Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race press/practice day

My PR agency had another press day for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race yesterday. It was quite a departure from the press weekend we had in Lancaster, being that there were 70 media outlets to manage, as opposed to the 8 or so that we had exclusively covering that first press day. Plus, yesterday's press/practice day actually took place at the Long Beach track where the celebrities will be racing in a week and a half, on Grand Prix weekend. It was a new experience for both the people racing and my PR team, who has never worked this annual event in the past. Here's a picture of me being important:

Yes, I was intentionally posing like that and yes, there is a whole photo shoot of me in various staged positions. However, it really is kind of a power trip to be using a headset all day. I'm not quite sure why, but it made me feel very important and necessary.

The area was swarming with press and everywhere you turned there was a camera (including my own, apparently... pictures are HERE). It was definitely a chaotic environment, but in a good, invigorating way. I was very pleasantly surprised and had a lot of fun, much like a couple weekends ago in Lancaster. It's these on-site, high energy events that make my job worthwhile. We now have two more press days to go, April 18 & 19, for the actual race. Despite what a headache all the prep work has been, I'm really enjoying each time it culminates, and I don't really want it to end in a week and a half.

In the late afternoon, after I was relieved of my duties, I left Long Beach and headed over to my sister's house in Hermosa Beach. She and my bro-in-law, Jimmy, got a puppy on Sunday - her first ever. He's a lab mix and we all agree that there are likely some pit bull genes scattered somewhere throughout that little body. He smells like you would hope every baby animal would smell and has such a sweet disposition. His name is Tiger... after Tiger Woods... because that's how much Jimmy likes golf. (Tiger is Jimmy's ultimate man-crush, with Kobe coming in a close 2nd.)

This little guy really makes me want my own puppy:

Bah Humbug

I'm completely sick and on deadline. I can't concentrate for the life of me right now, but I have 3 hours to figure out how. Actually, my deadline is in 3 hours, so I better figure out how to concentrate in about 10 minutes.

I saw I Am Legend on Christmas Eve. What was I thinking? What am I ever thinking when I watch zombie-type movies? I couldn't sleep all night. It was horrible; I was terrified, alone in my apartment. And now I'm sick. I'm convinced that my lack of sleep that night caused my immune system to turn on me. I woke up yesterday with a mildly sore throat, took Zicam all day and felt fine.

Then it hit me like a freight train when I was sitting in a movie theatre watching Sweeney Todd last night. I had to get up and leave. It took an hour to go from feeling fine to a completely achy neck, the chills, tingly legs and a horribly scratchy throat. By the time I left the movie theatre I had a full blown flu. Luckily I wasn't missing much of the movie. Sweeney Todd was surprisingly boring, and I usually love Tim Burton; he's one of my favorites. The movie was over two hours long and after an hour and a half I felt like I still hadn't seen anything that I didn't already watch in the preview.

The worst part about being sick right now is that I have a Reverend Horton Heat concert to go to tonight. I've been looking forward to this for months but as luck would have it, I'm under the weather (what does that expression even mean?).

And now, back to my deadline. Wish me luck.

Representative of Basic Cable Network Related To News Dispersal Thinks Me Amusing

Last week I had the task of pitching a very high profile and well respected female reporter, from a network regarded as a "most trusted name in news" - that's about as much as I can say without stating who and which one. The pitch was in regards to a princess-related product line belonging to one of our clients - again, I'm not that comfortable sharing the client's name. As it usually goes, I send an email pitch first, before calling and hashing out my idea over the phone. Despite this order of operations, reporters seldom even see my pitch before I call, either because it was filtered directly to spam, they automatically delete emails from unknown addresses, or they are simply just too busy to read it, all of which I understand because many of the people I pitch to probably receive about 20 new pitches each day.

