THE NIGHT WATCH IN LESKOVAC

1. THE STRENGTH OF A CHAIN DEPENDS ON THE STRENGTH OF EVERY LINK

My company, Delta Tim from Čačak, maintains the advertising media in Southern and Central Serbia.

We have maintained the media in 22 cities for 20 years. I see Alma Quattro as my home. Everything I and my family have today we have owing to the work with Alma Quattro.

That’s how I behave: as a member of one big family I depend on, being aware that the family also depends on the quality of the work performed by me and my men.

It is a chain. If one link fails to perform well, it reflects on the whole chain.

2. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

There are no rules in this business, since we are involved in solving specific technical problems.

When we were changing the cornice on megaboards, we tied our welder to the ladder with a belt, 15 metres above the ground, so that he could have free hands to do his work.

We work in the field, with people, all around the country. Our work often depends on circumstances and events that we can rarely predict. Nevertheless, we have always tried to be ready to fulfil the requirements of Alma Quattro and its clients at any moment.

In the middle of the night? In the middle of the night.

That’s how many things have happened and we like to retell them as anecdotes.

2.1. 20 CM IN MAKENZIJEVA STREET

In 2007 we had to move a backlight in Makenzijeva Street in Belgrade. It was necessary to make the new foundation and we worked at night because of traffic.

While digging we stumbled on a power line, which must not be moved or covered with concrete. There must be free access to it in case of any intervention. It is prescribed by the law and punishable by imprisonment.

Acting according to the regulation, we moved the foundation for the backlight 20 cm to one side. The network development manager used to go for a walk around 11 p.m. and that night he noticed the problem that occurred due to that seemingly small change. It was impossible to open the backlight and to put a poster in there because of the post standing next to it. He called to tell me that we made a mistake.

I felt bad and on my own initiative I came with my team to modify the plate and rotate the post.

I sent a photograph by mail when the work was finished.

His excitement after we had solved the problem was a sufficient sign that everything was OK.

2.2. THE FOUNDATION IN THE CROSSFIRE

Also during the 2000’s, we were laying the foundation for one billboard in Novi Pazar.

We unloaded sand, stone, and cement from the truck and loaded the excavated soil to take it away.

At one moment we noticed that five gendarmery jeeps had just parked near us and we heard an approaching noise.

We wouldn’t pay attention to it if we hadn’t seen the gendarmery.

We didn’t know that two rival soccer teams were playing that evening in the city and that we were working exactly on the road where 2000 supporters were supposed to pass. The gendermery came to ensure there were no incidents. At one moment an officer turned around, saw the stones and asked us what we were doing. I was confused and answered that we were laying the foundation for a billboard. He told us that we were crazy and that, if we were smart enough, we should better run away. When other police officers saw the stones, they packed and drove away.

We wouldn’t have been afraid if we hadn’t seen their reaction. The approaching noise was deafening, our brains were not functioning well.

At the very last moment I came up with an idea that we should park the truck over the stones in order to conceal them, and that we should hide in the truck until they pass by.

For about 20 minutes we were crouching down in silence, praying everything would go well.

Fortunately, our trick worked. The supporters passed by and we finished our job.

2.3. THE NIGHT WATCH IN LESKOVAC

In the early 2000’s, during the local elections in Leskovac, the network development manager of Alma Quattro phoned me at 9 p.m. and asked we what I was doing.

It turned out that I should urgently go to Leskovac. They were informed that the illumination of billboards wasn’t working.

There are 250 kilometres from Čačak to Leskovac.

I asked him whether he was serious and he said that he was very serious. He told me to report from the spot as soon as I get there, even at 3 a.m.

When I arrived, there was a Candid Camera scene.

The illumination was not working and there was the election campaign of one party on the billboards. In front of every billboard three representatives of the party were standing.

It turned out that every time the sun went down, political opponents would tear down the posters. Therefore, the night watch was there to prevent it.

I called the development manager to tell him what was going on. His answer was in the form of a question:

When can the lights be on?

I explained that we needed the material from Belgrade for 6 billboards, my team from Čačak, etc. He said:

Immediately send a car to Belgrade and to Čačak! The billboards must be illuminated by the evening.

I called my team at 5 a.m. and the entire Leskovac was illuminated by 9 o’clock in the evening.

There have been numerous similar anecdotes during 20 years of my work.

What’s common for all of them is that every challenge was overcome and all the campaigns were realised efficiently and on time owing to high quality communication and cooperation between Delta Tim and Alma Quattro.