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True story: the first year I went to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity properly - to work (2016 - what a year 🙃), my daughter hid my passport AND in sheer panic I packed three umbrellas.
In amongst all the spreadsheets and RSVP madness, here are are some of my top tips - reprised and updated based on a few more years of pounding the pavements, running Brands&Culture, writing entries, hosting clients and producing insight reports.
1. If you have a ticket to the Palais, use it. Try to go to 3 talks a day or else you’ll come back and think “why didn’t I make more use of my ticket?” Schedule them, don’t move them & enjoy the inspiration (and air-con). The “Insights with the Jury” are the best Palais sessions imho - and they all go online afterwards.
2. Do a long walk of La Croisette on your first day, to get your bearings. In years gone by, when I haven't done this, I've felt all over the place by Tuesday.
3. Feel the FOMO and get on with it. There are literally thousands of parties and talks happening and you can’t go to all of them, so don’t sweat it. In my opinion they vary so wildly in quality anyway. Oh- and get off the Croisette for some proper connection-making. There’s so much good stuff happening on the fringe like Brands&Culture (Tuesday and Wednesday).
4. Try and go to at least ONE Awards Show (pass required). My favourite ones are Film Craft (Tuesday) and Glass (Friday) and Titanium (Friday). Queue early. You will be blown away.
5. Be intentional with your time. If you haven’t scheduled your week yet, get on with it. It’s the only way - or everything unravels. You will have serendipitous meetings on the way. 🧚 Whilst it's wonderful to see familiar friends in the sunshine...you're there for maybe 100 hrs, so my advice is to de-brief when you're back. If you're organising an event, allow for 85-90% drop out.
6. Go and see The Work in the Basement. It’s people’s favourite part of the festival. Allow a good hour to soak it all in, and attend a tour of the work if you can.
7. Visit the Monoprix on 9 Rue du Maréchal Foch. It’s a highlight! The best food, clothes, wine, cosmetics, gifts. You won’t regret it.
8. Actively listen, take notes, make Otter.ai your best friend (I look like a loon but I talk into it as I go). To the talks, to colleagues, to the insights. Digest it, process it and write it up in 72 hours.
9. Find a decent coffee shop. Copenhagen Coffee Lab does a banging flat white. I made it my mission to go there every day (there are a couple). Pick up and bag snacks as you go for 1am hunger.
10. If you’re not getting any younger, take electrolytes with you - (see pics for evidence). My new essential products are: hair humidity and face setting spray and blister plasters.