Well, I sent my email pitch to this reporter last week, only to receive no response. On Friday I send the pitch again. I call to follow-up, but get sent to her voicemail. I leave my message, explaining why I'm calling and the duplicate emails I have sent. And, as usual, I feel a little silly about seemingly harassing them, as it would appear to the untrained eye. Tonight, Monday, I receive this email response from said well known reporter:

"You left a very impressive pitch voicemail. Alas, I’m not doing this type of story these days. I’m doing funny pieces pegged to politics and news events. I especially liked how you chortled a bit as you threatened to follow up. Very entertaining but I’m afraid it’s not my thing at the moment. I’m a princess-free zone."

Despite having been declined on my story idea, I couldn't help but laugh out loud at this response. I then forwarded it to my bosses who got an even bigger kick out of it than I did; they held their stomachs and laughed uncontrollably - and have been doing so intermittently for the past 15 minutes - and told me I need to think of something really witty to respond with... such a task shouldn't be hard. I'm completely kidding ;) god knows I'm going to over-think my response so much that the topic will infiltrate my dreams tonight. I get very easily flattered when I receive responses like this from people in high places, even if they ARE turning me down.

Don't quote me boy, I ain't said sh*t

That lyric has been stuck in my head for the past few days, but not the N.W.A. version... it's the Dynamite Hack remix (yes, I had to Wikipedia the song to find out who sings that folk/rock version).

The PR Week issue that I am quoted in arrived today and of course I'm nitpicking about the single sentence they used, just as I knew I would. I was very curious to see what they would choose to quote me on, since I was asked about 20 questions during our 5-10 minute phone conversation. I'm fine with the quote they chose, however I'm irked at myself for saying "they're positioning themselves" in reference to our client's plan of brand positioning, rather than "we're positioning them". I feel like I should have taken more credit on behalf of our agency's plan of attack. But in the end, I guess our client was in fact the one who decided how they want to market their new product, so perhaps I'm being too hard on myself.

However they did cite something incorrectly. They said our client was present at the Grammy's, when really they were at the Golden Globes. Hope there are no repercussions on that one, since you know who will be taking the fall.

Writers Strike Provides Distraction

There are 10,000 writers marching in front of my building right now, making their way west on Hollywood Blvd.

It's times like this that I wish I had listened to Josh when he said, "you should really go with a digital camera that uses AA batteries, rather than a rechargeable. You know that when that crucial photo-op comes you're camera is going to unexpectedly die." He was right. I got about 4 crappy pictures before I was instructed to change my battery pack.

I was first disrupted by multiple long, deep train-like horns. I thought myself, "hmm, that's odd. There are no trains on Hollywood and Cahuenga." So I went out to investigate. The horns I heard were actually coming from 4 or 5 eighteen wheelers which were ever-so slowly paving the way for 10,000 picketing would-be writers dressed in red and chanting, "when I say 'union' you say 'power' 'union'... 'POWER', 'union'... 'POWER'!!" There were people on stilts, in costumes, helicopters in the sky and more camera crews than I could care to begin counting.

But alas... my attempt at amateur journalism is halted by the fact that my camera is out of batteries. That's not a good sign.

Just a little something

So I have a big event for work tonight: High School Musical 2 DVD red carpet/screening/press junket/release party. These HSM movies (as we call it in the biz) are wildly popular with the media, which is a little surprising to me considering that it it began as a made for TV movie. It obviously helps that the original film's soundtrack was the bestselling album of 2006 - a stat which shocks me, but then seems pretty logical once I think about it; there isn't much to compete with in the category of children's music. I figure, if you estimate that 15% of the entire population are between the ages of 6-16 and they are all listening to the same thing, then that single musical phenomenon is already making a huge mark by affecting 15% of the population. Now, the other 85% of the population may not even include active music listeners, and for each age group and demographic there are multiple categories of music interest, plus multiple bands in each category. Oh, and the immense media interest has also probably been aided by the fact that one of HSM's hot little underage stars has had nude pictures circulating. I'll let you know how she looks in person and whether or not she lives up to all the hype.

