Help us help you!

It’s strange that working in an industry where your main job focus is aiding other people’s careers somehow means that dealing with difficult clients is entirely normal. As a Publicist, very often I am delighted to work with people. It is incredibly rewarding for me to help others to achieve their full potential. But every now and again you get one of those “difficult” clients.

You know, the divas… (male and female!), the demanding self-appointed stars.

They come to us, looking for support and then let their attitude and ego get in the way.

It is when dealing with clients and stakeholders of this nature that we – the managers, agents, promoters, and PR people of the world – often ask ourselves “why don’t they just help us to help them?”

The entertainment industry is one of people skills and collaboration. The better you can work with others, the better you can forward your own career - in my humble opinion. After all, very few of us can operate all aspects of our lives and careers without support.

So why not make it easy for those employed to help you to, well…help you?

I can’t even begin to fathom why anyone would think that being negative and overly demanding is a good career or project strategy. Sure, there is something to be said for demanding a certain level of quality for yourself and those that work around you. Success often comes from making your standards clear to everyone involved in your project. However, there is a significant difference between having standards and simply being difficult.

Here’s a short list of traits to help you work out if you’re being difficult to work with.

1. Are you demanding for things that clearly can’t be provided by those working with you? E.g, demanding Champagne on a Beer budget.

2. Do you only say thank you at the end of a project?

3. Do you think that inspiring fear in the rest of the team is a good thing?

4. When a project ends, are you friends or enemies with everyone else involved?

5. How much project time do you spend being supremely dissatisfied by EVERYTHING?

6. How often do you start conversations by screaming at another member of the team?

7. Have you punched a colleague?

8. When was the last time that you attacked someone for failing to provide you with a basket of warm puppies to dry your hands on?

Okay, so I’m mostly taking the piss but honestly, in an industry where you spend most of your time dealing with people, being a people person really helps. We – the managers, agents, promoters, and the likes of this world – are here to help your vision become a reality to the best of our ability. Please keep a grasp on your budget and what it will afford you.

And please, please do not spend the whole project fighting us.

If you have a problem, please come and talk to us, there’s almost always a way to solve it. If you’re inventing problems, just take a moment to remind yourself of the reality of your situation. Ask yourself: ‘Am I confusing luxury with the essential?’ And if your ideas are bigger than your means, be prepared to compromise. You’ll get there eventually, but not if you make enemies of everyone you work with.

Because at the end of the day, would you want to help someone who is making your life difficult?

Exactly!

By Monique and Rowan 

 

 

One button with so much or so little power...depending on how you look at it!

Dear Reader, this confession has been a couple of years in the making but here it is!
There are some people who think the ultimate power move and final insult after a 'business relationship' has gone 'Pete Tong' is to delete you as a 'friend' on Facebook.

Some of us in this profession and neighbouring roles as managers, agents, business managers etc will not take it personally. I repeat we will not take it personally but instead just laugh at the certain individual(s).

 In recent times this has occurred on more than one occasion. Be it a young, naive, little known (stress on little known!) artist, an ‘established’ one or even a wannabe promoter – were all at one point very eager to become a ‘friend’. However, when either cold feet or the administration of a reality check after a severe bout of over inflated ego with hallucinations of delusions of grandeur struck, said artist(s) and the like swiftly withdrew from the project(s) and our online social lives. The unfriend button was pressed and as if by magic, all ties appeared to be severed.

 

Of course, in my eyes and those around me with an I.Q. higher than our shoe size sees such actions as juvenile plain and simple. Oh no! Someone with whom I had a wholly professional relationship has said that we’re not friends! What will I do?! The real question is should we be in contact with our clients on our personal social media accounts in the first place? We all have work numbers. We all have work email addresses. We all have office hours! The argument that social media aids communication stumbles and falls at this point. There are plenty of ways for a client in particular to contact me without entering into my social life; and those who we consider ‘associates’ well, that’s a slightly more precarious situation.

A friend request is a statement. A statement that is shared with the rest of your online social life and will remain there until one of you presses the dreaded ‘unfriend’ button. Adding a client as a friend opens a window to you outside of your professional world, the parts of you that you share with friends. Where being professional is unimportant because you’re not at work! Now I can’t speak for all Publicists but I personally don’t feel comfortable with sharing that much information with a client.

