Saturday evening, The Rockies happened. As an in-person event. Outdoors.
There was sun, and rain, and wind, and even some lightning in the distance. But Idaho spring weather aside, much credit to the Boise Advertising Federation and Idaho Advertising Federation for pulling off the show, making it comfortable for those who attended in person, and for offering a livestream for those that chose to watch from afar.
Following the Rockies judging, all Gold winners are automatically forwarded to competition at the regional level, and Silver award winners had the option of forwarding their entries as well. Among those receiving ADDY Awards at the regional level were:
Silver ADDY Porter Pro Media Bison Boys, Bison Boys Trailer
Gold ADDY Drake Cooper Drake Cooper, 100% Employee Owned
Regional ADDY Best of Show Against Payette Brewing Company, Payette Can Redesign
1890 Productions, Mission 43 – Direction Through Solitude Potpurri
Mitchell Palmer, Idaho Lottery – 5 Star Draw Complete Campaign
Student Gold
James Trayford, Interfraternity Council at the University of Idaho Rebrand Identity Programs
Gold Rockie winners were automatically forwarded to the District XI AAF Regional Competition, and Silver Rockie winners had the option to submit their entries as well. Notable winners from Idaho at that level included:
Stoltz Marketing Group, Stoltz Marketing Group – Before I Go Book Silver ADDY, Advertising Industry Self Promotion
Duft Watterson, Idaho Transportation Department – ITD Candy Cones Gold ADDY, Ambient Media – Guerilla Marketing
Much has been happening behind the scenes, and the Boise Advertising Federation sent out this update earlier today to the public at large about The Rockies.
2020 ROCKIES AWARD SHOW UPDATE An Idaho Advertising Federation event, brought to you by The Boise Advertising Federation.
Thanks for being patient with us as we have carefully deliberated to determine the fate of the 2020 Rockies Award show due to COVID 19. The Rockies as an in-person event will not happen this year due to the sensitivity of social distancing while we work through this. It was a hard decision, but we will make it up to you with a big party the next time we get together.
The good news: Due to the size of our usual gathering and sensitivity in these times of COVID-19, we will instead present the Rockies Award Show as a livestream event. We still want to celebrate the creative spirit of our community by hosting a special livestream on May 16th. You guys worked too hard this past year for us to not do anything to acknowledge what you do best!
Stay tuned for details to watch the show on May 16th! See the winners, see the fun videos, have some drinks… all from the comfort of your living rooms and yoga pants. It’ll be free to watch and we also encourage you join us in donating to the Idaho Food Bank during the show. Watch it by yourself or in your groups no larger than 10, six feet apart. It will still be an amazing time.
To my friends at the Idaho and Boise Advertising Federations, it’s time to make the call.
It’s time to either postpone or cancel The Rockies as an in-person event this year.
As much as everyone loves a party and an excuse to dress up, get together and celebrate, it seems foolish to hold an event like this a handful of weeks from now, even if social distancing and shelter-in-place restrictions are relaxed before then.
I want to be as optimistic about this as anyone else, but it’s also time to face reality. Now is not the time to put a large group of people in close contact to one another, mix in alcohol and questionable decisions, and then hope for the best.
Besides, I suspect there will be a lot of belt-tightening at agencies around the state in the weeks and months to come, and the expense of tickets and tables may be among the first to go.
As hard as it is to say it — because I, for one, look forward to seeing the work and the people every year — right now, the show must not go on.
* All credit for that line goes to Dan Goldgeier, who posted it on Twitter a few days ago.