But in reality, I think the only people who care that I'll be among all these young stars are my little cousins, who are obsessed with all things Disney. Unfortunately, and as pathetic as this sounds, I won't even be able to brag to them, my only interested audience, about my shoulder rubbing because if I do I will never hear the end of it: 'why didn't you take us!! You HAVE to take us next time!!' And no matter how many times I explain it they won't understand what 'work' actually means.

So check out Access Hollywood, Extra, or E! Entertainment tomorrow night and you might catch a glimpse of me in the background on the red carpet. It's sort of inevitable when working the carpet for these events - since there isn't much space to work with you always end up in the back of the crews' shots. It's kind of fun. Tell me if I look professional.

That's all. I didn't really have much to say, I just hadn't written in awhile. I've been lagging on posting my most recent round of nieces/nephew photos from last weekend. But there ARE new ones, and they ARE just as adorable as ever (naturally).

Where does it go?

It's funny how some days you think you're on top of the world. You start your day off right: wake up early, make a delicious batch of whole wheat pancakes, have time to relax and drink your coffee at home, feel great in the brand new cozy sweater you chose for a cloudy and cold Autumn day... all those things prepare for what will come next in your day. Before even leaving for work you feel great about the tasks that lie ahead of you, you feel excited and motivated to go into work and conquer, produce. You know you're on top of all you projects and you think you're doing a great job.

And then a bomb drops. And it makes you feel like crap. Makes you feel like the little seven year old boy who trots home from school and can't wait until his dad gets home from work to tell him about the A++ he got on his arithmetic test. Daddy get homes. But when little Joey, bursting with excitement and pride, gushes about his more than perfect grade, daddy, wreaking of dissatisfaction, gruffly remarks, 'now if you can only learn to hit the ball at t-ball practice.'

That's how I feel.
I hate trying to salvage a lost sense of worth and motivation. I want my morning back. Wah.

The Big Cheese

We had another big event last night for the DVD release of Ratatouille, held at Social Hollywood. It was actually a really cute, fun, and majorly expansive setup, far larger than I had anticipated. I was wishing last night that I had brought my camera to take pictures of the extravaganza, but it seems that I never have my camera with me at the opportune times. My coworker took a couple photos on her phone, so below is one of the inside bar area. In addition to that room (and all the delicious gourmet buffet food) there was a huge entry room that housed a "Cars" Blu-ray setup.

But by far, my favorite part was the French inspired patio where an all night tasting of high end cheeses and wines ensued. My god, was that fantastic. I definitely gorged myself last night... if you know me, you know how passionate I am about cheese. The top notch cheese that was being served was a triple creme sheep's milk that goes for over $100/lb!! The best part: the cheese server noticed how enthralled I was with their offerings so he packed up at least a quarter lb. of that triple cream, as well as some fantastic aged Gouda for me to take home. I have about $60 worth of delectable cheese in my fridge at home, all compacted onto one tiny plastic to-go plate. I got the cheese shop's card, and it turns out they are local (as opposed to the wine experts, whom I believe were not). However, I don't see myself heading to the valley to spend $25 on a slice of cheese any time soon... unfortunately.

Before I could enjoy the open bar and wine/cheese tasting, however, I had to help manage the red carpet. Notable names included Brian Dennehy, John Ratzenberger, Patton Oswalt, the Oscar winning creators of movies like Toy Story, The Incredibles, Cars, and Ratatouille, and probably my favorite of all, Cheech Marin. No, I didn't shake any hands, but I did rub some shoulders, literally... it gets crowded on the carpet. Oh, and I also shared an intimate moment with THIS guy, who had the audacity to grab the glass of Cafe Boheme from my hands and take a taste for himself. Sure, I could have said 'no' but I have too many fond movie memories of him from childhood as 'that guy who's in everything'. I hold him near and dear.

Life in the fast lane...

...is actually not that racy at all due to all the damn traffic in L.A.

Hi folks, how are you today?

This 'fast lane' I speak of is really just a metaphor for the Hollywood lifestyle and celebrity happenings. Oh wait, I think you already knew that. Regardless...

