Ad Chat - Dave Trott

Dave Trott is the Creative Director of CSTTG, which is but one of the London ad agencies that he has left his initial on. He blogs frequently at https://www.cstthegate.com , tweets at davetrott , just published the book called creative mischief and actually laughed at my little doodle-portrait of him seen in this comment thread. In short, he's a sport.
What's your favorite funny story about yourself?
Ever since I first met my Chinese wife, whenever we've been shopping together, I always said she spends too much. She always says "Don't worry, kyum si sai." I always thought 'kyum si sai' meant 'honey' or 'sweetie' or 'darling' in Chinese. Years later her brother told me it means 'stingy shit'.
What piece of art (movie, book, music, painting, etc) has influenced you most? How or why?
About every 10 years I re-read 'Shogun' by James Clavell. There's always more to learn in there. Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs is also a good read.
Who was your favorite mentor and why?
John Webster. He taught me: 'It isn't who says it, it's who spots it.'
What's one thing that excites you about the future of advertising?
The dominance of book-keeping will soon be seen as a cost not an investment. It doesn't make money, you need creative thinking for that.
If you could meet with anyone in history (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
I would say Buddha. But if you understand what Buddha meant you wouldn't say that.
What’s your favorite website/blog, and why?
George Tannenbaum is very whimisical and unpredicatable, and he posts several times a day: adaged.blogspot.com
This is currently my favourite website: shitlondon.co.uk
What campaign or project are you most proud of?
The Anti Third World Debt campaign. We did dozens of commercials, posters, print ads for absolutely zero cost. We had no client, no agency, nothing. We generated millions of pounds of free production and free media. This is one I did with Paul Arden and cathy Heng.

Esther Clerehan, Headhunter, Sydney, Australia
Ad chat: Manuel Bordé Creative copy at BBDO Dubai
Rance Randle Art Director at TBWA\Chiat\Day\LA
Åsk 'Dabitch' Wäppling the force behind Adland
Dave Trott creative mischief chief
Arnie DiGeorge Executive Creative Director of RR Partners
Andy Kinsella Innovation Director at Glue Isobar
Koert Bakker Director of Strategy at Victor & Spoils
Evan Brown, Sr. Copywriter at TBWA\Chiat\Day
Dena Walker, Digital Strategist at Irish International in Dublin, Ireland
Bernie Watt, copywriter at Make, in Sydney, Australia
Ron Smrczek, Executive Creative Director of TAXI Europe
Vincent Vella, Creative Director - Grey Paris, Euro RSCG and Publicis.
Gideon Amichay, Creative Chairman of Shalmor Avnon Amichay Y&R Tel Aviv
Richard Tseng, Freelance Copywriter at CP+B
Claudiu Florea, Managing Partner - Wunderkid, Romania
Snorre Martinsen creative at Saatchi & Saatchi Oslo
Laura Jordan Bambach, Executive Creative Director LBi
Simon White Creative Lead from Rapp, London
Richard Gorodecky Executive Creative Director at Amsterdam Worldwide
Ray Page Creative Director at 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