Mr. Carpet

Ms. Joy,

Last month, I got to attend a friend’s movie premiere in NY. I’m a working actor in the city and I mostly do character work. When my friend flew in for his premiere, he invited me to tag along. Truth be told, tagging along was all I planned to do. My boy had other plans and pulled me onto the red carpet. It was my first red carpet. I wasn’t prepared but I manned up and took my photos. That went really well.

The next part went really wrong. I’ve never done an interview and when I found myself in front of a camera crew, I froze. I stuttered. I sounded completely stupid. I stumbled over the name of my current show. I forgot to even mention the movie I just did opposite some big names.

I’m bruised but I’m not giving up. Now that I’ve done a red carpet, I want to do more. Do you have a quick tip on how I can be better prepared for the next one?

―Barely Carpet Burned in Brooklyn

Mr. Carpet,

I like your attitude! Shake it off! The great thing about the experience you just had is that you now know what to expect. It’s like riding a rollercoaster. You look at it with one impression. You feel really nervous the first time because you don’t know what’s coming. Once you get past the first ride, you can ride it again and feel less fear because you’ve gained familiarity. Use this to your advantage and learn your lines before you go on the carpet.

You don’t strike me as the type of guy who auditions without knowing the lines. Red carpets work the same way. Memorize your key points: the names of current work, the names of key colleagues you acted opposite of, what studios are involved (if any), where folks can see your work, and so on. Know these points well enough to be natural, conversational and personable while communicating them. Practice them in your mind and aloud.

Also take time to learn about the event you’re attending and have fun buzz phrases ready in relation to it. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I once saw someone attend a charity event and space about the name of the foundation or why they were there. That kind of thing can make you look dumb or like a publicity hound. Either case should be avoided.

Train yourself for this the way you train yourself for your craft and you should do just fine.

Keep rising!

Joy

Ms. Strumming

Ms. Joy,


I have a new online guitar lesson business and I struggle with being in the limelight. I think it's because I'm not comfortable with my looks and, especially in person, I get nervous when I'm being looked upon by others with anticipation or judgment. I've tried all the online marketing ideas I can think of that don't require me to personally be the center of attention, but my website is still hardly known and visited. Do you have some new publicity suggestions?


―Strumming in San Francisco

View my video column response to Ms. Strumming below:

Ms. Strumming,

You struggle with issues that most people wrestle with and you are not alone. Putting this aside, my first suggestion would be to stop marketing. That’s right. Stop marketing to people and start engaging them. Whether you choose to put yourself directly out there or keep pushing the product without yourself at the forefront, you need to stop marketing. 

It doesn’t matter what type of folks comprise your target audience, if you create a campaign that provides experiences, you’ll create real connections. Real, loyal connections will establish your brand and help the word spread because you can use these contacts to help you publicize your business.

At first, online guitar lessons can sound cold or impersonal. Redirect focus onto the fact that through the internet, you can teach anyone anywhere in the world how to play the guitar and, it becomes pretty cool. You can indulge anyone’s passion for music and desire to play the guitar. This is a gorgeously human thing so, relate this other human beings in a way they can feel and hear and see.

Make your campaign speak as passionately and as enthusiastically about learning an instrument as you would. Think of some ideas that people can experience, such as video content. If you don’t want to appear in the video content, then use your past and current customers. Ask them to send in video testimonials that you can share. While you’re reaching out online, try an online song competition. You can advertise it through social media and utilize online voting. Then competitors can wrangle voters from their own networks.

Speaking of networking, ask for referrals and offer folks something interesting for their referrals. You could try a giveaway competition where the top referrer wins something cool like, a guitar maybe. (hmm?)

Also try to find offline, local events that can yield visibility. Look for music, education, or self-improvement related things. Find ways to partner with these events and perhaps have one of your local students demonstrate the skills they’ve acquired through your online lessons.

Music is passion. It uplifts, enraptures, electrifies, soothes and woos. Hell, half the dudes I know that play guitar only learned so they could score chicks! All joking aside, music can embody how we feel about love and life itself. That makes it magical. Grab that magic and infuse it into your campaign. Ignite it in others and you will see results because you’ll make connections that people will love and they will love your brand. 

Keep rising!

Joy

DOING IT Spotlight: Nekisha-Michelle Exposes Cycle of Cheating on KTLA

What do Jesse James, Tiger Woods, Senator McCain all have in common besides being famous? They've all recently been caught in headline grabbing affairs.

