Life as a media buyer can be far from glamorous. The hours are long, the spreadsheets are boring, and the entry-level pay is meager.
But agency life does come with its perks, too. Media sellers are constantly striving to build closer relationships with the people they do business with, which affords buyers plenty of opportunities to eat, drink and be merry on somebody else’s dime.
Here’s what life as a media buyer looks like, as documented by media buyers in social media. It doesn’t look half bad. (UPDATE: Some buyer had second thoughts on their sharing and have deleted these photos from their accounts. Not all were taken at vendor-sponsored events, they said.)
There are weekends at Hamptons summer houses
You might be working 60-hour weeks, but there’s a good chance you’ll get to unwind during summer weekends at vendors’ Hamptons houses.
You get taken to plenty of free concerts
Practically every media buyer in New York City was at Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake’s Legends of the Summer shows this month. Going for several hundred dollars a pop, tickets were among the hottest (and most expensive) in town.
…and travel there in style
Let’s face it, it’s not every day you get picked up from work in a party bus complete with stripper pole.
Upfronts are a big deal
If you’re into celeb spotting and free drinks, the upfronts are the perfect place to be.
…and so are 212 parties
The upfronts are by no means only excuse for a party with industry peers.
Anyone for tennis?
You don’t have to be working on a sponsors’ account to bag tickets to the US Open.
Take me out to the ball game
Media buyers seem to go to a lot of ball games.
… after ball game …
Lots and lots of ball games.
And lots and lots of Soul Cycle
Suddenly, the word “exercise” becomes synonymous with spinning. Classes are pricey, but that’s where sales reps come in.
@NgawangChoney Thanks for kicking off your day with us!
— SoulCycle (@soulcycle) June 27, 2013
It’s not all wine and roses, however. Unfortunately, there’s often Lotus Notes to contend with.
That awkward moment when John Wren finds out #Publicis runs Lotus Notes.
— Bill Evans (@OhNoItsMrBill) July 30, 2013
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