And of course there are exceptions. A client can become a genuine friend, often during a long term working relationship. Such incidents are far from impossible and can often enrich your working life. But a personal Facebook friend request is not  the way to start a professional relationship. There needs to be a clearer line between client and friend. After all, how many of your friendships began with either you or your friend paying the other for services? More importantly, how many of your ex-clients do you casually keep in contact with after your professional relationship was over?

I would really rather not have deal with the idea that ex-clients will be unfriending me. But this is mostly because I don’t think that they should be sending me friend requests in the first place. Because the majority of times when the ‘unfriend’ button has been used to end a relationship, the relationship has been unsuccessful. And rarely because of any of my actions, might I add.

So, before you think of sending me that friend request, I have this proposition for you. Perhaps we should work on building an efficient professional relationship before we branch out into anything else. It’s probably for the best.

 

*Names have been changed and/or removed to protect the painfully ignorant.*



Does over-hype lead to disappointment?

Guest writer and PR Assistant Rowan answers that question.

Frank Ocean has had one hell of a year. After the cult success of his nostalgiaULTRA mixtape, the release of his much anticipated debut album channelORANGE received a tidal wave of critical acclaim. Championed by everyone from Kanye West to Beyonce, Ocean has especially been praised for his openness about his sexuality, revealed in an open letter to his fans earlier this year.

So it is understandable that news of his CALIFORNIA LIVE tour was met with a frenzy of excitement from his incredibly strong fan base, especially in Europe. After a string of impressive awards show performances, expectations had been high. But on his first night in Brixton Academy, Frank simply failed to impress.

Ocean’s opening was undeniably strong. New song “California” was all powering bass drums, smooth organs and syncopated strobes. It really showcased Frank’s knack for the emotional, suggesting that his upcoming sophomore album could take his style to new anthemic heights. A grooving rendition of nostalgiaULTRA hit “Novocaine” followed, live performance breathing new life into an already excellent song. However, these two songs were the show’s peak. Mostly mumbling into his microphone between songs, Ocean was visibly uncomfortable on stage. The music was near CD quality but Frank’s lack of showmanship really prevented the performance from feeling like anything more than a particularly flashy listening party. “Super Rich Kids” should have exploded but instead revealed how easily his music can fall from enthrallingly understated to simply a bit boring.

The crowd screamed regardless, ecstatic to finally see their idol in the flesh. Because this exactly the kind of relationship Frank Ocean has with his fans. The auditorium was full of voices singing back every line of every song; Ocean even relinquished his part in an a capella version of “Swim Good” to let the crowd sing the whole song for him. Every moment of direct contact between performer and audience – no matter how mumbled – was met by a mass of excited screams. However, this was as interactive as the night got.

The real issue here is the hype. With all the Grammy’s, big name endorsements and critical acclaim, it’s easy to forget that Ocean is a young man at the beginning of his career. Following somewhat premature comparisons to greats such as Stevie Wonder, it’s almost impossible not to be disappointed by the reality of an ambitious young man touring his debut album. Ending on the anti-climax that was an acoustic rendition of “Wiseman”, I certainly found myself coming to the realisation that Ocean still has much to learn.

Perhaps the next tour will be better.

 

 

O

 

Purple Reign PR needs YOU!

                                  

 

Purple Reign PR is working in partnership with the London Borough of Lewisham to recruit a PR Assistant – F/T Apprentice. Please visit Lewisham Council’s Website for further details. You need to click on the Job Category section and proceed to Marketing/PR. Deadline for applications is: 19th June 2013

Introducing: Simone Michelle

Thought I'd let you guys know about a client of mine. Performing at the launch event for Music Revolution at Proud Camden this Sunday, Simone Michelle is a South London born self confessed Singer / Storyteller.

From her unique style of song writing, to singing and even her individual dress sense there is a story to be found. She pays attention to life’s narratives and tells stories that strike a cord within her, and already the hearts of many.

Whether it be personal, topical, or light hearted she has a way of giving each song its own stage, by drawing the listener in and taking them on a journey. She says, " I see each song as an individual piece of theatre, every word I write has a part to play and an emotion to express. I sing according to how the story makes me feel". Many of Simone’s songs look at the contradiction, imperfections, the light and dark of situations and the struggle; whilst celebrating the light at the end of the tunnel, and always evoking an underlying theme of hope.

Simone loves to explore and doesn’t see her self as tied to one genre, though her sound has a strong sense of pop, alternative and soul. Some of her favourite artists include Jill Scott, Alanis Morissette, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. Writing and singing from a young age Simone naturally drew on the influences of a creative and musical family.

