Are you attending Goafest this year?
I would have loved to but I am on the APAC Effies’ Jury so I will be away at Singapore for the final round of judging. I will be missing out on all the fun and customary catching up with friends from the industry.
Unforgettable Goafest moment
My most unforgettable moment is when Josy Paul, my partner at BBDO, was Chairman for the Radio jury at Goafest. When he was called on the stage to announce the winners, he went missing and all you could hear was his voice – since radio can only be heard not seen! I guess that’s Josy for you: disruptive and meaningful.
What are you looking forward to the most?
When optimisation is being chased at the cost of relevance, I look forward to reinforcement of ‘creativity being a force multiplier’.
– Suraja Kishore, CEO, BBDO
Are you attending Goafest this year? How many editions have you attended so far?
Yes, I am attending Goafest this year and have been going since 2007 barring a few years in between.
Unforgettable Goafest moment
Some of them are best not spoken about!! What happens in Goafest stays in Goafest!!
Apart from that I fondly remember the initial years when we used to have shacks which were marked by different agencies and we would hop across those where we got a drink or two for free.
The most memorable night was when I was a part of the winning squad at Publicis. We picked up many awards and celebrated through the night. What makes it even more memorable is that we invited everyone else to be part of our celebration.
What are you looking forward to the most?
We had a good run at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi last year and have a few shortlists as well. Hopefully we shall be celebrating our win apart from attending the sessions and masterclasses.
– Atin Wahal, EVP, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi
Are you attending Goafest this year? How many editions have you attended so far?
I will be attending Goafest only for the first day. Am part of the panel that’s discussing ‘The future of creativity’. It’s been over a decade since I attended Goafest. The last one was in 2011.
Unforgettable Goafest moment.
I was the head of the radio jury in 2011. When they called me on stage to announce the winners, I don’t know why I did what I did. I hid below the podium on stage so that no one could see me. And using the microphone I said “I am radio! You can’t see me, but you can hear me.” I think I got carried away with my radio role.
What are you looking forward to the most?
Am looking forward to a healthy debate and enlightening discussion with my panelist friends on the future of creativity.
– Josy Paul, Chairman, BBDO
Are you attending Goafest this year? How many editions have you attended so far?
Yes. I am attending. I can’t exactly recollect how many times I have been to Goafest but I guess around eight to 10 times over the years.
Unforgettable Goafest moment
Winning the Grand Prix for our hyper personalisation campaign for Tata Docomo back in 2013.
What are you looking forward to the most?
The sessions and networking with peers and other stalwarts from the industry.
– Sabyasachi Mitter , Founder & Managing Director, Fulcro
Are you attending Goafest this year? How many editions have you attended so far?
I have been attending Goafest since 2007 . I have attended all the editions of Goafest since 2007. In the early editions (2007 to 2010), Goafest was organised at Cavelossim beach opposite Hotel Old Anchor. It was an outdoor event full of fun, masti, rain dance, paragliding, and water sports.
It was a time when a lot of gifts were distributed by various companies . There were wonderful towels from Times Now, slippers from Yahoo, water bottles and T-shirts by various media houses. Evening entertainment programmes were amazing .
Mr.Sam Balsara, Mr.Pradeep Guha , Mr.Shashi Sinha, Mr.Srinivasan Swamy, Mr.Arvind Sharma, Mr.Nagesh Alai, Mr.Ambi Parameswaran and Dr.Bhaskar Das’ contributions in developing Goafest has been amazing .
The catering was from Mumbai. If I remember it was Mayfair. They served lajawaab dishes and enjoying them at the beach was a memorable experience.
It was full masti at the beach. Lying idly on couches, in the shadow of big umbrellas, having massages at the shack are the memories.
Seminars were attended by very few delegates . Most of them used to go inside the air conditioned hangers to cool down .
From 2011 onwards the venue of Goafest was shifted from Cavelossim beach to Zuri White Sands. The festival took the shape of indoor and outdoor 50:50 .
Zuri White Sands was the venue of Goafest for three years from 2011.
There was a change in the format of Goafest . Fun and entertainment activities were reduced and discussions, seminars for knowledge and information became the focal point.
From the year 2014 onwards Goafest is regularly organised at Grand Hyatt Bambolim. Now it is an indoor event. It is now like a conference in the day and an award function at night. During early days there was no concept of ‘CEO Lounge’ so everyone had the opportunity of meeting the stalwarts of the advertising industry, shaking hands with them, and introducing oneself to them was a moment of pride for a lot of newcomers.
Now Goafest has matured. The seminars are very good. We get the opportunity to meet and listen to amazing speakers from various industries .
I also have a suggestion that for young professionals there are less fees. On the same basis less fees may be charged from retired or senior professionals. Their presence at the event will help youngsters to meet them, discuss with them and understand how they should create and follow a path for a successful career.
I have a lot of friends, whom I meet only at Goafest.
Goafest has been an integral part of my professional life and every year I eagerly await Goafest. Although next week is my daughter’s wedding, Goafest is calling. I am attending.
– Prakash Jain, Advertisement Manager, Daily Hindi Milap
