John Krampf

Thanks for taking the time to get to know a little more about me, my background and

my thoughts on all things writing, advertising and the world.

 

My Start In Advertising 

I was a freshman in high school, scrubbing pots and pans as a lowly dishwasher at Scotty’s Bar & Pizza. My boss, Mike Manning, informed the staff of a new burger he planned to add to the menu and told us it was “a rip off of a Big Mac” and that we should “name the thing.” I was intrigued. After some deep thinking, I had the perfect idea. I confidently strolled into work, spotted Mike and told him, "Call off the dogs, Mike. I have the name for the new burger-The Great Scott.” He looked at me, furrowed his brow and said, “Nah-we’re just going to call it the California Burger.” I was crushed. In fact, I’m still pissed about it. That damn burger is my white whale. Not only was it a fun reference to one of the greatest movies ever made (Back to the Future), but it tied perfectly into the name of the restaurant!

 

But while it was the first of many “no’s” I would encounter throughout my career, it launched my interest in advertising and branding, and I haven’t looked back.

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My Rules For Advertising 

• The best stories are simple ones

• Humor is hard, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it

• Casting matters

• Being comfortable with an idea is the most dangerous place to be

• Nostalgia is the most powerful force in advertising, next to puppies and babies

• Conversational, colloquial copy always resonates better than clever wording

• Whenever possible, it’s best to approach ad copy as if it’s a one-on-one conversation

• Nothing clouds judgment more than an idea you love

• Always, always, ALWAYS let your writing sit overnight-it’s amazing what you’ll see in the morning

• Just because your first idea is great doesn’t mean you should stop thinking

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John Krampf Trivia

Two of these statements about me are false. If you can pick ONE of them, first round of Old Fashioneds is on me.

• On my only trip to New York City, I met Al Pacino right after seeing him in Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway

• I can recite the first 18 lines of "The Canterbury Tales" in Middle English

• During the grand opening of the Oak Creek Culver's, I accidentally spilled a concrete mixer on Craig Culver

• I can eat six Saltine crackers in a minute (it's much harder than it sounds-trust me)

• I've bowled three 300 games and made the 7-10 split twice

• My second cousin co-wrote Steve Perry's 1984 smash hit "Oh Sherrie"

• I've walked into the actual corn outfield from "Field of Dreams" and lived to tell the tale

• I was a mystery shopper for Burger King while I attended UW-Whitewater, or as I call it, "The Harvard of Walworth County"

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Deep Thoughts...

• The hot dog is, indeed, a sandwich

• Belgian beers are the most delicious beers on Earth

• The Oxford comma is unnecessary

• Rear Window is a perfect movie

• It is impossible to ruin a surprise

• A human's best companion is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 

• Peak Arrested Development (Seasons 1 & 2) and Peak Simpsons (Seasons 3-8) are the finest examples of TV comedy

• Coffee is for closers only

• Giannis is the easiest athlete to root for in the history of American sports

• This is the best copywriting ever

• If you can't groove to Steely Dan, then you just can't groove