When will Who's Who be replaced with Who's Sleeping with Whom? (27-Sep-04)
I watched Runaway Jury on DVD last night. Although I remember it getting a lukewarm review, I really enjoyed it. One part, in particular, got me thinking about publicists' relationship to the media.
Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman's anal attention to detail about the lives of the jurists, down to their dark personal past, which allowed the lawyers control over the verdict struck a nerve. The bit that impressed the techno geek in me, was when they had the jury's profiles up on plasma screens with secret cameras to record their comings and goings and handwriting experts to draw up psychological profiles of the panel.
I also remember, way back in the eighties, that Charlie Sheen in Wall Street, used to keep complex files of the secretaries he had to get past - favourite colours, names of children, birthdays etc.
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Cape Town makes Vanity Fair. (22-Sep-04)
We've arrived. Cape Town, that is. When AA Gill speaks, people listen. When he (or she) speaks in Vanity Fair, they listen carefully and when he gushes with praise - people fall of their chairs. On page 50, of the September, 2004 issue of Vanity Fair, Cape Town is AA Gill's chosen destination. Las Vegas must still be reeling after his sardonic comments while restaurateurs run amok at the prospect of his pen, but Cape Town obviously did something right as we have charmed high-praising prose from Mr Gill.
This is the kind of PR that money cannot buy. With the exception of a single sideswipe at the Mount Nelson calling her "stuffy", accolades such as: "possibly the best restaurant in Africa" for La Colombe and ending with "Everyone you meet here, whatever their colour or origin, will be unfailingly kind, helpful, and astoundingly friendly", is sure to attract visitors.
I was not privy to the circumstances of AA Gill's visit to Cape Town, but I think there is a PR lesson to learn. Find out before a journalist visits what their angle is likely to be. Had Las Vegas invited Gill, it would have benefited them to know that pastiche attracts this writer's vitriol and an attempt to counter-balance the obvious nature of Las Vegas with, say, the natural beauty of the dessert, may have produced a softer result. Or is he one of the very few who pay their own way and write what they like? • Permalink • Comments [0]
Shadow breaks Blog Block (21-Sep-04)
I've had Blog Block. In the 10 days since I last wrote an entry, I've done awesome things, but failed to formulate my thoughts. Does this also happen to you? Start something new and I'm overwhelmed with energy and creative thought. But, as I become more familiar with the project or client, the newness is replaced by insight which, somehow, is less exciting.
I recently attended a Men's "New Warrior Training Adventure" Weekend. (www.mkp.org.za). Aside from its strange name, the work is important - helping men see their shadow (the Jungian term for that aspect of our self that we hide or repress). I've learned that my shadow (one, at least) is to be lazy and distract myself with other things. The fact that I'm writing this now, when I have a load of work to do by deadline, is proof.
With my newly found self knowledge, (and just a modicum more self discipline), I'm signing off to do the real work. Back soon.
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Go where kindness and shoes are cheap (09-Sep-04)
Delivered to my door, on the first day of spring, was a blue box with a pretty blue ribbon. I knew it was from Magna Carta as I read their name on the waybill but, as I wasn't expecting anything from them, I curiously opened the package. It was a promo for Standard Bank's Spring programme - things to do and see. Along with the nifty z-fold card was a roll of film, a tube of Super C and a bottle of Energade - blue flavour. When I was doing big budget PR packages like the one I received were a regular delivery from my office. Although I am a Standard Bank client, I wonder if there was some other reason for me receiving this package as it contained a media release? While I know how much these packages cost - the delivery alone is pricey, I felt that the contents of my package smacked of a cheapie. In truth, I love the box - you know, the firm linen-feel cardboard box that neatly fits A4 pages, but I felt that the contents seemed lost in the package. My guess is that some people got better stocking fillers than I. No matter, unexpected gifts are always nice to receive.
I've recently discovered Factory Shops - Access Park in particular. Anyhoo, I needed a pair of walking shoes and Vasili Vass, that expert on things Radio as well as a footwear, suggested the New Balance factory shop at Access Park. An amazing things happened - when I couldn't find New Balance despite having directions, a shop assistant, with no connection to me or them, showed me the way. It was a good few hundred meters. What does one say to someone you don't know who is helping one out like this. To tell you the truth, I was expecting him to ask for money or something! It goes to show - kindness and shoes are cheap at Access Park.
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Our lives revolved around the pharmacy (03-Sep-04)
I am the son of a pharmacist. Most afternoons, en route from school to home, I would stop at Belmor Pharmacy in Goodwood and visit my dad. Our lives revolved around the pharmacy: if there were late night phone calls, they would be from patients needing urgent medicine. As my mother and father worked together, conversation over dinner would revolve around which customers were ill and who came in for what. Our lives revolved around the pharmacy.
As I grew, I became more involved in the chemist. My favourite thing was to watch my father mixing ointments and weighing things on a delicate scale, the type of which, nowadays, is probably used to weigh cocaine. I also remember having to call up doctors, some more than others, who had scrawled the prescription disinterestedly, to clarify which drug and in which strength was being prescribed. My dad had a magnifying glass and often he would ask me if I thought the script said one thing or another.
Our lives revolved around the pharmacy. There would be times when doctors prescribed drugs that were contraindicated and caused unwelcome interactions when used together. Times also when locum doctors, who had not taken a proper history, had prescribed medication that would have severely worsened a precondition; I can't remember which, but remember it was serious.
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By the way, I'm fantastic in bed... (02-Sep-04)
Viv Gordon, grande dame of media-industry placements, read this out at a recent PR-Net meeting:
You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say,
“I’m fantastic in bed.” That’s Direct Marketing
You’re at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy.
One of your friends goes up to him and pointing at you says,
“She’s fantastic in bed.” That’s Advertising.
You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get his
Telephone number.
The next day your call and say, “Hi, I’m fantastic in bed.”
That’s Telemarketing.
You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. He walks up to you and
Says, “I hear you’re fantastic in bed.”
That’s Brand Recognition.
You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You talk him into
Going home with your friend.
That’s a Sales Rep.
Your friend can’t satisfy him so she calls you.
That’s Tech Support.
You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You get up and
Straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink.
You say, “May I,” and reach up to straighten his tie while brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then give him a look that says,
“By the way, I’m fantastic in bed.”
That’s Public Relations
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Average PR fee per hour in Cape Town seems to be from R400-R500 (01-Sep-04)
It goes to show: nothing piques competitor interest like money. Last night's PR-Net meeting, where 70-strong communications professionals met to discuss Fees, Salaries and Return on Investment at Marimba Restaurant (excellent snacks) the tension between wanting to know what competitors charge and peoples' willingness to share that information, was palpable. So too, the abject silence as Sharleen Lomey of Viv Gordon Placements read out the salary ranges in PR. From R3000 to R30, 000 is the zero-to-hero-in seven-years scenario if you're brilliant at your job.
The other stat I managed to ring out from tight-lipped panelists was an average hourly rate of R500. But, as Ruth Golembo of Lange PR, one of the industries most respected practitioners, explained they didn't bill by the hour but rather by what the job required.
By contrast, Galia Kerbel, standing in for Marcus Brewster who was abroad, said Marcus Brewster Publicity billed using a PR Index which quantified publicity output in units which were billed (on average) at R500.
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