A briefing is NOT a brief

Setting the scene:
So I was invited to a briefing with another agency who are leading on a client.
I attended the briefing, was shown some fascinating hand drawn wireframes and scamps of a digital/experiential installation.
Leaving the offices the other agency agreed to share with me their SoW (black-lined of course) so that our deliverables would be in synergy.
A week later the Account Director tries to haul me over the coals for not delivering the SoW to him.


How it went down:

I emailed him asking him where the Brief was on the server. I would've spoken to him myself but like many suits he seems to find solace in being out of the office. Usually at the pub.

Suit: "Mate where is the SoW?"
PG: "I've started it but I need the brief to complete it"
Suit: "What do you mean? You were at the briefing?"
I look at him and wonder what he means
PG: "Mate, I'm not perfect... but seriously do your job. A briefing is not a brief."
Stares at me like I'm a Martian
Suit: "What do you mean? You were there?"
PG: "Yeah I was there, but where is my brief? What am supposed to base my SoW on?"
Suit: "What do you mean? On the briefing..."
PG: "And what does the client sign off on as a basis for the project starting? A conversation?"
"How do you or I know that my SoW is accurate? What is it BASED on?"
Suit: "Mate it doesn't matter, I need that SoW."
PG: "And I need to know exactly what we've been asked to do? What's the success based on?"
Suit: "You said you'd do it without a Brief"
PG: "No I didn't"


What have we learned?
They Lie!

I can't help you. I'm in bed.

Setting the scene:
We had a key deliverable to a client who is not particularly happy with us at the moment. My production team has been working all day to get a server set-up and an application loaded for a client review that had been booked in for 7:30AM the next day by the suit.
A booking made without consulting production as to whether or not it was actually feasible.
It's 7:30PM and I've come back to work after the gym to work with the team, and on my way in I see the suit in question leaving the building... all dressed up for a night on the turps.


How it went down:
Suit: "OMG, I'm running soooo late" giggles "I'm always late hehehehe"
PG: "Oh OK, how're things going on project X?"
Suit: "It's all good. Tech Director is working on it"
She runs into the cab
Suit: "Should be fine... Good Luck!!"
Later that evening at about 8:30PM. I've sent my Tech Director home so he can at least see his wife and kids and continue working from home. I've stayed in to catch up on paper work.
He calls me at 9:30PM to tell that the server is rooted and that he doesn't have the access required to fix it. I advise him to find a work-a-round and I try to call the suit suit and I eventually get her via text... This is the actual conversation taken from my iPhone SMS log.
PG: "Hey Suit. Can you give me a call ASAP?"
Suit: "PG, I'm exhausted. Half asleep. Chat tomorrow morning. Go home :-)"
PG: "I need to know which client did you tell they'd have the code by 730?"
Suit: "XXX app. Vack to sleep now. Later"
We worked until after midnight and had 2 possible work-a-rounds for 7:30.
The best part?
Client didn't check emails... wasn't interested in or aware of 7:30 deadline.
Suit rolls in after 9AM.
I asked a junior member of my team to talk to the suit and ask her about what she did last night.
As suspected she was off her tits in a bar.


What have we learned?
They Lie!