Before You "O" or Otherwise: 5 Tips for PR Professionals

*The following is for public relations professionals, who work hard to promote their clients. When that golden day comes, and their work pays off, it pays to be ready with the appropriate media materials, and followup plan... but for those moments of utter joy... well, I've put together the following.

A Side Note Before We Get Started:
If you listened to Oprah & Friends the morning of October 17th 2008, you heard Peter Walsh interview Laura Lowell, author of the new book "42 Rules for Working Moms" in a segment called "Working Moms Unite!" Hockey moms, single moms, "cluttered" moms heated up the phone lines asking Peter and Laura questions about balancing work and family.

Within the Days Before Your Client Ever Goes on a Mainstream Show (that's Oprah-Like or otherwise)

1. You will have "Star Goggles." The thought of your client having a nice chat with a media celebrity brings you emense satisfaction and power. You have just achieved "ninjaness" in terms of public relations and you deserve a cheer. Meaning that you will feel like you're walking on air, and your perception of absolutely everything is FABULOUS. You will remember with fondness the kids who didn't like you in grade school, the classes you didn't do so well in, your investments in the stock market and still feel AMAZING!

2. You will forget the basics. Be sure there is someone else with you, like your partner, sister, a friend... because you will be too excited to remember to sleep, eat, and do other basic things to sustain life until well AFTER your client has appeared on said show/or in said publication.

3. You will end up in strange places while driving. Take someone who isn't involved with you when you have to drive, because you'll suddenly remember that amazing PR opportunity that you landed your client and magically find yourself in Disney Land, Portland, Alabama, Mars, or Krispy Kreme, when you were trying to get to Whole Foods to buy a Cedar plank for Salmon grilling.

4. Get a trampoline.... because the moment after a producer calls you and says, "Your client is going to be on the _____________ show," and the moment you send them all the necessary PR materials and followups, you'll explode if you don't have a place to scream and jump up and down. This also comes in handy when your client discovers the good news.

5. Have an AWESOME playlist burned to CD/iPod/etc. There will probably be a lot of dancing involved, and if there isn't music, "outsiders" might think you have a problem. They just don't know you just got your client on the hit "XYZ Show," but they'll know when they see or hear them on prime-time!

Bunnies & Pumpkins!

Among other amazing things that happened at the pumpkin patch this year, bunny wrangling made it to the top of my list. This little furry friend had escaped the children's petting zoo... (AKA Bunny Hell) at the farm, and with a team of five and my trusty blue sweater, I managed to corner the bunny and return him to his rightful spot.

Paprika

Paprika, the stunning anime film, is out on Blu-ray.

For those of you who liked Princess Mononoke, Akira, Ghost in the Shell and even Crayon Shin Chan... this is a wonderously different animal. Put aside your ideas of what movies can do, and open your vision to the 4th dimentional rendering of  revolutionary cartoonists thinking "outside the box."

Communication Evolution

In today's society, we no longer live in trees or caves, (save for a few lucky environmentalists) and we rely on communication for everything from ordering a caffeinated beverage, to buying a house. We no longer need to grunt, growl or purr when we need, don't want or like something. Instead we blog, refuse to pay or write a thank you email.

Some of my earliest memories involve writing stories about a stuffed owl, (Owlie) and her friends, as they romped through the woods. These works are written in double lined journals and stored in a drawer. Today, however people can share just about anything online

Perhaps one of the only things that sets humans apart is our ability to write, and what better way to share what you write than on PNN? I challenge you to sit down and write online, even if you've never done it before. Writing and sharing is a liberating experience and, who knows, someone reading your work may be inspired to do the same.

Blogging Tips

Freshen Your Page

• Keep a digital camera with you
• Share the works of fiction you wrote in college
  
• Make an online family photo album
• Dare friends to email scary summer camp pictures
• Add "Tabs" to your page. Make one for your dog
• Show co-workers your super page
• Add funny YouTube videos to your page and write reviews
• Use your computer's web cam and host your own show
• Share summer cooking recipes with your neighborhood
• Take a picture of your kid's messy room. Tell them you'll take it offline when it's clean.

At Shambala with Tippi

This week, I had the amazing experience of visiting Tippi Hedren at the Shambala sanctuary in Southern California. Tippi told PNN her story about what it's like rescuing big cats from humans who sought to keep them as pets.

Shambala's Official Site

Shambala on PNN

Way to go Linda!

My good friend Linda Hannawalt, a fiber artist, recently opened her website http://www.lindahannawalt.com for those interested in high-end contemporary art quilts. Linda's site features a blog, a beautiful gallery of her work, and details on her services for quilters and collectors. Congratulations Linda!