My self-promotion protege and Life Redesign Queen Dr. Nekisha-Michelle Bakre stopped by KTLA to discuss fame, cheating, and how those caught in a cycle of infidelity can break the invisible chains that are binding them.




Find Nekisha-Michelle online and Twitter!

Polishing a Tarnished Image: Nike's New Tiger Ad

I must admit that when the sex scandal with Tiger Woods began, I hesitated to talk about it with anyone- even close friends. While any person can try to sit back and place judgment on his infidelity, the only people who ever really deserve an apology from Woods are his family members who were directly hurt by his actions. Yet, because he chose to accept endorsement dollars from brands like Nike and Buick and because his anointed title of ROLE MODEL, Mr. Woods does have to acknowledge and answer to questionable behavior that tarnishes his shiny image as well as any brand that has hitched its wagon to him.

Unlike many of his other endorsers, Nike stuck by Woods. At the end of the day, Nike is about sports and, while Tiger Woods won't get a Husband of the Year award, he could still win the Augusta Masters and that coveted green jacket for a 5th time.

So, Nike found themselves facing the dilemma of how to reintroduce Woods to consumers and fans. On August 8th, moments before Woods premiered at the Masters, Nike put out this ad with the voice of Woods' dead father and mentor, Earl, being the only words you hear:

The sum total of this commercial is unforgettable: stark black and white with the golf champion looking rest-broken and somewhat scolded while Earl Woods asks, "did you learn anything?"

The public reaction has been "creepy," "moving," "disturbing," "bizarre," "genius," "obvious!" I don't think Nike intended to just play the dead daddy card. The idea seems to be to show an introspective and embarrassed Tiger Woods post-scandal, post thinking about how he has disappointed the people who matter to him most, and ready to return to sports and the golf course and do again what he does best. Be an athlete.

I find this to be a smart commercial. There was no Woods' ad Nike was ever going to be able to put out into the world that wasn't going to upset some people. At least this one attempts to bring Tiger Woods full circle and it also shows how (through Earl Woods' own words) his father would have judged him. In fact, it seems that his father was less about accusation and more inquiry. Perhaps Nike is urging us to do the same and simply ask Tiger, "did you learn anything?"

One Entrepreneur On Marketing

I recently did an interview with Upstart Smart magazine about marketing strategies entrepreneurs can use to promote their businesses. The mag is the brainchild of Amber Singleton Riviere, who runs one of the smoothest ships I've ever seen. She sent details on how to schedule my interview, pre-questions, and a reminder of the interview. R-E-S-P-E-C-T to Ms. Riviere!

Take a peak at the full interview here for an overview on brand, how personality effects building and promoting your business, and 3 tips on how to spread the word:

One Entrepreneur On Marketing: Joy Donnell of 720 PR

This is part of a series called "The Entrepreneurs on Marketing," where I'm talking with entrepreneurs about their strategies for marketing and promoting their businesses. In this interview, I caught up with Joy Donnell of 720 PR.

DOING IT Spotlight: Japan Buzzes about Terrisha Kearse

Congrats to my self-promotion protege director Terrisha Kearse who got some overseas press for herself and her film 10-20 in Japan's AUGUST magazine. Check out part of her 4-page article that discusses her unique vision as a filmmaker and where she found the inspiration for her directorial debut.

10-20 tells the story of EJ Henderson (Jah Shams), who discovers at the tender age of 13 that his life is a lie. Tracy (Bee-Be Smith), his birth mother, gave him up to her childless sister who was the victim of a brutal rape and couldn't have kids. Candice (Kimberly Bailey) raised EJ as her own. During these years, EJ channels his anger toward his abusive aunt and uncle into writing poetry. When Candice discovers that she is pregnant, she coldly admits the truth to EJ and sends him to live with Tracy. This betrayal turns the sensitive boy into an angry young man. EJ turns his back on Tracy and looks for acceptance on the streets. As his life spirals downward, EJ realizes too late that he can only control the present when he learns to deal with his past.

The debut film from director Terrisha Kearse, 10-20 derives its name from the Florida law that guarantees a 10-year sentence for possession of an unlicensed firearm, and 20 years to life if the gun is aimed at a person with the intent to shoot or kill. Kearse, who also co-authored the film, based the story on the real-life events that led to the incarceration of a close family member.

