The Egon mega bash

It's still the night of nights for the advertising industry - the Egon award ceremony for the advertiser of the year, along with the accompanying party.Around 2,000 people made the pilgrimage to the event zone of the Tonimolkerei in Zurich's West End last Thursday. After the award ceremony, the VIPs were invited to the neighboring "Q" club, where they were served a multi-course menu.Egon, the winner's statue created by artist Max Grüter, is the epitome of the advertiser and his world par excellence: a small man on a high pedestal with a very large tube - and, interestingly, hollow inside. Of course, the same cannot be said of winner Ruedi Wyler. After all, he had done intelligent advertising all his life and was therefore a good choice, it was said when people asked around in the audience. The fact that Wyler won the title for the second time, exactly twenty years after his first Advertising Person of the Year, was seen by many as a pleasant coincidence. It somehow suited Wyler, who was slightly offbeat but always likeable.
Another topic of conversation during the evening was, of course, the redesign of Werbewoche. Like the name of the advertiser of the year in each case, this was a well-kept secret until the first copies of the redesigned weekly were distributed. The surprise succeeded, and the compliments for the new appearance were legion. The editorial team has been almost drowning in fan mail since last week.
While people were eating in the "Q" - although the real party atmosphere was unfortunately a long time coming - a massive party started in the event zone. The alcohol flowed, and that is still an understatement, in streams. Everything was free, everything was offered by Werbewoche and its generous sponsors. The party started at the entrance to the Remy Schweppes bar. It was a pity to mix the cognac with tonic water to make a fancy drink, some guests said - but this did not dampen sales. And in the rest of the event zone, too, there was plenty of liquid to go around. At other beverage outlets placed throughout the hall, as much Trojka vodka went down the throats as ice water down the Volga in one night. Alka-Seltzer consumption in the Zurich advertising agglomeration must have risen significantly the following day.
The gallery at the back of the event zone - incidentally the only place on this evening where people did not constantly step on each other's feet - met with great interest. In the style of old oil hams from national museums, former advertisers of the year were staged here in historical garments in oversized format. This caused great amusement among many onlookers.
Incidentally, it was simply impossible to find all the colleagues with whom one would actually have had an appointment in the hustle and bustle of people. Consequently, one of the most frequent comments heard at the counters of the preferred advertising bars the following weekend was: "Oh, you were there, too? - Didn't see you there."
Among others, Deniz and Cumi Karagülle enjoyed themselves at the party, the party and event guests Daryll von Däniken and Michel Pernet were there, Michael Weber from Publicis came with the pretty Rebecca Zingg, Michael Gerber from mrg Communications and Bart Wasem from Regardez were also seen, as was "P" Group CEO Otto Meier, who together with Heinz Egli was engrossed in a discussion with Yvonne Müller and Susanne Fankhauser from KI Media; and Madeleine Bieri, Adrian Erni and Patrizia Haller were not about to miss the giant party.
Whatever the case, it was a great advertising night - and we can already look forward to the mega party in 2004. Because the next Advertiser of the Year is sure to come!
Ruedi Wyler with Heike Findeis, CEO Bertelsmann Springer Switzerland, and Samuel Helbling, Editor-in-Chief Werbewoche (r.).
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief of Media Trend Journal, spoke at length with publishing expert Maili Wolf.
A little envious of the Werbewoche redesign: Oliver Prange from Persönlich with Otto Eisenegger and Felix Kilchsperger (from left).
Without envy, since both have already been advertisers of the year: Danielle Lanz and Markus Ruf from the creative agency Ruf Lanz.
Had the planning under control the whole evening: Christian Bonnot from Bonnot's Eventhouse with Petra Neumann from Vitamin D.
Nicole Stein-egger (l.) and Jana Nyvltova have been to many a promotional party together, but rarely one this big.
Almost at every party: Roger Baur (l.), Adlink, with girlfriend Raphaela Höhn and media planner Gerry Stadler from MPG.
Annette Kehrli and Lolo Fäh ducked into a quieter corner of the event zone in the face of the crowds.
Roland Bienz (l.) and Bruno Wirz (r.), responsible for the Mastro Lorenzo line at Kraft, with Marc Schürmann from Mosaik.
Their hobbyhorse is electronic media: Andreas Meili (r.) and Irène Ackermann from Tamedia with Andreas Gedenk.
Marlise Schneider put René Hildbrand (l.), Editor-in-Chief, and San-dro Rüegg, Publishing Director of TR 7, in a good mood.
Tarkan Özküp (l.) with Tele-Züri researcher Michael Bongard.
Mixing successfully at all the advertising parties: Thomas Schaer, Matthis Michel and Simon Rahm (from left).
Designed the congratulatory advertisement (with Tempo handkerchief) for Ruedi Wyler: Markus Cavegn with girlfriend Nicole Bohn.
"When advertising is doing well, the press is happy," said Toni Vetterli and Daniel Kaczynski of the Swiss Press Association.
"Taking a look beyond our own industry for a change," said civil engineer Stephan Hofer to himself and wife Paola.
Stephan Küng, Initiative Media managing director, photographed by the shortlist photographer with Corinne Blaser from Cinecom.
Strategically placed his advertising van in front of the entrance: Stefan Widmer, here with Evelyne Meili from the Angel agency.
Blond on blond à la Cinecom: Marketing Manager Jean-Claude Bruhin with Cinema Consultant Claudia Wilden.

