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!