Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center

Alys Stephens Center

Not until guest speaker, Jessica Simpson visited our class was I interested in event planning. Simpson works for the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center and does something different every day. From booking artists to attending events, Simpson is involved throughout the whole process and gets to see her hard work pay off with each final performance. She left our class with helpful pointers and a few must-see events to add to our calendars.

• You have to be a jack of all trades to work in the entertainment/nonprofit business.
• An entertainment venue is going to have multiple audiences, so you have to learn how to reach each individual audience and know which ones need to be reached.
• If you can’t get a good deal with an artist, just walk away. You can try later down the road, but don’t try to force something to happen.
• You have to have the right personality type. You have to have the right attitude and be able to handle stress and constant change.
• Social media is an excellent tool because it doesn’t cost money and you can talk about different things all the time instead of having one campaign that addresses only one thing.
• You can’t expect to be able to attend every show or performance. You will tire yourself out.

Hot Coffee: Is Justice Being Served?

Movie poster for "Hot Coffee"

Our guest speaker, Stacy Smith, began our class discussing with this question: “What do you know about the lawsuit where a woman sued McDonald’s?”

Seems like a simple enough question. The woman was careless, greedy and wanted attention. The lawsuit was stupid, unnecessary and silly.

Was it though? Through viewing the new documentary, “Hot Coffee” our PR class discovered just how ‘un-silly’ this lawsuit actually was. And how manipulative the media–specifically public relations–can be.

Twenty years ago, manipulating the public was more accepted. Without the Internet and social media being as big as it is today, it was easy for PR practitioners to manipulate public opinion. Citizens didn’t care to research past what they were being told. They took what they could get.

Thankfully today this sort of behavior wouldn’t fly with the public. PR has changed by becoming more transparent and honest.

Smith told us that you can do good today and make money. When presented with a campaign that appears immoral, we should ask ourselves who we are and stick to what we believe is right. These were comforting words to hear, because I believe that the direction the public relations industry is moving in is a great one. The more honest companies are, the more respect they will earn and the better PR professionals will feel about their hand in that process.

I would much rather work in an environment that handles the issues head on rather than ignoring it or spinning it.

In addition, working on the advertising for the showing of “Hot Coffee” on Samford’s campus was great experience for our class, especially myself. I enjoyed created the poster, table tents and coffee sleeves to help promote the documentary.

Take-aways from Shaun Wright

• a calendar never ends for a venue, there is no slow season
• start planning about 18 months ahead of time
• sometimes shows will drop dates last-minute and you will have to fill them quickly so there are no ‘dark weeks’
• “If you’re standing still, something’s wrong.”
• the product remains key-when planning events, you need to know your venue, market and patrons
• know your social media platforms so you can use them to their full potential for your venue

Take-Aways From Meredith Foster

• When you do PR for a nonprofit, you have to “wear a lot of hats”, meaning that you need to know how to do several different things such as writing, graphic design and web.
• Maintaining relationships with major publications helps in the long run.
• You have to be ready to answer any question and solve any problem.
• Travel is usually a big part of a job in PR.
• Stay on top of your portfolio. 

Takeaways from John Richardson

• Freelance is a great way to work less hours, but still make money. To be successful as a freelancer, however, you need to build up a strong portfolio first to bring in clients. Freelance also requires that you have a lot of motivation and know how to manage your time well.
• In the communications business, there’s a lot of turn over. People move from job to job frequently. Expect to do the same because it helps you further your career.
• This is a creative industry, so be creative with how you get the attention of potential employers.
• Get comfortable with writing. Write often even if it’s in an unpublished personal blog.

Intermark Group

Intermark Group is a PR/ Advertising firm located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1977, Intermark began as Strong Advertising and have been known as Intermark Automotive, Omni Automotive and Intermark-Gillis. Intermark has been named one of the top 100 Agencies in the U.S. for the last five years by Ad Age.

Some of their client include Chevy, Toyota, Krispy Kreme, Space Camp and the Southern Museum of Flight.

A billboard created by Intermark for the Southern Museum of Flight

As a full service media agency, Intermark offers services in interactive technology, social media, broadcast and PR. Here is what Intermark has to say about the services in Public Relations:

It isn’t what they say about you. It’s what they whisper. Thankfully, Intermark Public Relations is dedicated to creating and directing targeted public relations programs that get consumers saying (and thinking) all the right things about you. We’re a leader in consumer and business-to-business PR, as well as crisis prevention and response. After all, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. What can we do for your image?

Intermark also offers a very prestigious intern program in the summer. To learn more about their internship opportunities, click here. They offer positions in media, digital media, design, copywriting, account service and PR.

 

Take-Aways from Lori Merricks’ PR Presentation

- PR is not 100% controllable, an avenue for event planners, the adversary of the media, publicity, advertising, for bad writers, the department whose sole purpose is to write, edit and hawk press releases.

- PR is about results, hits and placements, a strategic function that uses research, analysis and planning to develop smart campaigns, a conversation starter and prolonger, about genuine human connections, an expert in their client’s industry, able to outline crisis communications strategies and implement them, an industry for writers, researchers and lovers of communication and news.

- PR matters more than ever because what people say about you is more important than what you say about yourself.

- PR is still about media relations, but now it’s all about public relationships.

- It’s important to be up to date with news and read multiple sources each day.

- Writing skills are extremely important.

- Top Skills:

1. writing

2. effective listening

3. pitching

4. delivering

5. focus

6. credability

7. measurement

For more information about Lori Merricks and Luckie & Co, click here.