It's Monday and that means Ad chat where we poke at adpeeps to see what inspires them. This week we talk to Simon White, Creative Lead at RAPP London, and punmeister extraordinaire.

What's your favorite funny story about yourself?

I once saw Brian May (Queen guitarist) outside M&C Saatchi where I was working and called him by his wife's name (Anita Dobson); it's a joke in the UK that they have the same hair. He stared me out for about 5 minutes while his friends tried to drag him away.

What piece of art (movie, book, music, painting, etc) has influenced you most? How or why
Klimt and Dali inspired me when younger. And my English teacher (see next question). Now, a lot of stuff inspires me - art, books, music, etc.

Who was your favorite mentor and why?
My English teacher at school, Mrs Whitehouse. She made me see how powerful the written word could be and how ideas can be created from nothing. Both skills I use every day at work.

What's one thing that excites you about the future of advertising?
The Internet. I've been waiting for it to mature since I first came across it in 1992.

If you could meet with anyone in history (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
King Canute. He called things as he saw them - more people could do with living that way, especially in the ad industry!

What’s your favorite website/blog, and why?
adland.tv because it's been the go-to site for commercials and it's run by three rather lovely people.

(Dab: aw, shucks mate - check is in the mail)

What's your trick to break out of a creative block?
Go out for a walk! Never fails.

Who is your advertising hero and why?
Loads! Ogilvy, Arden, Tony Kaye are three of the old guard that got me interested in this industry; Dave Droga and Iain Tait are two examples of people who are around today doing exciting things.

Tell us one of the things on your bucket list.
Write a proper, grown-up book (fiction) and get it published. Sheesh, that's a cliché!

What piece of advice do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
Remember how small the industry is.

Previous Ad Chats:
Richard Gorodecky of Amsterdam Worldwide
Ray Page of Tribal DDB
Adam Pierno of Off Madison Ave.
Edward Boches of Mullen
Dirk Singer of Rabbit, UK
Gareth Kay of Goodby, Silverstein and Partners
Tim Brunelle of Hello Viking
Rob Schwartz of TBWA\Chiat\Day