What people say versus what they mean at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

By Digiday Editors • June 14, 2024 •

Ivy Liu

Digiday covers the latest from marketing and media at the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. More from the series →

Everyone knows industry speak can be overwhelming. It’s a whole other language entirely when that corporate lingo is taken to the French Riviera.

In case you need a refresher, here’s a cheeky digest of what people might say while they’re at Cannes Lions — and what they actually mean:

Be there soon!

You’ll be there in 20 minutes actually because you’re coming from the other side of the Croisette and you still have to bob and weave through the ego circles to get there.

Coffee in the morning?

You’ll email an apology for not making the appointment — 30 minutes after it was scheduled to take place.

Let’s chat when we’re back in New York!

You don’t want to make time to meet with them in Cannes and you’ll likely stop responding as soon as you’re away from your mutual beach setting.

I’m going to go for a run in the morning.

You have the best intentions to bring peace to your body and mind, but you will not do that. Instead, if you’re lucky, you’ll spend that time responding to emails from bed.