I work in Public Relations. Entertainment PR. It has it's ups and downs, as does any job. Given the nature of my job, and being that I live in LA (AND that we handle high-profile DVD releases), one of the 'ups' of my job is that I get to work the red carpet for big events and release parties, thus rubbing shoulders with some of Hollywood's finest. Now, I don't fully understand the pattern of my behaviour (ya, I put a 'u' in there) when it comes to being in the presence of celebrities. Sometimes I get really star struck to be working an event with some obscure actor that few people know of, but whom I really like (for example: Jay Chandrashekhar. It was quite exciting, actually; I went up and introduced myself to him and told him what a fan I am, how great Broken Lizard is, etc... had to be there maybe). Other times, I'll be standing next to George Clooney in line at a local eatery and treat the situation like he's just some Joe Schmo. But whatever the situation, on thing is for sure: I always like to name drop.

So, the "Hollywood's finest" representative I will be meeting and working with on Monday is Richard Gere. And also, maybe Marcia Gay Harden. Our event is in honor of the DVD release of the movie The Hoax and also the 11th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony.

Generally speaking, when it comes to events that host big names, I will pitch the story to the major local news media and various cable networks, while my bosses spearhead the cash cows, very specifically: Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, and Extra. Well, for whatever reason (I did not press them for the answer) my bosses can't work Monday's big event so they handed the responsibility over to me. They did all the coordinating, but now I am to act as the liaison between Extra and Richard Gere. He is receiving a special award at a tea party (no, I'm serious) before the red carpet and main awards ceremony, and I must at some point during this tea, make an interview with Extra happen.

It's fun and exciting to be responsible for something that my industry regards as such a major placement (even if it's not representative of my own personal values). But there's one thing that I just can't seem to get a grasp when it comes to these major events and media placements... I wonder why, after the weeks of endless preparation, the day of the event arrives and we are always still scrambling to make something happen that should be as effortless as a phone call or email and subsequent schedule pencil-in. It's a five minute interview. How come the publicists can't just say, "Okay, we'll plan on Richard being ready at 5pm for this brief interview." They already agreed to the interview, and he's already going to be present at the tea from 4-6pm. So why do they have to be so non-committal about a time. It just seems that everyone's schedule would flow so much more easily if the talent - pardon me - the talents' handlers could just meet us 1/8 of the way, by giving a verbal time agreement. All he's going to be doing is sitting at his table, sipping some tea anyway.

Ha. I had intended for this entry to be of bragging nature, not ranting nature, but such is my train of over-thought I suppose.

Anyway, I really hope I don't botch this up. Everything should go smoothly, but it's often the case that we'll plan something a week in advance, speak very explicitly about the plan with whoever's manager, and then we show up and not a single word would have been relayed to the main player of the plan. It's ridiculous. I get it, they're busy people. But doesn't that just mean that the managers and publicists should be the type of people who can adeptly handle busyness? And shouldn't the reporters, who deal with perpetually tentative schedules, be a little expectant of slight delays or changes in plan when they arrive places? It's like everyone arrives and is stressed out, and the person in my position becomes the bitch who is forced to be on the receiving end of all this stress.

Honestly, I just turned an 'up' of my job into a 'down'.

Now that you've witnessed the progression of me going from little miss big shot to thoroughly stressing myself out, wish me luck! In all reality, it will still be fun and exciting. It's just the preparation that is a bit painstaking. I'll fill you in on how it all goes after Monday.

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Desperately Seeking Suggestions

Currently I am in the process of organizing and launching an online publicity arm for my PR agency. The movement has already been approved, though I must have a proposal plan/outline completed by the end of the week. As you may have guessed, simply based on the fact that you are reading this blog right now, I'm at a loss about where to start. So I figured, maybe writing a blog will get the juices flowing. My problem is constructing the grand scheme and assigning an order to what few processes I have determined must occur.

