We’re excited to announce that Goafest is happening in Mumbai this year, despite a few logistical challenges. Our collective decision reflects our unwavering commitment to this esteemed event, which has evolved into a cornerstone platform for shaping the future of our industry. It’s become a vital platform for industry, becoming a nexus where industry leaders converge to explore, innovate, and chart the course for a progressive journey. We’re committed to maximizing participation, curating insightful sessions, and ensuring attendees leave with invaluable knowledge. Plus, mark your calendars: Goafest returns to Goa in 2025! Join us for an unforgettable experience at Mumbai Goafest 2024!”
The communique also adds Rana Barua, President of The Advertising Club and Group CEO of Havas India, South East and North Asia, as saying: “The Abbys has always been a platform dedicated to recognising and celebrating outstanding achievements in the advertising and marketing industry. We look forward to honoring the best work of 2023 at the Abby Awards Powered by One Show 2024 this May, in Mumbai. With Westin Powai as the venue we are working towards putting together a dynamic agenda that will be announced in due course. We are grateful and thankful to the entire fraternity for their continued support and enthusiasm.”
The agenda, speakers, the sessions and the all-important sponsors will be announced shortly.
While all of this was what we gleaned from a communique issued on Friday morning, there’s a little more to what has been issued. According to the info we have received, a cross-section of the powers that be felt that it should perhaps be put off. Yes, no Goafest 2024. That was around the first week of April. When we heard about it and asked some of the Goafest top brass via WhatsApp, there was no clear affirmation or outright denial. However, what we were told was that talks were on to salvage the situation.
For, Goafest and Abby are meant to be for/of/to/by the industry, and aren’t being organised for profit, save the salaries of the secretariat and build a reserve for the rainy day. The organiser-in-chief doesn’t buy a fancy car after the conduct of the festival. It’s meant to be community service. And of course access to some fun in the sun, and loads of booze in the closed confines of sunny Goa.
This year, as per our information, there is a problem. The media economy is in bad shape. Look at the number of empty billboards on the Western Express Highway in Mumbai. With just so many days where no government ads happen due to the Election Code of Conduct, and this year twice over given elections in Maharashtra and elsewhere, it’s not exactly ‘achche din’ for media biggies, the primary sponsors of Goafest.
Colors/Viacom18 has reduced its trade spends. The news channelwallahs (Aaj Tak was one of the main sponsors last year, Times Network before that) are too busy with the elections than humouring agency folk.
Also, the entire advertising agency business is being rewritten. No longer is there enough money in the bag to fund aircraft-loads to Goa. Even if 50% was being paid by the employee.
Net-net: there was pressure.
Abracadabra! All of this can be eliminated if the event happens in Mumbai. Yes, the alcohol is expensive, but one can also ask the Delhi officefolk to airlift those five litres of liquids from Haryana.
Plus the chances of marketing folk being present is very high, as that number is not really very significant when the event is held in Goa. With the event being in Mumbai, albeit in Powai, the likelihood of people doing the trek to Goafest is good.
We tried to gauge the sentiment on the decision from some of our connects. While there is an overall happiness that it’s happening and is not cancelled, there is dismay that it means no official fun in Goa. They said you can’t do that in Mumbai.
And what about all those floral shirts and shorts we bought for Goafest, one regular mused.
Another point posed to us is that if the elections are the reason and since this is the 17th edition of the fest, why didn’t it get pushed to Mumbai all these years when there were elections. Hmmm.
Well, right now the story is that Goafest 2024 (and Abby) are happening. We don’t know if that’ll mean Ogilvy will participate, but we do hope it does.
Meanwhile, a few days before Goafest and Abby, the Zee-sponsored Kyoorius Creative Awards are scheduled to take place. The date is May 24. But that, as we are constantly reminded, is not organised by industry bodies.
For more information on the festival, follow the Goafest handle at @goafestlive and for ABBY Awards Powered by One Show, follow The Advertising Club at @theadclubindia.
Better still, read it all on MxMIndia.com.
Entries for ABBY Awards Powered by One Show 2024 can be submitted at https://abbyawards.com/