View the 10-20 trailer here

3 Questions: Shedrack Anderson Is Future-Perfect

Shedrack Anderson III has shown incredible range with roles that include NBC's "The Unauthorized Story of Diff'rent Strokes" for which he played the infamous Todd Bridges, the coming-of-age college stepshow drama "Stompin" opposite Sinbad and Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lion's Gate horror "Drive Thru," the monstrous bear thriller "Grizzly Park," and his feature film directorial debut with the horror "Blood River."

With a career that covers both television and film, Anderson has appeared in the hit teen series "Just Deal" as the lovable Jermaine Green and starred as Tommy in Lifetime's "Gracie's Choice" alongside Kristen Bell, Diane Ladd and Anne Heche. He’s also recognized as Rudy in 20th Century Fox's "FAT ALBERT" as well as guest star appearances on the television series "Boston Public," "The Parkers," "The Division," and Disney's hit show "Phil of the Future."

He sat down with us to discuss PR, the future of movie-making, and what every 21st Century Indie Filmmaker needs to know:

GP: You've had great success starring on TV shows and in feature films. Now you're making your own films. What are the differences in promoting your film versus your individual self?

SA: The biggest difference is Distribution. When you are promoting yourself as an actor, you take meetings, auditions, do interviews and photo opps with the notion that you are selling a product that requires someone else to see you and hire you for the use of your skills. That company then makes a product for sale and you are paid a fee and a percentage for your likeness or the character you portray. When you make your own movies, you create a product that, through promotion and distribution, people can buy directly. It’s one less
link in the chain to connect on a business level.

GP: What has media taught you about connecting to your audience and fans?

SA: Media shows that people get bored much faster than they used to. We’re moving in a direction that’s going to revolutionize the way humans occupy their time. I think different media will be used for different things. Short cell phone movies will be 5 or 6 minutes while direct download 3D movies will saturate America. When you make a connection with an audience, it has to have a similar thread in order to create a bond with the fans so they keep downloading more. Over the years, as I’ve become an adult and my fans have aged with me, I’ve learned to stay open to all possibilities. Media and style are constantly changing from day to day. I’m working on video game platform movies where you chose the fates. I think the key is to say less and see more... then make it happen.

GP: What is a fact about publicity that you think every actor transitioning into directing or producing should know?

SA: Publicity is an essential part of the movie making process. In order to have a successful career, whether it be directing, acting or producing, you have to have a strategic plan in order to achieve your ultimate goal... getting the masses to respond. You can have the greatest film in your pocket or be the greatest actor, but what use is it if you are the only one who knows? Publicity helps you create a buzz, and only then can you make a potential profit.

Even Hookers Need Publicity

After doing PR for 10 years, I find the road of public awareness is still a long and winding one. Those on the outside rarely understand the time and effort required to become a celebrity overnight. One key to the process is staying connected, so we encourage our clients to work the rolodex, send news to long time as well as recent contacts, and be open to the opportunities that arise.

On February 20, 2009, our client Camille Solari had a LA theatrical premiere for a cheeky comedy she co-wrote and starred in called Hookers, INC. When the film got a from the LA Times, we saw a golden moment to further spread the word about the film while using the weight that attention from a prestigious newspaper allots. Camille’s mailing list is enviable, and one email blast later we found that Charles Judson of the Atlanta Film Festival had sited the newsletter as a shining example of self promotion. Even though Judson admitted he may never see Hookers, INC, it’s made a dent in the back of his mind, which is key for an indie film. This wasn’t the first email Judson had received about Camille, and it won’t be the last.

Brands can’t be built in a vacuum. People have to know who you are, what you’re doing, and what you just did in order to become familiar with you and open to your message. Stay in contact and you may find a few fans, brand ambassadors, or at least some people who respect you in your address book.

From the March 2009 issue of GOINGPUBLIC: 720 PR Newsletter

Doing It In Public

This is a blog for the shy people who are in business for themselves. Entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, artists, actors, musicians-- anyone who knows that marketing themselves and putting themselves out there is a vital part of being successful, but they're having trouble getting past the fear and doing it.

If you're lost in a sea of millions and not standing out from the crowd or getting recognized because you are too shy to be front and center, read this blog.

If a lack of self-promotion is hurting your career, read on. The mission of this blog is to help everyone understand publicity, learn how to step up, lay it all on the line, and Do It In Public!