I've attended panels and webinars about Social Media, Web 2.0, and blogging, but all seem to be more directed towards those companies that already have a very involved website and/or blog. I've done my Internet research, but still feel void of key elements and know-how necessary to the start-up process. I feel like once I get the ball rolling, once I gain some momentum, not only will things start to fall into place more naturally, but I'll also have a better idea of how to navigate, based on the live action. Right now it's as if I'm trying to draw a map to some distant place I visited when I was younger; I know what the place looks like, but I really wouldn't be able to create a layout for how to get there.

Of course, it's occurred to me that maybe I'm selling myself short. Maybe - like other endeavors that I've let fizzle and dry out despite having been quite excited about them at one point - I'm just too scared of the jumping off point, or too intimidated by the work that a new and unfamiliar project requires. Maybe, just maybe, all those informational forums have formed some sort of retention in my brain and I actually do have the capacity to tackle this obstacle. Maybe...

Regardless, if anyone out there has any suggestions whatsoever, broad or specific, in regards to the development of a detailed proposal plan for launching an online publicity website and/or blog, my ears are wiiiide open.

Growing Up (Old)

I really must be entering a new phase of life. I actually turned down a Modest Mouse concert on Sunday night, which I had been so excited for in the days prior. I just got tired and decided it would be too much to deal with. When did this happen to me? When did I start turning down concerts of bands that I love because standing until midnight sounded too tiring? I guess it happened when I got a real job. I worry that my ten hour work days seem so long and gruelling that I'm inclined to give up those things that I genuinely love doing because they have become too demanding of time and energy. Or maybe I'm just getting old!

When I was in junior high I used to say that I wanted to start having kids at 23 because I wanted to be a young, in touch parent. The last time I remember making that statement was maybe my freshman year in high school. Ten years seemed so removed from my reality back then. Now I'm 23, and while I feel like an old lady in one respect, I still feel so much like a kid that I can't imagine wanting to have one of my own right now. I mean, after seeing how quickly the past five years have gone by, I wonder, when am I going to feel ready or adult enough to take on that role? Ten years? At this point, I think that I'd want to start trying for kids about when 30 hits. But is that really so? Thirty's probably closer than I think. I still need to decide what I want to be when I grow up. I wonder when I'm going to stop feeling like a kid and starting identifying myself as an adult. Quite honestly, I'm not looking forward to it.

Table Tennis champions of the entertainment industry, UNITE!

I'm partaking in a charity ping pong -eh hem- table tennis tournament tomorrow for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It's called the "Celebrity Grand Slam Paddle Jam". What - you didn't know I'm a celebrity? No, no - tricked ya! I'm just one of the many 'lay people' competing in this fundraiser for the Research Hospital. It's an industry thing and I am one of the two representatives from my office, by default. There will be 32 two person teams, consisting of publicists, attorneys, executives, and yes, celebrities (I think Sophia Bush is the most exciting one participating, so make what you will of that). I would be, and was, pretty excited for the amazing prizes:

Grand prize: To attend the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving (whatever that is) in Phoenix, Arizona; Southwest Airlines tickets to Phoenix, Arizona; one year of DIRECTV and more.
Runner-up: The runner-up team will win a trip to the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, including VIP entry for two nightclubs (my partner and I decided we'll intentionally place second when it gets to that point, since this prize is so much better... although free DirectTV for a year sounds pretty sweet too).
Last 8 teams standing: Free round trip JetBlue tickets - wha wha!

So yes, I would be excited, except for the facts that a) I have to wake up at 4:30am to staff tomorrow morning's radio media tour, b) I have to run around town tomorrow to staff an interview at FOX News, c) this tournament goes until 12:30am (probably later), and c) I'M SICK. Yes, it's been abundantly obvious around the office that I am sick, from the fact that everyone has commented on my relentless, deep chested cough all week. However, I wasn't given much of a choice. The long day wouldn't be such a breaker, except for the fact that I am wheezing with every deep breath. (yes, I nearly just had a major flip out here at work but decided to write in my blog to calm myself)

And by the way, Ping pong is exhausting! Josh and I went to a rec center last night to get some paddle practice in, and man was I worked afterwards. But it was great fun; not something I do too often. I needed to get some practice in because my partner is allegedly quite the contender and is taking this very seriously (half in a joking way, half not I think). I surly don't want to disappoint!