Peter Freudemann (l.) with Karin Waltenspühl, Publicitas Chur, and BuchsMedien marketing manager Max Meinherz.

Toni Fricker and Daniel Weissbaum, GL members at Christinger Partner, took Kristina Frey into their midst.

Talking about good and bad advertising: Florian Biafori, Mediabox, and Tagi Marketing Manager Gabi Wettstein.

Having a great time at their table: Christian Gartmann (l.), David Honegger and Cornelia Harder.

No fear of contact: Warner CEO Leo Baumgartner (l.) and Buena Vista CEO Roger Crotti, with PR woman Barbla C. Schaerer.
Seen on and off the dance floor during the evening: Caroline Mohr and Fabian Schmid.

The film specialists at the Advertiser of the Year: Reiner Roduner from Absolutturnus with producer Franziska Graf.
Stefan Poth (l.) from the Zug agency Smart Heads with radio people Paola Libera and Giuseppe Scaglione from 105.
Géraldine Torchio and Yvan Rodie from the Lausanne agency Rytm came all the way from French-speaking Switzerland.
Nicole Schweitzer from the plant and Peter Felser from SFLB were probably chatting about the production of a new commercial.
Behind Ruedi Wyler: Astrid Koller, Pascale Nusskern and Basil Bleuler (from left) - Karin Glitsch and Jan Tanner from Tanner Communications with Benjamin Aebischer (r.) from Smile Promotions.
Roger Koller, Managing Director das Werk, and Simone Barmettler, skip of the curling team Absolutturnverein.
"So that's him now, Egon - but what exactly does the little man want to tell me?", Ruedi Wyler probably thought to himself at that moment.
Beat Fritsch disregarded the regulations in force and, for the benefit of Werbewoche readers, disregarded the ban on taking photos that normally applies at the "Q" club in Zurich's West End. Around a hundred VIP guests of the Werber-of-the-Year event met there for a sophisticated dinner. And in the neighboring event zone of the Tonimolkerei, where the stage was located, things really got going. There, the rest of the 1900 or so guests who wanted to see the new Advertiser of the Year celebrated.
Where the communications, media or publishing industry meets for its events, we locate at the most diverse events on the scene. Do you already have something to report? Pick up the phone (01 296 97 98) or hit the keys (info@werbewoche.ch). Event tips and occasionally more shortlist pictures are available online at www.werbewoche.ch.