Recently pursuing her music career has been a refreshing and scary adventure. But one she is all too willing to embark upon. Her debut song Beautiful Scars is her personal anthem of how she views certain aspects of life. The chorus; ‘your life brings beautiful scars…’ is a comment on the effects of living and rising after a fall of any capacity. She says; " we’re all marked by our experiences, good and bad. But the real turning point is when we are able to turn the bad experiences into something quite beautiful; growth".

Simone Michelle is an exciting new talent with a beautifully distinctive voice that strikes at your very core, and refreshing lyrical contents that capture your attention as you are led on a journey. She is a definite one to watch out for as she is set to make her mark on the industry at large.

Check out her sound here!

 

Who are you wearing darling?

 

African Chic! Dress by Gitas Portal

I love all things fabulous and today's confession is that I have a hugh designer crush on Gitas Portal.Here's the scoop on the designer!

Mariatu Turay is a London fashion designer who aspires to bring her creations to an international audience.  Born to a Sierra Leonean father and a Barbadian mother and having lived in West Africa, and the USA, Mariatu pulls together her experience of fashion, art, culture and femininity into her work. As a self-taught seamstress Mariatu’s goal is to set a benchmark for diasporic inspired designs and recognises her talent as a God given gift.

As founder and resident designer for Gitas Portal an online shop and each collection is an expression and extension of her artistic vision; each garment is painstakingly crafted and finished to the highest standards. Using different textures of fabric from across the globe, her designs are elegant, offering the wearer a unique composition of art and passion which reflects her cultural influences.

You will see a strong expression of femininity within each collection, and a design that appeals to confident women who celebrate fashion through a desire for innovative design, luxurious fabrics and textures and meticulous attention to detail.

As a designer and a wearer of her own pieces, Mariatu celebrates fashion and sees it as a unique expression of individual flair and the emancipation of one's inner beauty.
“It's all about the individual. Every individual brings something different to an outfit, through interpretation of style. Therefore my designs do not dictate 'this is fashion', but instead asks of the wearer, 'to enjoy, what Gitas Portal like to describe as, fresh but elegant, exotic and innovation design wear for women.”

Simply put, Mariatu’s designs for Gitas Portal are Fabulous. Each piece is beautifully constructed and allows the wearer to showcase who they are comfortably and to promote African aesthetics through fashion.

 

Buy something fabulous today. Visit: http://www.etsy.com/people/gitasportal2011

#african  #fashion #chic

 

                      

 

Happy Birthday Opaz!

Cast your mind back, way back to....92! Remember this?

Industry peers, critics and music connoisseurs alike have all acclaimed Ray Hayden to be one of the most established legendary and revered producers in the UK and now Opaz Productions celebrates its 20^th Anniversary.

From the inception of Opaz Productions two decades ago, Ray Hayden has produced tracks for the following artists: Martine Girault, Ronny Jordan, Mica Paris, Swing Out Sister, Incognito, Guru, Maysa, George Howard, Omar, Adeva, Carol Thompson, Patrick Jean-Paul Denis; and remixes for: Marvin Gaye, Mary J Blige, Sade, Tyrese, Tony Toni Tone, The Brand New Heavies, The Christians, Gene Rice, Des’ree, Another Level, Nina Simone and The Temptations.

These formative years were bookmarked by the release of the now signature song and a firm UK classic ‘Revival’ by Martine Girault, which entered the charts at No 1. Revival added flavour to Nescafe's TV advertising campaigns and featured in films starring Meg Ryan, TuPac Shakur and Micky Rourke allowing Opaz Productions to establish itself as a world class production company.

In marking its twentieth anniversary The House of Opaz will be releasing its entire catalogue online including many hidden gems from its vaults.  Leading the campaign is new signing Cartier Fraser-a young lady from North West London.
Already a radio and critic favourite, lead track ‘Mr Lost’ from the debut album of the same title features nine tracks which showcases the incredible talent of Cartier nurtured and lead by the magical and renowned production skills of Hayden. ‘Mr Lost’ will be available to download from iTunes October 29th 2012 and look out for new collaborations with iTunes No1 selling Jazz Artist Yolanda Brown.

Opaz celebrates 20 years of Achievement and we'll be celebrating with them!
For more information visit: www.opazmultimedia.com