Wish me luck!

Kickin it back to the old school, cuz I'm an old fool, who's so cool

So I'm going to a movie premiere tonight for one of our clients. Actually, I'm only going to the premiere party, not the actual premiere, and I'll be working some of that time (but playing for some of it also). I'm allowed to bring a guest, so Josh will be playing (at the open bar) for ALL of it. But the best part: the movie is "Kickin' It Old Skool". Yeah, you heard right, Jamie Kennedy's new movie. This should be ridiculous. On top of all that, the premiere night is 80s themed, so I have to dress in eighties style, yet still look professional for it. Funny thing is, I'm wearing exactly what I wore to last week's Dance Right, and I should glide by the other costumes just fine. It better be a good time because I'm on salary and I don't get paid overtime for these 15 hour work days (again, hopefully I'll be playing most of that extra time). And why in the world I have to arrive an hour and a half before the party starts is beyond me. There are 3 of us staffing the event and there isn't even any real objective for us being there, besides: try to find media to come partake in our client's product. Furthermore, when I asked what media outlets are being allowed inside the party, the response was basically 'I don't know... if any". But if the booze is free, call me a satisfied employee!

Our client is interesting; hard as hell to pitch to media, but funny if you’re actually partaking in the product. It’s called Dance Heads. It basically a karaoke for dancing, but that doesn’t even really explain it. This is how it works: two people sit in front of a green screen with green smocks draped over them so that the only thing that isn’t green on the mini-set is their heads. Across from them is a TV monitor, like during karaoke. On the monitor are the bodies of professional dancers. You pick a song and the video starts. Your heads are superimposed onto the professional dancers' bodies, but they’re not proportional, they’re big like bobble heads. As the music plays and you watch the video of your head on a dancer’s body, you move your head along to the screen and then they burn it onto a DVD for you to take home with you. See, it sounds lame because you’re just sitting there, moving your head, but if you or a friends are partaking in it, it’s pretty humorous to watch. People can rent Dance Heads for big parties, events, fairs, whatever.

I have to get another tooth filled before this ‘event’. Luckily it’s not nearly as bad as my last one, during which they might as well have removed the entire tooth. All the meanwhile these wisdoms just keeping pushing through. Can’t I just keep them?

EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM, BITCHES!!

Normally I’m bitter about the fact that I am required to show up at work earlier than anyone else. Why does the gal one minute notch above me on the totem pole get to come in almost an hour later than me? And my bosses – why do they come in at 11:30am, if at all?! (because they own the company, that’s why) Well today I wasn’t complaining. We had a sudden interview request for one of our clients this morning and guess who was the only one around to handle… I’m on my way to staff an interview with Fox News’ “The Big Story" with John Gibson. Yeah, I know, Fox News = shitty right wing and totally skewed news source. But they’re a big outlet, and after all, I know my Dad will be watching! Finally, he can relate to me about my job. And it looked good to my bosses for my taking-care-of-business image.

A Shifty Feeling

Today marks the year anniversary since I started working with my agency. That also means I've been back home in LA for a year, since I moved back for this job. I've been with my boyfriend for almost a year now too. A lot has happened in the past year, yet I have no clue where all that time went. Oh yes, I officially still live with my father after a year of being back, and my lack of closet space means that, after a year, I am still technically living out of boxes.

I think some changes are in order. I'd really like my own place, but not paying rent is just too sweet. I feel like I'm in high school again; he's going out of town for fifteen days and I am just SO excited.

I think I'm hanging out at my sisters at some point this weekend, so I get to play with my adorable neices and nephew, which is exciting.

Other things too.

Loveline

I got to sit in on a taping of Loveline last week. I booked a couple of our clients on the show, reality TV stars. I think it was the first time I actually pitched a client out for an interview and got it, so I felt really special and kind of accomplished. It was pretty cool hanging out at the table, wearing headphones and chatting with Dr. Drew.